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F1 Beyond The Grid Podcast
Willy T Ribbs on his pioneering F1 test and the push for diversity in motor sport

Willy T Ribbs on his pioneering F1 test and the push for diversity in motor sport

F1 Beyond The Grid vor 6 Jahren

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56:55

This week’s guest is a man many of you may not have heard of. But
Willy T Ribbs’ story needs to be heard. In 1985 Ribbs became the
first black man to drive an F1 car, when he tested for Bernie
Ecclestone’s Brabham team. But despite that milestone moment,
he’d never crack F1 full-time, returning instead to his native US
to pursue his racing dreams against an undercurrent of racism and
discrimination.

Those who opposed him called him ‘Uppity’- a term Willy would
wear as a badge of honour as he fought for inclusion, and the
also the name of the fantastic recent documentary about his life.
Listen as Willy discusses racism, diversity and inclusion in
motor sport, his friendship with and admiration of Lewis
Hamilton, the advice he was given by Muhammed Ali, and much more…