The end-of-year “Deaths of 2019” roundups usually bring us a few names that obituary writers overlooked during the year, and this time around it’s the BBC’s sports “in memoriam” reel that provides a second chance for one DDP team. The name in question is former racing driver Jim Russell, who died without a press mention back in March but has now come off the bench to score with just a few weeks left in the year. Russell was the British Formula Three champion three times in the 1950s, but had to retire with injury before he was able to step up to Formula 1. He set up the Jim Russell Racing Driver School in his retirement and trained the likes of Emerson Fittipaldi, Jacques Villeneuve and the actor James Garner, for his role in the movie Grand Prix.
Jim Russell
28 May 1920 – 30 March 2019
Died aged 98 (unique pick)