Graham Hill

Graham Hill
OBE
BornNorman Graham Hill
(1929-02-15)15 February 1929
Hampstead, London, England
Died29 November 1975(1975-11-29) (aged 46)
Arkley, Barnet, England
Championship titles
FIA World Drivers' Championship (1962, 1968)
Major victories
Monaco Grand Prix (1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969)
Indianapolis 500 (1966)
24 Hours of Le Mans (1972)
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
Active years19581975
TeamsLotus, BRM, Brabham, Hill
Entries179 (176 starts)
Championships2 (1962, 1968)
Wins14
Podiums36
Career points270 (289)
Pole positions13
Fastest laps10
First entry1958 Monaco Grand Prix
First win1962 Dutch Grand Prix
Last win1969 Monaco Grand Prix
Last entry1975 Monaco Grand Prix
Champ Car career
3 races run over 4 years
Best finish9th (1966)
First race1966 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Last race1968 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
First win1966 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Wins Podiums Poles
1 1 0
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years1958–1966, 1972
TeamsLotus, Porsche AG, NART-Walker, Aston Martin, Rover-BRM, Maranello, Alan Mann, Matra-Simca
Best finish1st (1972)
Class wins1 (1972)

Norman Graham Hill OBE (15 February 1929 – 29 November 1975) was a British racing driver and team owner, who was the Formula One World Champion twice, winning in 1962 and 1968 as well as being runner up on three occasions (1963, 1964 and 1965). Despite not passing his driving test until 1953 when he was already 24 years of age, and only entering the world of motorsports a year later, Hill would go on to become one of the greatest drivers of his generation. Hill is most celebrated for being the only driver ever to win the Triple Crown of Motorsport, an achievement which he defined as winning the Indianapolis 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Formula One World Drivers' Championship. While several of his peers have also espoused this definition, including fellow F1 World Champion and Indy 500 winner Jacques Villeneuve, the achievement is today most commonly defined as including the Monaco Grand Prix rather than the Formula One World Championship. By this newer definition, Hill is still the only driver to have ever won the Triple Crown, winning at Monaco with such frequency in the 1960s (5x; 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969) that he became known as "Mr. Monaco". Hill crashed at the 1969 United States Grand Prix and was seriously injured, breaking both his legs and ending his season. Although he would recover and continue to race until 1975, Hill's career would never again reach the same heights, and the Monaco Grand Prix victory earlier in 1969 would be his last victory in Formula One.

Wins in the most prestigious races of all three of the major disciplines of motor racing cemented Hill's position as one of the most complete drivers in the history of the sport. Hill was also a well liked television personality and was frequently seen on television screens in the 1970s in a non-sporting capacity, appearing on a variety of programmes including panel games.

Upon leaving Brabham, Hill set up his own team in 1973, operating under the name Embassy Hill. Hill continued to race, however after failing to qualify for the 1975 Monaco Grand Prix he retired from driving to concentrate on the day-to-day operations of the team. That same year, Hill and five other members of the Embassy Hill team were killed when the aeroplane Hill was piloting from France crashed in fog at night on Arkley golf course while attempting to land at Elstree Airfield in north London.

Hill and his son Damon were the first father and son pair to win Formula One World Championships. Hill's grandson Josh, Damon's son, also raced his way through the ranks until he retired from Formula Three in 2013 at the age of 22.

Early life

Born in Hampstead, London, Hill attended Hendon Technical College and joined Smiths Instruments as an apprentice engineer. He was conscripted into the Royal Navy and served as an Engine Room Artificer (ERA) on the light cruiser HMS Swiftsure, rising to the rank of petty officer. After leaving the navy he rejoined Smiths Instruments.

Racing career

Hill and Colin Chapman at the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix.

Hill did not pass his driving test until he was 24 years old, and he himself described his first car as "A wreck. A budding racing driver should own such a car, as it teaches delicacy, poise and anticipation, mostly the latter I think!" He had been interested in motorcycles but in 1954 he saw an advertisement for the Universal Motor Racing Club at Brands Hatch offering laps for five shillings. He made his debut in a Cooper 500 Formula 3 car and was committed to racing thereafter. Hill joined Team Lotus as a mechanic soon after but quickly talked his way into the cockpit. The Lotus presence in Formula One allowed him to make his debut at the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix, retiring with a halfshaft failure.

In 1960, Hill joined BRM, he won also in that year on 8 May 1960 the Targa Florio in the class Sports 1600 together with a German driver Edgar Barth in a Porsche 718, and won the world championship with BRM in 1962. He was known for his race preparation, keeping records of the settings on his car and working long hours with his mechanics. Hill was also part of the so-called 'British invasion' of drivers and cars in the Indianapolis 500 during the mid-1960s, triumphing there in 1966 in a Lola-Ford.

At the same time, Hill along with his F1 contemporaries competed in the British Saloon Car Championship, scoring several outright wins. He achieved a best finish of sixth overall in 1961 driving a Jaguar Mark 2.

Hill at the 1962 German Grand Prix

In 1967, back at Lotus, Hill helped to develop the Lotus 49 with the new Cosworth-V8 engine. It fell to Hill to perform the initial testing of the new car and its engine. After the first shakedown run, Hill quipped "Well, it's got some poke! Not a bad old tool." After teammates Jim Clark and Mike Spence were killed in early 1968, Hill led the team, and won his second world championship in 1968. The Lotus had a reputation of being very fragile and dangerous at that time, especially with the new aerodynamic aids which caused similar crashes of Hill and Jochen Rindt at the 1969 Spanish Grand Prix. A crash at the 1969 United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen broke both his legs and interrupted his career. Typically, when asked soon after the crash if he wanted to pass on a message to his wife, Hill replied "Just tell her that I won't be dancing for two weeks."

Upon recovery Hill continued to race in F1 for several more years, but never again with the same level of success. Colin Chapman, believing Hill was a spent force, placed him in Rob Walker's team for 1970, sweetening the deal with one of the brand-new Lotus 72 cars. Although Hill scored points in 1970 he started the season far from fully fit and the 72 was not fully developed until late in the season. Hill moved to Brabham for 1971–2; his last win in Formula One was in the non-Championship International Trophy at Silverstone in 1971 with the "lobster claw" Brabham. The team was in flux after the retirements of Sir Jack Brabham and then Ron Tauranac's sale to Bernie Ecclestone; Hill did not settle there.

Hill at the 1969 German Grand Prix

Hill was known during the latter part of his career for his wit and became a popular personality – he was a regular guest on television and wrote a notably frank and witty autobiography, Life at the Limit, when recovering from his 1969 accident. A second autobiography, which covered his career up until his retirement from racing simply called Graham was published posthumously in 1976. A staunch campaigner for road safety, Hill presented a series for Thames Television entitled Advanced Driving with Graham Hill comprising six 30-minute programmes broadcast weekly in June and July 1974. A book accompanying the series giving advice on safer and responsible driving was co-written by him. Hill was also irreverently immortalized on a Monty Python episode ("It's the Arts (or: Intermission)" sketch called "Historical Impersonations"), in which a Gumby appears asking to "see John the Baptist's impersonation of Graham Hill." The head of St. John the Baptist appears (with a stuck-on moustache in Hill's style) on a silver platter, which runs around the floor making putt-putt noises of a race car engine.

Hill at the 1971 Race of Champions

Hill was involved with four films between 1966 and 1974, including appearances in Grand Prix and Caravan to Vaccarès, in which he appeared as a helicopter pilot.

Although Hill had concentrated on F1 he also maintained a presence in sports car racing throughout his career (including two runs in the Rover-BRM gas turbine car at Le Mans). As his F1 career drew to a close he became part of the Matra sports car team, taking a victory in the 1972 24 Hours of Le Mans with Henri Pescarolo. This victory completed the so-called Triple Crown of Motorsport which is alternatively defined as winning either:

Using either definition, Hill is still the only person ever to have accomplished this feat.

Hill set up his own team in 1973: Embassy Hill with sponsorship from Imperial Tobacco. The team used chassis from Shadow and Lola before evolving the Lola into its own design in 1975. After failing to qualify for the 1975 Monaco Grand Prix, where he had won five times, Hill retired from driving to concentrate on running the team and supporting his protege Tony Brise.

Along with Stirling Moss, Hill put his name to and supported the Grand Prix Midget Championship, which started in 1975, with the aim of bringing low cost motor sport to people who wanted to try a new career.

Hill's record of 176 Grand Prix starts remained in place for over a decade until being equalled by Jacques Laffite.

Family

Hill married Bette in 1955; because Hill had spent all his money on his racing career, she paid for the wedding. They had two daughters, Brigitte and Samantha, and a son, Damon, who himself later became Formula One World Champion – the first son of a former world champion to emulate his father.

The family lived in Mill Hill during the 1960s. The house now features an English Heritage blue plaque. During the early 1970s, Hill moved to Lyndhurst House in Shenley in Hertfordshire. The house is now owned by musician Jeff Wayne. Well known for throwing extravagant parties at his houses to which most of the Grand Prix paddock and other famous guests attended, Hill was universally popular.

Rowing

Hill at the 1974 Race of Champions

Before taking up motor racing, Hill spent several years actively involved in rowing. Initially, he rowed at Southsea Rowing Club, while stationed in Portsmouth with the Royal Navy and at Auriol Rowing Club in Hammersmith. He met his future wife Bette at a Boxing Day party at Auriol and, while courting her, he also coached her clubmates at Stuart Ladies' Rowing Club on the River Lea.

In 1952 he joined London Rowing Club, then as now one of the largest and most successful clubs in Great Britain. From 1952 to 1954, Hill rowed in twenty finals with London, usually as stroke of the crew, eight of which resulted in wins. He also stroked the London eight in the highly prestigious Grand Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, losing a semi-final to Union Sportif Metropolitaine des Transports, France by a length.

Through his racing career he continued to support rowing and London. In 1968 when the club began a financial appeal to modernise its clubhouse, Hill launched proceedings by driving an old Morris Oxford, which had been obtained for £5, head-on into a boundary wall. Hill made three runs to reduce the wall to rubble, and the car was subsequently sold for £15.[citation needed]

Hill felt that the experience gained in rowing helped him in his motor-racing. He wrote in his autobiography:

"I really enjoyed my rowing. It really taught me a lot about myself, and I also think it is a great character-building sport...The self discipline required for rowing and the 'never say die' attitude obviously helped me through the difficult years that lay ahead."

Hill adopted the colours and cap design of London Rowing Club for his racing helmet – dark blue with white oar-shaped tabs. His son Damon and grandson Josh later adopted the same colours with permission from the club.

Death

Hill died on 29 November 1975 at the age of 46 when his Piper PA-23 Aztec twin-engine light aircraft crashed near Arkley in the London Borough of Barnet, while on a night approach to Elstree Airfield in thick fog. On board with him were five other members of the Embassy Hill team who all died: manager Ray Brimble, mechanics Tony Alcock and Terry Richards, driver Tony Brise, and designer Andy Smallman. The party was returning from a car-testing session at the Paul Ricard Circuit in southern France.

The subsequent investigation revealed that Hill's aircraft, originally registered in the US as N6645Y, had been removed from the FAA register and at the time of the accident was "unregistered and stateless", despite still displaying its original markings. Furthermore, Hill's American FAA pilot certification had expired, as had his instrument rating. His UK IMC rating, which would have permitted him to fly in the weather conditions that prevailed at the time, was also out of date and invalid. Hill was effectively uninsured. The investigation into the crash was ultimately inconclusive, but pilot error was deemed the most likely explanation.

Hill's funeral was held at St Albans Abbey, and he is buried at St Botolph's graveyard, Shenleybury. The church has since been deconsecrated so the tomb now sits in a private garden.

Legacy

After his death, Silverstone village, home to the track of the same name, named a road, Graham Hill, after him and there is a "Graham Hill Road" on The Shires estate in nearby Towcester. Graham Hill Bend at Brands Hatch is also named in his honour. A blue plaque commemorates Hill at 32 Parkside, in Mill Hill, London NW7.

In Bourne, Lincolnshire, where Hill's former team BRM is based, a road called Graham Hill Way is named in his honour. Also a nursery school in Lusevera, Italy, was named in his honour.[citation needed]

Bibliography

  • Life at the Limit – 1970
  • Graham Hill's Motor Racing Book – 1970
  • Graham Hill's Car Racing Guide – 1971 (with Mike Kettlewood)
  • Advanced Driving with Graham Hill – 1975 (with Neil Ewart)
  • Graham – 1976 (with Neil Ewart)

Career results

Career summary

Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/laps Podiums Points Position
1958 Formula One Team Lotus 9 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24 Hours of Le Mans 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
British Saloon Car Championship Speedwell Stable 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1959 Formula One Team Lotus 7 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24 Hours of Le Mans 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1960 Formula One Owen Racing Organisation 8 0 0 1 1 4 15th
Formula Two Porsche KG 2 0 0 0 1 7 7th
24 Hours of Le Mans Porsche KG 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
British Saloon Car Championship Team Speedwell 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1961 Formula One Owen Racing Organisation 8 0 0 0 0 3 16th
24 Hours of Le Mans North American Racing Team 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
British Saloon Car Championship Equipe Endeavour 4 1 0 2 4 28 6th
1962 Formula One Owen Racing Organisation 9 4 1 3 6 42 1st
24 Hours of Le Mans David Brown Organisation 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
British Saloon Car Championship John Coombs 6 4 2 1 5 32 4th
1963 Formula One Owen Racing Organisation 10 2 2 0 5 29 2nd
USAC Championship Car MT Harvey Aluminum 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24 Hours of Le Mans Owen Racing Organisation 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
British Saloon Car Championship John Coombs 7 3 2 3 6 49 3rd
John Willment Automobiles 1 0 0 0 1
1964 Formula One Owen Racing Organisation 10 2 1 1 5 39 2nd
Tasman Series Scuderia Veloce 2 1 0 0 1 12 6th
24 Hours of Le Mans Maranello Concessionaires 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 2nd
1965 Formula One Owen Racing Organisation 10 2 4 2 6 40 2nd
Tasman Series Scuderia Veloce 4 1 1 1 1 14 7th
24 Hours of Le Mans Owen Racing Organisation 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 10th
1966 Formula One Owen Racing Organisation 9 0 0 0 3 17 5th
Tasman Series 5 2 1 2 5 30 2nd
USAC Championship Car Mecom Racing Enterprises 1 1 0 0 1 0 NC
24 Hours of Le Mans Alan Mann Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1967 Formula One Team Lotus 11 0 3 2 2 15 7th
Tasman Series 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
USAC Championship Car 1 0 0 0 1 0 NC
British Saloon Car Championship 6 0 0 0 2 24 10th
1968 Formula One Team Lotus 1 0 0 0 1 48 1st
Gold Leaf Team Lotus 11 3 2 0 5
Tasman Series Team Lotus 4 0 0 0 3 17 4th
USAC Championship Car 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
British Saloon Car Championship Alan Mann Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1969 Formula One Team Lotus 10 1 0 0 2 19 7th
Tasman Series 7 0 0 0 2 16 5th
USAC Championship Car 0 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1970 Formula One Rob Walker Racing Team 2 0 0 0 0 7 13th
Brooke Bond Oxo Racing – Rob Walker 9 0 0 0 0
1971 Formula One Motor Racing Developments Ltd 11 0 0 0 0 2 21st
1972 Formula One Motor Racing Developments Ltd 12 0 0 0 0 4 15th
24 Hours of Le Mans Equipe Matra-Simca Shell 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st
1973 Formula One Embassy Racing 12 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1974 Formula One Embassy Racing with Graham Hill 15 0 0 0 0 1 18th
1975 Formula One Embassy Racing with Graham Hill 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
  1. ^ Hill won the 1966 Indianapolis 500.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 WDC Pts
1958 Team Lotus Lotus 12 Climax FPF 2.0 L4 ARG MON
Ret
NED
Ret
500 BEL
Ret
NC 0
Lotus 16 Climax FPF 2.2 L4 FRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
POR
Ret
ITA
6
MOR
16
Lotus 16 (F2) Climax FPF 1.5 L4 GER
Ret
1959 Team Lotus Lotus 16 Climax FPF 2.5 L4 MON
Ret
500 NED
7
FRA
Ret
GBR
9
GER
Ret
POR
Ret
ITA
Ret
USA NC 0
1960 Owen Racing Organisation BRM P25 BRM P25 2.5 L4 ARG
Ret
15th 4
BRM P48 MON
7
500 NED
3
BEL
Ret
FRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
POR
Ret
ITA USA
Ret
1961 Owen Racing Organisation BRM P48/57 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 MON
Ret
NED
8
BEL
Ret
FRA
6
GBR
Ret
GER
Ret
ITA
Ret
USA
5
16th 3
1962 Owen Racing Organisation BRM P57 BRM P56 1.5 V8 NED
1
MON
6
BEL
2
FRA
9
GBR
4
GER
1
ITA
1
USA
2
RSA
1
1st 42 (52)
1963 Owen Racing Organisation BRM P57 BRM P56 1.5 V8 MON
1
BEL
Ret
NED
Ret
GBR
3
GER
Ret
USA
1
MEX
4
RSA
3
2nd 29
BRM P61 FRA
3
ITA
16
1964 Owen Racing Organisation BRM P261 BRM P56 1.5 V8 MON
1
NED
4
BEL
5
FRA
2
GBR
2
GER
2
AUT
Ret
ITA
Ret
USA
1
MEX
11
2nd 39 (41)
1965 Owen Racing Organisation BRM P261 BRM P56 1.5 V8 RSA
3
MON
1
BEL
5
FRA
5
GBR
2
NED
4
GER
2
ITA
2
USA
1
MEX
Ret
2nd 40 (47)
1966 Owen Racing Organisation BRM P261 BRM P60 2.0 V8 MON
3
BEL
Ret
FRA
Ret
GBR
3
NED
2
GER
4
5th 17
BRM P83 BRM P75 3.0 H16 ITA
Ret
USA
Ret
MEX
Ret
1967 Team Lotus Lotus 43 BRM P75 3.0 H16 RSA
Ret
7th 15
Lotus 33 BRM P60 2.1 V8 MON
2
Lotus 49 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 NED
Ret
BEL
Ret
FRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
GER
Ret
CAN
4
ITA
Ret
USA
2
MEX
Ret
1968 Team Lotus Lotus 49 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 RSA
2
1st 48
Gold Leaf Team Lotus ESP
1
Lotus 49B MON
1
BEL
Ret
NED
9
FRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
GER
2
ITA
Ret
CAN
4
USA
2
MEX
1
1969 Gold Leaf Team Lotus Lotus 49B Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 RSA
2
ESP
Ret
MON
1
NED
7
FRA
6
GBR
7
GER
4
ITA
9
CAN
Ret
USA
Ret
MEX 7th 19
1970 Rob Walker Racing Team Lotus 49C Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 RSA
6
ESP
4
13th 7
Brooke Bond Oxo Racing – Rob Walker MON
5
BEL
Ret
NED
NC
FRA
10
GBR
6
GER
Ret
AUT
Lotus 72C ITA
WD
CAN
NC
USA
Ret
MEX
Ret
1971 Motor Racing Developments Ltd Brabham BT33 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 RSA
9
21st 2
Brabham BT34 ESP
Ret
MON
Ret
NED
10
FRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
GER
9
AUT
5
ITA
Ret
CAN
Ret
USA
7
1972 Motor Racing Developments Ltd Brabham BT33 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
Ret
RSA
6
15th 4
Brabham BT37 ESP
10
MON
12
BEL
Ret
FRA
10
GBR
Ret
GER
6
AUT
Ret
ITA
5
CAN
8
USA
11
1973 Embassy Racing Shadow DN1 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG BRA RSA ESP
Ret
BEL
9
MON
Ret
SWE
Ret
FRA
10
GBR
Ret
NED
NC
GER
13
AUT
Ret
ITA
14
CAN
16
USA
13
NC 0
1974 Embassy Racing with Graham Hill Lola T370 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
Ret
BRA
11
RSA
12
ESP
Ret
BEL
8
MON
7
SWE
6
NED
Ret
FRA
13
GBR
13
GER
9
AUT
12
ITA
8
CAN
14
USA
8
18th 1
1975 Embassy Racing with Graham Hill Lola T370 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
10
BRA
12
RSA
DNQ
ESP NC 0
Hill GH1 MON
DNQ
BEL SWE NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA USA

Complete Formula One non-championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
1957 Cooper Car Company Cooper T43 (F2) Climax FPF 1.5 L4 SYR PAU GLV NAP RMS CAE INT
13
MOD MOR
1958 Team Lotus Lotus 12 Climax FPF 2.0 L4 GLV
Ret
SYR INT
8
CAE
Lotus 12 (F2) Climax FPF 1.5 L4 AIN
7
1959 Team Lotus Lotus 16 Climax FPF 2.5 L4 GLV
Ret
AIN
11
INT
Ret
OUL
5
SIL
Ret
1960 Owen Racing Organisation BRM P48 BRM P25 2.5 L4 GLV
5
INT
3
SIL
2
LOM
Ret
OUL
3
1961 Owen Racing Organisation BRM P48/57 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 LOM GLV
2
PAU BRX VIE AIN
3
SYR
Ret
NAP LON SIL
13
SOL KAN DAN MOD
7
FLG OUL
Ret
LEW VAL RAN NAT RSA
1962 Owen Racing Organisation BRM P57 BRM P56 1.5 V8 CAP BRX
DSQ
LOM
2
LAV GLV
1
PAU AIN
Ret
INT
1
NAP RMS
2
SOL OUL
2
MEX RAN
Ret
NAT
NC
R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Lotus 18/21 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 MAL
3
CLP
Lotus 24 Climax FWMV 1.5 V8 KAN
Ret
MED DAN
1963 Owen Racing Organisation BRM P57 BRM P56 1.5 V8 LOM
1
GLV
9
PAU IMO SYR AIN
1
INT
Ret
ROM SOL KAN MED AUT OUL
3
RAN
1964 Owen Racing Organisation BRM P261 BRM P56 1.5 V8 DMT
Ret
NWT
Ret
SYR AIN
2
INT
2
SOL
Ret
MED
John Willment Automobiles Brabham BT11 BRM P56 1.5 V8 RAN
1
1965 Owen Racing Organisation BRM P261 BRM P56 1.5 V8 ROC
Ret
SYR SMT
2
INT
Ret
MED RAN
1966 Owen Racing Organisation BRM P83 BRM P75 3.0 H16 RSA SYR INT OUL
Ret
1967 Team Lotus Lotus 48 (F2) Ford Cosworth FVA 1.6 L4 ROC SPR
8
OUL
3
Lotus 33 BRM P60 2.1 V8 INT
4
SYR
Lotus 49 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ESP
2
1968 Gold Leaf Team Lotus Lotus 49 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC
Ret
INT
Ret
Lotus 49B OUL
Ret
1969 Gold Leaf Team Lotus Lotus 49B Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC
2
INT
7
MAD
Lotus 59B (F2) Ford Cosworth FVA 1.6 L4 OUL
Ret
1970 Rob Walker Racing Team Lotus 49C Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC
5
Brooke Bond Oxo Racing – Rob Walker INT
9
Lotus 72C OUL
Ret
1971 Motor Racing Developments Ltd Brabham BT34 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG ROC
Ret
QUE
Ret
SPR INT
1
RIN OUL VIC
8
1972 Motor Racing Developments Ltd Brabham BT37 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC BRA INT
7
OUL REP VIC
Ret
1973 Embassy Racing Brabham BT37 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC
Ret
INT
1974 Embassy Racing with Graham Hill Lola T370 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 PRE ROC
NC
INT
Ret
1975 Embassy Racing with Graham Hill Hill GH1 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC INT
11
SUI

Complete USAC Championship Car results

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Pos Points
1963 TRE INDY
DNQ
MIL
LAN TRE SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC PHX 0
1966 PHX
TRE
INDY
1
MIL LAN ATL PIP IRP LAN SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC PHX - 0
1967 PHX
TRE
INDY
32
MIL
LAN
PIP MOS
MOS
IRP
LAN
MTR
MTR
SPR
MIL
DUQ
ISF
TRE
SAC
HAN
PHX
RIV
- 0
1968 HAN
LVG
PHX
TRE
INDY
19
MIL
MOS
DNQ
MOS
LAN
PIP
CDR
NAZ
IRP
IRP
LAN
LAN
MTR
MTR
SPR
MIL
DUQ
ISF
TRE
SAC
MCH
HAN
PHX
RIV
- 0
1969 PHX
HAN
INDY
Wth
MIL
LAN
PIP CDR
NAZ TRE
IRP
IRP
MIL
SPR
DOV
DUQ
ISF
BRN
BRN
TRE
SAC
KEN KEN PHX
RIV
- 0

Indianapolis 500 results

  • Hill failed to qualify the innovative John Crosthwaite (who had worked with Hill at Team Lotus) designed 'roller skate' car for the 1963 Indianapolis 500 race after crashing in practice. Hill, who had been commuting weekly due to other commitments in Europe, would not wait in the USA while the car was repaired and risk not qualifying or qualifying badly.
  • Hill's 1966 victory marked the first win by a rookie driver since Frank Lockhart's 1927 win and the last until Juan Pablo Montoya's visit to Victory Lane in 2000 (Montoya has also emulated Hill's feat of winning both the Indianapolis 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix).
  • Hill entered the 1969 Indianapolis 500, but his car (Lotus-Ford Chassis 64/2) was withdrawn during practice along with those of Mario Andretti and Jochen Rindt due to delays rectifying problems associated with hub failure on Andretti's car.

Complete Tasman Series results

Year Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rank Points
1964 Brabham BT4 LEV PUK WIG TER SAN WAR
4
LAK LON
1
6th 12
1965 Brabham BT11A PUK
1
LEV WIG TER WAR
5
SAN
Ret
LON
4
7th 14
1966 BRM P261 PUK
1
LEV WIG TER WAR
2
LAK
1
SAN
(3)
LON
2
2nd 30 (34)
1967 Lotus 48 PUK WIG LAK WAR
Ret
SAN LON NC 0
1968 Lotus 49T PUK LEV WIG TER SUR
2
WAR
2
SAN
3
LON
6
4th 17
1969 Lotus 49T PUK
Ret
LEV
Ret
WIG
2
TER
2
LAK
4
WAR
11
SAN
6
5th 16

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-driver Car Class Laps Pos. Class
pos.
1958 United Kingdom Team Lotus United Kingdom Cliff Allison Lotus XV-Climax S 2.0 3 DNF DNF
1959 United Kingdom Team Lotus Australia Derek Jolly Lotus XV-Climax S 2.0 119 DNF DNF
1960 West Germany Porsche KG Sweden Jo Bonnier Porsche 718/4 RS S 2.0 191 DNF DNF
1961 United States North American Racing Team United Kingdom Stirling Moss Ferrari 250 GT SWB GT3.0 121 DNF DNF
1962 United Kingdom David Brown Organisation United States Richie Ginther Aston Martin DP212 Exp 4.0 78 DNF DNF
1963 United Kingdom Owen Racing Organisation United States Richie Ginther Rover-BRM ACO Prize 310 (8th)* (1st)*
1964 United Kingdom Maranello Concessionaires Sweden Jo Bonnier Ferrari 330P P 4.0 344 2nd 2nd
1965 United Kingdom Owen Racing Organisation United Kingdom Jackie Stewart Rover-BRM P 2.0 284 10th 2nd
1966 United Kingdom Alan Mann Racing Australia Brian Muir Ford GT Mk.II P 7.0 110 DNF DNF
1972 France Equipe Matra-Simca Shell France Henri Pescarolo Matra-Simca MS670 S
3.0
344 1st 1st
  • 1963 Rover-BRM ran for the ACO prize for a gas turbine car covering a minimum of 3600 km, not officially classified.

Complete British Saloon Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DC Pts Class
1958 Speedwell Stable Austin A35 A BRH BRH MAL BRH BRH CRY BRH BRH
Ret
BRH NC 0 NC
1960 Team Speedwell Jaguar Mk II 3.8 +2600cc BRH SNE MAL OUL SNE BRH
Ret*
NC 0
Austin Mini Seven BRH
Ret
BRH
1961 Equipe Endeavour Jaguar Mk II 3.8 D SNE GOO
2
AIN SIL
1
CRY SIL
2
BRH OUL
2
SNE 6th 28 3rd
1962 John Coombs Jaguar Mk II 3.8 D SNE
3
GOO
1
AIN
1
SIL
1
CRY AIN BRH
Ret
OUL
1
4th 32 2nd
1963 John Coombs Jaguar Mk II 3.8 D SNE
2
OUL
1
GOO
1
AIN
1
SIL
Ret
CRY
3†
SIL BRH
2
BRH 3rd 49 1st
John Willment Automobiles Ford Galaxie OUL
2
SNE
1967 Team Lotus Ford Cortina Lotus C BRH
2
SNE
4
SIL
3
SIL
Ret
MAL SIL SIL BRH
Ret
OUL
Ret†
BRH 10th 24 2nd
1968 Alan Mann Racing Ford Escort TC C BRH THR SIL CRY MAL BRH SIL CRO OUL
Ret
BRH BRH NC 0 NC
Source:

† Events with 2 races staged for the different classes.

  • Car over 1000cc - Not eligible for points.

Complete Canadian-American Challenge Cup results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pos Pts
1966 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet MTR
BRI
MOS
LAG
RIV
3
LVG
9th 4
Source:

Credits and honours

Hill's easy wit and charm helped him become a television personality, notably on the BBC show Call My Bluff with Patrick Campbell and Frank Muir. For a number of years in the early 1970s he appeared as one half of a double act, with Jackie Stewart, as an insert within the BBC Sports Personality of the Year show. In June 1975 he appeared alongside his son, Damon Hill, on the popular television programme Jim'll Fix It. His appearance was later rebroadcast as part of the twentieth anniversary celebrations of the programme in January 1995, with Damon presenting a new segment at the end.

Hill was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1968 Birthday Honours for services to motor racing. In 1990, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

A one-off BBC Four documentary called Graham Hill: Driven was first broadcast on 26 May 2008.


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