Embassy Hill GH2, National Motor Museum 1978

Embassy Hill was a short-lived but ambitious Formula One team founded by two-time World Champion Graham Hill in 1973. Backed by the Embassy cigarette brand, the team entered Formula One with modest resources and initially ran customer chassis, first using a Shadow DN1 and later switching to Lola designs. Despite Hill?s legendary reputation, the team struggled to make a major impact during the 1974 and 1975 seasons, often hampered by limited funding and technical setbacks.

Looking to establish themselves as a more competitive force, Embassy Hill commissioned their first fully in-house car for the 1976 season, the GH2, designed by engineer Andy Smallman. The car showed real promise during testing, and Hill placed much of his faith in the young British driver Tony Brise, who had impressed with his speed and potential.

Tragedy struck on 29 November 1975, when Graham Hill piloted the team?s Piper Aztec aircraft back from a testing session at Paul Ricard in France. On board were Hill himself, Smallman, Brise, team manager Ray Brimble, and mechanics Tony Alcock and Terry Richards. Attempting to land in foggy conditions near Elstree, the plane crashed, killing all six men instantly.

The disaster was not only a devastating personal blow to British motorsport, but it also wiped out an entire team at a moment when it seemed on the brink of progress. With its founder, lead designer, driver, and key staff gone, Embassy Hill ceased to exist overnight, bringing to an end Graham Hill?s post-driving ambitions and cutting short what many believed could have been a successful chapter in Formula One history.