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The Racing Years starts with 1950, and the first World Drivers' Championship. Pre-war stars were challenged by a new breed of drivers from Europe Britain and South America like Argentina's Juan Manual Fangio.

1950

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The Racing Years is the first ever race-by-race, week-by-week, month-by month summary of all the major international motorsport races with every Grand Prix, Le Mans, Mille Miglia covered. Travel with us around the world as we revisit the excitement, glory, close-calls, heartaches and milestones from the start of the World Championship to the mid 197

The Racing Years

Series 1

Revisit the excitement, glory, close-calls, heartaches and milestones of

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99 To Beat

100 contestants go head-to-head in a range of simple, quirky and hilarious games.

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99 to Beat

In 1951 Grand Prix promised to be a showdown between Alfa Romeo's Alfetta 159s driven by defending world champion Nino Farina, Juan Manuel Fangio and Felice Bonetto, and the Ferrari 375's of Alberto Ascari, Jose Froilan Gonzalez and Luigi Villoresi.

1951

In 1952 there was a crisis in Grand Prix racing. Alfa Romeo retired, which left Ferrari as F1 contenders. Race organisers decided that Formula 2 offered more entertainment, so by default it became the World Championship Formula!

1952

In Grand Prix 1953 there's a fierce struggle between two Italian teams, Ferrari and Maserati. England's Mike Hawthorn joins Alberto Ascari and Nino Farina at Ferrari. After recovering from an accident Juan Manuel Fangio is back at Maserati.

1953

1954 was a pivotal racing year, with a new Formula One using 2.5 litre engines. Mercedes were preparing for their return to Grand Prix racing, and Juan Manuel Fangio was to join when the cars were ready mid-year.

1954

1955 was a pivotal year in motorsport history. In Grand Prix, Juan Manuel Fangio was back to defend his world championship for Mercedes. Alongside in the W196 was rising British driver Stirling Moss who'd proven his ability in 1954 with Maserati.

1955

In 1956, with Mercedes' withdrawal from motorsport, World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio thought of retiring and returning to Argentina. Unfortunately in September 1955 the Libertarian Revolution took place and unseated the government of General Peron.

1956

The racing year of 1957 saw the defending World Champion Juan Manual Fangio return to Maserati. He and Enzo Ferrari didn't get on particularly well, and the Argentinian decided to continue his career with the Trident, replacing Stirling Moss.

1957

1958 saw a battle between British drivers Mike Hawthorn, Stirling Moss, Peter Collins and Tony Brooks. Ferrari with the Dino 246 and Vanwall were the favoured teams with BRM and Cooper nipping at their heels and Lotus a Formula One newcomer.

1958

In Grand Prix 1959 the front runners were expected to be Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Tony Brooks and Roy Salvadori. Mike Hawthorn retired after winning the 1958 World Championship, as had Constructor's Cup winners Vanwall.

1959

The 1960s dawned with the Formula One scene firmly centred on Britain. Defending world champion Jack Brabham and Stirling Moss continued their duel in 1960 as Lotus and Cooper became the front running cars. Ferrari was now the only non-British team.

1960

In the 1961 Grand Prix there's a new 1.5 litre formula. Ferrari was well prepared with the distinctive sharknose 156. In sports cars it was Italy versus Germany, Ferrari versus Porsche.

1961

In 1962 British teams BRM and Lotus, and British drivers Graham Hill and Jim Clark are to the fore. Double world champion Jack Brabham left Cooper to set up his own team, and John Surtees joined Yeoman Credit Lola.

1962

The Racing Year is 1963. Graham Hill in the BRM and Jim Clark in the Lotus were the main contenders.

1963

1964 was the highpoint of Swinging '60s Britain. In racing that was shown by the number of British drivers and teams taking on the lone Italian Ferrari. The Scuderia turned to John Surtees to lead them back to competitiveness.

1964

It's 1965, the final year of the 1.5 litre Formula One. Jim Clark and Lotus had an ambitious programme with Grand Prix racing...

1965

In 1966 there was a return to power in Grand Prix Racing Jack Brabham was best prepared with his Repco engined Brabhams dominating the season.

1966

In 1967 Formula One was hotting up.  Could  Jack Brabham retain his championship or would the new Ford Cosworth powered Lotus of Jim Clark be a winner.

1967

1968 was a pivotal year in motor racing. It showed the brutal human cost of the sport with Jim Clark and three other GP drivers losing their lives during the season.

1968

In 1969 Jackie Stewart was in unstoppable form in his Cosworth powered Matra. The Scot's challengers were Jochen Rindt, Denny Hulme, Bruce McLaren, Graham Hill and new Brabham driver Jacky Ickx. Ickx featured in the closest ever finish at Le Mans.

1969

In 1970 a new decade has dawned with increasing interest and commercial sponsorship of Formula One, and more European and South American drivers taking on the big names Stewart, Ickx and Brabham.

1970

In 1971, with the loss of Jochen Rindt and the retirement of Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart was in the ascendancy driving his dark blue Tyrrell. New rivals were emerging - Brazil's Emerson Fittipaldi and Sweden's Ronnie Peterson the most notable.

1971

1972 and the rivalry between Lotus' Emerson Fittipaldi, Tyrrell's Jackie Stewart  and Ferraris Jacky Ickx and Clay Regazzoni was at its most intense. The F1 championship took in 12 rounds.

1972

1973 was Jackie Stewart's final season, and he was determined to go out on a high note. F1 was growing with 15 races and two new teams Shadow and Ensign to replace Matra.

1973

1974 saw many changes in Formula One. Emerson Fittipaldi left Lotus for McLaren, Niki Lauda and Clay Regazzoni are at Ferrari and Frank Williams continued his battle to stay in the sport. The racing is as competitive as ever.

1974

1975 and the final season in this series of The Racing Years. Niki Lauda and Ferrari's new 312T combined perfectly. Le Mans was dubbed the 'economy run' but as usual there was plenty of drama as the race unfolded between the Mirages and Ligiers.