   peter whitehead (12 november 1914, menston â 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 and the 1938 australian hillclimb championship. 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.two britons drive record 93.112 m.p.h. for 24 hours to capture french auto race, new york times, 25 june 1951, page 24. in july 1952 whitehead qualified his alta 2nd to harry schell for the grand prix of rouen.schell speeds 121.803 m.p.h., new york times, 5 july 1952, page 10. in july 1953 whitehead won a 12-hour endurance race together with stirling moss, at reims, driving a jaguar.french auto races to british drivers, new york times, 6 july 1953, page 22. in 1954 whitehead and ken wharton piloted a new model 'd' type jaguar to win the 12-hour race of reims on 4 july. they were victorious with an average speed of 104.3 m.p.h.article 3-no title, new york times, 5 july 1954, page 15. the same driving pair placed 5th at [[belfast,
1914_births 1958_deaths 24_Hours_of_Le_Mans_drivers 24_Hours_of_Le_Mans_winning_drivers BRDC_Gold_Star_winners English_Formula_One_drivers English_racing_drivers Racing_drivers_killed_while_racing Sport_deaths_in_France World_Sportscar_Championship_drivers