Graham Hill- The One & Only Driver with the Triple Crown of Motorsport

Full name	Norman Graham Hill
Profession	Formula One driver
Years active	1958 – 1975
No. of championships	2
Nationality	British

Graham Hill, a race car driver from London who also owned his own team in F1, is considered by many as one of the greatest drivers of his generation. His determination, pride and courage were some qualities that made him stand out from other drivers.

An extrovert with a quick wit, Hill loved the limelight and was a natural entertainer. He was one of the first Formula One stars very popular in the media. Loved by fans and praised by critics, Hill died during an airplane crash while returning from a testing session.

Other than Formula One racing, Graham Hill also participated in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans and was a fine rower as well. From starting a career as a Lotus mechanic, the journey of Hill’s life to become the only winner of the Triple Crown of Motorsport was really inspiring.

Graham Hill Personal Biography

Date of birth	15 February 1929
Place of birth	Hampstead, London, England
Date of death	29 November 1975
Place of death	Arkley, Barnet, England
Gender	Male
Marital status	Married
Spouse	Bette Hill
Children	Brigitte Hill, Samantha Hill, Damon Hill
Parents	Norman Herbert Devereux Hill, Constance Mary Philip

Graham Hill was born in north London on February 15, 1929, to stock broker Norman Herbert Devereux Hill and his wife Constance Mary Philip.

Hill attended Hendon Technical College and started his career in Formula One as a mechanic.

In 1955, Graham married Bette and together the couple had two daughters and a son.

His son, Damon Hill is also a former Formula One driver and one-time winner of the World Driver’s Championship.

Racing Career Highlights

• Graham Hill made his Formula One debut at the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix with team Lotus.
• However, the Lotus cars were unreliable and not fast enough to win Formula One title.
• In 1960, Hill switched to BRM and won the world championship with the team two years later in 1962.
• In 1967, he came back to Lotus and won his second world championship in 1968.
• Hill kept driving in Formula One races till his death in 1975 but was unable to score another title in his name.
• With his 5 wins at the Monaco Grand Prix, considered one of the toughest race car tracks in Formula One, Hill became popular as Mr. Monaco.
• The only driver to beat his record win at the Monaco Grand Prix is none other than the racing legend Ayrton Senna.
• In 1973 Hill set up his own Formula One team, Embassy Hill Racing but after the death of its members in a plane crash the team merged with Hesketh Racing and Williams.
• Graham Hill and his son Damon Hill were the first father-son duo to win driver’s titles at the Formula One World Championships.

Formula One World Championship career

Active years	1958 – 1975
Teams	Lotus, BRM, Brabham, Hill
Entries	179
Starts	176
Championships	2 (1962, 1968)
Wins	14
Podiums	36
Pole positions	13
Fastest laps	10
Career points	270
First entry	1958 Monaco Grand Prix
First win	1962 Dutch Grand Prix
Last win	1969 Monaco Grand Prix
Last entry	1975 Monaco Grand Prix

Triple Crown of Motorsport

• Hill is most celebrated for being the only driver ever to win the Triple Crown of Motorsport.
• The Triple Crown of Motorsport is winning the Indianapolis 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Monaco Grand.
• Alternatively, winning the Indianapolis 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Formula One World Championship is also considered as the Triple Crown.
• By either definition, Hill is the winner of this honor.
• Hill won the Indianapolis 500 in 1966, 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1972, Monaco Grand Prix in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968 & 1969 and the Formula One World Championship in 1962 and 1968.

Plane Crash & Death

• On 29 November 1975, Hill died when his aircraft crashed near Arkley in London while he was returning from a car-testing session in France.
• Along with Hill, the other five other members of his racing team, Embassy Racing, also died.
• Although it is considered that the crash was caused due to pilot error, no strict conclusions could be drawn from investigations.
• Graham’s death left his family on the brink of poverty and his son, Damon, another celebrated F1 driver was forced to work as a laborer and a motorcycle courier.

Frequently Asked Questions