This doc does a Stirling job of showing us a golden age
VIEWED by many as one of the greatest racing drivers of all time, Sir Stirling Moss died in April of this year at the grand old age of 90. Moss flourished in the years many would class as the golden age of motorsport, those of the 1950s and early 1960s when cockpits were filled with racers as opposed to drivers and attitudes to safety meant far too many paid the ultimate price for chasing the chequered flag.
New documentary Stirling [Sky, NOW TV] gives us a rare glimpse of the man behind one of the most recognisable names in sport. One who over the course of 15 seasons drove in close to 500 races but who ultimately was never to be crowned world champion.
In a story told by those closest to him and greats from the world of F1, it is candid footage of the man himself which brings this film to life. Moss talks of his undying love for the track and the dangers attached; without danger he says ‘racing is like cooking without salt’.
He tells of challenges won and battles fought both on the track and off, competing alongside
Few can say they haven’t heard of Moss but the man behind that name has been less familiar
his hero, the great Juan Manuel Fangio, his rivalry with fellow British driver Mike Hawthorn and the crash that was to bring the curtain down on his career when aged just 33.
Offered a seat by Enzo Ferrari then having it taken away early in his career helped fuel Moss’ desire to prove the Italian giant wrong and led to him racing his way across the globe, winning for the likes of Mercedes, Maserati and Vanwall.
But the ultimate prize, the world title, was to escape him, in part due to a remarkable feat of sportsmanship. He lost to Hawthorn by one point in 1958 having earlier spoken up for his rival at an appeal after the Portuguese Grand Prix. Had he not, Hawthorn’s disqualification would have stood and the Ferrari man docked six points.
His racing days came to an end in brutal fashion at Goodwood in 1962 with a ‘shunt’ as he called it, that left Moss in a coma for six weeks, though his love for the sport never diminished.
Motorsport fan or not, there are few that can say they haven’t heard of Stirling Moss but the man behind that legendary name has been less familiar. This film helps redress the balance.