David Piper

David Piper in 2011
Born	(1930-12-02) 2 December 1930 (age 93)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	British
Active years	1959–1960
Teams	non-works Lotus
Entries	3 (2 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1959 British Grand Prix
Last entry	1960 British Grand Prix

David Ruff Piper (born 2 December 1930)^[1] is a British former Formula One and sports car racing driver from England. He participated in 3 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 18 July 1959. He scored no championship points.

Racing career

Early career and Formula One

Piper was born in Edgware, Middlesex^[1] and began his career in the mid-1950s by competing in sprints and hill-climbs, before beginning circuit racing with a Lotus Eleven.^[2] He then moved up to a Lotus 16 which he used in 1959 and 1960 to compete in both Formula One and Formula Two,^[2] by means of changing engines as appropriate.^[2] His best result with the car was a second place in the Lady Wigram Trophy, in 1960, behind Jack Brabham in a Cooper.^[2]

In 1961, Piper competed in European Formula Junior alongside Jo Siffert but drove the Gilby F1 car in the Gold Cup.^[2] He also competed in non-championship races in 1962, but had become disenchanted with single-seater racing and moved into sports car racing initially with a Ferrari GTO.^[2]

Later career

Between 1962 and 1970, Piper raced frequently in many locations worldwide using his personally owned Ferraris and, later, Porsches. He was moderately successful and gained a reputation for reliability and consistency.^[2]

Piper crashed a Porsche 917 during the 1970 shooting of the film Le Mans and lost part of one leg.^[3]

Piper later raced his personal, green, Porsche 917 and other cars in historic events.^[2]

Racing record

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Complete British Saloon Car Championship results

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

† Events with 2 races staged for the different classes.

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year	Team	Co-Drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
1963	North American Racing Team	Masten Gregory	Ferrari 250 GTO/LMB	GT 3.0	312	6th	3rd
1964	North American Racing Team	Jochen Rindt	Ferrari 250 LM	P 4.0	0	DNF	DNF
1965	Maranello Concessionaires	Jo Bonnier	Ferrari 365 P2	P 5.0	101	DNF	DNF
1966	Maranello Concessionaires	Richard Attwood	Ferrari 365 P2	P 5.0	33	DNF	DNF
1967	JW Automotive Engineering	Dick Thompson	Mirage M1	P +5.0	59	DNF	DNF
1968	David Piper	Richard Attwood	Ferrari 250 LM	S 5.0	302	7th	2nd
1969	SpA Ferrari SEFAC	Pedro Rodriguez	Ferrari 312P Coupé	P 3.0	223	DNF	DNF
1970	AAW Racing Team	Gijs van Lennep	Porsche 917K	S 5.0	112	DNF	DNF

Gallery

• 
  Piper/Gardner, Porsche 917, 1969 ADAC 1000 km Nürburgring.
• 
  One of Piper's distinctive green cars; a Lola T70 Mk3B at Mallory Park
• 
  Piper's Porsche 917 which he has owned from new.
• 
  Piper's Porsche 917.