And Colossally That’s History!

Matt and Richard round off season 2 of the pod with the second half of our mini-series on Bernie Ecclestone, the man who, as F1's long-term commercial rights holder, did more than anyone else to turn the sport into the global spectacle it is today.

Having charted his rise to power in part 1, on this episode, Matt and Richard reappraise what life was like with Bernie ruling the F1 paddock, for the most part alongside his old friend (and FIA president) Max Mosley.

They discuss how he took control of F1's commercial rights (or stole them, according to Ken Tyrrell), the tactics and methods he used to get what he wanted, how he was able to bring in huge revenue and grow the global fanbase, and the controversies that mired his tenure at the top.

Matt and Richard also reflect on Bernie's F1 legacy, and what they learned from the many times they interviewed and interacted with him over the years.

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We're rounding off season 2 of And Colossally That's History with a two-part mini-series on none other than Bernie Ecclestone, who, as Formula 1’s commercial rights holder, was F1’s most powerful individual for nearly 40 years. 

Matt and Richard discuss his humble origins, how he built his reputation and wealth in the used car and motorcycle trade, his early exploits in racing, and how he came to manage (and then have to deal with the painful loss of) two F1 drivers.

They also discuss his purchase of the Brabham F1 Team, his role in the Formula One Constructors' Association, and how he was able to build his reputation, influence and wealth so quickly.

Part 2, on Bernie's 30-plus year spell as F1's ringmaster in chief, coming next week!

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As many as 10 British drivers have become world champion since the inauguration of the Formula 1 world championship in 1950, but only one had the distinction of being the first person from his country to do so.

On today's episode of Colossally, Matt and Richard discuss the battle to become Britain's first F1 world champion, which occurred in 1958 and boiled down to a straight fight between two very different drivers: Mike Hawthorn and Stirling Moss.

They discuss why their head-to-head rivalry represented the beginning of fandom in Formula 1, the triumphs and tribulations each faced heading into 1958, the unique differences in their personalities and driving styles, and of course the need-to-know details on the 1958 season itself.

Along the way there are some amazing and little known nuggets shared, as well as several personal recollections from Matt and Richard of meetings with the great Moss.

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The latest episode of Colossally has a distinctly French flavour, as Matt and Richard look back on a golden age of French Formula 1 drivers.

Believe it or not, having endured a 13-year winless drought in Formula 1 between 1958 and 1971, France then produced 10 different F1 winners in 11 seasons in the 1970s and early 1980s - a remarkable achievement for the country that gave rise to Grand Prix racing.

Matt and Richard look back on the history of Grand Prix racing in France, before explaining why a school established by British was the driving force behind the French surge.

After that they discuss each of the golden generation in turn; names like Didier Pironi, Patrick Depailler, Jacques Laffite, Rene Arnoux and Alain Prost, before answering that all important question: Which of them did they like the best?

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On this episode, Matt and Richard explore the genius of one of Formula 1's most celebrated drivers: Gilles Villeneuve.

The unassuming French-Canadian only won six Grands Prix in his all-too-short career, but his reputation remains up there with the very best, and his legacy still looms large over the sport, not least because of his artistry behind the wheel and pure love of racing.

To help reappraise the Villeneuve legend, Matt and Richard have picked out three races from his F1 career which they use as jumping off points to discuss what made the late, great Ferrari star so revered by fans, and especially by Enzo Ferrari - even if some of Villeneuve's peers weren't always so effusive about his uncompromising approach to racing...

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With Andretti Global still trying (and currently failing) to gain a place on the F1 grid, Matt and Richard thought it was high time to look back at the American teams that have come and gone from Grand Prix motor racing over the years.

They tell the tale of the American upstarts who shocked the French establishment in the 1920s, explain the story of the billionaire named Lance (no, not that one) who hobnobbed with movie stars before starting his own team in the late 1950s, and look back on the rise and fall of the first iteration of Haas - a team completely unconnected to today's team of the same name that were powered by Krispy Kreme donuts!

Richard also provides his personal recollections of watching Dan Gurney win the first race for an American constructor at Spa in 1967, while Matt has another boatload of anorak facts about everyone from Scirocco to Shadow and Penske to Parnelli.

There's also chat about the previous time Michael Andretti was blocked from competing in Formula 1, the failed USF1 bid of 2010, and Ford's involvement in F1 via Jaguar Racing - so stand by for another Niki Lauda impression!

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On this episode, Matt and Richard wind the clock back to 1995 when McLaren shocked the sportscar establishment by winning the Le Mans 24 hours at its first attempt.

The guys reflect on McLaren's sportcar heritage, the origins and incredible pedigree of the organisation's somewhat confusingly named 'McLaren F1' road car, and why the Le Mans project came at a good time for the beleaguered Formula 1 operation.

They also dig into the details of the 24-hour race itself, explaining how a fleet of cars were prepared for the gruelling event and what success represented for McLaren in both the long- and short-term. Oh, and they also discuss which F1 driver paid more than $15m for a McLaren F1 of his own...

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This week Matt and Richard are winding the clock back to 1966 - a year when the worlds of Formula 1 and Hollywood collided with the on-location production of John Frankenheimer’s epic movie Grand Prix.

The film has received mixed reviews over the years, but what made it so interesting for motor racing fans back then - and what makes it such compelling viewing for modern fans today - is that although the story and characters are fictionalised, much of the action footage used in the film is genuine race footage, featuring genuine racing stars of the day.

Matt and Richard dive into the details of how the movie was produced amid the drama of a real Formula 1 season, how Frankenheimer convinced Enzo Ferrari to allow his cars in the film, and how innovative recording techniques (including some crazy camera cars) enabled Frankenheimer to make the staged racing sequences so authentic and immersive.

They also discuss Graham Hill's acting chops, give their views on the film's oft-criticised 'soap opera' storylines, debate whether lead actor James Garner could have cut it as a real racer, and explain which real-life drivers and real-life events were the inspiration for the movie’s characters and most dramatic moments.

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On this episode of the pod, Matt and Richard tell the remarkable story of Niki Lauda’s Monza comeback in 1976, which came just 40 days after the horrific F1 crash at the Nurburgring that nearly killed him.

It was described at the time by Jackie Stewart as “the most courageous thing I’ve ever witnessed in sport” - and all these years later, the nature of the comeback remains unparalleled in sporting terms. 

Listen in as Matt and Richard reappraise the events of August and September of 1976 through a modern lens, with the usual blend of anecdotes and story-telling along the way.

Want to go deeper? We wholeheartedly recommend these books, referenced in the show, for further reading:

To Hell and Back: An autobiography - Niki's fabulously frank autobiography

Niki Lauda: The Biography - Maurice Hamilton's definitive account of the three-time world champion's life and career

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And Colossally That's History! - the podcast that reappraises motor racing history - is back for a second season!

In episode 1, join Matt Bishop and Richard Williams as they embark on a critical reexamination of the remarkable Formula 1 'spygate' scandal of 2007, which centred around the transfer of confidential technical information between two engineers from F1’s biggest and most historic teams, Ferrari and McLaren. 

Matt (who was editor of F1 Racing Magazine at the time and in the paddock throughout 2007) and Richard (who was writing for the Guardian) explain how the saga unfolded, how personal tensions between McLaren boss Ron Dennis and FIA president Max Mosley pushed McLaren to the brink, and how the intense rivalry between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton sent the scandal into overdrive.

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Attention fans of motor racing history: Matt Bishop and Richard Williams will be returning shortly with Season 2 of And Colossally That's History!

Join them as they take an unadulterated look at the earth-shattering events, epic sagas and huge characters that have shaped the sport's past.

Season 2 begins with a bang, with a critical reexamination of the remarkable Formula 1 'spygate' scandal of 2007, featuring a whole host of behind-the-scenes stories and eye-popping personal recollections.  

To make sure you don’t miss that episode or any other, be sure to like, follow or subscribe on your podcast app of choice!

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On this episode (the final episode in season 1 of the podcast) Matt and Richard tell the tale of James Hunt and Hesketh Racing - perhaps the ultimate underdog success story in Formula 1 history.  

They explain how a small, privateer racing team with a crash-prone driver rose to prominence in the 1970s, culminating with them beating the might of Ferrari to take victory at the 1975 Dutch Grand Prix.

Their reputation is one of party loving playboys, but is that an entirely fair representation of the team?

In discussing that, Matt and Richard look at the back stories of the 'real racers' at the team's heart: Colourful founder Lord Alexander Hesketh, his equally colourful right-hand man, Antony 'Bubbles' Horsley, and the man they called 'Doc', designer Harvey Postlethwaite.

And there are also plenty of thoughts on James Hunt - a man whose reputation off-track, Matt and Richard argue, has led many to overlook (and underrate) his considerable talents as a driver.

And make sure you listen until the end to hear about Matt's remarkable run-in (or should that be near run-in?) with Hunt in 1993.

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On this episode, Matt and Richard remember several pioneering female drivers from the past; each an inspiring character who competed on equal terms with their male peers and who achieved, against the odds, some incredible things.  

Those discussed included Maria Theresa De Filippis (the first woman to compete in a world championship Grand Prix), Pat Moss (the talented rally driving sister of F1 star Stirling Moss), Lella Lombardi (the first woman to score an F1 point), Desire Wilson (the only woman to win an F1 race of any sort), Michele Mouton (a four-time world rally winner), Janet Guthrie (the first woman to qualify and compete in both Indy 500 and Daytona 500), and many more.

And after reappraising the past, Matt and Richard bring us up to the present to look at efforts to bring more female drivers into the sport, and they also ponder the age old question of whether female racers will ever become mainstays in F1 in the future.

NOTE: This podcast was recorded before Abbi Pulling's landmark British Formula 4 victory!

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For many motor racing fans, the month of May means one thing: The Indianapolis 500. Famously known as 'the greatest spectacle in racing', the Indy 500 captured American hearts from its inception in 1911 - but the race has also tantalised Europe's racing elite over the years, charmed by its big prize pot and unique challenge.

On this episode, Matt Bishop (journalist, editor, novelist and PR) and Richard Williams (journalist, author and broadcaster) take a look at the roots of oval racing and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway itself, before focusing on famous European incursions at the great American race.

Tune in for stories about the wine-drinking Frenchman who triumphed in 1913, Ferrari's ill-fated attempt at the 500 in 1952, Lotus' ultimately victorious campaign at The Brickyard in the 1960s, and much more. Plus, Matt gives us his personal recollections of working alongside Fernando Alonso during the Spaniard's fabulous (but fruitless) attempt at the 500 in 2017, and Richard takes us back to the early 1990s, when he witnessed first-hand Nigel Mansell's two participations at Indy in 1993 and 1994.

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Matt Bishop (journalist, editor, novelist and PR) and Richard Williams (journalist, author and broadcaster) are here to reappraise the past - and they'd love to have you along for the ride!

In the final episode of our trilogy marking the 30th anniversary of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, Matt and Richard look at the fallout and lasting legacy of F1's so-called blackest weekend, when both Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna were killed in action.

They discuss what happened at the next race on the calendar, in Monaco, when a crash in practice raised anxiety levels yet further, and left poor Karl Wendlinger in a coma. They also reflect on the safety changes made in the wake of Imola, both immediately (to cars and circuits) and in the long term.

Also, Richard reflects on attending the inquest into Senna's death in Italy, before he and Matt assess how Williams and Damon Hill were impacted by - and reacted to - the terrible Imola accident.

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Matt Bishop (journalist, editor, novelist and PR) and Richard Williams (journalist, author and broadcaster) are here to reappraise the past - and they'd love to have you along for the ride!

In the second part of our three-episode mini series, marking the 30th anniversary of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, Matt and Richard take a chronological look at the events of F1's so-called blackest weekend, when both Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna were killed in action.

It's been described as a weekend 'when God turned his back', and with good reason, with a series of terrible accidents unfolding one after the other over a period of three days. With personal reminiscences, Matt and Richard tell the story of what happened and how F1 came to lose two much loved drivers in consecutive days.

Plus, Richard poignantly shares his reflections on attending Senna's intense, emotional funeral in Sao Paulo.

Next time: Matt and Richard discuss the aftermath and lasting legacy of Imola '94.

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Matt Bishop (journalist, editor, novelist and PR) and Richard Williams (journalist, author and broadcaster) are here to reappraise the past - and they'd love to have you along for the ride!

2024 marks the 30th anniversary of one of the most tragic events in motorsport history: The 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, when both Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna were killed in action. In this episode, the first part in a three-episode mini series, Matt and Richard examine how F1 had evolved as a sport by 1994, both culturally and from a safety standpoint. They explain how attitudes to injury and death had changed, but why at the same time a sense of complacency may have taken hold.

And, with the usual array of anecdotes and insight, they look specifically at 1994, and how a combination of rule changes, suspicion and back luck had left Senna in an uneasy frame of mind heading to Imola for round 3 of the championship.

Next time: Matt and Richard unpick the gut-wrenching events of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

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Matt Bishop (journalist, editor, novelist and PR) and Richard Williams (journalist, author and broadcaster) are here to reappraise the past - and they'd love to have you along for the ride!

On this episode, Matt and Richard take a trip back to Germany in the 1930s to explain how Adolf Hitler used motor racing as a tool - and perhaps even a weapon - of the Nazi regime.

They discuss why Hitler felt it was so important to have a state sponsored motor racing programme, how Mercedes and Auto Union used the funds to create some incredible machines that came to dominate pre-war grand prix racing, and tell the ill-fated story of the speed record attempts that both manufacturers were involved in.

There are also stories about Richard Seaman (the British racer who came to drive for Mercedes), Rene Dreyfus (the Jewish driver who took delight in beating the teams for whom he couldn't drive), and the parallels between Tazio Nuvolari's famous victory at Nurburgring in 1935 and the success of the great American sprinter Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

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Matt Bishop (journalist, editor, novelist and PR) and Richard Williams (journalist, author and broadcaster) are here to reappraise the past - and they'd love to have you along for the ride!

On this episode, Matt and Richard are taking a close-up look at Michael Schumacher: One of F1's greatest and most revolutionary drivers ever.

Over the course of this episode, we chart (with the usual first-hand stories and anecdotes) six ways in which the seven-time world champion changed the sport forever, from raising standards in driver fitness to changing the game in terms of racecraft and driver etiquette.

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Matt Bishop (journalist, editor, novelist and PR) and Richard Williams (journalist, author and broadcaster) are here to reappraise the past - and they'd love to have you along for the ride!

On this episode, Matt and Richard are ranking the Top 5 British drivers to have raced for Ferrari in F1, in anticipation of Lewis Hamilton's blockbuster move to motor racing's most famous team in 2025. With youngster Ollie Bearman having recently joined the list, there are 12 drivers to pick from - but who will make the final cut and who will miss out? And who will we crown as Ferrari's best Brit?

Listen in to find out, as Matt and Richard deliver their top 5 with (as you'd expect) a boatload of historical information, interesting factoids, and priceless anecdotes.

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