Mike Costin and Keith Duckworth return to the Hall of Fame Formula 1 category shortlist for the second year in a row. They are joined by 11 other racing names who you can find out about on the F1 podcast with Karun Chandhok, Mark Hughes and myself here. 

Between you and me Costin and Duckworth came very close earlier this year to beating Professor Sid Watkins in the poll for this year’s winner. It’s a mark of just how much of an impact they made on motor sport.

Cosworth

Founded: 1958, still going today
Current owners: Jerry Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhoven
Grands Prix wins: 176 (second only to Ferrari)

The Coswoth DFV was at the sharp end of the Formula 1 grid for 155 Grands Prix. However, when Duckworth set up Cosworth Engineering Ltd. in 1958 he was yet to prep a race engine.

He’d started out as racer before a brush with Goodwood’s chicane pushed him towards Lotus and the gearbox development engineer’s position. Before long he branched out, set up on his own, and persuaded Mike Costin to join him full time (only after Chapman released him from his Lotus contract in 1962).

Together they set about creating one of the greatest motor sport businesses of the last 50 years: Cosworth. Not only that, but they would also create arguably the greatest racing engine of all time: The DFV masterpiece. 

 

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