The week’s motor racing milestones from the Database and Archive, featuring some dangerously wet Grands Prix and birthdays for two British gents.

October 31

1941: Derek Bell is born. In profile

1988: Sebastien Buemi, 2014 World Endurance Champion, is born. In profile

November 1

1962: Ricardo Rodriguez, with four Le Mans starts and one podium already to his name, dies in Mexican Grand Prix practice aged just 20. In profile

1987: With victory in Japan, Gerhard Berger ends Ferrari’s 38-race winless streak. Nelson Piquet is handed the title when Nigel Mansell crashes out of practice. Report

November 2

1946: 1980 Formula 1 world champion Alan Jones is born. In profile

1970: Pierre Veyron, winner of the 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans, dies aged 67. In profile

1974: Stéphane Sarrazin is born. In profile

November 3

1968: Graham Hill’s Mexican Grand Prix victory secures his second world title. Report

1985: Keke Rosberg wins a superb Australian Grand Prix, the first held on the streets of Adelaide. Report

1991: Ayrton Senna wins the 14-lap Australian Grand Prix. Report

November 4

1919: Eric Thompson is born. In profile

1943: Bob Wollek, arguably the greatest sports car racer never to win Le Mans, is born. In profile

1990: Piquet inherits the Australian Grand Prix victory after Ayrton Senna retires from a comfortable lead. Report

November 5

1989: Thierry Boutsen wins the Australian Grand Prix, contested in atrocious conditions that were too much for some. Report

November 6

1931: The dapper Peter Collins is born. In profile

1994: Damon Hill impressively beats Michael Schumacher in the rain in Japan to keep his title hopes alive. Report