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Graham Hill

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Graham Hill was a famous British racing driver who loved the thrill of speed.

1962-08-05 Graham Hill, BRM - Hatzenbach (sw)
1962-08-05 Graham Hill, BRM - Hatzenbach (sw)

People often called him "Mr. Monaco" because he won the Monaco Grand Prix five times. This was a huge record that lasted for 24 years. He was a very successful driver in Formula One. Hill won two World Drivers' Championship titles during his career. He also won 14 different Grands Prix across 18 seasons. He was known for his skill and his great personality.

HillGraham19690801Lotus-Nordkehre
HillGraham19690801Lotus-Nordkehre

To be a great racer, Hill worked very hard on his cars. He was an apprentice engineer before he became a driver. He kept careful records of his car settings to stay fast. He even helped test and develop the Lotus 49 car. This car used a new Cosworth DFV engine to go faster. Hill was very detailed and worked long hours with his mechanics. He believed that learning to drive a bad car helped a driver learn poise and anticipation.

Hill's journey into racing started after he served in the Royal Navy.

1971 Race of Champions G Hill Brabham BT34
1971 Race of Champions G Hill Brabham BT34

He actually did not pass his driving test until he was 24 years old. He first tried racing in Formula Three at age 25. He started as a mechanic for the Lotus team. Soon, he moved from fixing cars to driving them in the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix. Before he focused on cars, he was a very good rower. He rowed for the London Rowing Club from 1952 to 1954. He even won eight finals while rowing for his crew.

Graham Hill achieved things that no other driver has done.

Graham Hill 1974 (cropped)
Graham Hill 1974 (cropped)

He won the Indianapolis 500 in 1966 using a Lola-Ford. In 1972, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Henri Pescarolo. These wins helped him complete the Triple Crown of Motorsport. He is still the only person to ever achieve this feat. During his career, he earned 13 pole positions and 10 fastest laps. He also finished on the podium 36 times in Formula One.

Graham Hill 1974 Race of Champions
Graham Hill 1974 Race of Champions

Hill's life was full of many different interests and connections. He was a popular man who loved throwing big parties. He even appeared on television to teach people about safe driving. He was so famous that the comedy group Monty Python made a joke about him. Later, he started his own team called Embassy Hill. His son, Damon Hill, also became a World Champion. This made them the first father and son to both win the title. In 1990, Hill was put into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:Chapman met Graham Hill op Zandvoort, Bestanddeelnr 920-3879.jpg
Chapman met Graham Hill op Zandvoort,...
File:1962-08-05 Graham Hill, BRM - Hatzenbach (sw).jpg
1962-08-05 Graham Hill, BRM - Hatzenbach (sw).jpg
File:HillGraham19690801Lotus-Nordkehre.jpg
HillGraham19690801Lotus-Nordkehre.jpg
File:1971 Race of Champions G Hill Brabham BT34.jpg
1971 Race of Champions G Hill Brabham BT34.jpg
File:Graham Hill 1974 (cropped).jpg
Graham Hill 1974 (cropped).jpg
File:Graham Hill 1974 Race of Champions.jpg
Graham Hill 1974 Race of Champions.jpg
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