Honda's first Grand Prix winner

Richie Ginther was a steady podium finisher for Ferrari and BRM, and in 1965 he gave both Honda and Goodyear their first Formula 1 victory.

Richie Ginther was born in Hollywood, California, in the United States, on August 5, 1930. He grew up in Santa Monica, where his brother's friend Phil Hill drew him into racing. He worked for Douglas Aircraft, made his race debut at Pebble Beach in 1951, and after military service in the Korean War rode with Hill in the Carrera Panamericana, finishing second in 1954. Sports car success on the West Coast led to drives for Luigi Chinetti's Ferrari team.

Ferrari gave him his World Championship debut at the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix, where he finished sixth, and he was second at Monza later that year. In 1961 he scored three podiums for the team, including second place at Monaco.

He joined BRM in 1962 and became one of the most consistent finishers of the era. In 1963 he finished second at Monaco, Monza and in the United States, and third in Germany and Mexico, ending the year third in the championship, the best result of his career. He was second again at Monaco and in Austria in 1964.

For 1965 he moved to Honda, and at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix he won, the first Formula 1 victory for both Honda and the tire maker Goodyear. It was his only win. He raced for Cooper and Honda in 1966, and his last entry came with Eagle at the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix. Our record shows 52 starts, 1 win, 3 fastest laps and 14 podiums across eight seasons. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2008 and died in 1989.

0 world titles, 1 wins, 0 pole positions, 52 starts.

Teams

Victories

• Mexican Grand Prix 1965