Peter Collins (racing driver)
Born | Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England | 6 November 1931||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Died | 3 August 1958 Bonn, Germany | (aged 26)||||||||||
Formula One World Championship career | |||||||||||
Nationality | British | ||||||||||
Active years | 1952 – 1958 | ||||||||||
Teams | HWM, Vanwall, Maserati, Ferrari | ||||||||||
Entries | 35 (32 starts) | ||||||||||
Championships | 0 | ||||||||||
Wins | 3 | ||||||||||
Podiums | 9 | ||||||||||
Career points | 47 | ||||||||||
Pole positions | 0 | ||||||||||
Fastest laps | 0 | ||||||||||
First entry | 1952 Swiss Grand Prix | ||||||||||
First win | 1956 Belgian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
Last win | 1958 British Grand Prix | ||||||||||
Last entry | 1958 German Grand Prix | ||||||||||
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Peter John Collins (6 November 1931 – 3 August 1958) was a British racing driver from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England. Son of a transporter scion, he was a fast, varied and extremely honourable driver, who in all likelihood, would’ve ended as a World Champion, had he not been killed in the 1958 Großer Preis von Deutschland, 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.
Early life and racing career
Collins was born on 6 November 1931. He grew up in Mustow Green, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England. The son of a motor garage owner and haulage merchant, Collins became interested in motor vehicles at a young age. He was expelled from school at 16 due to spending time at a local fairground during school hours. He became an apprentice in his father's garage and began competing in local trials races.
In common with many British drivers of the time, Collins began racing in the 500 cc category (adopted as Formula 3 at the end of 1950), when his parents bought him a Cooper 500 from the fledgling Cooper Car Company.[1] Success for Collins started once he switched to the JBS-Norton in 1951. Those small vehicles, powered by Norton motorcycle engines, were also the proving ground of many of Collins' F1 contemporaries including Stirling Moss.
His breakthrough came, away from the track, when at a party hosted the great pre-war lady racer, Kay Petre, Collins managed to inveigle himself with John Wyer, the team principal at Aston Martin, earning his test drive at Silverstone. During that test, Aston were joined by the Formula 2 team, HWM – and by the time the teams were preparing to leave, Collins had a contract with both.[2]
At HWM, he was part of a three-car team with Lance Macklin and Moss, and they took in most of the F2 races in Britain and in Europe. Collins showed in speed but the underfinanced HWM-Alta rarely finished a race. His best result was second place in the Grand Prix des Sables d’Olonne.[3] Collins got his Formula One break in 1952, with HWM when he replaced Moss.[1] His best result in a World Champion event was sixth in the Grand Prix de l’ACF at Rouen-Les-Essarts.[4]
Results did not come the team's way, and Collins left after the 1953 season. He wasn’t known for his technical knowledge, Collins was happy to have his mechanics set up his car, and he simply drove it, with his consummate natural skill. This was seen in 1954, when Tony Vandervell signed Collins to drive the fearsome "Thinwall Special". The potent machine was a crowd pleaser at Formula Libre events. He was also amongst the first to handle the "Vanwall Special" on the world stage, where he only finishing seventh, in the Grand Premio d’Italia [5]
After being a constant thorn in BRM’s side, he joins the team for 1955. While the prepare the BRM P25, he races a Maserati 250F belonging to team owner, Alfred Owen, winning the BRDC International Trophy and the London Trophy. These results lead to a drive with the works Maserati, in the Gran Permio d’Italia.[1][6]
Meanwhile, he had better luck in sportscars. Throughout the first half of the 1950s, Collins was a stalwart performer for the Aston Martin team, scored a sensational victory at the 1952 Goodwood Nine Hours race.[1] The following year, he took the Aston Martin DB3S he shared with Pat Griffith to victory in the RAC Tourist Trophy at Dundrod.[7] Further successes include second places in an Aston Martin DB3S at Le Mans in 1955 and 1956 with Paul Frère and Moss respectively.
Later career
For the 1956 season, he signed by Ferrari on the strength of a superb drive in the previous year’s Targa Florio, in which he partnered Moss to victory in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR.[1] This proved to be a turning point, with a solid second-place finish behind Moss at the Grand Prix Automobile de Monaco,[8] and wins at the Grote Prijs van Belgie [9] and Grand Prix de l’ACF.[10] In those early days at Ferrari, Collins earnt the unstinting admiration of Enzo Ferrari, devastated by the untimely death of his son, Dino, and who turned to Collins for solace, treating his as a member of the family.[11]
Indeed, Collins was on the verge of becoming Britain's first F1 World Champion when he handed his Lancia-Ferrari D50 over to team leader Juan Manuel Fangio after the latter suffered a steering-arm failure toward the end of the Gran Premio d’Italia at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Collins eventually finished second, but the advantage handed to Moss, and the extra points gained by Fangio's finish, demoted Collins to third place in the championship.[12] Collins' selfless act gained him respect from Enzo Ferrari and high praise from Fangio: "I was moved almost to tears by the gesture... Peter was one of the finest and greatest gentlemen I ever met in my racing career." [13]
Meanwhile, in sports cars, he finished second in a Ferrari 860 Monza in the Mille Miglia [14] and at the Swedish Sports Car GP in a Ferrari 290MM with Wolfgang von Trips in 1956;[15] and then in 1957 finished 2nd in the Internationales ADAC 1000 Kilometer Rennen auf dem Nürburgring with Olivier Gendebien [16] and won the Gran Premio de Venezuela with Phil Hill, all in a Ferrari 335 S.[17] Finally, in 1958 he won the 1000 km Buenos Aires [18] and 12 hours of Sebring in a Ferrari 250 TR with Phil Hill. These three were back-to-back. His last World Sports Car Championship podium was another second place at the ‘Ring with Mike Hawthorn.
Also in 1956, Collins moved to Monaco to avoid compulsory military service in the British Army and thus continue his racing career.[19]
In January 1957, Collins married American actress Louise King, daughter of the executive assistant to UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold,[20] and the couple took up residence on a yacht in Monaco harbour. In the same year, Collins was joined at Ferrari by Hawthorn.[1] The two became very close friends, even arranging to split their winnings between each other, and together engaged in a fierce rivalry with fellow Ferrari driver Luigi Musso.[21] However, despite a third-place finish at the Groβer Preis von Deutschland,[22] Ferrari were disadvantaged for much of the season as the 801 model (an evolution of the 1954 Lancia D50) was overweight and underpowered. Collins did score some wins that season, taking victory in the non-championship Gran Premio di Siracusa [23] and Gran Premio di Napoli.[24]
1958 saw the introduction of the new, improved Ferrari Dino 246 and results started to improve for Scuderia Ferrari. Although achieving few results in the first half of the season, Collins improved and won the non-championship BRDC International Trophy, at Silverstone.[25] However, Enzo Ferrari felt Collins was distracted by his supposed playboy lifestyle. The Monaco yacht where he lived was considered a perpetual party by Ferrari who thought Collins was distracted and no longer focused on driving and developing sports cars.
Collins was sacked by Ferrari after deliberately damaging the clutch in his car, which he shared with Mike Hawthorn during the 24 heures du Mans rather than race in a rainstorm, and was found drinking in a pub in England before the end of the race.
Ferrari relented and allowed Collins to drive an F2 car until the end of the season. At Reims, Hawthorn refused to start unless Collins was allowed to start in a F1 car. He did, and finished fifth. Ferrari immediately sacked Collins again. Hawthorn responded by flying to Italy and storming the Ferrari headquarters in Modena. Having smashed down locked doors, Mike Hawthorn told Enzo Ferrari he would not drive for him again unless Collins was given his Formula One seat again. Ferrari relented.
Following Musso death at Reims, Enzo was left without one of his top drivers, and so Collin’s position was for now safe. At Silverstone during the RAC British Grand Prix, Collins achieved perhaps his greatest drive. Under team orders and desiring to help his friend Hawthorn win the Championship, Collins led from the start, running flat out in an effort to beat the Vanwall of Moss. Although in an inferior car to the main contenders, by driving on the limit for 45 laps Collins gradually pulled away from Moss until his Vanwall expired and Collins won.[1][26] The Ferrari team management decided not to slow Collins down and flag Hawthorn through to the win after Collins' great drive. Moss' future patron, Rob Walker, told Collins after the race, that he found Collins' drive frightening and he should never drive like that again. It was his third and final career victory. That season he also took a third place in Grand Prix Automobile de Monaco.[27]
Death
During the 1958 Groβer Preis von Deutschland at the Nürburgring, whilst chasing Tony Brooks' Vanwall, Collins had a fatal crash. After pushing hard to keep pace, Collins went into the Pflanzgarten section of the circuit too quickly causing his Ferrari to run wide, encountering a ditch. Collins lost control, flipped into the air and landed upside down. In Tony Brooks' autobiography he recalled that he drove harder in that race, in the duel with Collins and Hawthorn, than ever in his life, but similar to previously when duelling with Fangio, the Ferrari pair were passing and repassing only on the safer North and South curves.[28]
When the car somersaulted, Collins was thrown and he struck a tree, sustaining critical head injuries.[1] Despite hospital treatment Collins died later in the afternoon.[2] His death was almost identical to the fate which his Ferrari team mate Luigi Musso suffered. Team mate Mike Hawthorn was so disturbed by Collins' death that he retired from racing immediately after winning the 1958 Driver's Championship. Hawthorn himself died during the following year after an automobile accident on the A3 bypass near Guildford, Surrey, England.
Rivalry with Luigi Musso
Many years after the death of Peter Collins, Fiamma Breschi, Luigi Musso's girlfriend at the time of his death, revealed in a television documentary entitled The Secret Life of Enzo Ferrari the rivalry between team-mates Collins, Hawthorn and Musso. Breschi recalled that the antagonism between Musso and the two English drivers encouraged all three to take risks:
"The Englishmen (Hawthorn and Collins) had an agreement," she says. "Whichever of them won, they would share the winnings equally. It was the two of them against Luigi, who was not part of the agreement. Strength comes in numbers, and they were united against him. This antagonism was actually favourable rather than damaging to Ferrari. The faster the drivers went, the more likely it was that a Ferrari would win."[21]
Racing record
Career highlights
Complete World Drivers Championship results
(key; * shared drive)
Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | WDC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1952 | HW Motors | HWM 52 | Alta | SUI Ret |
500 | BEL Ret |
FRA 6 |
GBR Ret |
GER DNS |
NED | ITA DNQ |
NC | 0 | |||
1953 | HW Motors | HWM 53 | Alta | ARG | 500 | NED 8 |
BEL Ret |
FRA 13 |
GBR Ret |
GER | SUI | ITA | NC | 0 | ||
1954 | G A Vandervell | Vanwall Special | Vanwall | ARG | 500 | BEL | FRA | GBR Ret |
GER | SUI | ITA 7 |
ESP DNS |
NC | 0 | ||
1955 | Owen Racing Organisation | Maserati 250F | Maserati | ARG | MON | 500 | BEL | NED | GBR Ret |
NC | 0 | |||||
Officine Alfieri Maserati | Maserati 250F | Maserati | ITA Ret |
|||||||||||||
1956 | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari 555 | Ferrari | ARG Ret |
3rd | 25 | ||||||||||
Lancia-Ferrari D50 | Ferrari | MON 2* |
500 | BEL 1 |
FRA 1 |
GBR 2 * |
GER Ret * |
ITA 2 * |
||||||||
1957 | Scuderia Ferrari | Lancia-Ferrari D50 | Ferrari | ARG 6 * |
9th | 8 | ||||||||||
Ferrari 801 | Ferrari | MON Ret |
500 | FRA 3 |
GBR 4 * |
GER 3 |
PES | ITA Ret |
||||||||
1958 | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari Dino 246 | Ferrari | ARG Ret |
MON 3 |
NED Ret |
500 | BEL Ret |
FRA 5 |
GBR 1 |
GER Ret |
POR | ITA | MOR | 5th | 14 |
Non-Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1952 | Aston Martin Ltd. | Lance Macklin | Aston Martin DB3 | S3.0 | DNF Accident | ||
1953 | Aston Martin Ltd. | Reg Parnell | Aston Martin DB3S | S3.0 | 16 | DNF Accident | |
1954 | David Brown | ”Bira” | Aston Martin DB3S | S3.0 | 137 | DNF Accident | |
1955 | Aston Martin Ltd. | Paul Frère | Aston Martin DB3S | S3.0 | 302 | 2nd | 1st |
1956 | David Brown | Stirling Moss | Aston Martin DB3S | S3.0 | 299 | 2nd | 1st |
1957 | Scuderia Ferrari | Phil Hill | Ferrari 335 S | S3.0 | 2 | DNF Engine | |
1958 | Scuderia Ferrari | Mike Hawthorn | Ferrari 250 TR 58 | S3.0 | 112 | DNF Clutch |
Complete 12 Hours of Sebring results
Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1953 | Aston Martin, Ltd. | Geoff Duke | Aston Martin DB3 | S3.0 | 52 | DNF Accident damage | |
1954 | Aston Martin, Ltd. | Pat Griffith | Aston Martin DB3S | S3.0 | 26 | DNF Brakes | |
1956 | David Brown & Sons, Ltd. | Stirling Moss | Aston Martin DB3S | S3.0 | 51 | DNF Gearbox | |
1956 | Ferrari Factory | Maurice Trintignant | Ferrari 315 S | S5.0 | 198 | 6th | 5th |
1958 | Scuderia Ferrari | Phil Hill | Ferrari 250 TR 58 | S3.0 | 200 | 1st | 1st |
Complete Mille Miglia results
Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Pos. | Class Pos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1953 | Aston Martin Lagonda | Mike Keen | Aston Martin DB3 | S+2.0 | 16th | 10th |
1954 | David Brown | Pat Griffith | Aston Martin DB3S | S+2.0 | DNF Accident | |
1955 | Aston Martin Ltd. | Aston Martin DB3S | S+2.0 | DNF Con rod | ||
1956 | Scuderia Ferrari | Louis Klementaski | Ferrari 860 Monza | S+2.0 | 2nd | 2nd |
1957 | Scuderia Ferrari | Louis Klementaski | Ferrari 335 S | S+2.0 | DNF Drive shaft |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Peter Collins | | F1 Driver Profile | ESPN.co.uk". En.espn.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ a b Posted by scarf&goggles (20 December 2014). "The racing driver's bride | The Scarf & Goggles Social Club". Scarfandgoggles.wordpress.com. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "Formula 2 1952 - Les Sables d'Olonne". Formula2.net. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "French GP, 1952 Race Report - GP Encyclopedia - F1 History on". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Italian GP, 1954 Race Report - GP Encyclopedia - F1 History on". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Italian GP, 1955 Race Report - GP Encyclopedia - F1 History on". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Tourist Trophy 1953". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Monaco GP, 1956 Race Report - GP Encyclopedia - F1 History on". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Belgian GP, 1956 Race Report - GP Encyclopedia - F1 History on". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "French GP, 1956 Race Report - GP Encyclopedia - F1 History on". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Archive Home". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Italian GP, 1956 Race Report - GP Encyclopedia - F1 History on". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ Nigel Roebuck. "Fangio: Interview with a legend". AUTOSPORT.com. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ^ a b "Racing Sports Cars : Mille Miglia". Racingsportscars.com. 29 April 1956. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "1956 Swedish Grand Prix". Teamdan.com. 12 August 1956. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ a b "Racing Sports Cars : Nurburgring 1000 Kilometres". Racingsportscars.com. 26 May 1957. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Racing Sports Cars : GP Venezuela". Racingsportscars.com. 3 November 1957. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Racing Sports Cars : Buenos Aires 1000 Kilometres". Racingsportscars.com. 26 January 1958. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ Peter Collins Asked Me To Marry Him The Shuttle, 7 August 2008
- ^ M.Cannell. The Limit: life and death in formula one's most dangerous era. London, Atlantic, 2011, p135
- ^ a b Williams, Richard, Richard Williams Talks to Fiamma Breschi, the Woman Behind Enzo Ferrari, The Guardian, 22 January 2004
- ^ "German GP, 1957 Race Report - GP Encyclopedia - F1 History on". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ a b "Formula 1 1957 - GP di Siracusa, 07.04". Formula2.net. 8 September 2005. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ a b c "1957 Non-World Championship Formula One Races". Silhouet.com. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "1958 BRDC International Trophy". ChicaneF1.com. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "British GP, 1958 Race Report - GP Encyclopedia - F1 History on". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Monaco GP, 1958 Race Report - GP Encyclopedia - F1 History on". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ Brooks, Tony (2012). Poetry in Motion: Autobiography of a supreme Grand Prix driver. Croydon: Motor Racing Publications. ISBN 978-1-899870-83-7.
- ^ a b c d "500 Owners Association". 500race.org. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Racing Sports Cars : Goodwood 9 Hours". Racingsportscars.com. 16 August 1952. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Formula 2 1952 - Final Tables". Formula2.net. 1 April 2000. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Racing Sports Cars : Tourist Trophy". Racingsportscars.com. 5 September 1953. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Racing Sports Cars : 9 hour Goodwood". Racingsportscars.com. 22 August 1953. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ [2] [dead link]
- ^ a b Darren Galpin. "1954 Formula Libre Races". Teamdan.com. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ a b "Formula 1 1954 - Goodwood Trophy, 25.09". Formula2.net. 13 October 2005. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ [3][dead link]
- ^ "Racing Sports Cars : Aintree International". Racingsportscars.com. 2 October 1954. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ [4][dead link]
- ^ a b c Darren Galpin. "1955 Formula Libre Races". Teamdan.com. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "1955 BRDC International Trophy". ChicaneF1.com. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Racing Sports Cars : Targa Florio". Racingsportscars.com. 16 October 1955. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Racing Sports Cars : Le Mans 24 Hours". Racingsportscars.com. 12 June 1955. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Racing Sports Cars : 9 Hour Goodwood". Racingsportscars.com. 20 August 1955. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Racing Sports Cars : Oulton Park International". Racingsportscars.com. 27 August 1955. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ Pleijsier, Leopold (3 June 1956). "Results 1956 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Belgium". F1 Fansite. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Racing Sports Cars : Supercortemaggiore". Racingsportscars.com. 24 June 1956. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ Pleijsier, Leopold (1 July 1956). "Results 1956 Formula 1 Grand Prix of France". F1 Fansite. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ Pleijsier, Leopold (13 May 1956). "Results 1956 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Monaco". F1 Fansite. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ [5][dead link]
- ^ "Racing Sports Cars : Le Mans 24 Hours". Racingsportscars.com. 29 July 1956. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Racing Sports Cars : Sveriges Grand Prix". Racingsportscars.com. 12 August 1956. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ Pleijsier, Leopold (2 September 1956). "Results 1956 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Italy". F1 Fansite. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ [6][dead link]
- ^ Darren Galpin. "1956 Non-World Championship Formula One Races". Silhouet.com. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ [7][dead link]
- ^ "Racing Sports Cars : GP Sverige". Racingsportscars.com. 11 August 1957. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Racing Sports Cars : 1000 Kilometre Buenos Aires". Racingsportscars.com. 20 January 1957. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ Pleijsier, Leopold (4 August 1957). "Results 1957 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Germany". F1 Fansite. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Results 1957 Formula 1 Season". F1 Fansite. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ [8] [dead link]
- ^ [9] [dead link]
- ^ "Formula 2 1958 - International Trophy". Formula2.net. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ [10][dead link]
- ^ [11][dead link]
- ^ "Racing Sports Cars : Nurburgring 1000 Kilometres". Racingsportscars.com. 1 June 1958. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Formula 2 1958 - Reims". Formula2.net. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ [12][dead link]
- ^ "Results 1958 Formula 1 Season". F1 Fansite. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
Further reading
- Ed McDonough Peter Collins: All About the Boy. Merican Manuals Ltd. ISBN 978-1903088432
External links
- 1931 births
- 1958 deaths
- 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers
- Brighton Speed Trials people
- English expatriates in Monaco
- English Formula One drivers
- English racing drivers
- Ferrari Formula One drivers
- Hersham and Walton Motors Formula One drivers
- Vanwall Formula One drivers
- Maserati Formula One drivers
- World Sportscar Championship drivers
- Mille Miglia drivers
- 12 Hours of Sebring drivers
- People educated at Bromsgrove School
- People from Kidderminster
- People from Worcestershire
- Racing drivers killed while racing
- Sport deaths in Germany