Peter Whitehead (racing driver)

Former F1 driver
Name = Peter Whitehead
Nationality = flagicon|UK British
Years = F1|1950 - F1|1954
Team(s) = "privateer Ferrari, Alta and Cooper",
Scuderia Ferrari
Races = 12 (10 starts)
Championships = 0
Wins = 0
Podiums = 1
Points = 4
Poles = 0
Fastest laps = 0
First race = 1950 Monaco Grand Prix
First win =
Last win =
Last race = 1954 British Grand Prix

Peter Whitehead (born 12 November 1914, Menston - died 21 September 1958, Lasalle, France) was a British racing driver from England.

Career synopsis

He participated in 12 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on July 2, 1950. In his career he achieved a single podium, and scored a total of 4 championship points. He also drove in several non-Championship Formula One races. In addition to his Formula One career he shared victory in the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans race with Peter Walker, racing for Jaguar.

Peter Whitehead is notable as the first person to whom Enzo Ferrari ever sold a Formula One car to: a Ferrari 125.

ports car racer

Whitehead teamed with Peter Walker to win the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans with an average speed of 93.112 miles per hour. They drove a Jaguar. ["Two Britons Drive Record 93.112 M.P.H. For 24 Hours to Capture French Auto Race", New York Times, June 25, 1951, Page 24.] In July 1952 Whitehead qualified his Alta 2nd to Harry Schell for the Grand Prix of Rouen. ["Schell Speeds 121.803 M.P.H., New York Times, July 5, 1952, Page 10.] In July 1953 Whitehead won a 12-hour endurance race together with Stirling Moss, at Rheims, driving a Jaguar. ["French Auto Races To British Drivers", New York Times, July 6, 1953, Page 22.] Whitehead and Ken Wharton piloted a new model Jaguar over a 5 mile closed circuit, regular asphalt highway, at Rheims, in 1954. They were victorious with an average speed of 104.3 m.p.h. ["Article 3-No Title", New York Times, July 5, 1954, Page 15.] The same driving pair placed 5th at Belfast, Northern Ireland, in September. The event was the Ulster Tourist Trophyroad race. ["Laureau, in French Car, Takes Ulster Trophy", September 12, 1954, Page S9.] Whitehead was behind the wheel ofan Aston Martin DB3S when he placed 7th in a 1957 Belgian Royal Automobile Club Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. ["Brooks Captures Belgian Auto Race", New York Times, August 26, 1957, Page 29.]

Death

Whitehead's last great performance was at Le Mans in 1958 where he came second in an Aston Martin, sharing the driving with his half-brother Graham Whitehead. A couple of months later Peter and Graham were competing together in the Tour de France, when their Jaguar crashed off a bridge into a 30-foot ravine at Lasalle, after overturning twice, ["British Driver Killed On Tour in France", New York Times, September 21, 1958, Page C2.] with Graham at the wheel. Graham was badly injured, but Peter was killed instantly.

Complete World Championship results

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References