What Happened On This Day December 18 In F1 History?

What happened on this day, December 18 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.

1898

Count Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat, known as the “Electric Count,” set the first recognized land speed record in Achères, France, driving his Jeantaud electric car at 39 mph (63 km/h) over one kilometre. This feat occurred during a competition organised by La France Automobile magazine. A month later, he beat his own record with a speed of 41.4 mph on the same road, though it was broken ten days later. On 4 March 4 1899, he reclaimed the title, reaching 57.59 mph in the same car after extensive modifications. However, his victory was again short-lived, as the record was broken on 29 April. While the Jeantaud was a marvel of its time, its limited battery capacity restricted its practical use.

1907

American driver Bill Holland was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He finished second in the 1950 Indianapolis Grand Prix when it was part of the F1 Championship. Holland returned to the event in 1953 but finished 15th, sharing his seat with Jim Rathmann.

1955

Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya was born on this day in Karnataka. An entrepreneur, he owned and managed the Force India team while also maintaining other business interests, including United Breweries and Kingfisher Airlines. Passionate about sports, he invested in football, cricket, and horse racing. Mallya was also noted for repatriating Indian heritage artefacts; in 2004, he purchased Tipu Sultan’s sword at a British auction for £175,000 and returned it to India.

1991

George Abecassis passed away peacefully at his home in Buckinghamshire. A talented driver in his own right, he gained greater recognition as the co-founder of the HWM (Hersham and Walton Motors) racing team. HWM fielded several notable drivers, including Stirling Moss. The team participated in Formula 1 from 1951 to 1955.

1994

Henry Banks passed away in Michigan at the age of 81. A beloved figure in American motorsport, he was the first driver to complete the qualifying “Rookie Test” for the 1936 Indy 500. Banks competed in three Indianapolis Grand Prix races between 1950 and 1952 when it was part of the F1 Championship. Beyond motorsport, he appeared in the films To Please a Lady with Clark Gable and Roar of the Crowd, a drama centred on the Indy 500.

2001

The BAR 004 was unveiled on 18 December 2001 at the team’s headquarters in Brackley. The launch came just a day after Toyota introduced its new Formula 1 team. The event saw a significant leadership change, with David Richards officially taking over as team principal from Craig Pollock. Richards’ Prodrive organisation was announced as the team’s new management structure.

F1 Driver Birthdays 18 December

F1 Driver Deaths 18 December