Ritchie Ginther
(C) CahierArchive
The Californian has a special place in the annals of the sport as he gave Honda its first ever Formula One win in Mexico City in 1965, the last round of the Japanese firm's first full season, at the wheel of the RA272. Incidentally, that victory in Mexico was also the first time a Goodyear-shod driver would stand on the top step of an Formula One podium.
One can only imagine what a weird experience it must have been for two Americans (Ronnie Bucknum was Honda's first Formula One driver) to drive for an all-Japanese team. Ginther suited their needs, as airforce training meant he knew a thing or two about bolting race cars together. In fact, he'd spannered for Phil Hill in earlier days, both men hailing from the same Californian town. It must have been a bit like driving for the fictional Yamura team in Frankenheimer's film Grand Prix. Appropriately enough for a man born in Hollywood, Ginther had a bit part in the film as Yamura driver "John Hogarth."
Prior to Honda, he drove for Ferrari, BRM and later drove for Dan Gurney's Anglo American Racers squad. An underrated talent with a Ricciardo-style perma-smile, the down-to-earth American scored points in his first six Formula One starts, at a time when only the top six finishers got any.
