HE WAS widely regarded as one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time - despite never winning the world championship.
Sir Stirling Moss, who has died aged 90, won 16 of the 66 F1 races he competed in and was also the first Briton to win the British Grand Prix.
He was also a long-time supporter of the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.
Now Lord Montagu, whose father opened the original museum at Palace House in the 1950s, has paid tribute to one of Britain's sporting heroes.
He said: "Sir Stirling was a friend of Beaulieu since the early days, when he attended the opening of the Montagu Motor Museum, the forerunner of the National Motor Museum.
"In a wonderful demonstration of continuity, we were delighted when he returned to open our new motor sport display, A Chequered History. He will be remembered as one of the greats of British motor sport.”
A Chequered History was opened on March 5 2015, when Sir Stirling was 85.
The legendary figure sat in two sports cars at the museum including a 1950 BRM V16, which he described as the worst type of vehicle he ever drove.
Sir Stirling began his day at Beaulieu by visiting the lecture theatre, where he was interviewed in front of invited guests by motor racing commentator Murray Walker, who lives near Fordingbridge.
Dubbed The Voice of Formula One, Murray asked Sir Stirling about the highs and lows of his 14-year career.
He told him: “I think of you as the first really professional racing driver. Your career ended with that terrible crash in 1962 but you are still Mr Motor Racing as far as the British public and most of the rest of the world are concerned.”
Sir Stirling was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1961 and was knighted in 2000.
One of his most impressive victories resulted from his determination to carry on after his tyres started to disintegrate during a race.
He told fans: “Racing in those days was very amateur – and a lot more fun.”
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