Chris Craft (racing driver)

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"Christopher Craft" redirects here. For the NASA manager, see Christopher C. Kraft Jr.

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

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

Biography[]

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 Broadpeed 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 warmup 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]

Complete Formula One results[]

(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[]

  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.

External links[]


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