John Michael Hawthorn was a British racing driver. He became the United Kingdom's first Formula One World Champion driver in 1958, whereupon he announced his retirement, having been profoundly affected by the death of his teammate and friend Peter Collins two months earlier in the 1958 German Grand Prix. Hawthorn also won the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, but was haunted by his involvement in the disastrous crash that marred the race. Hawthorn died in a road accident three months after retiring.
Vanwall was a motor racing team and racing car constructor that was active in Formula One during the 1950s. Founded by Tony Vandervell, the Vanwall name was derived by combining the name of the team owner with that of his Thinwall bearings produced at the Vandervell Products factory at Acton, London. Originally entering modified Ferraris in non-championship races, Vanwall constructed their first cars to race in the 1954 Formula One season. The team achieved their first race win in the 1957 British Grand Prix, with Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks sharing a VW 5, earning the team the distinction of constructing the first British-built car to win a World Championship race. Vanwall won the inaugural Constructors' Championship in Formula One in 1958, in the process allowing Moss and Brooks to finish second and third in the Drivers' Championship standings, winning three races each. Vandervell's failing health meant 1958 would be the last full season; the squad ran cars in a handful of races in the following years, but finished racing in 1961.
The 1955 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Spa-Francorchamps on June 5, 1955. It was race 4 of 7 in the 1955 World Championship of Drivers. The 36-lap race was won by Mercedes driver Juan Manuel Fangio after he started from second position. His teammate Stirling Moss finished second and Ferrari driver Nino Farina came in third.
The 1958 Formula One season was the 12th season of Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1958 World Championship of Drivers which commenced on 19 January 1958, and ended on 19 October after eleven races. This was the first Formula One season in which a manufacturers title was awarded, the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers being contested concurrently with the World Championship of Drivers with the exception of the Indianapolis 500 which did not count towards the Cup. Englishman Mike Hawthorn won the Drivers' title after a close battle with compatriot Stirling Moss and Vanwall won the inaugural Manufacturers award from Ferrari. Hawthorn retired from racing at the end of the season, only to die three months later after a road car accident. It was the first of only two occasions in Formula One history where a driver won the championship having won only one race in the season, the other being Keke Rosberg in 1982.
The 1957 Formula One season was the 11th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1957 World Championship of Drivers which commenced on 13 January 1957 and ended on 8 September after eight races. Juan Manuel Fangio won his fourth consecutive title, his fifth in total, in his final championship. A feat that would not be beaten until Michael Schumacher in 2003. The season also included numerous non-championship races for Formula One cars.
The 1956 Formula One season was the tenth season of FIA's Formula One motor racing. It featured the seventh World Championship of Drivers as well as numerous non-championship races. The championship series commenced on 22 January 1956 and ended on 2 September after eight races. Juan Manuel Fangio won his third consecutive title, the fourth of his career. Until the 2006 season, this was the last season during which no British constructor won any championship race.
Henry O'Reilly "Harry" Schell was an American Grand Prix motor racing driver. He was the first American driver to start a Formula One Grand Prix.
Peter John Collins was a British racing driver. He was killed in the 1958 German Grand Prix, just weeks after winning the RAC British Grand Prix. He started his career as a 17-year-old in 1949, impressing in Formula 3 races, finishing third in the 1951 Autosport National Formula 3 Championship.
Charles Anthony Standish Brooks was a British racing driver also known as the "Racing Dentist". He participated in 39 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 14 July 1956, achieving six wins, 10 podium finishes and 75 career points. He was third in the World Drivers' Championship in 1958 with Vanwall and second in 1959 with Ferrari. He also scored the first win by a British driver in a British car in a Grand Prix since 1923, driving a Connaught at Syracuse in 1955 in a non-championship race.
Stuart Nigel Lewis-Evans was a British racing driver from England. He participated in 14 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 19 May 1957. He achieved two podiums, and scored a total of 16 championship points. He also achieved two pole positions.
The 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix, formally the VII Grand Prix International Automobile du Maroc, was a Formula One motor race held at Ain-Diab Circuit, Casablanca on 19 October 1958, after a six-week break following the Italian Grand Prix. It was race 11 of 11 in the 1958 World Championship of Drivers and race 10 of 10 in the 1958 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. It is the only time Morocco has hosted a World Championship Grand Prix.
The 12th BRDC International Trophy was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 14 May 1960 at the Silverstone Circuit, England. The race was run over 50 laps of the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit, and was won by British driver Innes Ireland in a Lotus 18. The race was marred by the death of experienced American driver Harry Schell in a violent accident during practice in wet conditions.
The 8th BRDC International Trophy was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 5 May 1956 at Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire. The race was run over 60 laps, and was won by a lap by British driver Stirling Moss in a Vanwall. Moss also took pole, and shared fastest lap with BRM driver Mike Hawthorn.
The 7th BRDC International Trophy was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 7 May 1955 at Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire. The race was run over 60 laps, and was won by British driver Peter Collins in a Maserati 250F. Collins also shared fastest lap with Maserati driver Roy Salvadori, who was on pole position for the start of the race.
The 6th BRDC International Trophy meeting was held on 15 May 1954 at the Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire. The race was run to Formula One regulations, and was held over two heats of 15 laps each, followed by a final race of 35 laps. Argentinian driver José Froilán González, driving a Ferrari 625, set fastest qualifying lap, won his qualifying heat and the final, and also set fastest lap.
The 3rd Glover Trophy was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 11 April 1955 at Goodwood Circuit, West Sussex. The race was run over 21 laps, and was won by British driver Roy Salvadori in a Maserati 250F. Salvadori also set fastest lap. Stirling Moss, also in a Maserati 250F, started from pole position.
The 3rd CurtisTrophy was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 29 May 1955 at Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk. The race was run over 10 laps, and was won by British driver Roy Salvadori in a Maserati 250F. Salvadori also set fastest lap and started from pole position.
The 3rd London Trophy was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 30 July 1955 at Crystal Palace Circuit, London. The race was run over two heats of 10 laps and a final of 15 laps, and was won by British driver Mike Hawthorn in a Maserati 250F. Hawthorn started from pole position in Heat 1 and set fastest lap in the heat, and also in the final. Vanwall driver Harry Schell started from pole position in Heat 2 and set fastest lap in that heat. Schell was second in the final and Roy Salvadori in a Maserati 250F was third.
The 3rd Daily Record Trophy was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 6 August 1955 at Charterhall Circuit, Berwickshire. The race was run over two heats of 15 laps and a final of 20 laps, and was won by British driver Bob Gerard in a Maserati 250F. Horace Gould and Louis Rosier were second and third, also in 250Fs. Gerard and Rosier shared fastest lap.
The 2nd Daily Express Trophy was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 3 September 1955 at Aintree Circuit, Merseyside. The race was run over 17 laps, and was won by British driver Roy Salvadori in a Maserati 250F. Salvadori also set fastest lap, and Stirling Moss was on pole position in a 250F but retired with engine problems. Bob Gerard was second in a Cooper T23-Bristol and Horace Gould third in another 250F.
Stirling Moss 
