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Sir Stirling Moss to retire from public life

Sir Stirling Moss’ son Elliot today announced that his father would be leaving the public eye after 70 years

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British racing legend Sir Stirling Moss has announced that his website will be closing down, a move which signals his retirement from the public eye.

Moss, 88, first entered public awareness at his first motor race in 1948, making it an impressive total on 70 years in the spotlight.

The announcement regarding the future of Moss’ website was made by his son, Elliot.

“To all of his many friends and fans around the world, who use this website for regular updates, my father would like to announce that he will be closing it down,” it reads.

Sir Stirling Moss had a hugely decorated racing career
(PA)

This news comes after a trying 2017 for Moss, who fell ill on 22 December 2016 in Singapore, and after being flown back to a UK hospital, eventually returned to his home on 11 May 2017.

Elliot Moss continued: “Following his severe infections at the end of 2016 and his subsequent slow and arduous recovery, the decision has been made that, at the age of 88, the indefatigable man will finally retire, so that he and my mother can have some much deserved rest and spend more time with each other and the rest of the family.”

Moss took 16 wins in the Formula One World Championship, including the 1955 British Grand Prix at Aintree, which marked the first time that a home driver had won the event. Moss took a second British Grand Prix win in 1957. He is often described as the greatest driver to have never won a Formula One World Championship.

In Moss’ era, Formula One drivers had the freedom to race elsewhere; notable achievements away from Formula One include multiple victories at the RAC Tourist Trophy and the Nürburgring 1000km. In total, Moss took victory at 212 of the 529 races he entered over the course of his 14-years as a racing driver, before a severe crash at Goodwood prematurely halted his career in 1962.

Moss returned to sporadic action in saloon car racing throughout the late 70s and early 80s, and went on to compete in historic races until 2011, deciding to hang up his iconic goggles and open face headwear at the age of 81.

By Adam Weller

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