Motor Sport Magazine – July 1998

Summary

Mika Hakkinen graces the cover in his McLaren-Mercedes MP4-13 as Motor Sport July 1998 previews the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, while Adam Cooper investigates the fastest F1 lap of all time and Simon Taylor interviews Baron de Graffenried in a 98-page issue that captures Formula 1 at the end of the V10 era.

The British Grand Prix preview (page 28) covers Damon Hill, David Coulthard and Hakkinen's championship prospects. Adam Cooper's fastest-lap feature (page 38) investigates which driver holds the record for the quickest single lap in F1 history. Simon Taylor interviews 1950s driver Baron de Graffenried (page 40) about his pre-war and post-war career. Andrew Frankel drives the Straker Squire (page 46), a Brooklands racing legend. Derek Bell contributes My Greatest Race (page 92). Nigel Roebuck's Legends column (page 18) profiles a F1 great. Events of Note (page 8) and From Our Archives (page 10) fill the front section. Letters from Readers (page 16) and Bill Boddy (page 94) round out the back.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story / British Grand Prix

p.28 · The British Grand Prix
The Silverstone preview covers the three British title contenders — Hill (Jordan), Coulthard (McLaren) and the championship leader Hakkinen. The article analyses the circuit's high-speed corners, the aerodynamic setup choices and the home-crowd pressure each driver faces. Fantasy tipsters get a prediction: Hakkinen wins, Hill podium.

p.36 · Silverstone '98 Preview
Team-by-team form guide covering the 1998 grid at mid-season. Each entry includes recent results, car strengths and driver form. The piece identifies the midfield battle most likely to produce an upset.

▸ F1 History

p.38 · Fastest F1 Lap of All Time
Adam Cooper investigates which driver holds the fastest single lap in F1 history up to 1998. He examines qualifying data from the turbo era, the V10 seasons and the 1998 grooved-tyre regulations. The piece reveals the exact circuit and session where the record was set. Trivia fans get a record to quote.

p.40 · Baron de Graffenried
Simon Taylor interviews the Swiss 1950s driver who raced for Maserati and Alfa Romeo. De Graffenried discusses pre-war racing, the transition to Formula 1 and his relationship with Juan Manuel Fangio. He names Fangio as the greatest driver he ever raced against.

▸ Classic Cars

p.46 · Straker Squire
Andrew Frankel drives the legendary Brooklands racing car at the Surrey circuit. The piece covers the 4.9-litre engine, the pre-war racing history and the restored car's handling character. The author names it as one of the most intimidating cars he has ever driven.

p.80 · Track Tests: Reims
Andrew Frankel returns to the site of the French Grand Prix at Reims-Gueux, now abandoned, and drives the circuit in a period sports car. The piece reflects on the lost art of public-road circuits and what modern F1 has sacrificed in character.

▸ Legends

p.18 · Nigel Roebuck Legends
Roebuck profiles a F1 legend from the 1960s or 1970s, drawing on his personal interviews with the driver and period race reports.

p.92 · My Greatest Race: Derek Bell
The five-time Le Mans winner recounts his greatest race — not a Le Mans victory but a 1970s F2 race at the Nurburgring that tested his nerve and car control more than any other.

▸ Regulars

p.4 · Matters of Moment
Editorial commentary on the state of F1 mid-1998.

p.8 · Events of Note
Upcoming motorsport events across the UK and Europe for July 1998.

p.10 · From Our Archives
Historical photographs from Motor Sport's archive with editorial commentary.

p.16 · Letters from Readers
Correspondence on previous issues' features and the state of F1.

p.94 · Bill Boddy
The legendary Motor Sport writer contributes his monthly musings on historic racing.

p.98 · Parting Shot
Closing photograph of a classic racing car.

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Editor's Take

Reading Motor Sport from 1998 is a reminder of how much the magazine has changed — the 1998 version is leaner, more opinionated and less concerned with production values. The de Graffenried interview by Taylor is a model of how to draw stories from an elderly driver; it outclasses most modern interview features. Cooper's fastest-lap investigation is a genuinely useful piece of statistical journalism. The Straker Squire piece by Frankel shows the same talent that makes him Motor Sport's best current writer. The British GP preview is workmanlike but dates quickly. The Bill Boddy column is a period curiosity — his writing style belongs to an earlier era. The overall ad count is lower than modern issues, which makes the editorial feel more substantial proportionally.

Strengths
• de Graffenried interview is a masterclass in driver oral history
• Cooper's fastest-lap investigation is proper statistical journalism
• Frankel's Straker Squire piece shows early signs of his talent

Weaknesses
• British GP preview is already dated by race day
• Bill Boddy column belongs to a different magazine

Verdict: Selective read — Essential for historians studying 1990s F1 journalism; casual readers will prefer the modern issues.