page_title: Jonathan Palmer
section_title: Formula One
hierarchical_section_title: Jonathan Palmer / Racing career / Formula One
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Dr. Jonathan Palmer im Zakspeed 841 beim Training zum GP von Deutschland auf dem Nürburgring
context_page_description: Jonathan Charles Palmer is a British businessman and former Formula One racing driver. Before opting for a career in motor racing, Palmer trained as a physician at London’s Guys Hospital. He also worked as a junior physician at Cuckfield and Brighton hospitals.
  He is currently the majority shareholder and Chief Executive of MotorSport Vision, a company that runs six UK motorsport circuits, the world-renowned PalmerSport corporate driving event at Bedford Autodrome and several racing championships including British Superbikes and BRDC British F3.
  Palmer’s success in turning around the fortunes of many of the country’s best-loved race circuits has earned him recognition from leading industry publications, winning the 2018 ‘MotorSport Hero’ prize at the Autocar Awards, as well as being inducted into the Motor Sport Magazine Hall of Fame the same year. Palmer also received the 'Outstanding Contribution of the Year' Award at the Professional Motorsport World Expo and was named the most important person in British motorsport by Motorsport News in November 2018.
context_section_description: Palmer joined Williams as a test driver for the 1982 and 1983 seasons whilst racing in F2, and made his Formula One debut at Brands Hatch on 25 September 1983, driving a Williams in the European Grand Prix. This drive was a 'thank you' from Frank Williams and Patrick Head. He finished 13th out of 26 starters. Moving to the Skoal Bandit RAM March team in 1984, his six finishes yielded one 8th place, three 9th, one 10th, and one 13th.  He joined Zakspeed in 1985, starting in eight races and retiring from all except the 1985 Detroit Grand Prix, where he finished 11th. Sixteen starts with the same team in 1986 resulted in eight retirements and a best finish of 8th in Detroit.
  In 1987, Palmer talked with McLaren boss Ron Dennis about becoming the team's No. 2 driver to double World Champion Alain Prost. Dennis ultimately signed Stefan Johansson, and Palmer joined Tyrrell a week before the season’s opening race in Brazil. Although outpaced by its turbocharged competitors, Tyrrell’s normally-aspirated Cosworth-powered car proved reliable, and it was nimble on tighter circuits. Palmer won championship points in three races, and it was in the Australian Grand Prix that he achieved his career-best fourth-place finish. He also won the Jim Clark Cup, a championship for drivers of normally aspirated cars. He stayed with Tyrrell for the next two seasons, during which his best results were two 5th-place finishes and three 6th.  At the end of 1989 he signed as McLaren’s test driver.
caption: Palmer driving for Zakspeed at the 1985 German Grand Prix
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