Who's The Greatest British Driver?

Sean Brian Kirby · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 04:13 Post subject: Who's The Greatest British Driver?

Someone else asked opinions - so I thoght I'd make it slightly more scientific. (We at least know, with the polls on this forum, everyone gets one vote.) Well, who is it? Did he wave as he passed his competitors? Wear tartan on his lid? Marry a BMW exec's daughter? Make a good car look great? Who is your Greatest British Driver?

Sean Brian Kirby · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 05:38 Post subject:

Wow - I wasn't expecting that...

NeilB · F3 Racer Joined: 08 Mar 2004 Posts: 210

Hard choice between Clark and Moss. But Clark just pips it for me.

levensnevel · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 09:29 Post subject:

That can only be Sir Stirling Moss Exclamation

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Sean Brian Kirby · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 12:29 Post subject:

Do we have a couple of Damon-voters on here? Or, did someone vote for DC? Just curious... Wink

f1robin · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 12:41 Post subject:

I just added a vote for Nigel.

I didnt activaly see Moss etc., and I feel to know too little of them to vote for them, though I also wouldn't want to say they werent great..

I remember Nigel being the fighter he has always been, in the black Lotus finally after so many years leading a race, monaco as I recall, and I was thinking: "well why the hell didn't he do this before?". I was sure he was the real thing, and when Williams took him in, I was so very confident that he would be WC one day Laughing

and he would be Smile

I loved to see Nigel racing, each and every time... until he joined Ferrari, and after that drove the odd race for McLaren... Wished he'd still be at Williams or Lotus..

Thats my guy Wink

maestro · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 13:03 Post subject:

I voted for Clark. Would have won loads more titles and wins if his Lotus didn't let him down so often.

People say that Moss is the greatest but the fact that he never won the title and was confortablely beaten by Fangio gnaws at me

Brutus · Grand Prix Winner Joined: 20 Mar 2004 Posts: 1506

Where is Button on that list? Laughing

Just kidding

The Figurehead · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 14:16 Post subject:

Jim Clark wasn't only the best British driver, but one of the top 3 drivers that F1 has seen IMHO.
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slapnuts · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 14:21 Post subject:

i would have to say that it is hard to choose. Moss was consistent but there are some great drivers on the list

Paul Thurston · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 14:50 Post subject:

slapnuts · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 21:42 Post subject:

i don't think that moss was as good as fangio. fangio is in his own league and i can see what you mean about moss not winning the title. Don't get me wrong i think he is a legend, but if he was so great how comes he never took home the trophy at the end of the season?

Shant F · Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 02:46 Post subject: Moss

Because he was a man of integrity perhaps?

In 1958, Moss won four races to Hawthorn's one. At the third-last round in Portugal, Hawthorn was wrongly penalised, I can't remember the reason but the penalty would have, in retrospect, been enough to deny him the title, which he won by only a single point from Moss. Moss could have said nothing, no-one would ever have known, but as he put it, "I would have known."

How many of today's drivers would you say would do that? Even if their instincts told them to, I wouldn't like to face the team manager if I did that, which is quite sad in itself, really.

Sean Brian Kirby · Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 03:16 Post subject:

Shant - good man!

Sir Stirling was probably the greatest driver ever to lace on a pair of driving gloves. He could drive anything. Anything. And fast. He's been a hero since kidhood 'cause he was not only so very, very fast (Enzo Ferrari said, "Moss exits a corner like a cannon shot"), but was also the most cerebral of drivers. He did not love racing in the rain - but when his competitors were within earshot, he talked quite audibly of how wonderful it was it was raining. He wanted every advantage over his competition. He has always acknowledged Fangio's superiority - and also would plainly make the point: Graham Hill had 2 Titles, and Jack Brabham had 3. Were either of these drivers better than himself? He said that not having a Title, and being forever acknowledged as the greatest driver to have never won it, was "far more exclusive." I would agree. Would he be nearly the legend with one Championship? I don't think so. And if Fangio was his only master, back then - that is hardly a bad thing. (And how good was Juan Manuel in, say, sports cars?) Besides, it was his great nationalism that probably cost him most. Just before the sudden end to his career, he and Il Commendatore had talked, and he had relented, deciding he would give racing for Ferrari a go. But, it was not to be. And we can probably count ourselves as very lucky to still have him. To me, Stirling Moss was the best of them all.
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nojvnof1 · Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 07:25 Post subject:

Have never seen any of them race, but from what I know, it's between Moss and Clark, although I'm not really gonna seperate the two. I've got one for you all, any thoughts on James Hunt, don't know that much about him, except for his off track lifestyle but I heard he was a good driver as well. Not saying hes better than Moss Clark etc, but I don't really know that much about him apart from what i've read. Any thoughts?

shaun
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