Driver deaths in British motorsport series
Motorsport of any type, or at any level, is dangerous by its very nature. However the nature of the media often means that only deaths in high-profile series, with mainstream TV coverage, are reported in the press. For example, the deaths of Dan Wheldon [1] and Marco Simoncelli [2] within a week of each other in 2011, received significant press attention while other recent deaths did not. This can give a misleading impression to the general public as to the number of deaths that occur in the sport as a whole. The list below shows drivers that have died racing in British national or club car racing series since 1970. The list only includes drivers to have died during a race and only those competing in British domestic series. The deaths are spread across the major existing circuits in the country, with only Knockhill and Rockingham Motor Speedway (opened 2001) not having any recorded driver deaths.
Year | Driver | Series | Circuit | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
1933 | Colin Gordan | Derby and District Motor Club | Donington Park | [3] |
1937 | Fred Brady | BRSCC Meeting | [[]] | [3] |
1937 | Maurice Bilney | 12 Hours of Donington | Donington Park | [3] |
1939 | Sir John Bowen | VSCC Meeting | Donington Park | [3] |
1951 | Ronald Dryden | Non-Championship F3 Race | Castle Combe | [3] |
1951 | Harry Parker | Mechanics Race | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1953 | Bobby Baird | Unknown | Snetterton | [3] |
1954 | J.W Whewell | Unknown | Snetterton | [3] |
1954 | Arthur Baker | 750MC 6 Hour Relay Race | Silverstone | [3] |
1955 | Max Klein | Unknown | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1955 | Neal Denson | Bentley Drivers Club Meeting | Oulton Park | [3] |
1956 | Arthur Bryant | British Sportscar Championship | Oulton Park | [3] |
1956 | Ian Dudley | Unknown | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1957 | Stanley Marks | Sporting Record Trophy | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1957 | William Atwood | Daily Express Trophy Race | Silverstone | [3] |
1958 | G.E Holland-Martin | Cheshire/Lancashire Motor Club Meeting | Oulton Park | [3] |
1958 | David Dunnage | Club F3 Race | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1958 | Peter Mitchell | Club F3 Race | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1959 | Peter J Mutton | BARC F3 Race | Mallory Park | [3] |
1960 | Norman Glanville Parker | Unknown | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1961 | Rudi de Waldkrich | BARC Clubmans Championship | Oulton Park | [3] |
1962 | Nicholas Russell Fletcher | Unknown | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1962 | Raymond Entwhistle | Cheshire Motor Club Meeting | Oulton Park | [3] |
1963 | Chris Airey | Molyship Saloon Championships | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1963 | Doug Brailey | Unknown | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1963 | Mark Fielden | Sports and GT Martini Trophy | Silverstone | [3] |
1963 | John Dunn | Formula Junior | Silverstone | [3] |
1964 | Peter Rose | Unknown | Silverstone | [3] |
1964 | Ray Moore | BARC F3/Formula Libre Race | Oulton Park | [3] |
1964 | Bob Beck | Monoposto Race | Castle Combe | [3] |
1964 | Peter Simpson | Mid-Cheshire Motor Club | Oulton Park | [3] |
1966 | Tony Flory | 500 Miles of Brands Race | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1966 | George Crossman | Formula 3 Trophy Race | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1966 | Stuart Duncan | Unknown | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1968 | Ron Riley | Formula Ford Trophy Race | Silverstone | [3] |
1968 | Robin Smith | BARC Meeting | Silverstone | [3] |
1968 | Stuart Waterhouse | Unknown | Oulton Park | [3] |
1968 | David Lawrence | Unknown | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1968 | John Bending | Production Sportscar Championship | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1968 | John Waterhouse | Cheshire/Lancashire Motor Club Meeting | Oulton Park | [3] |
1968 | Dickie Stoop | Unknown | Croft Circuit | [3] |
1968 | Jimmy Goddard | Northern Goldsmith Trophy | Croft Circuit | [3] |
1969 | Michael Chipperfield | VSCC Meeting | Oulton Park | [3] |
1969 | Paul Hawkins | British Sportscar Championship | Oulton Park | [3] |
1970 | Dale Prochazka | Junior Formula Ford | Mallory Park | [3] |
1970 | Martin Brain | Clubman Series | Silverstone | [3] |
1970 | Chris Summers | Formula 5000 | Snetterton | [3] |
1970 | Jim Merricks | Clubman Series | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1971 | Leigh Gaydos | British Formula Ford | Mallory Park | [3] |
1971 | Peter Hawtin | Formula 5000 Championship | Oulton Park | [3] |
1971 | Brian Tarrant | Jaguar Club Series | Thruxton | [3] |
1972 | Jack Smith | Unknown Single Seater Series | Snetterton | [3] |
1973 | Brian Hough | BARC Modified Sportscars | Thruxton | [3] |
1974 | Jon Thorne | Formula Ford | Snetterton | [3] |
1974 | Geoff Coles | Unknown Sportscar Series | Snetterton | [3] |
1976 | John Wingfield | Formula 5000 Championship | Thruxton | [3] |
1976 | Bob Toleman | Formula Ford | Snetterton | [3] |
1976 | Michael Giddings | Formula Ford | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1978 | Albert Corrieri | 250cc International Kart GP | Silverstone | [3] |
1980 | Martin Raymond | Sportscar Championship | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1980 | Wendy Wathen | Club Mini Championship | Castle Combe | [3] |
1982 | Tony Williams | BARC MG Midget Championship | Thruxton | [3] |
1983 | Roger Joice | JDC Historic Championship | Silverstone | [3] |
1984 | Chris Poore | Superkart | Mallory Park | [3] |
1985 | Stephen Langton | Historic Race (F1 Meeting) | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1987 | Peter Rogers | British Formula Ford | Donington Park | [3] |
1987 | Aray Xavier | Snetterton Formula Ford Championship | Snetterton | [3] |
1991 | Paul Warwick | British Formula 3000 Championship | Oulton Park | [3] |
1992 | Gary Loebell | Oulton Formula Ford Series | Oulton Park | [3] |
1992 | Ian McArdell | British Formula Ford | Castle Combe | [3] |
1992 | Marcel Albers | British Formula 3 Championship | Thruxton | [3] |
1993 | Gordon Ellinor | Superkart + | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1993 | Kenton Owen | Superkart + | Brands Hatch | [3] |
1997 | Peter Ruddler | JCC Jaguar Challenge | Oulton Park | [3] |
1999 | Neil Shanahan | British Formula Ford Championship | Oulton Park | [3] |
2000 | Tim Miller | Clubman Series | Oulton Park | [3] |
2001 | Nic Fairman | 750mc Caterham 7 Championship | Mallory Park | [3] |
2001 | Steve Bell | BARC Mini Miglia Championship | Silverstone | [3] |
2002 | Keith Griffiths | BRSCC Alfa Romeo Championship | Mallory Park | [3] |
2002 | Mark Williams | BARC BMW Challenge | Thruxton | [3] |
2002 | Stefan Gilboy | Sports and GT + | Cadwell Park | [3] |
2002 | Tony Clinkard | Sports and GT + | Cadwell Park | [3] |
2003 | David Heynes | BRDC Historic Sportcar (F1 Meeting) | Silverstone | [3] |
2004 | Darren Needham | John Cooper Challenge | Silverstone | [3] |
2004 | Kevin Lloyd | Renault Clio Cup | Thruxton | [3] |
2004 | Len Thompson | Lagonda Rapier Vintage Championship | Cadwell Park | [3] |
2005 | Peter Deardon | British Superkart Championship | Brands Hatch | [3] |
2006 | Richard Weavers | British Superkart Championship | Silverstone | [3] |
2008 | Barry Westmoreland | Historic Sports | Cadwell Park | [3] |
2010 | Jeff Leadley | MSVR GT Cup Championship | Thruxton | [3] |
2013 | Christian Devereux | Historic Touring Cars | Donington Park | [3] |
2013 | Stephen Jewell | VSCC Meeting | Snetterton | |
2014 | Garry Whyte | VSCC Spring Start | Silverstone | |
2014 | Dennis Welch | Pre-1966 Grand Prix | Silverstone | [4] |
+ = Multiple drivers to have died in the same incident (see previous/following entry)
References
- "Obituary: Dan Wheldon". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- "Marco Simoncelli obituary". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- "Motorcycle deaths". MotorSportMemorial.org. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- mso.net. "MSA statement regarding fatality at Silverstone - News -". msauk.org. Retrieved 18 December 2016.