Chris Craft (racing driver)
| Born | 17 November 1939 Porthleven, Cornwall, England, UK |
|---|---|
| Died | 20 February 2021 (aged 81) Essex, England, UK |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  British |
| Active years | 1971 |
| Teams | non-works Brabham |
| Entries | 2 (1 start) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1971 Canadian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1971 United States Grand Prix |
Christopher Adrian Craft (17 November 1939 – 20 February 2021)[1] was a British racing driver who competed in many different forms of motor sport.
Biography
[edit]Craft was born in Porthleven, Cornwall and began his career in 1962, with a Ford Anglia[2] and became recognised as a leading saloon car racer, particularly with the Team Broadspeed Escort which he campaigned from 1968 to 1970.[2] Having also previously driven a Tecno in Formula Three, he moved to sports cars from 1968, initially with a Chevron and then joined forces with Alain de Cadenet to drive his Porsche 908 and McLaren M8C.[2]
It was this association that led to his participation in two World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, in 1971, driving a Brabham BT33 prepared by Cadenet's team Ecurie Evergreen, but he failed to score a championship point. He did not qualify for his first World Championship race (the 1971 Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport Park) but would have been able to start the race following the withdrawal of two other drivers due to accidents in the raceday warm-up sessions. However, his own car suffered engine trouble, denying him the opportunity.[3] His second Grand Prix, at Watkins Glen ended with a suspension failure and tyre problems during the race.[4]
Craft continued to compete in many other forms of motor racing, including saloon cars, notably with a Ford Capri; sports cars, including a period with the Dome team in the early 1980s; Formula 3 and Formula 5000. Craft won the 1973 European Sportscar Championship in a Lola T92.[5] One of the highlights of his career was a third-place finish in the 1976 24 Hours of Le Mans.
After his race career Chris Craft started the Light Car Company with F1 designer Gordon Murray to build the Light Car Company Rocket.[6]
Racing record
[edit]Complete British Saloon Car Championship results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)
† Events with 2 races staged for the different classes.
Complete Formula One results
[edit](key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Ecurie Evergreen | Brabham BT33 | Cosworth V8 | RSA | ESP | MON | NED | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | ITA | CAN DNQ |
USA Ret |
NC | 0 |
Source:[4]
| ||||||||||||||||
References
[edit]- ^ Brown, Allen. "Chris Craft". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ a b c Small, Steve. The Complete Guinness Grand Prix Who's Who. Guinness. p. 115. ISBN 0851127029.
- ^ Lang, Mike (1982). Grand Prix! Vol 2. Haynes Publishing Group. p. 166. ISBN 0-85429-321-3.
- ^ a b Small, Steve. The Complete Guinness Grand Prix Who's Who. Guinness. p. 114. ISBN 0851127029.
- ^ "World Sports Racing Prototypes - European Sportscar Championship". 2 August 2010. Archived from the original on 2 August 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- ^ Ernst, Kurt (15 September 2014). "Hemmings Find of the Day – 1992 Light Car Company Rocket". Hemmings Daily. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
- ^ de Jong, Frank. "British Saloon Car Championship". History of Touring Car Racing 1952-1993. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
