Evans was one of many British drivers of the period who, having worked tremendously hard to reach Formula 1, had neither the machinery nor the opportunity to show what they could really do. He had begun his racing career in a Sprite before moving into Formula Ford and then F3 in 1971, but only after he had fortunately recovered from a broken neck sustained when he crashed while testing at Castle Combe.

    It was F5000 that was to provide Bob with his big breakthrough. With a solid season in a Trojan under his belt, long-time supporter Alan McKechnie bought him a Lola T332 for 1974 and he duly swept to the Rothmans championship, picking up the first-place Grovewood Award in the process.

    This led to an offer to drive for BRM in 1975. The car was well past its best and it was to Evans' credit that he plugged away so valiantly in the face of adversity. Things looked better for 1976 when Colin Chapman, impressed with his performances, gave Bob a testing contract - and three races, the best of which was the Race of Champions, when the car ran out fuel and fourth place was lost.

    Apart from a RAM drive in the British GP later that year, and a one-off outing to 11th place in the Hexagon Penske in the 1977 Race of Champions, that was that for Evans, who returned to the relative obscurity of the Aurora championship in a Surtees TS19 in 1978.

(c) 'Who is Who' by Steve Small, 2000