for me it was Johnny Herbert winning the GB GP, rarely got to see any races from 93 - 2000 as I was wandering the world, but I saw this race and had always had a soft spot for Johnny after I met him at buckmore whilst he was trying to regain his race fitness after his horror f3000 smash and found him to be a profoundly pleasant chap. The guys I was with couldn't believe how excited I was and mocked me for my shedding of tears afterwards.
I don't have to think for more than a microsecond about this one: Damon Hill's last drive for Williams…
I like these sort of threads Mr Miggins. Thanks for starting it. This is a toughie since there have been a few, Mario Andretti winning at Fuji in 1976, Long Beach in 1977 or perhaps Giles at Monaco in 1981. Then there was Mika Hakkinen at Suzuka in 1998. All these by drivers I have admired through their careers. There were two races though that had me jumping up and down when the flag fell. The first was Monza 1977. Mario Andretti is absolutely my favourite racing driver. On the fortunes of no other racer have I hung onto every moment of news from the radio. Back in 1977 races were not televised you see. I had met Mario the year before at Brands Hatch and after his victory at Dijon in 1977 I began sending him telegrams with my good wishes before each race. Y'know the sort of things fans do..... Bad move since he DNF'd in the next four races. So I stopped just in case I was jinxing him. At Zandvoort, he had a coming together with James Hunt when they were both going hammer and tongs for the lead. After that race, Messrs Lauda and Sheckter deputised themselves and had a word with Mario saying that one did not overtake on the outside in Formula 1. Andretti replied that he was in Europe to win and would overtake on the inside or outside, wherever there was room. Then came Monza when he swept pass Sheckter on the outside at Parabolica for the lead which he would hold on to till the finish. I was a student in a bedsit then and paced up and down waiting for news and recall the hourly bulletin on Capital Radio announcing that he was leading the race at a blistering pace. My fingers and toes were crossed throughout the duration of the event. It was satisfying result. The other was Adelaide 1986. Alain Prost hadn't been my favourite driver until midway through the 1985 season when I began to realise that he was driving with his head. As Nigel Roebuck said in his annual roundup for Autosport that virtually everywhere, one saw something special from Prost. The Williams was the superior car that year. It had a better, more powerful and less thirsty engine than the Mclaren. Some here may recall that Alain had to push his car over the line at Hockenheim. Coming to Adelaide, Nigel Mansell was 7 points in the lead and with only 9 back then for a victory, he really had one hand on the title. I had almost given up hope and decided the night before that if I were to wake ( I think it had to be around 5am ) the next morning for the race then it was meant. If not, so be it. Well, I rose at 5 mins to five when the cars were assembled on the grid. Somehow, something in me said that Prost was going to win both race and title which he duly did. In the early laps it seemed an impossibility and when he pitted, all seemed lost. I can remember the victory jig he did as he stepped from the car. Heck, I did one too. That early rise was worth it.
Nice post Robin. I remember Adelaide '86 very well. I was the other side of the fence (quite literally) and wanted Mansell to win. That tyre is still one of the most costly in history! - But that's motor racing…
Without without without any any any doubt... When Lewis got passed Timo at the last corner of the last lap at Brazil in 2008, to make him the 2008 World Champion. I remember that night at the Pub and have many images that I will never forget and I will cherish forever.
yeah, Prost in 86 was a great win (never liked Mansell) he was one of my early favourites until suzuka 89. I havn't seen many races of Andretti, just a little bit too early for me, but now i will watch some (gotta love youtube) as he sounds exactly like my sort of racer. AS to Hill, it's a shame he drove for Arrows after Williams and not the other way around, a sI think I would've appreciated his WDC more, didn't realise he was that good until Arrows. And Button winning always makes me smile, another really nice bloke who, along with his dad, always has time for my Dad when he meets him at the odd triathlon. in a strange quirk of fate my brother raced him in Karts at buckmore, and my sister is a triathlete who goes to may of the races he runs in UK. And lewis Brazil win, yeah, lots of shouting and laughing at Ferrari that day
Damon Hill winning the championship in 96, Damon Hill getting Jordan's first ever win at spa 98, Jenson Buttons first win at Hungary and one that would have topped the lot for me would have been Damon Hill (nearly) winning the Hungarian GP in 97 but turned out to be a bitter sweet occasion.
Yes I have to admit enjoying Damon Hill and Jenson Button a lot more after their title-winning years. I suppose it's near impossible for everyone to like a person at the same time but for the record, DH and JB have been exemplary world champions and indeed sportsmen of whom we should all be proud to know. I cannot recall a single occasion when either pulled a dubious move on another competitor and in the case of Jense since he is still active, don't imagine I would ever either. His victories this year have given me great pleasure too.
Brazil 09 was a great race and is the reason whitmarsh went after Button to join McLaren, in his own words a true champions drive. I'll put that one on my list.
Canada 1995. one of my very first races that i watched, and i remebered seeing a red car running out of petrol after winning,and a little bloke standing on it. I didn't know at the time just how important this win was for Jean Alesi, his only career win, in a career that deserved more.
If he could travel back in time, i think he would have signed for williams for 1991 instead of ferrari.
Exactly what I was thinking - however I would like to add Canada 2011 - just for the fairytale of an ending!
I very much agree. A truly scintillating drive. He's also had a rather good one this year, but given the relative differences in respective Championship positions, Brazil '09 will probably have more permanence in our collective memory.
Abu dhabi 10' with all the engine failures, brake problems and brain fades seb takes the WDC. All that hassle was forgotten when he became the new world champion. Was in tears, family was left stunned because they were fans of the other 4 contenders... Lost my voice to boot.
