Stuart Lewis-Evans

Stuart Nigel Lewis-Evans (20 April 1930, Luton, Bedfordshire – 25 October 1958, East Grinstead, Sussex) was a British racing driver from England. He participated in 14 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 19 May 1957. He achieved two podiums, and scored a total of 16 championship points. He also achieved two pole positions.

Lewis-Evans began racing in 1951 with a Cooper 500 Formula 3 car, encouraged by and sometimes racing against his father, Lewis "Pop" Evans, who had created the family's double-barrelled surname.. He achieved many wins and podiums and continued to race in 500s until 1956.

In his first Formula One race, the 1957 Monaco Grand Prix, Lewis-Evans finished fourth in an inferior Connaught Type-B, beaten only by multiple winners Fangio and Brooks, and Masten Gregory in one of the dominant Maserati 250F cars. This performance brought him to the attention of Tony Vandervell, owner of the rising Vanwall team, and by the next Grand Prix Lewis-Evans was driving the third Vanwall car. The 1957 Vanwall was fast when its engine held together, but was not always reliable. Lewis-Evans took his first F1 win at the non-championship Moroccan Grand Prix, and pole position at the final World Championship event, the 1957 Italian Grand Prix.

The 1958 Formula One season would prove to be a much better year, at least initially, for the entire Vanwall team. Principal drivers Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks took three victories each,...
Read More