STIRLING MOSS lived his life in the fast lane.
One of the most iconic racing drivers of his age, Moss was an inductee to the Motosport Hall of Fame and was active from 1948 to 1962.
Sir Stirling Moss is one of Britain’s most famous sportsmanCredit: AP:Associated Press
The racing community is in mourning after he passed away on April 12, with his wife Lady Susie Moss saying he’d completed ‘one lap too many’.
How old was Stirling Moss?
MOSS rose to fame following the Second World War and began his racing career in 1948.
His father was an amateur racer and had competed in the Indianapolis 500, although Albert wanted young Stirling to follow in his footsteps and become a dentist.
But racing was where his passion lay and Moss soon demonstrated his ability with numerous wins at national and international level.
He won a total of 212 of the 529 races he entered in his 14-year career, with his first Formula One triumph at the 1955 British Grand Prix.
Moss spent ten years racing in Formula One and was the first Brit to win the British GPCredit: Getty – Contributor
Leading a clean-sweep for Mercedes, Moss’ victory at Aintree was the first ever home GP triumph by a British driver.
In his F1 career, Moss would go on to take 16 chequered flags, while appearing on the podium 24 times.
His last foray in Formula One came at the 1951 US Grand Prix, where he was forced to retire from the race despite starting at No3 on the grid.
And his professional racing career was all but ended in 1962 following a crash at Goodwood which put him in a coma.
He did however continue to race in historic cars and legend events for more than thirty years.
Moss was born in West Kensington on September 17, 1929 and was knighted in 2000.
At the time of his death, he was 90 years old.
Moss continued to race in legend events right up until he was almost 80 years oldCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
What was the F1 legend’s cause of death?
THE racing world has been saddened by the passing of one it’s true greats.
Moss’ wife was at his bedside as he passed away in the early hours of Easter Sunday following a long illness.
Stirling had retired from public life in January 2018 after undergoing lengthy rehabilitation for a serious chest infection he contracted more than two years earlier.
His wife Susie told the Daily Mail: “He died as he lived, looking wonderful.
“He simply tired in the end and he just closed his beautiful eyes and that was that.
“It was one lap too many. He just closed his eyes.”
He is survived by Susie – his third wife who he wed in 1980 – and two children.
How many World Championship’s did he win?
MOSS’ achievements on the race track made him a firm fan favourite.
And as the first Brit to win a home Grand Prix, he’ll always be regarded as Formula One royalty.
The one prize that alluded Moss during his illustrious career was the F1 World Championship.
He never won the prize and has subsequently been described as the ‘greatest driver never to win’ the title.
SunSport’s Ben Hunt describes Moss as “charming, eccentric and one of the greatest drivers of all time”.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
