Grand Prix Insider

23/3/1981, Michael Stanley Bailey Hailwood dies.

Diferently from John Surtees, Mike Hailwood raced in parallel on wo as well as on four wheels. As motorcycle racer “Mike the Bike” won a total of 10 World Championships in motorcycle racing, including five consecutive 500cc titles as well as three 250cc titles and a further two in 350cc. He first tried his hand in F1 in 1963 driving a Reg Parnell-run Lotus and reappeared on occasion in 1964 and 1965 before concentrating on bikes and only occasionally taking part on Endurance races, winning a couple of those events. It was only from 1969 on he had another go on his four-wheel-career and after three years in Formula 5000, John Surtees gave him another chance in F1 with a third car towards the end of 1971. And Mike showed great promise with a 2nd place at the Italian GP. In 1972 he raced in F1 and F2 for Surtees, winning the European F2 Championship and having several promising performances in F1 including battling for the lead in South Africa with Jackie Stewart until he retired with a rear suspension failure. The following year he won the George Medal and the Prix Rouge et Blanc Jo Siffert for bravery for rescuing Clay Regazzoni from the burning wreckage of his car at the South African Grand Prix but the rest of the year proved to be frustrating although he shared victory with Derek Bell in the Spa 1000 in a Mirage-Ford sports car. For the 1974 season he moved to McLaren, driving a third car in Yardley colours until a big accident at the Nürburging left him with both ankles broken and his right knee badly damaged. The accident ended his motor racing career but in 1978 he made a sensational return to bike racing to win the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man for the 13th time. Sadly he was killed in a road accident with his daughter Michelle, only son David survived.

Born: 2nd of April 1940 in Great Milton, Oxfordshire, UK.
Died: 23rd of March 1981 near Birmingham, UK, aged 40.