Moss formally retires at 88 following illness

2018 F1 season

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Stirling Moss, winner of 16 Formula One grands prix and four-times runner up in the world championship, has announced his retirement from public life.

The 88-year-old’s decision was revealed by his son Elliot on his official website.

“To all of his many friends and fans around the world, who use this website for regular updates, my father would like to announce that he will be closing it down,” the Moss family announced.

“Following his severe infections at the end of 2016 and his subsequent slow and arduous recovery, the decision has been made that, at the age of 88, the indefatigable man will finally retire, so that he and my mother can have some much deserved rest and spend more time with each other and the rest of the family.”

“The entire and extended Moss clan thank everyone for all their love and support over the years and we wish you all a happy and prosperous 2018.”

Moss spent over a hundred days in hospital in Singapore from the end of 2016 until mid-2017 following a chest infection.

He raced in F1 between 1951 and 1961, during which time he became one of the sport’s most well-known figures. In addition to his grand prix successes he won several other major races including the 1955 Mille Miglia.

However a serious crash in the 1962 Glover Trophy race at Goodwood led him to retire from racing. He continued to participate in historic events and races until 2011.

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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12 comments on “Moss formally retires at 88 following illness”

  1. I understand he have to retire from public life but a bit sad the website was taken down. Godspeed Mr. Moss!

  2. Indeed. The greatest driver never to win the F1 WDC but check out his sports car history. Some of his racing exploits were off the charts. However, as in most things in life, he could be an annoying so-and-so. Driving around London in the ‘60’s it wasn’t at all unusual to be cut up and cut off by Mr Moss in his Mini Cooper, usually with a good looking young lady in the passenger seat. To be honest though, in his prime, he’d have given any F1 driver you can name a run for his money and I mean any.

  3. I forgot to mention, I heard an intriguing story the other day which kind of brings Robert Kubica into the frame. The story was that the real reason Moss retired from professional motor racing was an insurance issue. Can anyone throw anymore light on that?

    1. I was fairly young at the time but it was reported that his career was heavily insured in case of a career ending accident and it was an all or nothing situation ( no partial payout for decreased activity/results) so SM chose the money over ego.

      1. That’s interesting. A couple of years back he (Moss) did say in an interview, that he felt he was nowhere near the same ability even when fully recovered. It was a serious head injury so I don’t doubt it and it also brings into focus Massa’s recovery from a quite horrific head injury for which I think he never received proper acknowledgement..

  4. God’s speed Sir Sterling Moss, Many thanks for your years in the limelight. I wish him many more happy ones with his family.

  5. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Stirling at both Goodwood and LeMans Classic and the memories that will stick with me are him in the D-Type sliding his way through chicane before the Dunlop bridge and him appearing next to me at Goodwood in the W196 as he made his way to the track, great to have seen him in action. He deserves his time out of the public eye relax, reflect and rejoice in his achievements.

  6. I think it’s definitely fair to call it a day at age 88. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that he’s always come across as a properly old school English Gentlemen and I really wish I’d been around to see him and Fangio race. Raw, dangerous, fast, close, glamorous. It would have been incredible to witness.

    I often think it’s very sad that exceptional lives aren’t usually celebrated properly until death. Hopefully this announcement will bring him some much deserved peace and quiet, as well as some nice testimonies from those who were inspired by him.

  7. Imagine Bernie Ecclestone making a likewise announcement. I would not believe it!

  8. John Ballantyne
    21st January 2018, 4:00

    You made it through, that’s all we wanted for you!

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