1958 F1 World Championship
Luigi Musso and Peter Collins Died in Formula 1 Accidents
The battle for the 1958 Formula 1 World Championship developed into an all British affair, between Ferrari’s Mike Hawthorn and Vanwall’s Stirling Moss. During the summer the sport would e rocked by the loss of two top drivers.
Hawthorn Wins at Reims and Musso Dies
Hawthorn started the French Grand Prix from pole, on the tremendously fast Reims circuit. His team-mate Luigi Musso was alongside in second place and, during the race they ended up running at the front, with Hawthorn ahead. On one of the track’s fast, sweeping corners Musso pushed too hard. His Ferrari landed into a ditch and somersaulted to destruction. Italy’s best racing driver was mortally wounded.
Hawthorn went on to win the race from Moss, but there were no podium celebrations. Wolfgang von Trips had an impressive race, finishing third for Ferrari, while Juan-Manuel Fangio managed fourth place despite being without a clutch for much of the race. The great Argentinean decided to retire after the race and never again competed in a Grand Prix. Peter Collins was fifth in his Ferrari and Jack Brabham sixth in the innovative Cooper.
Collins Scores Home Win in British Grand Prix
Despite only qualifying sixth fastest at Silverstone Collins proved to be unbeatable come race day. He took the lead on lap one and steadily pulled away. For a while Moss lay second, until his Vanwall’s engine ceased to function. This left Hawthorn in second place, but a long way behind his friend and team-mate. Roy Salvadori finished third, ahead of Stuart Lewis-Evans, Harry Schell and Brabham.
Collins Killed in German Grand Prix Crash
Hawthorn produced the fastest lap in qualifying to take pole at the Nurburgring, with Tony Brooks second on the grid and Moss third. Collins started from fourth place in his Ferrari.
Moss led for the opening laps, but his Vanwall was sidelined by magneto failure. Collins then held first position in front of Hawthorn, but Brooks was closing on the Ferrari drivers at a rapid rate. He was soon past Hawthorn and set off after Collins. Once into the lead Brooks tried to pull away, but Collins was in no mood to give up. At one corner he got his line slightly wrong, resulting in a massive accident which left him fatally injured. His great friend Hawthorn, following behind, witnessed the whole thing. Cruelly, Hawthorn was informed after his retirement from the race that Collins was not too badly hurt, but this was not the case.
The race went on and it was won by Brooks, with Salvadori a very long way back in second. Monaco winner Maurice Trintignant finished third, ahead of von Trips. Bruce McLaren was fifth and Edgar Barth sixth, both drivers competing in the Formula 2 class run as part of the Grand Prix.
Cooper T45 rear-engined F1 car
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