Sir Stirling Moss has decided enough is enough and retired from competitive racing, bringing to an end a career that has spanned more than 60 years.

The 16-times Grand Prix winner made his decision after qualifying for the Le Mans Legends race on Thursday afternoon, admitting that he had been frightened.

Sir Stirling said: “This afternoon I scared myself and I have always said that if I felt I was not up to it or that I was getting in the way of fellow competitors, then I would retire.”

Sir Stirling was taking part in the Le Mans Legends race for cars that competed between 1949 and 1965, driving his own 1961 Porsche RS 61.

Although he raced there nine time he never won the 24 Hours, finishing runner-up on two occasions in 1953 and 1956, and his dislike of Le Mans was clearly expressed in his book, Le Mans ’59, an account of that year’s race, which ironically was won by the team he was driving with, Aston Martin.

“Perhaps we had better get one thing straight… I don’t like Le Mans”, he wrote, adding, “I wouldn’t drive there by choice. I think the whole race is far too dangerous.”

Aside from Le Mans, Sir Stirling enjoyed a stellar career in motor racing. Regarded as the greatest driver never to have won the F1 world championship, he collected a haul of silverware and honours most people could only dream of.

Sir Stirling’s career began at the age of 18 which was also the age when he won his first race, driving a Cooper JAP 500cc at Brough Aerodrome. He went on to win the British Grand Prix twice, the Monaco GP three times, the Mille Miglia, the Targa Florio and the Tourist Trophy, as well as many others.

Branching out into historic racing, Sir Stirling was a huge supporter of the Goodwood Revival and the familiar sight of his white period helmet was a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

One of the first to pay tribute was former F1 driver and BBC commentator, Martin Brundle, who raced alongside Sir Stirling in the Audi British Touring Car team.

Brundle tweeted: “I’m hearing that Sir Stirling Moss, my 1981 team mate and good friend has declared he is retiring from race driving at 81. Legend.”

Source: http://uk.autoblog.com/2011/06/09/sir-stirling-moss-retires-from-racing/

F1 Greats – Stirling Moss