Graham Hill

Norman Graham Hill popularly known as Mr Monaco was a British racing driver and team owner, born on 15 February 1929 in Hampstead, London. Hill attended Hendon Technical College and joined Smiths Instruments as an apprentice engineer. He was conscripted into the Royal Navy and served as an Engine Room Artificer (ERA) on the light cruiser HMS Swiftsure, rising to the rank of petty officer. After leaving the Navy he rejoined Smiths Instruments. Hill was the Formula One World Champion twice, winning in 1962 and 1968.

Hill was the runner up on three occasions (1963, 1964 and 1965). Despite not passing his driving test until 1953 when he was already 24 years of age, and only entering the world of motorsports a year later, Hill would go on to become one of the greatest drivers of his generation. Hill died on 29 November 1975 at the controls of his Piper PA-23 Aztec twin-engine light aircraft when it crashed near Arkley in the London Borough of Barnet, while on a night approach to Elstree Airfield in thick fog.

Graham Hill before F1 

Before taking up motor racing, Hill spent several years actively involved in rowing. Initially, he rowed at Southsea Rowing Club, while stationed in Portsmouth with the Royal Navy and at Auriol Rowing Club in Hammersmith. In 1952 he joined London Rowing Club, then as now one of the largest and most successful clubs in Great Britain. From 1952 to 1954, Hill rowed in twenty finals with London, usually as stroke of the crew, eight of which resulted in wins. He also stroked the London eight in the highly prestigious Grand Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, losing a semi-final to Union Sportif Metropolitaine des Transports, France by a length.

In 1968 when the club began a financial appeal to modernize its clubhouse, Hill launched proceedings by driving an old Morris Oxford, which had been obtained for £5, head-on into a boundary wall.  The car was subsequently sold for £15. Hill did not pass his driving test until he was 24 years old, and he himself described his first car as “A wreck. He had been interested in motorcycles. He made his debut in a Cooper 500 Formula 3 car and was committed to racing thereafter. Hill joined Team Lotus as a mechanic soon after but quickly talked his way into the cockpit.

F1 Debut and Team

Hill joined Team Lotus as a mechanic soon after but quickly talked his way into the cockpit. The Lotus presence in Formula One allowed him to make his debut at the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix, retiring with a half shaft failure. In 1960, Hill joined BRM, he won also in that year on 8 May 1960 the Targa Florio in the class Sports 1600 together with a German driver Edgar Barth in a Porsche 718, and won the world championship with BRM in 1962. 

In 1967, back at Lotus, Hill helped to develop the Lotus 49 with the new Cosworth-V8 engine. It fell to Hill to perform the initial testing of the new car and its engine. After the first shakedown run, Hill quipped “Well, it’s got some poke! Not a bad old tool.” After teammates Jim Clark and Mike Spence were killed in early 1968, Hill led the team, and won his second world championship in 1968.

Formula 1 Career Stats

Read more: Damon Hill

Graham Hill Net Worth

According to the reports, Graham Hill net worth is approximately $1.5 Million. Graham is one of the richest Race Car Drivers & listed on most popular Race Car Drivers. Hill has made most of his wealth with help of motor racing. He made a handsome amount of money through his salary during his days in Formula one.

Who is Graham Hill’s Wife

The British driver was Married to Beete Shubrook. The couple got married in 1955. Hill had spent all his money on his racing career, so Bette had to pay for the wedding. They had two daughters, Brigitte and Samantha, and a son, Damon, who himself later became Formula One World Champion. The family lived in Mill Hill during the 1960s. The house now features an English Heritage blue plaque. During the early 1970s, Hill moved to Lyndhurst House in Shenley in Hertfordshire.

Brand Endorsements

Lotus 

BRM 

Brabham