British Grand Prix - triumphs and disasters
09 July 2007 The British crowd has seen thrilling battles and magnificent home wins as well as disappointing defeats in past years. Trackside's Keith Collantine picks the best and the worst of past British Grands Prix. If the home crowd were disappointed by Lewis Hamilton's third place behind Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso yesterday, they certainly didn't show it. British Grand Prix thrillers Smash and grab, 1981 The crowd at the 1981 Grand Prix were pessimistic about the prospects of a home win. Ulsterman John Watson was fifth on the grid - but the front row was locked out by the powerful turbo Renaults. They were expected to run away with the race on the fast Silverstone circuit. Sure enough Frenchmen Alain Prost and Rene Arnoux scampered off into the lead. But a multiple crash took out a raft of drivers and Watson emerged through the wreckage and smoke into third place. He chased after the Renaults – and one by one they broke down. He seized the lead from Arnoux’s ailing car with a handful of laps to go and gave the delighted crowd an unexpected home win. Mansell-mania, 1987 In the 1980s the British Grand Prix was all about Red Five - Nigel Mansell in his Williams-Honda. But the 1987 race at Silverstone didn’t start according to plan. Mansell’s team mate Nelson Piquet took the lead as the Briton languished 20 seconds behind after a stop for new tyres. Undaunted, Mansell hacked away at Piquet’s lead, breaking the lap record time and again, until he had his prey in sight. He took the lead, and the win - and when he ran out of fuel on his victory lap the crowd ran onto the track and mobbed him. Battle royale, 2003 Disaster was narrowly averted in 2003 when a spectator ran onto the circuit. A quick thinking marshal floored the man and the safety car came out to control the race. The remainder of the event was a feast of wheel-to-wheel overtaking and exciting racing seldom seen in modern F1. Rubens Barrichello capped a scintillating race by passing Kimi Raikkonen to win in the dying stages. British Grand prix disappointments Washout 1, 1975 An enormous downpour late in the 1975 race at Silverstone produced one of the most bizarre results seen at any race. Brazil’s Emerson Fittipaldi took the win as the race was stopped due to an enormous multi-car crash. Fellow Brazilian Carlos Pace was second despite his Brabham being tangled in the wreckage. So was Jody Scheckter’s third-placed Tyrrell and 11 other cars that had technically finished the race… I predict a riot, 1976 There was more chaos the following year at Brands Hatch when the race was stopped after a crash at the first corner. As the teams prepared for the restart the PA system crackled into life and told the crowd that home favourite James Hunt would not be starting due to an infringement. The crowd booed and jeered and, fearing a riot, the organisers quickly reinstated Hunt. He won the race – but the following week was disqualified again. Hunt had the last laugh, though – winning the championship at the final race of the year. Washout 2, 2000 Bernie Ecclestone, head honcho of F1, is a very clever – and very rich – man. But even the best make mistakes, as was proved when he decided to move the British Grand Prix to April. The result was an event that looked more like Glastonbury. The race was trouble free but it was sheer misery for the spectators - many of whom missed much of the event as they trudged through sodden fields having abandoned their cars in the mud. The race returned to its traditional summer slot the following year. Auto Trader links Hamilton vows Ferrari fight at British GP
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