Another year rolls on through, and it is another year for the infamous moustache to start gracing the upper lips of more people than is normally deemed socially acceptable. However, this annual return of the cult classic moustache heralds an important month for mental health awareness – Movember!
Over the years, Movember, and their annual month of fundraising, known as Men's Health Awareness Month has grown into one of the leading organisations globally, supporting men to combat mental health issues, suicide, testicular cancer and prostate cancer, and to help do our part, here at Driving Experience, we wanted to celebrate three of the greatest moustached men of motorsport and the cars they drove to success.
While the surname 'Hill' normally evokes memories of Damon Hill storming to a Formula 1 Championship title, it was his father, Graham, who achieved something which no other driver has achieved since: winning motorsports famous Triple Crown - a victory at Indianapolis 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Monaco Grand Prix.
Rather than focus on all three cars he drove, we decided to hone in on the one that delivered Graham Hill a place in motorsport legend, the Matra Simca MS670 which he drove at Le Mans.
The MS670 was engineered purely for the purpose of succeeding at the Circuit de la Sarthe. Early on, Matra decided that it would sit out all the races during the season except Le Mans to help focus their efforts, the opposite of Ferrari, who competed – and dominated - in every race apart from Le Mans.
What Matra produced was worth the effort though: a 3 litre, V12 capable of 195mph down the Mulsanne straight. Unstoppable, and untouchable.
Graham Hill, who was heading quickly towards the twilight of his career at the time, was given the nod to help bring victory home. What he delivered was a perfect demonstration of the car's precision and power, with himself and his co-driver, Henri Pescarolo, taking victory by 11 laps.
With his signature bushy upper-lip companion, Rosberg achieved a milestone that any Formula 1 driver dreams of – becoming a World Champion. The year was 1982, and the car was the Williams FW08.
The Williams FW08 was a formidably reliable machine, and it was the catalyst that propelled Keke Rosberg to the pinnacle of motorsport. The car, designed by Neil Oatley, boasted a Cosworth DFV V8 engine and was renowned for its distinctive ground-effect aerodynamics.
Rosberg's racing season itself was a true test of skill and consistency because the 1982 Formula One season was one of the most unpredictable and chaotic seasons in the sport's history, with various drivers and teams vying for supremacy.
With his swashbuckling style, the moustached Finn only managed to secure one race win during the season, but his sheer determination and unwavering focus meant that throughout the season he picked up enough points to be top of the pile once all the dust had settled.
Our final stop on this journey through moustached motor legends brings us to the early '90s, a time when Formula 1 was graced by one of its most colourful characters, Nigel Mansell. Mansell's upper-lip ornament was as iconic as his racing style and the car that took him to the pinnacle of Formula 1 success was the Williams FW14B.
The Williams FW14B, was equipped with a Renault V10 engine and an advanced active suspension system that provided unmatched performance and handling. During the 1992 championship-winning season, his most notable win was probably the iconic race at his home track, Silverstone, where he dominated all weekend. Such was the emphatic manner of his victory, that the British crowd stormed the track following the chequered flag and forced him to stop his car during his in-lap.
With his trademark moustache and fearless driving, Mansell secured nine race wins during the season, earning himself a reputation as one of the most daring and flamboyant drivers of his era.
Visit our Racing Car Driving Experiences page today to book yourself onto an incredible experience in a selection of bonafide racing cars to follow in the footsteps of our moustached motoring legends through dates on our Racing Car Experience Calendar or purchase of our Gift Vouchers. Please also visit the Movember website for more information on how to show your support for Men’s Health Awareness Month.
