In conjunction with his look back at the famed one-off Dubai “Grand Prix”, Gary Meenaghan re-traces who featured that Friday in December 1981.
Nigel Mansell: Winner of the 1992 F1 world championship with Renault, Mansell left for the USA the following year and became the first driver to win the equivalent of an Indycar title on his debut.
Jack Brabham: Australian won the F1 drivers' title three times between 1959 and 1966. Founded Brabham Racing in 1962.
John Watson: Won five Formula One grands prix. Finished third in 1982 drivers' championship, with McLaren.
Denny Hulme: New Zealander won the 1967 F1 world championship with Brabham Racing. Also won the 1961 Le Mans 24-hours race.
John Surtees: The only person to win world titles on two and four wheels, the Briton won the 500cc motorbike world championship four times before taking the 1964 F1 drivers' title.
Bruno Giacomelli: The Italian raced 82 times in F1, finishing on the podium just once, in the 1981 Caesar's Palace Grand Prix in Las Vegas.
Stirling Moss: With 16 wins from 66 race starts, the Brit is often referred to as the greatest driver never to win a world championship.
Carroll Shelby: Driving an Aston Martin, Texan won the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside Roy Salvadori.
Roy Salvadori: Raced in 50 grands prix and took two podiums in 1958.
Richard Attwood: The Briton's best result in 17 races was second place at the 1968 Monaco GP. He won Le Mans in a Porsche 917 two years later.
Derek Bell: Raced in F1, but more renowned for his sports car achievements: five-time Le Mans winner, three-time Daytona 24 and twice winner of World Sportscar Championship.
Brian Henton: A champion in F3 and F2, the Briton was unable to transfer his success to F1, failing to score a point in 19 race starts.
Innes Ireland: Raced in 53 grands prix and, as well as several non-championship races, won the 1961 US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen with Lotus.
John Fitzpatrick: Three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Porsche, and took BMW to the top step of the podium at the Daytona 24 Hours in 1976.
Keke Rosberg: The flying Finn won the 1982 F1 world championship with Williams before going on to also race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Father of current Mercedes-GP driver Nico Rosberg.
Dan Gurney: The American finished his F1 career with four wins from 86 races and also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1967 alongside AJ Foyt.
Phil Hill: Victories in Belgium and Italy helped the American to become 1961 F1 world champion. Also won 24 Hours of Le Mans three times between 1958 and 1962.
Helmut Marko: Raced nine times in F1 but had career cut short in 1972 after accident left him blind in one eye. Had previously won Le Mans in 1971. Now Red Bull Racing adviser.
Marc Surer: The affable Swiss raced for Ensign, ATS, Arrows and Brabham during 82 grand prix starts. His best finishes were fourth place in Brazil (1981) and Italy (1985).
David Kennedy: The Irishman never started on a Sunday during his eight F1 race weekends, but enjoyed greater success as a manager, booking the driver team that won Le Mans in 1991.
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
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