Only a handful of racing drivers are among the best in both single-seaters and sportscars, Stirling Moss and Jacky Ickx being two of the most famous examples. Many Grand Prix greats merely dabbled with sportscars, and when they did have full parallel careers, such as the incomparable Juan Manuel Fangio, they couldn’t fully get to grips with the fendered machines. The other way around, many of history’s sportscar greats were Grand Prix drivers as well – only just not that good. Hans Herrmann, Jo Siffert and Jochen Mass represent three generations of two-timing drivers who shone on occasions in Grand Prix racing but were kingpins in Porsche’s huge success in sportscars.

In a combined no.4 and 5 of his Rear View Mirror column Don Capps zooms in on the difference between history and nostalgia, and wonders whether the ambition of researching and recording motor racing history is best served by journalists, publicists and enthusiasts. He also digs into the pre-war Mercedes paint-scraping fairytale once more, having been unpleasantly surprised by the new Mercedes GP team's resuscitation of an ever so persistent Neubauer myth.