Author
Marcus Simmons
Marcus Simmons is the Deputy Editor of Autosport magazine. As a child he was a regular on the chalk banks of Thruxton – hence his unhealthy obsession with 1970s Formula 2 and F3 – before he became an MSA timekeeper at the age of 17. At 19, his reporting debut for Motoring News arguably overshadowed Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal as the sporting moment of June 1986, and he joined the staff in 1990 after graduating from his degree course in Plymouth. A parallel Formula First career – which was as incident-packed as his childhood exploits in show-jumping and hunter trials – finished when he wrote off his car and put himself in hospital in 1991.
Marcus moved to Autosport in the summer of 1996. Since then he has had two stints as a freelancer and a brief spell as editor of Motor Sport magazine, during which the revered green cover was revived, before he rejoined Autosport in 2008. He lives in Teddington with his wife (who, gratifyingly, grew up within earshot of Castle Combe), daughter, stepson, dog, cat and guitars, and additionally has an adult daughter and stepson.
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Latest articles by Marcus Simmons
A motorsport life in graphic detail
General
A motorsport life in graphic detail
The most controversial F1 deciders: 1997 Europe, 2021 Abu Dhabi, and more
Formula 1
Formula 1
Abu Dhabi GP
The most controversial F1 deciders: 1997 Europe, 2021 Abu Dhabi, and more
Browning's fairytale rise from racing a Saxo to an F1 practice appearance
FIA F2
FIA F2
Browning's fairytale rise from racing a Saxo to an F1 practice appearance
Will a new three-cylinder engine revive traditional F3 in Europe?
F3
F3
Will a new three-cylinder engine revive traditional F3 in Europe?
The forgotten first Lawson vs Tsunoda battle – as teenaged team-mates
Formula 1
Formula 1
The forgotten first Lawson vs Tsunoda battle – as teenaged team-mates
Motorsport.com's 10 brightest female stars of 2024
General
General
Motorsport.com's 10 brightest female stars of 2024
What could have been: Ray Mallock's lost F1 chance
Formula 1
Formula 1
What could have been: Ray Mallock's lost F1 chance
British powerhouse RML eyes Le Mans Hypercar chance
WEC
WEC
British powerhouse RML eyes Le Mans Hypercar chance
Prema “talking” with F1 driver Sargeant over 2025 IndyCar switch
IndyCar
IndyCar
Prema “talking” with F1 driver Sargeant over 2025 IndyCar switch
Wheldon Jr hailed as big talent by team boss after winning debut
General
General
Wheldon Jr hailed as big talent by team boss after winning debut
Introducing the IndyCar junior race winner still too young to join GB3
National
National
Introducing the IndyCar junior race winner still too young to join GB3
How Red Bull's next British star earned a fast-track to F3
FIA F3
FIA F3
How Red Bull's next British star earned a fast-track to F3
Rodin team renamed after Carlin departure
FIA F2
FIA F2
Rodin team renamed after Carlin departure
IndyCar racer Armstrong in surprise F3 return for Macau GP
IndyCar
IndyCar
Laguna Seca
IndyCar racer Armstrong in surprise F3 return for Macau GP
Two-time winner Ticktum is last-minute Macau GP addition
General
General
Two-time winner Ticktum is last-minute Macau GP addition
Verschoor tops F3 Macau GP entry in bid for second win
General
General
Verschoor tops F3 Macau GP entry in bid for second win
The video game icon that lived up to expectations
BTCC
BTCC
The video game icon that lived up to expectations
F1 young driver programmes: Which drivers are signed to which teams?
Formula 1
Formula 1
F1 young driver programmes: Which drivers are signed to which teams?
How “refreshing” van ‘t Hoff was on the edge of breaking through
FRECA
FRECA
News
How “refreshing” van ‘t Hoff was on the edge of breaking through
Habsburg's Rebel Team scheme to open voting on young talents
European Le Mans
European Le Mans
Le Castellet
Habsburg's Rebel Team scheme to open voting on young talents
BTCC Thruxton: Rowbottom takes race three win
BTCC
BTCC
Thruxton
BTCC Thruxton: Rowbottom takes race three win
BTCC Thruxton: Sutton claims yet another win in race two
BTCC
BTCC
Thruxton
BTCC Thruxton: Sutton claims yet another win in race two
BTCC Thruxton: Sutton continues his winning streak
BTCC
BTCC
Thruxton
BTCC Thruxton: Sutton continues his winning streak
BTCC Snetterton: Ingram hangs on for first win of 2023
BTCC
BTCC
Snetterton
BTCC Snetterton: Ingram hangs on for first win of 2023
BTCC Snetterton: Sutton dominates to notch up four wins in a row
BTCC
BTCC
Snetterton
BTCC Snetterton: Sutton dominates to notch up four wins in a row
BTCC Snetterton: Sutton pips Hill in tight finish in opener
BTCC
BTCC
Snetterton
BTCC Snetterton: Sutton pips Hill in tight finish in opener
Cammish blames himself for BTCC Snetterton qualifying shunt
BTCC
BTCC
Snetterton
Cammish blames himself for BTCC Snetterton qualifying shunt
BTCC Snetterton: Sutton sets new qualifying lap record for stunning pole
BTCC
BTCC
Snetterton
BTCC Snetterton: Sutton sets new qualifying lap record for stunning pole
When bad weather caused F1 chaos
Formula 1
Formula 1
Emilia Romagna GP
When bad weather caused F1 chaos
BTCC gets in early with 2024 race calendar
BTCC
BTCC
BTCC gets in early with 2024 race calendar
BTCC Brands Hatch: Sutton takes thrilling Race 3 win after Collard penalty
BTCC
BTCC
Brands Hatch
BTCC Brands Hatch: Sutton takes thrilling Race 3 win after Collard penalty
BTCC Brands Hatch: Sutton beats Ingram in tense strategic Race 2 battle
BTCC
BTCC
Brands Hatch
BTCC Brands Hatch: Sutton beats Ingram in tense strategic Race 2 battle
BTCC Brands Hatch: Turkington wins opener red-flagged after pile-up
BTCC
BTCC
Brands Hatch
BTCC Brands Hatch: Turkington wins opener red-flagged after pile-up
BTCC Donington Park: Cammish wins again to take early points lead
BTCC
BTCC
Donington
BTCC Donington Park: Cammish wins again to take early points lead
BTCC Donington Park: Chilton wins bizarre wet second race
BTCC
BTCC
Donington
BTCC Donington Park: Chilton wins bizarre wet second race
Hill gets grid drop for Sutton incident at Donington Park
BTCC
BTCC
Donington
Hill gets grid drop for Sutton incident at Donington Park
BTCC Donington Park: Cammish beats Hill in thriller
BTCC
BTCC
Donington
BTCC Donington Park: Cammish beats Hill in thriller
BTCC Donington: Rowbottom takes pole as Sutton penalised
BTCC
BTCC
Donington
BTCC Donington: Rowbottom takes pole as Sutton penalised
The BTCC plotlines to watch out for in 2023
BTCC
BTCC
The BTCC plotlines to watch out for in 2023
Ingram pips Sutton in Brands Hatch BTCC test
BTCC
BTCC
Ingram pips Sutton in Brands Hatch BTCC test
Hamilton retained by Team Hard to create record-breaking six-car BTCC squad
BTCC
BTCC
Donington
Hamilton retained by Team Hard to create record-breaking six-car BTCC squad
F3 could headline Macau ‘junior single-seater festival’
FIA F3
FIA F3
F3 could headline Macau ‘junior single-seater festival’
Morgan joins BMW squad WSR for 2023 BTCC season
BTCC
BTCC
Morgan joins BMW squad WSR for 2023 BTCC season
Ciceley Motorsport exits BTCC after 10 years
BTCC
BTCC
Ciceley Motorsport exits BTCC after 10 years
BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram seals maiden title, Lloyd wins finale
BTCC
BTCC
Brands Hatch (Grand Prix)
BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram seals maiden title, Lloyd wins finale
BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram holds off Hill to extend points lead
BTCC
BTCC
Brands Hatch (Grand Prix)
BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram holds off Hill to extend points lead
BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram wins opener to take points lead
BTCC
BTCC
Brands Hatch (Grand Prix)
BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram wins opener to take points lead
BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram takes crushing pole for finale
BTCC
BTCC
Brands Hatch (Grand Prix)
BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram takes crushing pole for finale
BTCC Silverstone: Ingram narrows points gap to Sutton with win
BTCC
BTCC
Silverstone (National)
BTCC Silverstone: Ingram narrows points gap to Sutton with win
BTCC Silverstone: Hill beats Butcher to win Race 2
BTCC
BTCC
Silverstone (National)
BTCC Silverstone: Hill beats Butcher to win Race 2
BTCC Silverstone: Butcher holds off Hill to win opening race
BTCC
BTCC
Silverstone (National)
BTCC Silverstone: Butcher holds off Hill to win opening race
BTCC Silverstone: Butcher claims pole for Toyota by 0.037s
BTCC
BTCC
Silverstone (National)
BTCC Silverstone: Butcher claims pole for Toyota by 0.037s
Ex-F1 racer Firman to bring back Van Diemen name with new car
Other open wheel
Other open wheel
Ex-F1 racer Firman to bring back Van Diemen name with new car
Top 10 Ligier F1 drivers ranked: Boutsen, Pironi, Laffite and more
Formula 1
Formula 1
Top 10 Ligier F1 drivers ranked: Boutsen, Pironi, Laffite and more
BTCC Thruxton: Cook claims win in reversed-grid finale
BTCC
BTCC
Thruxton II
BTCC Thruxton: Cook claims win in reversed-grid finale
BTCC Thruxton: Cammish gifts Sutton victory in race two
BTCC
BTCC
Thruxton II
BTCC Thruxton: Cammish gifts Sutton victory in race two
BTCC Thruxton: Cammish takes advantage of chaos for race one victory
BTCC
BTCC
Thruxton II
BTCC Thruxton: Cammish takes advantage of chaos for race one victory
BTCC Snetterton: Sutton in control to take finale win ahead of Plato
BTCC
BTCC
Snetterton
BTCC Snetterton: Sutton in control to take finale win ahead of Plato
Latest news
IndyCar 2026 season review: ECR
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 9 h
IndyCar 2026 season review: ECR
Toto Wolff reflects on Mercedes’ non-title years: ‘We weren’t complete losers’
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
9 h
Toto Wolff reflects on Mercedes’ non-title years: ‘We weren’t complete losers’
Renger van der Zande moves to IMSA’s LMP2 class full-time with Tower Motorsports
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 10 h
Renger van der Zande moves to IMSA’s LMP2 class full-time with Tower Motorsports