# Peter Whitehead (racing driver)

Peter Nield Whitehead (12 November 1914 – 21 September 1958) was a British racing driver. He was born in Menston, Yorkshire and was killed in an accident at Lasalle, France, during the Tour de France endurance race. A cultured, knowledgeable and well-travelled racer, he was excellent in sports cars. He won the 1938 Australian Grand Prix, which along with a 24 Heures du Mans win in 1951, probably was his finest achievement, but he also won two 12 Heures internationales de Reims events. He was a regular entrant, mostly for Peter Walker and Graham Whitehead, his half-brother. His death in 1958 ended a career that started in 1935 – however, he was lucky to survive an air crash in 1948.

## Early life and pre-war racing

Yorkshireman Whitehead, coming from a wealthy background, gained from the wool industry, started racing in a Riley when he was 19. He moved up to an ERA B-Type the following season and then scored the first major result for the Alta, when he finished third in the Limerick Grand Prix, a Formula Libre race. In 1936, he shared his ERA with Peter Walker, and finished third in the Donington Grand Prix. He took the ERA to Australia in 1938 while touring on business, where he scored his first major victory, winning the 1938 Australian Grand Prix at Bathurst, as well as the inaugural Australian Hillclimb Championship. He returned in England in 1939 and gained a third place in the Nuffield Trophy.

## Post-war racing career

During World War II, Whitehead was a pilot with the Royal Air Force, and he was back in competition as soon as racing was revived, taking his trusty ERA to second place in the British Empire Trophy, held at the Douglas Circuit on the Isle of Man in the summer of 1947. He also raced in the Lausanne Grand Prix, finishing sixth.
In 1948, he survived a plane crash at Croydon Aerodrome, when he was on his way to Milano, to arrange the purchase a Ferrari 125. The accident left him badly hurt and out of racing for a year.

### Grand Prix racer

Peter Whitehead and his good friend and co driver Dudley Folland are notable as being the first people to whom Enzo Ferrari ever sold a Formula One car: a Ferrari 125 in 1949. Dudley Folland had the car painted green, with a red Welsh Dragon painted on the bonnet, being a proud Welshman.
Peter won the Velká cena Československa. In doing so, he became the first Englishman to win a major international motor race outside of the United Kingdom since Richard Seaman. The following season, Whitehead made his debut in the Drivers' World Championship at Monaco, but did not start. His next outing in the championship came in the Grand Prix l’A.C.F., where he came close to winning but was slowed with a gearbox problem which he dropped to third. That was to be his only podium finished in 11 championship starts between 1950 and 1954.
During 1950 season, he won two minor Formula One races, the Jersey Road Race and the Ulster Trophy, but the biggest career victory came in Sports Cars. He continued to race and win in Formula Two across Europe. Later, he added victories in the 1954 Lady Wigram Trophy, in New Zealand, and repeated the feat in 1956 and 1957. He also won the 1956 Rand Grand Prix. All four of those victories, he was driving a Ferrari.

### Sports car racing

1950 saw Whitehead start his first 24 Hours of Le Mans race, together with John Marshall in a Jaguar XK120. The pair finished in 15th place. He teamed up with Peter Walker to win the 1951 race, however, in a Jaguar C-Type, at an average speed of 93.112 mph (149.849 km/h).
In 1953, Whitehead decided to concentrate on sports cars, and in July, he saw more success sharing a Jaguar C-Type with Stirling Moss in the 12 Heures Internationales de Reims. He returned again in 1954, in a full works supported Jaguar D-Type to win the event again partnered by Ken Wharton. Prior to that first win at Reims, he also won the Hyères 12 Hours.
Later in 1954, again paired with Wharton, he was placed sixth in the RAC Tourist Trophy road race.

## Death

Whitehead's last great performance was at Le Mans in 1958 where he came second in an Aston Martin DB3S, sharing the driving with his half-brother, Graham. A couple of months later, on 21 September 1958, Peter and Graham were competing together in the Tour de France, when their Jaguar 3.4-Litre crashed off a bridge into a 30-foot (9.1 m) ravine at Lasalle, near Nîmes after overturning twice, with Graham at the wheel. Graham escaped with serious but not life-threatening injuries, but Peter was killed instantly.

## Racing record
### Career highlights

| Season | Series | Position | Team | Car |
| 1935 | Limerick Grand Prix | 3rd | | Alta |
| 1936 | Nuffield Trophy | 3rd | Peter Whitehead | ERA B-Type |
| | Donington Grand Prix | 3rd | Peter Whitehead | ERA B-Type |
| 1937 | JCC 200 | 2nd | Peter Whitehead | ERA B-Type |
| | JCC 200 Grand Prix | 3rd | Peter Whitehead | ERA B-Type |
| 1938 | Australian Hillclimb Championship | 1st | | ERA B-Type |
| | Australian Grand Prix | 1st | | ERA B-Type |
| 1939 | Nuffield Trophy | 3rd | Peter Whitehead | ERA B-Type |
| 1947 | British Empire Trophy | 2nd | | ERA B-Type |
| 1949 | Velká cena Československa | 1st | | Ferrari 125 |
| | Richmond Trophy | 2nd | | ERA B-Type |
| | Woodcote Cup | 2nd | | ERA B-Type |
| | Grand Prix de France | 3rd | | Ferrari 125 |
| 1950 | Jersey Road Race | 1st | | Ferrari 125 |
| | Ulster Trophy | 1st | | Ferrari 125 |
| | RAC Tourist Trophy | 2nd | | Jaguar XK120 |
| | Grand Prix de l’A.C.F. | 3rd | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 125 |
| | BRDC International Trophy | 3rd | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 125 |
| | FIA Formula One World Championship | 9th | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 125 |
| 1951 | Les 24 Heures du Mans | 1st | Peter Walker | Jaguar C-Type |
| | Preis der Ostschweiz-Erlen | 1st | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 125/166 |
| | Gran Premio del V Centenario Colombiano | 2nd | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 125/166 |
| | Hastings Trophy | 2nd | | ERA E-Type |
| | Grand Prix de Bordeaux | 3rd | | Ferrari 125 |
| | Grand Prix de Rouen-les-Essarts | 3rd | | Ferrari 125/166 |
| 1953 | 12 Hours of Hyères | 1st | P.N. Whitehead | Jaguar C-Type |
| | 12 heures internationales | 1st | P.N. Whitehead | Jaguar C-Type |
| | Mid-Cheshire M.C. F2 race | 2nd | Atlantic Stable | Cooper-Alta T24 |
| | RedeX Trophy | 2nd | Atlantic Stable | Cooper-Alta T24 |
| | AMOC Trophy | 3rd | Atlantic Stable | Cooper-Alta T24 |
| | Coronation Trophy | 3rd | Atlantic Stable | Cooper-Alta T24 |
| | Goodwood Nine-Hours | 3rd | W. Lyons | Jaguar XK120C |
| 1954 | Lady Wigram Trophy | 1st | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 125 |
| | 12 heures internationales | 1st | Jaguar Cars Ltd. | Jaguar D-Type |
| | Circuito do Porto | 3rd | Peter Whitehead | Cooper-Jaguar T33 |
| 1955 | New Zealand Grand Prix | 2nd | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 500/625 |
| 1956 | Lady Wigram Trophy | 1st | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 500/750S |
| | Southland Road Race | 1st | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 500/750S |
| | Rand Grand Prix | 1st | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 500/750S |
| | Ardmore Grand Prix | 2nd | Peter Whitehead | Cooper-Jaguar T38 |
| | New Zealand Grand Prix | 3rd | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 500/750S |
| | Australian Grand Prix | 3rd | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 555 |
| 1957 | Lady Wigram Trophy | 1st | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 555/860 |
| | Southland Road Race | 1st | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 555/860 |
| | New Zealand Grand Prix | 2nd | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 555/860 |
| | Dunedin Road Race | 3rd | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 555/860 |
| 1958 | 24 Heures du Mans | 2nd | A.G. Whitehead | Aston Martin DB3S |

### Complete Formula One 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 | | | FRA 3 | ITA 7 | | | 9th | 4 |
| 1950 | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari 125 | Ferrari V12 | | | | SUI DNA | BEL | | | | | 9th | 4 |
| 1951 | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 125 | Ferrari V12 | SUI Ret | 500 | BEL | FRA Ret | | GER | ITA Ret | | | NC | 0 |
| 1951 | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 375 | Ferrari V12 | | | | | | | | ESP DNA | | NC | 0 |
| 1951 | G A Vandervell | Ferrari 375 Thinwall | Ferrari V12 | | | | | GBR 9 | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1952 | Peter Whitehead | Alta F2 | Alta Straight-4 | SUI | 500 | BEL | FRA Ret | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1952 | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 125/166 | Ferrari V12 | | | | | GBR 10 | GER | NED | ITA DNQ | | NC | 0 |
| 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 |
| Source: |||||||||||||||

### Non-Championship Formula One 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 |
| 1949 | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 125 | Ferrari V12 | BUE | EVA | RIO | SRM Ret | PAU | RIC | PAU | JER 7 | ROU | MAR | GBR 8 | EMP | FRO | BEL 4 | SUI 9 | ALB | FRA 3 | ZAN DNS | INT | LAU 10 | ITA Ret | GOO | AUS | CSR 1 | SAL | PER |
| 1950 | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 125 | Ferrari V12 | PAU | RIC Ret | SRM Ret | PAR | EMP | BAR | JER 1 | ALB | NED 4 | NAT | NOT | ULS 1 | PES | STT | INT 3 | GOO Ret | PEN |
| 1951 | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 125 | Ferrari V12 | SYR | PAU | RIC | SRM Ret | BOR 3 | INT | PAR | ULS DNS | SCO | NED ALT | ALB | PES 5 | BAR 6 | GOO |
| 1952 | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari 125/166 | Ferrari V12 | RIO | SYR 5 | VAL 4 | RIC DNA | LAV | PAU | IBS DNA | | | INT 5 | ELÄ | NAP | EIF | | ALB 5 | FRO | ULS | | | | | | | DAI 11 | COM | NAT | | | | | | | | | |
| 1952 | Peter Whitehead | Alta F2 | Alta L4 | | | | | | | | MAR Ret | AST | | | | | PAR Ret | | | | MNZ Ret | LAC | ESS | MAR Ret | SAB DNA | CAE | | | | BAU Ret | MOD | CAD | SKA | MAD 4 | AVU | JOE Ret | NEW 7 | RIO |
| 1953 | Peter Whitehead | Cooper T24 | Alta L4 | SYR 5 | PAU | LAV 5 | AST 3 | BOR Ret | INT 8 | ELÄ | NAP | ULS 4 | WIN | FRO | COR 3 | EIF | ALB 5 | PRI | ESS | MID | ROU | CRY 5 | AVU | USF | LAC | BRI | CHE 2 | SAB | NEW | CAD | RED 2 | SKA | LON | MOD | MAD | JOE | CUR |
| 1954 | Peter Whitehead | Cooper T24 | Alta L4 | SYR | PAU | LAV Ret | BOR Ret | INT DNA | BAR | CUR | ROM | FRO | COR | BRC | CRY | ROU | CAE | AUG | COR | OUT | RED Ret | PES | JOE | CAD | BER | GOO | DAI |

### Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
| 1950 | P.C.D. Walker | John Marshall | Jaguar XK120 | S5.0 | 225 | 15th | 8th |
| 1951 | Peter Walker | Peter Walker | Jaguar C-Type | S5.0 | 267 | 1st | 1st |
| 1952 | Jaguar Ltd. | Ian Stewart | Jaguar C-Type | S5.0 | | DNF (Head gasket) | DNF (Head gasket) |
| 1953 | Jaguar Cars Ltd. | Ian Stewart | Jaguar C-Type | S5.0 | 297 | 4th | 3rd |
| 1954 | Jaguar Cars Ltd. | Ken Wharton | Jaguar D-Type | S5.0 | 131 | DNF (Gearbox) | DNF (Gearbox) |
| 1955 | Cooper Cars Co | Graham Whitehead | Cooper-Jaguar T38 | S5.0 | 36 | DNF (Oil pressure) | DNF (Oil pressure) |
| 1957 | D. Brown | Graham Whitehead | Aston Martin DBR2 | S5.0 | 81 | DNF (Gearbox) | DNF (Gearbox) |
| 1958 | A.G. Whitehead | Graham Whitehead | Aston Martin DB3S | S3.0 | 293 | 2nd | 2nd |

### Complete 12 Hours of Reims results

| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
| 1953 | P.N. Whitehead | Stirling Moss | Jaguar C-Type | S+2.0 | 243 | 1st | 1st |
| 1954 | Jaguar Cars Ltd. | Ken Wharton | Jaguar D-Type | | 222 | 1st | 1st |

### Complete 12 Hours of Hyères results

| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
| 1953 | P.N. Whitehead | Tom Cole | Jaguar C-Type | S+3.0 | 204 | 1st | 1st |
| 1954 | Peter Whitehead | Duncan Hamilton | Cooper-Jaguar T33 | | | DNS (Broken crankshaft) | DNS (Broken crankshaft) |
| 1955 | Graham Whitehead | Graham Whitehead | Aston Martin DB3S | | | DNF (Cooling) | DNF (Cooling) |

### Complete 12 Hours of Pescara results

| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
| 1953 | Peter Whitehead | Duncan Hamilton | Jaguar C-Type | | | DNF (Steering) | DNF (Steering) |

### Complete 12 Hours of Casablanca results

| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
| 1953 | Graham Whitehead | Graham Whitehead | Aston Martin DB3 | S+2.0 | | 5th | 4th |