British former racing driver Damon Graham Devereux Hill was a late starter in motorsport, nonetheless, he had a significantly successful career. An ideal sportsman, Hill was mostly honorable in his conduct during his career — probably a snippet of the Hills family values as his mother Bette Hill was once quoted saying “if you can’t win honorably, don’t win at all.” But life would come at Damon Hill quite fast, tragically losing his dad in a plane crash meant he had to assume manly duties at a very young age.
A few years after the crash, Hill began racing. He raced like his life depended on it. And as we’d later see, it did. He’s also quite fierce and competitive, his well-publicized run-ins with Michael Schumacher on and off the track alludes to that. One of his bosses said he's “a tough bastard,” another claimed he loves his “fierce inner determination.” Quite frankly, hardly does anyone become a racing world champion without these attributes, and with them and some more, Damon Hill did enough to be ranked among the British racing greats.
10 Started Racing On Bikes
Damon Hill was born in Hampstead, London on the 17th of September 1960. Although he likes cars, Hill preferred motorcycles. He would quickly need to give his love for motorcycles an expression, due to the unfortunate incident of his father’s death.
Hill’s father Graham had died in a plane crash in 1975, leaving the family heavily depleted financially. To help, Hill took up a motorcycle courier job. Consequently, the wealth of experience Hill got from riding the courier bike led him to start bike racing at the age of 21.
9 Started Car Racing In 1985
Although Hill loves motorcycles, his mother never wanted him in the sport due to the dangers associated with it. Preferring four-wheelers, Hill’s mum swayed him to take a course at the Winfield Racing School in France. After graduating, Hill got a few races under his belt.
However, his career in racing would only start properly in 1985 after getting enough sponsorship for the Formula Ford season. With six wins in Van Diemen, Hill had a decent entry into the sport.
8 Gave Jordan Its First Win
Frank Williams, seeing Hill as “a tough bastard” added him to the Williams team in 1991. Hill rose through the ranks, getting wins in Hungary, Belgium, and Italy, to come third in 1993, in his first F1 pukka season. He narrowly missed the title in 1995 but won half of the races in 1996 to pick the title.
He then left for Arrows, but his two final seasons were spent with Jordan, winning the championship in 1998; a historic first win for the team. Hill retired at the end of the 1999 season.
7 Father Was An F1 Champion
The Hills family is very significant to Formula One heritage for great reasons. Interestingly, Damon Hill’s father, Graham Hill was an international Formula One series driver who is well-known in the UK for winning the World Driver’s Championship in 1962 and 1968.
This makes Graham and Damon Hill the first father and son Formula One champions, and the legacy probably explains why Damon Hill raced like his life depended on it. The win was so important to him and after proving to himself he could do it, he graciously left the scene.
6 Son Also Raced
Damon Hill is married to Susan George and their marriage has produced four awesome children namely Oliver, Joshua, Tabitha, and Rosie. Born on the 9th of January 1991, Joshua Hill, the second child, is arguably the most famous of the children. The reason is simple. In 2008, he started a racing career which could have seen him become a Formula One champion like his father and late grandfather.
However, with some wins at some championships in 2011 and 2012, Joshua Hill on July 9, 2013, announced his retirement from motor racing.
5 Retired In 1999 Season
Having got in at almost 25 years old, Hill is considered a late starter in car racing. Driving a Van Diemen, Hill’s career started with victory in six races in the Formula Ford. He would then progress to Formula Three, where he kept showcasing his mettle to a watchful world.
Hill got his break with the Williams team. Though challenging, he did record his first championship win with the team before moving to Arrows. He retired with Jordan in 1999, but not before giving them their first win.
4 Presides Over The BRDC
In England, there is an exclusive invitation-only members club formed for prolific racecar drivers that must have achieved top-level motorsport success for a significant number of seasons. Created by Dr. J. Dudley Benjafield (who was a British medical doctor as well as a racing driver), the club is known as the British Racing Driver’s Club (BRDC).
The club members are also largely expected to be from the UK or the Commonwealth. Notably, Damon Hill replaced Jackie Stewart as the BRDC President in 2006.
3 Formed A Music Band
Hill's retirement from the sport he’d devoted a large chunk of his life to suddenly left him with ample time for other quests. He had always loved music. Back in high school, he formed a punk band with some friends and called it the “Hormones.” Active racing duties later reduced his time for music.
However, after his retirement in 1999, Hill formed the “Conrods,” his band that lasted till 2003 and was known for playing cover versions of popular songs from The Kinks, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones.
2 Works As A Pundit
Being a race driver, Hill isn’t new to the screens. Before he started racing, he had featured on the popular TV program “Jim’ll Fix It” along with his dad as far back as 1975, and he also made a reappearance in 1995 in celebration of the show’s 20th anniversary.
Hill has also done commentary duties for ITV F1 at the 2007 and 2008 Hungarian Grands Prix, filling in for Martin Brundle. Most notably, Hill joined the Sky Sports F1 presentation team for the 2012 Formula One season.
1 Has An OBE
The Order of the British Empire (OBE), is a British order of chivalry used to reward spontaneous benefactions to arts and sciences, charitable works, and public service, among others, done away from the purview of civil service. Recipients are said to have been given the “Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.”
After his Formula One triumph in 1996 at the Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka circuit, Damon Hill was given the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award, while the palace gave him an OBE for his accomplishment(s).