Biography

After becoming the United Kingdom's first Formula One World Champion (1958), he announced his retirement, having been profoundly affected by the death of his friend and teammate Peter Collins in the 1958 German Grand Prix. In a sad irony, Hawthorn died in a road accident 3 months later.

Introduced fellow race car driver David Blakely to Ruth Ellis. Despite being engaged to another woman, Blakley began an affair with Ellis, which ended when she shot and killed him on April 10, 1955 (in a bizarre coincidence, Hawthorn's 26th birthday). Ellis was executed for it 3 months and 3 days later.

Ex-Formula One racing driver, who raced for: Leslie Hawthorn (1952 (4 GPs)), Archie Bryde (1952 (1 GP)), Ferrari (1953 (8 GPs)-1954 (8 GPs)-1955 (3 GPs), 1957 (6 GPs)-1958 (10 GPs)), Vanwall (1955 (2 GPs)-1956 (1 GP)) and BRM (1956 (2 GPs)). He started 45 Grands Prix, 3 Wins, 4 Pole Positions, 6 Fastest Laps, 18 Podiums and 127.64 Points.

By winning the French Grand Prix in 1953, Mike Hawthorn became the first British driver to win a GP race in the new World Championship.

In 1955 Hawthorn won the Le Mans 24 Hours, a race that was marred by tragedy when 83 spectators and one driver were killed when a car crashed into the crowd.