Top of the Hill

F1's Damon Hill tells the story of losing his father and following in his footsteps

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Growing up, Damon Hill was in awe of his racing driver father Graham — and terrified of losing him in a Grand Prix crash. So when double World Champion Graham told his wife Bette and three children Damon, Samantha and Brigitte he was quitting Formula 1 in 1975, they breathed a sigh of relief.

Damon, 64, who also went on to become an F1 World Champion in 1996, is now telling their story. He reveals that his reaction when his dad announced he was going to retire from full-time racing was, "Thank God for that."

But that same year, the family's worst nightmare came true. "Six months later I was watching TV with my younger sister Samantha," recalls Damon. "We were expecting Dad home, my mum is in the kitchen and then, 'We interrupt this moment to bring you a news flash...'"

Damon watched in horror as the reporter informed him that his dad's plane, a light aircraft he was piloting in foggy weather, had crashed into trees on Arkley golf course in Hertfordshire. None of the six men on board survived.