Kenneth McAlpine
Born(1920-09-21)21 September 1920
Cobham, Surrey, England
Died8 April 2023(2023-04-08) (aged 102)
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
Active years1952, 1953, 1955
TeamsConnaught
Entries7
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1952 British Grand Prix
Last entry1955 British Grand Prix

Kenneth McAlpine OBE DL (21 September 1920 – 8 April 2023) was a British racing driver from England.

Biography

McAlpine was born in Cobham, Surrey[1] and was a grandson of Scottish civil engineer Sir Robert McAlpine, 1st Baronet.[2] He participated in seven Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 19 July 1952 at the British Grand Prix alongside fellow Connaught driver Kenneth Downing.[3] During the development of the Connaught Racing Team based at Send in Surrey, McAlpine became a considerable financial backer[2] and enjoyed several team owner triumphs including Tony Brooks's memorable F1 victory at the 1955 Syracuse Grand Prix.[4] The team was eventually broken up in 1957 and cars sold off after McAlpine ceased receiving tax concessions.[5]

McAlpine and co-driver Eric Thompson took part in the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans driving a Connaught ALSR. They retired after 6 hours with engine failure.

After retiring from motor racing, McAlpine returned full-time to his civil engineering business and later established a successful English wine growing and bottling business at his estate in Lamberhurst, Kent.[2] He was also a member of The Air Squadron.[citation needed]

McAlpine died on 8 April 2023, at the age of 102.[6]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 WDC Points
1952 Connaught Engineering Connaught Type A Lea Francis L4 SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR
16 		GER NED ITA
Ret 		NC 0
1953 Connaught Engineering Connaught Type A Lea Francis L4 ARG 500 NED
Ret 		BEL FRA GBR
Ret 		GER
13 		SUI ITA
NC 		NC 0
1955 Connaught Engineering Connaught Type B Alta L4 ARG MON 500 BEL NED GBR
Ret 		ITA NC 0

Non-championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35
1951 Connaught Engineering Connaught Type A Lea-Francis L4 SYR PAU RIC SRM BOR INT PAR ULS SCO NED ALB PES BAR GOO
DNA
1952 Connaught Engineering Connaught Type A Lea-Francis L4 RIO SYR VAL RIC
DNA 		LAV
DNA 		PAU IBS
DNA 		MAR AST INT
10 		ELÄ NAP EIF PAR ALB FRO ULS MNZ LAC ESS
2 		MAR SAB CAE DMT COM NAT
DNA 		BAU MOD CAD SKA MAD
5 		AVU JOE
Ret 		NEW
2 		RIO
1953 Connaught Engineering Connaught Type A Lea-Francis L4 SYR PAU LAV
5 		AST BOR INT
7 		ELÄ NAP ULS
8 		WIN FRO COR
Ret 		EIF ALB PRI ESS
1 		MID ROU CRY
Ret 		AVU USF
Ret 		LAC BRI CHE SAB NEW CAD RED SKA LON MOD
NC 		MAD JOE
Ret 		CUR
Ret
1954 Connaught Engineering Connaught Type A Lea-Francis L4 SYR PAU LAV
3 		BOR INT
15 		BAR CUR ROM FRO COR BRC CRY ROU CAE AUG COR OUL RED PES JOE CAD BER GOO DTT
1955 Connaught Engineering Connaught Type B Alta L4 BUE VLN PAU GLV BOR INT
Ret 		NAP ALB CUR CRN LON DRT RDX DTT OUL AVO SYR

References

  1. ^ Jenkins, Richard. "The World Championship drivers - Where are they now?". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Holland, Dave (14 December 2019). "Kenneth McAlpine 2000 by David Holland". The "Forgotten" Drivers of F1. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Ken McAlpine". 500race.org. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  4. ^ Jenkinson, D.S. (7 July 2014). "Sicilian Sojourn". Motor Sport. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  5. ^ Marriott, Andrew (16 April 2023). "Kenneth McAlpine: oldest-surviving F1 driver dies". Motor Sport magazine. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  6. ^ McAlpine. Obituary, telegraph.co.uk


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