Grapevine: Hollywood to film Hailwood movie

American company Infinity Media have obtained the rights to Hailwood's life story from his widow Pauline. No release schedule has been announced, but the film will be produced by Michael Ohoven and written by Paul Pender.

Hailwood won nine World Championships on bikes, but failed to achieve the same success on four wheels.

After dabbling in car racing in the early 1960's, he returned to four wheels full-time at the end of the decade and went on to win the 1972 European Formula Two championship for fellow bike racer John Surtees' team.

That same season he came close to grabbing a maiden Grand Prix win, after pressuring Jackie Stewart for the lead in South Africa before his suspension broke and then appearing well on his way at Monza before the airbox blew off his car.

Hailwood suffered a more difficult 1973 campaign, with his only memorable moment being when he rescued Clay Regazzoni from his burning car in South Africa to earn the George Medal.

He switched to McLaren in 1974 and ran competitively before he suffered leg injuries in a crash at the German Grand Prix. It ended his F1 career, although he returned briefly to bikes before being killed in a car crash near his home in 1981.