George Abecassis English racing driver, co-founder of the HWM Formula 1 team Date of Birth: 21.03.1913 Country: Great Britain

Biography of George Edgar Abecassis

George Edgar Abecassis was an English racing driver and co-founder of the Formula One team HWM. He began his career in 1935 with a modified Austin 7, but made a name for himself in English club racing in the 1938 and 1939 seasons with Alta and ERA cars. In 1939, he won the Imperial Trophy Formula Libre race at Crystal Palace, his only major victory in a rainy race, beating Prince Bira in an ERA car. Abecassis held the lap record at the Brooklands circuit, reaching a speed of 116.85 km/h. On July 3, 1938, he set a record in the Prescott Hill Climb, climbing in a 1½-liter Alta supercharged car in 47.85 seconds.

During World War II, Abecassis joined the Royal Air Force and became an experienced pilot. He was also a member of the secret organization "Moon Squadrons", transporting secret agents to and from France in a Westland Lysander aircraft. Abecassis was awarded the "Distinguished Flying Cross" for his outstanding flying service. After the war, he returned to racing with his pre-war car and won the race at Gransden Lodge on a 3.3-liter Bugatti on June 15, 1946. In 1947, Abecassis finished second in the Swedish Grand Prix, which took place on a frozen lake in Vallentuna, driving an ERA car. He finished second again in the 1948 Jersey International Road Race, behind Bob Gerard.

Abecassis became a partner of John Heath in the Hersham and Walton Motors Ltd. company, which was a car dealership and garage in Walton-on-Thames. Building on their pre-war partnership with the Alta brand, Abecassis and HWM helped develop the Alta GP car in accordance with the newly published Formula One regulations. After the failure of this venture, Abecassis and Heath decided to design their own cars under the HWM brand, but using Alta engines. Initially, HWM cars were developed for the Formula 2 class, but when the World Championship switched to Formula 2 regulations in 1952, HWM cars were able to compete in Grand Prix races.

At its peak, HWM hired future stars such as Stirling Moss and Peter Collins, and Belgian driver Johnny Claes earned the team's first victory in the Grand Prix des Frontières in Chimay. Another notable victory in the team's history was Lance Macklin's first-place finish in the International Trophy race at Silverstone in 1952. When Formula One cars returned in 1954, Abecassis and Heath attempted to create a competitive car using a 2.5-liter version of the Alta engine, but the attempt was unsuccessful. The HWM cars only appeared in two Grand Prix races after 1953.

Abecassis himself participated in two Formula One World Championship races at the Bremgarten circuit, the Swiss Grand Prix in 1951 and 1952, but he failed to finish either of them. He was more successful as a sports car driver, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the 3-liter engine class in 1950, driving an Aston Martin DB2 with Macklin. He also finished second in the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1953, where he was partnered with Reg Parnell. In 1953, Abecassis built his own HWM sports car equipped with a Jaguar straight-6 engine, which successfully competed in British races until 1956.

In 1956, Heath died in an accident at the Mille Miglia, and Abecassis retired from racing, focusing on managing HWM. He became the UK importer for Facel Vega cars, and his connections in the automotive industry were strengthened by his marriage to Angela, the daughter of Aston Martin president Sir David Brown. Later, Abecassis opened his own grocery store. The British driver passed away at the age of 78.