Today, Adrian Newey is widely recognised as an F1 design genius, with his cars having been driven to 14 drivers’ world titles, 12 constructors’ titles, and more than 220 Grand Prix victories. But where did his extraordinary talent for designing (and engineering) racing cars come from? That’s the topic of the latest episode of And Colossally That’s History, which delves into the roots of Newey’s unprecedented success.Matt and Richard share incredible tales from Newey’s youth which foreshadow the man he’d become, including the time he used ingenuity and a rules loophole to avoid punishment at school. There’s also plenty of chat about Newey’s career before his big breakthrough with Williams in the early 1990s, such as the transformational work he did in sports prototypes, the period he spent race engineering a pair of Indycar legends, his disastrous first foray into Grand Prix racing, and the giant-killing successes with F1 minnows Leyton House that caught Patrick Head's attention. Along the way you’ll learn how Adrian acquired and honed the skills and design preferences that would later make him the most valuable technical brain in the F1 paddock. Oh, and listen out for Matt's anecdote about the amazing declaration former McLaren boss Ron Dennis once made to him about Newey…Want to get the end-of-season Colossally bonus episode and every episode ad-free? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today - we even have an 'F1-only' tier! Check out the new Colossally items in The Race Shop - members get a 15% discount! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Bruce McLaren story: A life measured in achievement, not in years alone
Colossally is back, and Matt and Richard are kicking off season 4 with an in-depth look at the extraordinary life of Bruce McLaren, the man who founded and gave his name to this year's constructors' world champions, but who possibly remains a bit of an enigma to some modern F1 fans, having died in 1970.In this episode we trace Bruce's remarkable journey to motor racing immortality, explaining how a humble boy from New Zealand, who spent much of his youth confined to bed with a debilitating hip disorder, rose to the top of global motor racing, first as a Grand Prix-winning driver and then as a race-winning team owner and constructor.Along the way Matt and Richard discuss the defining moments of Bruce's racing career, explain the origins of his team's famous papaya livery, and assess the attributes that made him special, not just a driver, but as an engineer and leader of men.The impact of Bruce's untimely death, resulting from a crash while testing in 1970, is also covered in poignant detail, with Matt sharing a pair of anecdotes that illustrate how a shell-shocked McLaren team grittily persevered after his passing and how Bruce's legacy has been honoured by those who've led the team in the modern era. Want to get the end-of-season Colossally bonus episode and every episode ad-free? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today - we even have an 'F1-only' tier! Check out the new Colossally items in The Race Shop - members get a 15% discount! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Coming soon - And Colossally That's History: Season 4!
If you’ve missed your weekly fix of Colossally, fear not because Matt and Richard will shortly return with Season 4 of the podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Motor racing’s first superstar: The legend of Tazio Nuvolari
On the final episode of season 3, Richard and Matt wax lyrical about a driver whose name might be unfamiliar to many motor racing fans, but who could be regarded as the sport's first bonafide superstar: Tazio Nuvolari.Matt and Richard explain how, in the pre-war era of Grand Prix racing, Nuvolari became the embodiment of everything a racing driver was supposed to be: A virtuoso and a daredevil, who stirred the emotions in a way that crossed national boundaries. There are stories of his great rivalries, his relationships and associations with Enzo Ferrari and (more controversially) Benito Mussolini, plus numerous accounts of his famous driving technique, which included being the originator of the four-wheel drift.And of course there's also plenty of chat about the famous drives that secured Nuvolari's legendary status, including the one where, in obsolete machinery, he defeated the all-conquering German cars in Hitler's backyard, and the one witnessed by a 14-year-old Murray Walker in 1938, which left such an impression on the legendary commentator that the Italian would forever remain his favourite driver.Matt and Richard will be bringing members an exclusive Q&A episode on Patreon, where they'll answer questions on each of the topics covered. Join on Patreon today - we even have an 'F1-only' tier! 🚨 NEW MERCH ALERT! If you love Colossally AND in particular Anorak Facts, we've got a new t-shirt and notebook design you'll love! 🚨 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mika Hakkinen: F1's 'luckiest' champion?
On this week's episode of And Colossally That's History! Richard Williams and Matt Bishop look back on the career of Mika Hakkinen, and in particular how he was able to overcome - thanks to a considerable slice of good luck - the devastating crash in 1995 that so nearly took his life to become a double Formula 1 world champion. Along the way, Matt and Richard explain what made Hakkinen - widely regarded as one of the quickest drivers of his generation, and a man who often went toe-to-toe with and beat Michael Schumacher in the late 1990s and early 2000s - such a special talent.They also look back on the dreadful crash in Adelaide in 1995 that would ordinarily have ended Hakkinen's career, if not his life, describing the incredible work done by the medical team on-site, and the remarkable bravery and tenacity show by Hakkinen in the aftermath.Matt also shares some great anecdotes about the time he spent with Hakkinen in his glory days, post-accident, when Matt was writing about the Finn as a magazine editor. He discusses what Mika told him after that legendary overtake on Schumacher at Spa in 2000, and he describes - in hilarious detail - what happened when Mika took him rally driving on a frozen lake the morning after a heavy night drinking vodka...Matt and Richard will be bringing members an exclusive Q&A episode at the end of Season 3, where they'll answer questions on each of the topics covered. Join on Patreon today and get 75% off your first month - we even have an F1-only tier! 🚨 NEW MERCH ALERT! If you love Colossally AND in particular Anorak Facts, we've got a new t-shirt and notebook design you'll love! 🚨 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
And Colossally That’s History! (the name a reference to a famous line of Murray Walker commentary) is the podcast that takes an unadulterated look at the earth-shattering events, epic sagas and huge characters that have shaped motor racing history. From Grand Prix racing as a tool of the Nazi war machine to how Ayrton Senna’s death shaped modern F1, hosts Matt Bishop and Richard Williams will discuss and dissect these topics as only they can, bringing new insight and fresh perspectives that help explain how motor racing moved from niche past-time to the multi-billion-dollar sporting spectacle of today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Australia