On this day in sport: Farina wins inaugural World Championship F1 race

May 13 will always be a date to remember for Manchester City and it was also historic day in the motorsport world.

Published : May 13, 2020 12:45 IST

Manchester City celebrates winning the Premier League in 2012.
Manchester City celebrates winning the Premier League in 2012.
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Manchester City celebrates winning the Premier League in 2012.

Giuseppe Farina won the first ever Formula One race on this day in 1950 and much more recently May 13 was a historic day for Manchester City.

Farina put his name in the record books with victory in the British Grand Prix 70 years ago.

Sergio Aguero scored a last-gasp winner against QPR to snatch a first Premier League title for City on an afternoon of high drama in Manchester eight years ago.

It was also Arsene Wenger's last game in charge of Arsenal and there was a tennis first on this day.

1950 - Flying Farina storms to Silverstone victory

Italian Farina dominated the inaugural World Championship F1 race at Silverstone after starting from pole position. With King George VI among an estimated crowd of up to 120,000, Alfa Romeo driver Farina took the chequered flag ahead of team-mates Luigi Fagioli and Reg Parnell.

The great Juan Manuel Fangio retired from the race, also titled as the Grand Prix d'Europe, due to engine trouble. 

Farina went on to win the title after such a strong start.

1973 - Riggs beats Court in 'Battle of the Sexes' opener

Former World No. 1 Bobby Riggs and the legendary Margaret Court contested the first 'Battle of the Sexes' match on this day in 1973.

Riggs had stated he could beat any top female player at the age of 55 and after Billie Jean King declined his challenge, Court stepped forward to take him on.

Court, the best female player in the world at the time, was soundly beaten 6-2, 6-1 at the San Vincente Country Club in Ramona, California.

Riggs then challenged King once again and she accepted on this occasion, beating him in straight-sets four months later, with the USD 100,000 winnings donated to charity.

2012 - Aguero puts City in dreamland

City looked set to miss out on being crowned champion of England for the first time in 1968 when it trailed 10-man QPR on the final day of the 2011-12 season.

Manchester United was minutes from popping the champagne corks, but neighbour City staged a remarkable fightback at the Etihad Stadium.

WATCH | OTD - Wenger manages final Arsenal home game

Edin Dzeko equalised after 92 minutes and the lethal Aguero rifled home a couple of minutes later, with time almost up, as City sensationally snatched a 3-2 victory to win the title on goal difference.

QPR had played much of the second half a man down after Joey Barton's dismissal.

2018 - 1-0 to Arsenal for Wenger farewell

There was not a dry eye in the away end when Arsene Wenger's long reign as Arsenal manager ended with a 1-0 victory at Huddersfield Town two years ago.

ALSO READ | Aguero off the pace in F1's virtual Spanish GP

Wenger went over to salute the Gunners faithful before kick-off in West Yorkshire, with the Frenchman also taking a bow.

There was a standing ovation for the departing Arsenal boss after 22 minutes to celebrate the number of years he had been charge of the London club.

Banners were flown over the ground before the visitors took all three points in a game with nothing at stake other than pride, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring the only goal.

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