Formula 1
Teams
Norman Graham Hill
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Yet, despite two years of struggle, all of the hard work and persistence would pay off in ways almost beyond belief. By 1952, BRM had come to be an embarrassment throughout England. However, after Hill scored victories at the Dutch, German, Italian and South African grand prix, BRM would go from underachieving joke to World Champion. And for Graham Hill, and all that he did to bring BRM to that point, it would be a well-deserved World Championship. Of course, what made the story all the more special was the simple fact that less than ten years prior Hill only got his driving license.Seemingly from that moment on, the other side of Hill, the side full of carelessness, humor and questionably outrageous moral antics would be born. From streaking naked to endlessly flirting with women despite being married to Bette, Hill's life would seem to take on an entirely different persona. Yet, the dashing and witty driver would seem to get an endless pass with the public and, in fact, would actually become quite famous for his behavior away from the circuit. In spite of his antics away from the circuit, Graham would continue to have success while at the track. Throughout the years between 1963 and 1965, Hill would finish as runner-up in the driver's championship three straight years. During his tenure with BRM, Hill would earn ten victories. But by 1966, BRM's string of success was dwindling and Hill was forced with another important decision to make.At the same time that Hill was going through his streak of runner-up finishes in the driver's championship, his former employer Colin Chapman was enjoying seeing his team take the World Championship title for two of those three years. Hill would be coming back to a Lotus team already possessing a powerhouse driver in Jim Clark. However, in 1968, just one year after joining the team, Hill would be called on again to help pull a team out of its darkest days and set it on its winning ways once again. In 1966, before Hill rejoined Team Lotus in the World Championship, Hill would be behind the wheel of a Lotus racing car but in an entirely different race. For on the 30th of May, Graham would prepare to take part in his first Indianapolis 500.
Back with Lotus at the start of the 1967 season, Hill would struggle, but it would be the team that would be suffering the most the following year. Hill's move back to Lotus was somewhat surprising considering the presence of Clark. However, after a Formula 2 race at Hockenheimring in 1968, the reason for Hill's presence would be all the more clear.Jim Clark had originally meant to drive in a sportscar race at Brands Hatch, but instead would choose to drive in a Formula 2 race for Lotus at the Hockenheimring. The race would be run in two heats, and in the first heat, Clark's Lotus would leave the track striking some trees. He would suffer a broken neck and a skull fracture that would end up taking his life even before he could reach the hospital. In what had been characterized over time as a 'minor race', to have lost someone so valuable as Clark was to Lotus was absolutely devastating to the team. It would be in that moment of darkness and despair that Hill would once again help carry a team get back on its feet and continue to move on.
After Clark's death, Hill would focus intently on the rest of the season and would help the team through its grief by taking victory at the Spanish Grand Prix about a month later. Hill would then follow up the victory in Spain with his third victory at Monaco. After a couple of 2nd place results in Germany and the United States, Hill would cap the season off with a victory at the Grand Prix of Mexico. When combined, Hill's results throughout the tumultuous season would be good enough to earn himself his second World Driver's Championship and Lotus the Constructors' Championship. And with that, Lotus would carry on.By the time of his second world championship Hill was nearly 40 years of age. And unlike the 1950s when many drivers pushing 40, or more, years of age were still to be seen careening around grand prix circuits throughout the world, the Formula One World Championship was becoming a young man's career. As speeds increased, reaction times also needed to increase. However, over time, reaction times generally slow. Therefore, it would not be at all that surprising when Hill did reach the top of the 40 year old mountaintop and began the downward run that his career also took a downward turn. One thing about heading downhill, it allows one to conserve energy. And Hill would need all the energy he had as in 1972 he would make his final appearance in the greatest endurance race in the world, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Le Mans was the remaining jewel missing in Hill's Triple Crown. He had participated in the race some nine times between 1958 and 1966. Over the course of those numerous appearances Hill would only manage to finish the race three times. The best result would come in 1964 when he came home, after battling with Ford GT40s, in 2nd place with his co-driver Jo Bonnier. In spite of the 2nd place in 1964, Hill's record at Le Mans was certainly nothing to be proud of as it would be filled with early retirements and only two classified finishes. Nonetheless, in 1972, at the age of 43, Hill would make one last attempt at the famous endurance classic.
Hill would drive for the Equipe Matra-Simca Shell team and would be partnered with Henri Pescarolo in a Matra-Simca MS670. The main competition for the Matras would come in the form of three Alfa Romeos, a couple of Lolas and a privately-entered Porsche 908.The lead would change hands a number of times. Hill would be in the lead around midnight but would find himself in 2nd place behind his sister-car driven by Francois Cevert and Howden Ganley. Once the threat from the other competitors waned in the early morning light it was Hill and Pescarolo trailing Cevert and Ganley. However, after contact with a Corvette, Hill and Pescarolo would find themselves in the lead and would not look back from then on. << prev 1 2 3 next >>
Teams
Norman Graham HillRaces: 179
Podiums: 36
Championships: 2
Career Points: 270
| Year | Team | Constructor | Points | Position | Engine | Chassis |
| 1958 | Team Lotus | Lotus | Climax FPF 2.0 L4 | 12 Lotus 16 | ||
| 1959 | Team Lotus | Lotus | Climax FPF 2.5 L4 | Lotus 16 | ||
| 1960 | Owen Racing Organisation | BRM | BRM P25 2.5 L4 | BRM P25 BRM P48 | ||
| 1961 | Owen Racing Organisation | BRM | 7 | 5 | Climax FPF 1.5 L4 | P48/57 |
| 1962 | Owen Racing Organisation | BRM | 42 | 1 | BRM P56 1.5 V8 | BRM P57 P48/57 |
| 1963 | Owen Racing Organisation | BRM | 36 | 2 | BRM P56 1.5 V8, BRM P60 1.5 V8 | BRM P57 P61 |
| 1964 | Owen Racing Organisation | BRM | 42 | 2 | BRM P60 1.5 V8 | P261 P67 |
| 1965 | Owen Racing Organisation | BRM | 45 | 2 | BRM P60 1.5 V8 | P261 |
| 1966 | Owen Racing Organisation | BRM | 22 | 4 | BRM P60 2.0 V8, BRM P75 3.0 H16 | P261 P83 |
| 1967 | Team Lotus | Lotus | 28 | 3 | BRM P75 3.0 H16, Climax FWMV 2.0 V8, BRM P60 2.1 V8, Cosworth DFV | 43 33 Lotus Type 49 48 |
| 1968 | Team Lotus | Lotus | 62 | 1 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 49 49B |
| 1969 | Gold Leaf Team Lotus | Lotus | 47 | 3 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 49B 63 |
| 1970 | Rob Walker Racing Team | Lotus | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 49C 72C | ||
| 1971 | Motor Racing Developments | Brabham | 5 | 9 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Brabham BT33 BT34 |
| 1972 | Motor Racing Developments | Brabham | 7 | 9 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Brabham BT37 Brabham BT33 BT34 |
| 1973 | Embassy Racing with Graham Hill | Shadow | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | DN1 | ||
| 1974 | Embassy Racing with Graham Hill | Lola | 1 | 12 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Lola T370 |
| 1975 | Embassy Racing with Graham Hill | Lola | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Lola T370 T371 |
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Yet, despite two years of struggle, all of the hard work and persistence would pay off in ways almost beyond belief. By 1952, BRM had come to be an embarrassment throughout England. However, after Hill scored victories at the Dutch, German, Italian and South African grand prix, BRM would go from underachieving joke to World Champion. And for Graham Hill, and all that he did to bring BRM to that point, it would be a well-deserved World Championship. Of course, what made the story all the more special was the simple fact that less than ten years prior Hill only got his driving license.Seemingly from that moment on, the other side of Hill, the side full of carelessness, humor and questionably outrageous moral antics would be born. From streaking naked to endlessly flirting with women despite being married to Bette, Hill's life would seem to take on an entirely different persona. Yet, the dashing and witty driver would seem to get an endless pass with the public and, in fact, would actually become quite famous for his behavior away from the circuit. In spite of his antics away from the circuit, Graham would continue to have success while at the track. Throughout the years between 1963 and 1965, Hill would finish as runner-up in the driver's championship three straight years. During his tenure with BRM, Hill would earn ten victories. But by 1966, BRM's string of success was dwindling and Hill was forced with another important decision to make.At the same time that Hill was going through his streak of runner-up finishes in the driver's championship, his former employer Colin Chapman was enjoying seeing his team take the World Championship title for two of those three years. Hill would be coming back to a Lotus team already possessing a powerhouse driver in Jim Clark. However, in 1968, just one year after joining the team, Hill would be called on again to help pull a team out of its darkest days and set it on its winning ways once again. In 1966, before Hill rejoined Team Lotus in the World Championship, Hill would be behind the wheel of a Lotus racing car but in an entirely different race. For on the 30th of May, Graham would prepare to take part in his first Indianapolis 500.
| In that race, Hill would achieve the second leg of motor racing's Triple Crown as he would take the victory and the famous winner's wreath and Borg Warner Trophy. What was more, Hill would end up being the last rookie for more than thirty years to win the 500 mile race in his first try. |
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