Those who have returned

[Jimmy Magnusson]

After reading about Didier They's retirement yesterday I started thinking, what drivers have retired and then come back? I'm talking about a proper retirement here, not just a retirement from F1 and then going on to do other things. Emerson Fittipaldi and Niki Lauda comes to mind, as they both became business owners, only to return for another successfull career.

[Graz]

Alain Prost although 1992 was a sabbitcal. Still, a season and a bit off and then come back and wint he Championship before sodding off againf or good. Pretty good really.

Keke Rosberg did ok when he came back.

[Alan Raine]

Alan Jones - Arrows then Beatrice.

[Angus Theape]

Originally Posted by Alan Raine

Alan Jones - Beatrice.

Apart from the money, bet he wished he had stayed in retirement.

[Graz]

Originally Posted by Alan Raine

Alan Jones - Arrows then Beatrice.

Was he fully retired back then or was he racing Indycars in the States?

[Graz]

Originally Posted by Graz

Alain Prost although 1992 was a sabbitcal. Still, a season and a bit off and then come back and wint he Championship before sodding off againf or good. Pretty good really.

Keke Rosberg did ok when he came back.

I really should re-read before posting - I meant SABBATICAL in case you were wondering...of course, I could have just said he took a wee break...

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by Alan Raine

Alan Jones - Arrows then Beatrice.

Here's a case which is questionable. Jones didn't retire after the 81 season, he did Ausse GT's in 82. His second "retirement" seems better though, as he didn't race at all in 84. But the key still is a driver saying "That's it, I'm done." and then being tempted back (and it doesn't have to be F1 related at all!). Gil de Ferran seems to be a good example, as he retired to work at Honda F1 and then came back in 2008 to race in ALMS.

[Angus Theape]

Originally Posted by Graz

Was he fully retired back then or was he racing Indycars in the States?

Don't think Jones ever raced Indy cars. CanAm sports cars, F5000 in the US before making it in F1. Thought he was into horses after first retirement, again another mistake, because he fell off one and broke his leg.

[chunterer]

Nice idea for a thread Jimmy!!!

Some British drivers who packed it in (probably money related) and then returned to racing years later:

Phil Kempe - Super Vee front runner 70's - came back in F3 for couple of years in mid 80's.
Adrian Willmott - Originally F3 in 80's then returned in Palmer Audi a couple of years ago.
Bryce Wilson - Formula Atlantic 70's/80's - Renault Spyders/BTCC Indpendents late 90's
Russell Spence - F3000 80's - BTCC Independents late 90's.
Vince Woodman - BTCC/Thundersaloons 80's - Ferraris and now Top Hat (Cologne Capri) currently

Internationals:
Keke Rosberg - Retired from F1 in '86 came back in WSPC in 1990 with Peugeot.
Alex Caffi (I think!!) retired from F1 in the early 90's and then returned in prototypes in the early noughties?

Nigel Mansell (I guess) retired from F1 in '95 and then took to Touring cars a few years later admittedly asd a guest!

[kipper]

I guess Johnny Herbert could be included in this list. He stopped racing when he was appointed Sporting Director of Midland F1 and returned to race driving after the team was purchased by Spyker. Mika Hakkinen had retired from F1 for three seasons before returning to race in the DTM in 2005.

[D-Type]

Bernie Ecclestone - some websites would have us believe that he retired from Formula 3 in 1951 and made a return in 1958 in a Formula 1 Connaught. They have never heard of a team owner indulging himself!

[chunterer]

Bernie indeed!!

Gil De Ferran might be another one? Retired from Champ Cars and came back with ALMS last season?