Pat Moss

Pat Moss
Pat Moss (1963)
Born	Patricia Ann Moss 27 December 1934 Thames Ditton, Surrey
Died	14 October 2008 (aged 73)
Nationality	English
Occupation	Auto Rally Driver
Spouse(s)	Erik Carlsson (m. 1963–2008; her death)
Parent(s)	Alfred Moss Aileen (née Craufurd)
Relatives	Sir Stirling Moss (brother)

Patricia Ann "Pat" Moss-Carlsson (née Moss; 27 December 1934 – 14 October 2008) was one of the most successful female auto rally drivers of all time, achieving three outright wins and seven podium finishes in international rallies. She was crowned European Ladies' Rally Champion five times (1958, 1960, 1962, 1964–65). Her older brother Stirling Moss was a Formula One Grand Prix star during the 1950s. From 1963 until her death, Swedish rally driver Erik Carlsson was both her driving-partner and her husband.

She is the author of a memoir The Story So Far (1967) and, with her husband, co-author of The Art and Technique of Driving (1965).

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. But she started her sporting career on horseback, becoming well known as a successful show-jumper and member of the British showjumping team. 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 RAC 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 BMC works team driver, Moss had her breakthrough in 1958, when she drove her Morris Minor to 4th place on the RAC Rally. She achieved another 4th place at Belgium's Liège-Rome-Liège Rally in an Austin-Healey 100/6 and won the first of her five European Ladies' Rally Championships.