Motor racing legend Stirling Moss dies at the age of 90

Motor racing legend Sir Stirling Moss has died at the age of 90.

His wife Lady Moss was quoted as saying by Press Association that he died peacefully at his London home following a long illness.

"It was one lap too many," she said. "He just closed his eyes."

Though Moss never won the Formula One title, he finished runner-up four times and came third three times in a career during which he won 16 Grands Prix.

His sportsmanship famously cost him the title in 1958 when he defended the actions of rival Mike Hawthorne following a spin at the Portuguese Grand Prix, sparing Hawthorne a six-point penalty. Hawthorne went on to beat Moss to the title by a single point.

Moss' first GP win came in the 1955 British Grand Prix at Aintree as he became the first British driver to win the event.

In an age when racing drivers competed in several different disciplines alongside Formula One, Moss won a total of 212 of the 529 races he entered in his 14-year career, which began in 1948.

In an age when racing drivers competed in several different disciplines alongside Formula One, Moss won a total of 212 of the 529 races he entered in his 14-year career, which began in 1948.

Former world heavyweight champion Frank Bruno wrote on Twitter: "I am very saddened to hear the passing of Sir Stirling Moss. He privately supported me over many years and was an amazing driver in his time, he will be greatly missed. My thoughts are with his family and all that had the pleasure of knowing him".

Moss retired in 1962 after a heavy crash at Goodwood which left him in a coma for a month.

Born in London in 1929, Moss was the son of amateur racing driver Alfred and his wife Aileen.

He was knighted in the New Year Honours list in 2000 for services to motor racing.