Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global
Innes Ireland, Lotus 21 Climax
Prime
Special feature

The reluctant Lotus ace who was dropped for Clark

A firm believer that motor racing was a sport for gentlemen, Innes Ireland lived a spirited life. Nigel Roebuck recalls a character whose outlook ceased to fit with modern Formula 1.

Motorsport.com's Prime content

The best content from Motorsport.com Prime, our subscription service. Subscribe here to get access to all the features.

Innes Ireland was feisty and tough, yet essentially a gentleman, and as humane an individual as I have known in racing. A character is what he was, and among the fastest drivers of his generation.

Take the Oulton Park Gold Cup in 1960, where his Lotus 18 simply left the rest behind - 'the rest' including Rob Walker's similar car, driven by one Stirling Moss. When the mood took him, Ireland could hack it with anyone, but invariably his luck was poor, and that day was typical in that the car eventually broke.

Related video

Previous article Seven-driver Ferrari F1 test to include Sainz, Schumacher
Next article Stroll calls 2020 season a year of "missed opportunity"

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global