Peter Whitehead (12 November 1914, Menston – 21 September 1958, Lasalle, France) was a British racing driver from England.

Career synopsis

Whitehead was able to fund his racing largely through the family wealth, gained from the wool industry. He began racing at the age of 20 in 1935, initially racing an Alta before buying an ERA B Type in 1936. Whitehead took the ERA to Australia in 1938 while touring on business, where he won the 1938 Australian Grand Prix. After World War II he participated in 12 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 2 July 1950. In his career he achieved a single podium, and scored a total of 4 championship points. He also drove in several non-Championship Formula One races. In addition to his Formula One career he shared victory in the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans race with Peter Walker, racing for Jaguar.

Peter Whitehead is notable as the first person to whom Enzo Ferrari ever sold a Formula One car : a Ferrari 125 and for being the first driver to win a motor race on the Mount Panorama Circuit.

Sports car racer

Whitehead teamed with Peter Walker to win the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans, in a Jaguar, with an average speed of 93.112 miles per hour. In July 1952 Whitehead qualified his Alta 2nd to Harry Schell for the Grand Prix of Rouen. In July 1953 Whitehead won a 12-hour endurance race together with Stirling Moss, at Reims, driving a Jaguar. In 1954 Whitehead and Ken Wharton piloted a new model 'D' type Jaguar to win the 12-Hour Race of Reims on July 4. They were victorious with an average speed of 104.3 m.p.h. The same driving pair placed 5th at Belfast, Northern Ireland, in September, in the Ulster Tourist Trophy road race. Whitehead was behind the wheel of an Aston Martin DB3S when he placed 7th in a 1957 Belgian Royal Automobile Club Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.

Death

Whitehead's last great performance was at Le Mans in 1958 where he came second in an Aston Martin, sharing the driving with his half-brother Graham Whitehead. A couple of months later Peter and Graham were competing together in the Tour de France, when their Jaguar crashed off a bridge into a 30-foot ravine at Lasalle, after overturning twice, with Graham at the wheel. Graham was badly injured, but Peter was killed instantly.

Complete World Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	WDC	Points
1950	Peter Whitehead	Ferrari 125	Ferrari V12	GBR	MON DNS	500	SUI	BEL	FRA 3	ITA 7			9th	4
1951	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari 125	Ferrari V12	SUI 13	500	BEL							NC	0
	Graham Whitehead	Ferrari 125	Ferrari V12				FRA Ret		GER	ITA Ret	ESP
	G A Vandervell	Ferrari 375 Thinwall	Ferrari V12					GBR 9
1952	Peter Whitehead	Alta F2	Alta Straight-4	SUI	500	BEL	FRA Ret						NC	0
		Ferrari 125	Ferrari V12					GBR 10	GER	NED	ITA DNQ
1953	Atlantic Stable	Cooper T24	Alta Straight-4	ARG	500	NED	BEL	FRA	GBR 9	GER	SUI	ITA	NC	0
1954	Peter Whitehead	Cooper T24	Alta Straight-4	ARG	500	BEL	FRA	GBR Ret	GER	SUI	ITA	ESP	NC	0

References

1. Two Britons Drive Record 93.112 M.P.H. For 24 Hours to Capture French Auto Race, New York Times, June 25, 1951, Page 24.
2. Schell Speeds 121.803 M.P.H., New York Times, July 5, 1952, Page 10.
3. French Auto Races To British Drivers, New York Times, July 6, 1953, Page 22.
4. Article 3-No Title, New York Times, July 5, 1954, Page 15.
5. Laureau, in French Car, Takes Ulster Trophy, September 12, 1954, Page S9.
6. Brooks Captures Belgian Auto Race, New York Times, August 26, 1957, Page 29.
7. British Driver Killed On Tour in France, New York Times, September 21, 1958, Page C2.