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David Piper (racing driver)

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David Piper
David Piper in 2011
Born (1930-12-02) 2 December 1930 (age 93)
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
Active years19591960
Teamsnon-works Lotus
Entries3 (2 starts)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1959 British Grand Prix
Last entry1960 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

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Early career and Formula One

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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

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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

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Complete Formula One World Championship results

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(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 WDC Points
1959 Dorchester Service Station Lotus 16 (F2) Climax 1.5l Straight-4 MON 500 NED FRA GBR
Ret
GER POR ITA USA NC 0
1960 Robert Bodle Ltd. Lotus 16 Climax 2.5l Straight-4 ARG MON 500 NED BEL FRA
DNS
GBR
12
POR ITA USA NC 0

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 DC Pts Class
1970 Pierre de Plessis Chevrolet Camaro Z28 D BRH
DNS
SNE
7
THR SIL CRY
2†
SIL SIL CRO BRH OUL BRH BRH 31st 8 6th
1978 Ian Bracey Triumph Dolomite Sprint C SIL OUL THR BRH SIL DON MAL
Ret†
BRH DON BRH THR OUL NC 0 NC
Source:[4]

† Events with 2 races staged for the different classes.

24 Hours of Le Mans results

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

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  1. ^ a b Jenkins, Richard. "The World Championship drivers - Where are they now?". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Small, Steve (1994). The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who. Guinness. p. 292. ISBN 0851127029.
  3. ^ "Le Mans 24 Hours June 13, 1970 cont". www.a2zracer.com. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  4. ^ de Jong, Frank. "British Saloon Car Championship". History of Touring Car Racing 1952-1993. Retrieved 3 October 2022.