Auto racing is not exactly the “final frontier” when it comes to bridging its athletes with the LGBTQ community. Recently, there was some news of some race drivers and other motorsport athletes who have come out as LGBTQ. These bits of news have brought us to the point where there is now a .
The Alfa Romeo 158 (and its 159 derivative), is one of the most successful racing cars ever produced, taking 47 wins from 54 Grands Prix entered. Originally developed in 1937 for the pre-World War II voiturette (small car) racing series, it was eligible for the new Formula One series introduced following the war.
Supplied
The legendary Juan Manuel Fangio drove the original Alfa Romeo 158 to many race wins. Before the war it was successful in the hands of drivers like Emilio Villoresi and Giuseppe Farina, and grew to legendary status in the Formula One series driven by Achille Varzi, Jean-Pierre Wimille and Luigi Fagioli, but it was at the hands of Farina and the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio that it had its most success, with Farina winning the Formula One World Championship in 1950 in a 158 and Fangio taking it in 1951 in a 159.
THE opening round of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship took place at Thruxton in Hampshire last weekend where the mixed weather and a series of incidents made for a challenging meeting for the organisers. Two local competitors made the long trip south including Max Coates from Scorton and Hartlepool’s Dominic Wheatley, and both drivers gave a good account of themselves. Coates was guesting in the Ginetta G5 Challenge for Breakell Racing and things were looking good when he qualified in second place on the grid for the opening race. Max was in with a shout of victory when he suffered a 120mph spin late in the race but recovered to finish fourth. In race two, he was again battling for a podium when he suffered a problem on the very last lap which relegated him to 11th place at the flag.