Tony Marsh

Anthony Ernest "Tony" Marsh (20 July 1931 - 15 May 2009) was a British racing driver who competed in Formula One and achieved greater success in hillclimbing. Born in Stourbridge, Worcestershire, Marsh made four Formula One World Championship starts between 1957 and 1961, driving various machinery including a Cooper-Climax. While his Formula One career was limited and without significant results, Marsh found his true calling in British hillclimbing, where he became one of the sport's most successful competitors. He won the British Hill Climb Championship a record nine times between 1955 and 1970, driving a succession of increasingly sophisticated single-seater racing cars built specifically for hillclimbing.

Marsh's championship victories came in 1955, 1956, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, and 1970, demonstrating remarkable longevity and competitiveness across 15 years. He was known for his commitment to developing specialized hillclimb machinery and his precise, committed driving style on the challenging British hillclimb courses. Marsh raced various cars including Cooper-JAPs, a Marsh Special (his own design), and later BRM-powered machines. His success helped elevate the profile of hillclimbing in British motorsport during the 1950s and 1960s.

Beyond his own driving, Marsh contributed to the technical development of hillclimb cars, working with various engineers and constructors to optimize performance for the unique demands of the discipline. After retiring from competition in the early 1970s, Marsh remained involved in historic motorsport and the hillclimbing community. His nine British championships remained a record until broken decades later, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest hillclimbers in British motorsport history. Tony Marsh passed away in May 2009 at the age of 77.