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| Richard Attwood | |
|---|---|
| Name | Richard Attwood |
| Nationality | British |
| Born | 4 June 1940 |
| Birth place | Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England |
| Teams | BRM, Lotus, McLaren, BRM (non-works), Porsche (works) |
| Wins | 1 (Le Mans overall 1970) |
Richard Attwood Richard Attwood (born 4 June 1940) is a British former racing driver noted for success in sports car and endurance racing and a brief Formula One career. He achieved a landmark victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 driving for Porsche and competed in Grand Prix events for teams including BRM, Lotus, and McLaren. Attwood's career intersected with prominent figures and marques of 1960s and 1970s motorsport, and he later moved into racing-related business and historic events.
Attwood was born in Wolverhampton and grew up during the wartime and post-war period that shaped many British drivers of his generation. He began in karting and small single-seater categories, progressing through club racing circuits and competing at venues such as Silverstone Circuit and Goodwood Circuit. Early contemporaries and rivals included drivers who later raced for outfits like Cooper Car Company, Lotus, and BRM, placing Attwood within the same milieu as figures connected to Jim Clark, Graham Hill, and Jackie Stewart.
Attwood established his reputation in sports car racing with entries in events promoted by organizations such as the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile-sanctioned endurance calendar and races run at circuits including Spa-Francorchamps, Nürburgring, and Monza. He drove for specialist teams and manufacturers, notably campaigning cars for Porsche, Ford projects, and privateer efforts linked to John Wyer-run teams. His performances in prototypes and GT machinery brought him drives in the World Sportscar Championship and prestigious endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the Targa Florio.
The pinnacle of his sports car career came in 1970 when he shared a works Porsche 917 with Hans Herrmann at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, securing overall victory for Porsche. That win linked Attwood to marque history that included drivers like Pedro Rodríguez, Jo Siffert, and team principals such as Ferry Porsche and Dieter Glemser. He also contested events for private teams fielding machinery like the Porsche 908 and Ford GT40, competing against rivals from Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, and Matra Sports.
Attwood made occasional entries in Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, beginning with non-works and works appearances aligned with his sports car associations. He raced for BRM in both testing and race roles, and had stints with Team Lotus and McLaren in the late 1960s and early 1970s. His Grand Prix appearances placed him on grids with contemporaries including Jochen Rindt, Jacky Ickx, Denny Hulme, and Emerson Fittipaldi.
In addition to World Championship rounds, Attwood took part in non-championship events that were common in that era, racing at circuits such as Brands Hatch and Oulton Park, and competing alongside drivers from Surtees and BRM works crews. Mechanical reliability and the evolving technical landscape of Formula One—with shifting engine suppliers like Cosworth, BRM V12, and chassis developments from manufacturers including Lotus—limited his opportunities for a prolonged Grand Prix presence, but he remained a respected quick and dependable racer.
After his peak competitive years, Attwood continued to be active in historic racing and revival events that celebrated marques like Porsche and Ferrari. He participated in historic meetings at Goodwood Festival of Speed, classic endurance recreations, and series promoting historic prototypes and GT cars. Outside the cockpit, he engaged in motorsport-related business activities including driver coaching, consultant roles to teams and private collectors, and involvement with classic car restoration and sales networks connected to specialist workshops in United Kingdom automotive circles.
Attwood's post-racing profile kept him connected with motorsport institutions such as the Royal Automobile Club and organizations that manage historic racing regulations, and he occasionally appeared at celebrations and museum exhibitions that featured vehicles from the Porsche museum lineage and iconic endurance projects associated with figures like Ferry Porsche and John Wyer.
Attwood's career highlights include victory in the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans (overall, with Hans Herrmann in a Porsche 917), multiple strong finishes in the World Sportscar Championship events, and podiums at classic endurance races including the 12 Hours of Sebring and notable results at the Nürburgring 1000 km and Monza 1000 km. His sporadic Formula One World Championship entries yielded participation rather than championship contention, but his cross-discipline success placed him among British drivers who excelled in both single-seaters and sports prototypes during the 1960s and 1970s.
Notable associations and competitors from Attwood's career span drivers and teams such as Jackie Stewart, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jo Siffert, Pedro Rodríguez, Denny Hulme, Team Lotus, McLaren, BRM, Porsche, Ferrari, and Matra Sports. His win at Le Mans remains a touchstone in histories of endurance racing and in chronicles of the development of the Porsche 917 as a defining prototype of its era.
Category:English racing drivers Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers Category:1940 births Category:Living people