Thursday 24th March 2022

FORMULA 1’S UNSUNG PIONEERS: The story of the British Racing Partnership and how it launched motorsport into the modern era  Book review by Peter Baker

I’ve known author Ian Wagstaff over a number of years; believe me, when it comes to recording motorsport history, nobody does it better. His groundwork is laboriously old-school, and exemplary, and when looking for the required inspiration and calm, Ian trots north to his remote Scottish island cottage, switches off his phone and simply gets on with it.

So what we have here is a superb, 300-page detailed history of the British Racing Partnership (BRP), better known perhaps as Yeoman Credit Racing; a team created by Ken Gregory (Manager to Stirling Moss) and Alfred Moss (father of Stirling) way back in 1958, when drivers still drank pre-race pints in the paddock bar, smoked cigarettes and gave fellow drivers a thumbs up whilst waiting for the flag to fall. I was only 12 years old.

Just 12 months on the team, sponsored by Shell and BP, allowed them to purchase a pair of very competitive Cooper T51s, to be driven by double Le Mans winner Ivor Bueb and George Wicken, soon replaced by a 21-year-old Chris Bristow. Interestingly, the Cooper F2s were fitted with Borgward engines. At Goodwood in early 1958, Bueb finished 10th, while at the slightly later Crystal Palace meeting he was up to second, with Wicken, in his last race, fourth.

After Ivor was killed at Clermont-Ferrand, I guess the story was always going to revolve, quite rightly, around Stirling Moss. After all, it was Moss who introduced the team to Formula One, even managing to finish second in the 1959 British Grand Prix at Aintree, driving their BRM. Some achievement. However, young Bristow was also doing well against the likes of works drivers, Jack Brabham and Bruce McLaren, by winning the coveting John Davy Trophy at Brands Hatch.

Change came in mid-1959 when Gregory brokered one of the sports first ’proper’ sponsorship deals, and BRP became known officially as the Yeoman Credit Racing Team. The same year Moss won the F2 Championship. On Friday 13 May, team driver Harry Schell died practicing at Silverstone. Bristow followed him after a horrendous crash at Spa. Motor racing was then a very dangerous game. At the Silver City Trophy Brands Hatch meeting, Yeoman entered four cars. It was another step up the ladder for BRP.

Fast forward. Yeoman Credit Racing re-branded as Bowmaker, continued sponsorship until the end of 1960, then walked away. Gregory, however, far from being depressed, excelled himself by persuading United Dominion Trust to pick up the bills from 1961. The team became officially known as UDT-Laystall and, for the first time, included Le Mans in its race programme.

I could go on and on about this book, but won’t. Except to say, that on 23 April 1962 Moss, driving the BRP, UDT-Laystall-entered Lotus V8 prepared by Alf Francis, had the mother of all accidents at Goodwood that was to end his Formula One career.

What happened next? Did BRP succeed at Indianapolis, and when did the British Racing Partnership finally close its doors? Well, that’s for me to know, and you to find out. Which I think you’ll really enjoy doing. Purchase this book, then Ian can buy himself some more peat to throw on the fire.

FORMULA 1’S UNSUNG PIONEERS: The story of the British Racing Partnership and how it launched motorsport into the modern era
Written by Ian Wagstaff
ISBN 978-1-910505-72-4
Published by EVRO Publishing
Price £95.00