Christopher Frank Stuart Irwin (born 27 June 1942 in
Wandsworth
Wandsworth Town () is a district of south London, within the London Borough of Wandsworth southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.
Toponymy
Wandsworth takes its name ...
, London) is a British former
racing driver
Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition. In North America, the term is commonly used to describe all forms of automobile sport including non ...
. He participated in 10
Formula One
Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...
World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 16 July 1966. He scored two championship points.
Irwin's career was ended prematurely by an accident he sustained when driving a
Ford P68 sports prototype
A sports prototype, sometimes referred to simply as a prototype, is a type of Auto racing, race car that is used in high-level categories of sports car racing. They are purpose-built auto-sports race cars, as opposed to production-car based or s ...
during practice for the 1968
1000km Nürburgring endurance race. He lost control of the notoriously twitchy car at the
Flugplatz, the P68 flipping end over end after landing on its tail following a jump. He suffered
severe head injuries but eventually recovered. However, it prevented him from racing again.
Irwin is still alive and reasonably well, but his whereabouts are largely unknown as he stays out of the public eye and away from motor racing events. In 2006 it was reported that he had become re-acquainted with a racing rival from the 1960s after a chance meeting in London, and that he sometimes still suffers flashbacks to his accident. Irwin was reported, however, to be in generally good condition.
In a rare appearance at a race meeting, Irwin attended the
Thruxton Circuit's 40th anniversary celebrations in April 2008. A three-quarter page interview and a current photograph of him posing with old 1960s rivals and a Formula 2 car appeared in the June 2008 issue of
''Motor Sport'' magazine. He is currently living in rural
Rutland
Rutland is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It borders Leicestershire to the north and west, Lincolnshire to the north-east, and Northamptonshire to the south-west. Oakham is the largest town and county town.
Rutland has a ...
in the UK.
Racing record
Complete British Saloon Car Championship results
(
key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap.)
Complete Formula One World Championship results
(
key)
Non-Championship Formula One results
(
key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
(Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Complete Tasman Series results
Complete European Formula Two Championship results
References
Sources
Profile at www.grandprix.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Irwin, Chris
1942 births
24 Hours of Le Mans drivers
British Formula Three Championship drivers
English racing drivers
English Formula One drivers
European Formula Two Championship drivers
People with traumatic brain injuries
Living people
Tasman Series drivers
Brabham Formula One drivers
Reg Parnell Racing Formula One drivers
World Sportscar Championship drivers
20th-century English sportsmen