Alex Blignaut
Alex Blignaut (30 November 1932 in Johannesburg – 15 January 2001 in Honeydew, Johannesburg) was a racing driver and motor racing team owner from South Africa.
Born | Johannesburg, South Africa | 30 November 1932
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Died | 15 January 2001 68) Honeydew, Johannesburg, South Africa | (aged
Formula One World Championship career | |
Nationality | South African |
Active years | 1965 |
Teams | privateer Cooper |
Entries | 1 (0 starts) |
Championships | 0 |
Wins | 0 |
Podiums | 0 |
Career points | 0 |
Pole positions | 0 |
Fastest laps | 0 |
First entry | 1965 South African Grand Prix |
Last entry | 1965 South African Grand Prix |
Career
Blignaut raced locally in South Africa for many years and made two appearances in the Formula One Rand Grand Prix under the "Team Valencia" banner, in 1963 and 1964, finishing 12th on both occasions. He also entered the 1965 South African Grand Prix, a World Championship event, but withdrew before the meeting took place.[1]
He later turned to team ownership, setting up the "Alex Blignaut Racing Team" and entering cars in the South African Formula One Championship throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, earning many race wins. Among the drivers who competed for Blignaut were Eddie Keizan and Ian Scheckter. Keizan also drove Blignaut's Tyrrell 004 in the World Championship South African Grands Prix in 1973 and 1974.[2]
Blignaut was later secretary of SAMRaC (South African Motor Racing Club), the club which organised the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami. He died in 2001 after an accident on his farm, when he electrocuted himself while repairing a piece of machinery.[3]
Results
References
- John Thompson, "The Formula One Record Book", Frewin, 1974, pp.210-211.
- Steve Small, "The Grand Prix Who's Who", Guinness, 1996, p.237.
- Mario Bauer, "Grand Prix Insider", 30 November 2008