Chris Craft (racing driver)

Christopher Adrian Craft (17 November 1939 – 20 February 2021)[1] was a British racing driver who competed in many different forms of motor sport.

Chris Craft
Born(1939-11-17)17 November 1939
Porthleven, Cornwall, England, UK
Died20 February 2021(2021-02-20) (aged 81)
Essex, England, UK
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
Active years1971
Teamsnon-works Brabham
Entries2 (1 start)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1971 Canadian Grand Prix
Last entry1971 United States Grand Prix

Biography

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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

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Complete British Saloon Car Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pos. Pts Class
1964 Chris Craft Ford Cortina Lotus B SNE
?
GOO
Ret
OUL
?
AIN
7
SIL
Ret
CRY
4†
BRH OUL 27th 2 11th
Superspeed Conversions Ltd. Ford Anglia Super A CRY
6†
BRH
DSQ
OUL
Ret
NC
1965 R. Trustham Ford Anglia Super B BRH
DSQ
OUL SNE GOO SIL
?
CRY
3†
BRH
DNS
OUL
8
25th 6 9th
1966 Superspeed Conversions Ltd. Ford Anglia Super B SNE
6
GOO
6
SIL
Ret
CRY
Ret†
BRH
Ret
BRH
Ret
OUL
1†
BRH
Ret
8th 24 3rd
1967 Superspeed Conversions Ltd. Ford Anglia Super B BRH SNE SIL SIL MAL SIL SIL
Ret
BRH
Ret
OUL
Ret†
BRH
Ret
NC 0 NC
1968 Team Broadspeed Ford Anglia A BRH
Ret
THR
5
SIL
10
CRY
Ret†
MAL
Ret†
8th 38 4th
Ford Escort 1300 GT B BRH
12
SIL
10
CRO
Ret
OUL
9
BRH BRH
7
5th
1969 Team Broadspeed Ford Escort 1300 GT B BRH
Ret
SIL
Ret
SNE
8
THR
4
SIL
3
CRY
2†
MAL
2†
CRO
12
SIL
5
OUL
7
BRH
6
BRH
7
2nd 67 1st
1970 Team Broadspeed Ford Escort TC C BRH
2
SNE
4
THR
Ret
SIL
4
CRY
3†
SIL
4
SIL
26
CRO
3
BRH
11
OUL
5
BRH
3
BRH 5th 60 1st
1974 Wisharts Garages Ford Capri 3000 GT C MAL BRH SIL OUL THR SIL THR BRH ING BRH OUL SNE
?
29th 7 8th
Shellsport Triumph Dolomite Sprint B BRH
9
12th
1975 Wisharts Garages Ford Capri 3000 GT C MAL BRH OUL THR
11
SIL BRH THR SIL MAL SNE SIL ING
Ret†
BRH
?†
OUL
5
BRH 23rd 16 7th
1976 Tricentrol / Hammonds Sauce Group Ford Capri II 3.0s D BRH
2
SIL
DSQ
OUL THR
3
THR
3
SIL
DNS
BRH
4
MAL
2†
SNE
4†
BRH
Ret
10th 28 3rd
1977 Hammonds Sauce Group Ford Capri II 3.0s D SIL
Ret
BRH
DNS
OUL
3†
THR
6
SIL
4
THR
1
DON SIL
2
DON
2†
BRH THR
3
BRH
2
8th 24 2nd
1978 Gordon Spice Group Ford Capri III 3.0s D SIL
Ret
OUL
3†
THR
Ret
BRH
Ret†
SIL
2†
DON
1†
MAL
4†
BRH
4
DON
4†
BRH
5
THR
2
OUL
Ret†
10th 40 3rd
1979 Gordon Spice Racing Ford Capri III 3.0s D SIL
2
OUL
3†
THR
16
SIL
5
DON
3
SIL
2
MAL
?†
DON
3
BRH
2
THR
?
SNE OUL 10th 40 3rd
Source:[7]

† Events with 2 races staged for the different classes.

Complete Formula One results

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(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

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  1. ^ Brown, Allen. "Chris Craft". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Small, Steve. The Complete Guinness Grand Prix Who's Who. Guinness. p. 115. ISBN 0851127029.
  3. ^ Lang, Mike (1982). Grand Prix! Vol 2. Haynes Publishing Group. p. 166. ISBN 0-85429-321-3.
  4. ^ a b Small, Steve. The Complete Guinness Grand Prix Who's Who. Guinness. p. 114. ISBN 0851127029.
  5. ^ "World Sports Racing Prototypes - European Sportscar Championship". 2 August 2010. Archived from the original on 2 August 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  6. ^ Ernst, Kurt (15 September 2014). "Hemmings Find of the Day – 1992 Light Car Company Rocket". Hemmings Daily. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  7. ^ de Jong, Frank. "British Saloon Car Championship". History of Touring Car Racing 1952-1993. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
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