Stuart Lewis-Evans

Stuart Nigel Lewis-Evans (20 April 1930 - 25 October 1958): British racing driver who competed in 14 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix for Vanwall and Connaught between 1957 and 1958, contributing significantly to Vanwall's 1958 Constructors' Championship victory before dying from burns sustained in a horrific accident at the Moroccan Grand Prix. Born in Luton, Bedfordshire, Lewis-Evans progressed through British club racing and Formula Two, demonstrating sufficient talent to attract the attention of Vanwall, Britain's leading Formula One team of the late 1950s. He made his Formula One debut at the 1957 Monaco Grand Prix and quickly established himself as a rapid and reliable team driver alongside Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks.

Lewis-Evans achieved his first podium with third place at the 1957 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, demonstrating that he could run with the sport's elite drivers. In 1958, driving for Vanwall in their championship-winning season, Lewis-Evans continued delivering strong performances. He achieved his best Formula One result with second place at the 1958 Portuguese Grand Prix at Porto, finishing behind teammate Stirling Moss. He scored points on multiple occasions and played a crucial supporting role in Vanwall's successful campaign to win the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers (the precursor to the Constructors' Championship).

The season-ending 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix at Ain-Diab on 19 October proved tragic. During the race, Lewis-Evans' Vanwall suffered an engine seizure that sent the car lurching into barriers at high speed. The impact caused a fire, and Lewis-Evans was trapped inside the burning car, suffering terrible burns over much of his body. He was eventually extracted and received immediate medical attention at the circuit.

Tony Vandervell, the Vanwall team owner, arranged for Lewis-Evans to be flown back to England in his private jet to receive specialist treatment. Members of Sir Archibald McIndoe's East Grinstead specialist burns unit, famous for treating RAF pilots during World War II, provided care. However, despite their expertise, Lewis-Evans' injuries proved too severe. He died six days after the accident on 25 October 1958 at age 28.

His death cast a profound shadow over Vanwall's championship triumph. Vandervell, devastated by losing his young driver, never fully recovered emotionally from Lewis-Evans' death and withdrew from Formula One at the end of 1958, leaving the sport permanently. Lewis-Evans' death represented another motorsport tragedy during the sport's most dangerous era, when fire remained an ever-present threat and safety equipment proved inadequate to protect drivers from severe burns. His contribution to Vanwall's historic championship victory was overshadowed by the tragedy of his death, though he deserves recognition as one of the drivers who helped deliver Britain's first Constructors' Championship.

Known for: Dying from burns sustained at the 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix six days after his accident, contributing to Vanwall's 1958 Constructors' Championship victory, achieving second place at the 1958 Portuguese Grand Prix, and his death prompting Tony Vandervell to withdraw from Formula One permanently.