Background
Pat Moss was born in Thames Ditton, Surrey, England, to British race car driver Alfred Moss and Aileen (née Craufurd). She grew up in Bray, Berkshire and was taught to drive at the age of 11 by her brother, Stirling.
Pat Moss was born in Thames Ditton, Surrey, England, to British race car driver Alfred Moss and Aileen (née Craufurd). She grew up in Bray, Berkshire and was taught to drive at the age of 11 by her brother, Stirling.
Her older brother Stirling Moss" was a Formula One Grand Prix star during the 1950s. In 1953, aged 18, she started driving in club rallies after being introduced to the sport by boyfriend Ken Gregory, Stirling"s manager. In 1954, Moss bought a Triumph TR2 and started rallying more seriously.
She asked Standard-Triumph to cover her expenses to drive her TR2 on the 1955 Royal Automobile Club Rally, but they declined.
A more astute MG Cars offered Moss expenses and a works MG TF 1500. Thus began a relationship lasting seven years, netting three championships and benefiting the British Motor Corporation with valuable publicity.
As a Business Service Management works team driver, Moss had her breakthrough in 1958, when she drove her Morris Minor to 4th place on the Royal Automobile Club Rally. In 1960, Moss took over-all victory at the Liège-Rome-Liège in an Austin-Healey 3000 and went on to finish 2nd at the Coupe des Alpes.
In 1961, she finished 2nd at the Royal Automobile Club Rally.
In 1962, she was 3rd at the East African Safari Rally in a Saab 96 and, at the Royal Automobile Club, with the Austin-Healey. In 1963, Moss joined Ford of Britain and managed a 6th place at the Acropolis Rally in her Lotus-tuned Ford Cortina. Together, they competed in 11 international rallies.
Her most notable results were 3rd at the Acropolis Rally and 4ths at the Liège-Sofia-Liège and the Royal Automobile Club Rally.
At the Monte Carlo Rally, she came in 5th in 1964 and 3d in 1965. In 1968, Moss joined Lancia to drive the new Fulvia.
She did not like the car"s strong understeer, but nevertheless drove it to 14th place at the Monte Carlo Rally and 2nd place at the Rallye Sanremo, losing to Pauli Toivonen in a Porsche 911. Her other notable results of the season included winning the Sestriere Rally and finishing 8th at the Acropolis and 7th at the Tour de Corse.
At the 1969 Monte Carlo Rally, Moss drove her Fulvia to 6th place.
In December 1969, Moss and Carlsson had a daughter, Susan. By that time, Moss was becoming less active in rallying. She nevertheless joined Renault Alpine and drive her Alpine A110 to 10th place at the 1972 Monte Carlo Rally before finally retiring in 1974.
On 14 October 2008, Pat Moss-Carlsson died of cancer, aged 73, at home in Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire.
But she started her sporting career on horseback, becoming well known as a successful show-jumper and member of the British showjumping team