
Marcus Simmons is the Deputy Editor of Autosport magazine. As a child he was a regular on the chalk banks of Thruxton – hence his unhealthy obsession with 1970s Formula 2 and F3 – before he became an MSA timekeeper at the age of 17. At 19, his reporting debut for Motoring News arguably overshadowed Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal as the sporting moment of June 1986, and he joined the staff in 1990 after graduating from his degree course in Plymouth. A parallel Formula First career – which was as incident-packed as his childhood exploits in show-jumping and hunter trials – finished when he wrote off his car and put himself in hospital in 1991.
Marcus moved to Autosport in the summer of 1996. Since then he has had two stints as a freelancer and a brief spell as editor of Motor Sport magazine, during which the revered green cover was revived, before he rejoined Autosport in 2008. He lives in Teddington with his wife (who, gratifyingly, grew up within earshot of Castle Combe), daughter, stepson, dog, cat and guitars, and additionally has an adult daughter and stepson.
Latest articles by Marcus Simmons

F1 young driver programmes: Which drivers are signed to which teams?
F1 young driver programmes: Which drivers are signed to which teams? F1 young driver programmes: Which drivers are signed to which teams?

How “refreshing” van ‘t Hoff was on the edge of breaking through
How “refreshing” van ‘t Hoff was on the edge of breaking through How “refreshing” van ‘t Hoff was on the edge of breaking through

Habsburg's Rebel Team scheme to open voting on young talents
Habsburg's Rebel Team scheme to open voting on young talents Habsburg's Rebel Team scheme to open voting on young talents

BTCC Thruxton: Rowbottom takes race three win
BTCC Thruxton: Rowbottom takes race three win BTCC Thruxton: Rowbottom takes race three win

BTCC Thruxton: Sutton claims yet another win in race two
BTCC Thruxton: Sutton claims yet another win in race two BTCC Thruxton: Sutton claims yet another win in race two

BTCC Thruxton: Sutton continues his winning streak
BTCC Thruxton: Sutton continues his winning streak BTCC Thruxton: Sutton continues his winning streak

BTCC Snetterton: Ingram hangs on for first win of 2023
BTCC Snetterton: Ingram hangs on for first win of 2023 BTCC Snetterton: Ingram hangs on for first win of 2023

BTCC Snetterton: Sutton dominates to notch up four wins in a row
BTCC Snetterton: Sutton dominates to notch up four wins in a row BTCC Snetterton: Sutton dominates to notch up four wins in a row

BTCC Snetterton: Sutton pips Hill in tight finish in opener
BTCC Snetterton: Sutton pips Hill in tight finish in opener BTCC Snetterton: Sutton pips Hill in tight finish in opener

Cammish blames himself for BTCC Snetterton qualifying shunt
Cammish blames himself for BTCC Snetterton qualifying shunt Cammish blames himself for BTCC Snetterton qualifying shunt

BTCC Snetterton: Sutton sets new qualifying lap record for stunning pole
BTCC Snetterton: Sutton sets new qualifying lap record for stunning pole BTCC Snetterton: Sutton sets new qualifying lap record for stunning pole

When bad weather caused F1 chaos
When bad weather caused F1 chaos When bad weather caused F1 chaos

BTCC gets in early with 2024 race calendar
BTCC gets in early with 2024 race calendar BTCC gets in early with 2024 race calendar

BTCC Brands Hatch: Sutton takes thrilling Race 3 win after Collard penalty
BTCC Brands Hatch: Sutton takes thrilling Race 3 win after Collard penalty BTCC Brands Hatch: Sutton takes thrilling Race 3 win after Collard penalty

BTCC Brands Hatch: Sutton beats Ingram in tense strategic Race 2 battle
BTCC Brands Hatch: Sutton beats Ingram in tense strategic Race 2 battle BTCC Brands Hatch: Sutton beats Ingram in tense strategic Race 2 battle

BTCC Brands Hatch: Turkington wins opener red-flagged after pile-up
BTCC Brands Hatch: Turkington wins opener red-flagged after pile-up BTCC Brands Hatch: Turkington wins opener red-flagged after pile-up

BTCC Donington Park: Cammish wins again to take early points lead
BTCC Donington Park: Cammish wins again to take early points lead BTCC Donington Park: Cammish wins again to take early points lead

BTCC Donington Park: Chilton wins bizarre wet second race
BTCC Donington Park: Chilton wins bizarre wet second race BTCC Donington Park: Chilton wins bizarre wet second race

Hill gets grid drop for Sutton incident at Donington Park
Hill gets grid drop for Sutton incident at Donington Park Hill gets grid drop for Sutton incident at Donington Park

BTCC Donington Park: Cammish beats Hill in thriller
BTCC Donington Park: Cammish beats Hill in thriller BTCC Donington Park: Cammish beats Hill in thriller

BTCC Donington: Rowbottom takes pole as Sutton penalised
BTCC Donington: Rowbottom takes pole as Sutton penalised BTCC Donington: Rowbottom takes pole as Sutton penalised

The BTCC plotlines to watch out for in 2023
The BTCC plotlines to watch out for in 2023 The BTCC plotlines to watch out for in 2023

Ingram pips Sutton in Brands Hatch BTCC test
Ingram pips Sutton in Brands Hatch BTCC test Ingram pips Sutton in Brands Hatch BTCC test

Hamilton retained by Team Hard to create record-breaking six-car BTCC squad
Hamilton retained by Team Hard to create record-breaking six-car BTCC squad Hamilton retained by Team Hard to create record-breaking six-car BTCC squad

F3 could headline Macau ‘junior single-seater festival’
F3 could headline Macau ‘junior single-seater festival’ F3 could headline Macau ‘junior single-seater festival’

Morgan joins BMW squad WSR for 2023 BTCC season
Morgan joins BMW squad WSR for 2023 BTCC season Morgan joins BMW squad WSR for 2023 BTCC season

Ciceley Motorsport exits BTCC after 10 years
Ciceley Motorsport exits BTCC after 10 years Ciceley Motorsport exits BTCC after 10 years

BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram seals maiden title, Lloyd wins finale
BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram seals maiden title, Lloyd wins finale BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram seals maiden title, Lloyd wins finale

BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram holds off Hill to extend points lead
BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram holds off Hill to extend points lead BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram holds off Hill to extend points lead

BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram wins opener to take points lead
BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram wins opener to take points lead BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram wins opener to take points lead

BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram takes crushing pole for finale
BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram takes crushing pole for finale BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram takes crushing pole for finale

BTCC Silverstone: Ingram narrows points gap to Sutton with win
BTCC Silverstone: Ingram narrows points gap to Sutton with win BTCC Silverstone: Ingram narrows points gap to Sutton with win

BTCC Silverstone: Hill beats Butcher to win Race 2
BTCC Silverstone: Hill beats Butcher to win Race 2 BTCC Silverstone: Hill beats Butcher to win Race 2

BTCC Silverstone: Butcher holds off Hill to win opening race
BTCC Silverstone: Butcher holds off Hill to win opening race BTCC Silverstone: Butcher holds off Hill to win opening race

BTCC Silverstone: Butcher claims pole for Toyota by 0.037s
BTCC Silverstone: Butcher claims pole for Toyota by 0.037s BTCC Silverstone: Butcher claims pole for Toyota by 0.037s

Ex-F1 racer Firman to bring back Van Diemen name with new car
Ex-F1 racer Firman to bring back Van Diemen name with new car Ex-F1 racer Firman to bring back Van Diemen name with new car

Top 10 Ligier F1 drivers ranked: Boutsen, Pironi, Laffite and more
Top 10 Ligier F1 drivers ranked: Boutsen, Pironi, Laffite and more Top 10 Ligier F1 drivers ranked: Boutsen, Pironi, Laffite and more

BTCC Thruxton: Cook claims win in reversed-grid finale
BTCC Thruxton: Cook claims win in reversed-grid finale BTCC Thruxton: Cook claims win in reversed-grid finale

BTCC Thruxton: Cammish gifts Sutton victory in race two
BTCC Thruxton: Cammish gifts Sutton victory in race two BTCC Thruxton: Cammish gifts Sutton victory in race two

BTCC Thruxton: Cammish takes advantage of chaos for race one victory
BTCC Thruxton: Cammish takes advantage of chaos for race one victory BTCC Thruxton: Cammish takes advantage of chaos for race one victory

BTCC Thruxton: Cammish shades Cook for pole
BTCC Thruxton: Cammish shades Cook for pole BTCC Thruxton: Cammish shades Cook for pole

BTCC Snetterton: Sutton in control to take finale win ahead of Plato
BTCC Snetterton: Sutton in control to take finale win ahead of Plato BTCC Snetterton: Sutton in control to take finale win ahead of Plato

BTCC Snetterton: Turkington doubles up ahead of Hill again
BTCC Snetterton: Turkington doubles up ahead of Hill again BTCC Snetterton: Turkington doubles up ahead of Hill again

BTCC Snetterton: Turkington dominates opener from Hill
BTCC Snetterton: Turkington dominates opener from Hill BTCC Snetterton: Turkington dominates opener from Hill

BTCC Snetterton: Turkington pips Hill to take last gasp pole
BTCC Snetterton: Turkington pips Hill to take last gasp pole BTCC Snetterton: Turkington pips Hill to take last gasp pole

BTCC Knockhill: Gamble claims maiden BTCC win in finale
BTCC Knockhill: Gamble claims maiden BTCC win in finale BTCC Knockhill: Gamble claims maiden BTCC win in finale

BTCC Knockhill: Sutton takes first Ford win after close Hill fight
BTCC Knockhill: Sutton takes first Ford win after close Hill fight BTCC Knockhill: Sutton takes first Ford win after close Hill fight

BTCC Knockhill: Hill wins Race 1 after thrilling Sutton fight
BTCC Knockhill: Hill wins Race 1 after thrilling Sutton fight BTCC Knockhill: Hill wins Race 1 after thrilling Sutton fight

BTCC Knockhill: Hill on pole as BMWs dominate qualifying
BTCC Knockhill: Hill on pole as BMWs dominate qualifying BTCC Knockhill: Hill on pole as BMWs dominate qualifying

BTCC Croft: Shedden beats Cook in finale
BTCC Croft: Shedden beats Cook in finale BTCC Croft: Shedden beats Cook in finale

BTCC Croft: Lloyd doubles up to beat Ingram in Hyundai 1-2
BTCC Croft: Lloyd doubles up to beat Ingram in Hyundai 1-2 BTCC Croft: Lloyd doubles up to beat Ingram in Hyundai 1-2

BTCC Croft: Lloyd beats Turkington for emotional win in Race 1
BTCC Croft: Lloyd beats Turkington for emotional win in Race 1 BTCC Croft: Lloyd beats Turkington for emotional win in Race 1

BTCC Croft: Turkington claims pole in ‘retired’ BMW
BTCC Croft: Turkington claims pole in ‘retired’ BMW BTCC Croft: Turkington claims pole in ‘retired’ BMW

Lloyd could be forced out of rest of BTCC season after crash
Lloyd could be forced out of rest of BTCC season after crash Lloyd could be forced out of rest of BTCC season after crash

BTCC Oulton Park: Jelley wins after massive first-lap shunt
BTCC Oulton Park: Jelley wins after massive first-lap shunt BTCC Oulton Park: Jelley wins after massive first-lap shunt

BTCC Oulton Park: Ingram beats Sutton in Race 2 for Oulton double
BTCC Oulton Park: Ingram beats Sutton in Race 2 for Oulton double BTCC Oulton Park: Ingram beats Sutton in Race 2 for Oulton double

BTCC Oulton Park: Ingram dominates Race 1 to end jinx
BTCC Oulton Park: Ingram dominates Race 1 to end jinx BTCC Oulton Park: Ingram dominates Race 1 to end jinx

BTCC Oulton Park: Ingram overcomes late qualifying pause to grab pole
BTCC Oulton Park: Ingram overcomes late qualifying pause to grab pole BTCC Oulton Park: Ingram overcomes late qualifying pause to grab pole

How junior formula giant Prema is readying for its Le Mans future
How junior formula giant Prema is readying for its Le Mans future How junior formula giant Prema is readying for its Le Mans future

BTCC Thruxton: Morgan beats Turkington in BMW 1-2
BTCC Thruxton: Morgan beats Turkington in BMW 1-2 BTCC Thruxton: Morgan beats Turkington in BMW 1-2

MotoGP Indian GP: Marini tops Friday, factory Honda pair make Q2
MotoGP Indian GP: Marini tops Friday, factory Honda pair make Q2 MotoGP Indian GP: Marini tops Friday, factory Honda pair make Q2

Yamaha has two more 2024 MotoGP engines in pipeline after lukewarm first test
Yamaha has two more 2024 MotoGP engines in pipeline after lukewarm first test Yamaha has two more 2024 MotoGP engines in pipeline after lukewarm first test

Harmony between factories key to Alpine F1 fortunes - Famin
Harmony between factories key to Alpine F1 fortunes - Famin Harmony between factories key to Alpine F1 fortunes - Famin