Christopher John Lawrence (27 July 1933 – 13 August 2011) was a British racing driver, engineer and car designer whose influence extended far beyond the cockpit. Best known for his exploits in endurance racing, particularly at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Lawrence also made two Formula One World Championship appearances in a unique Cooper-Ferrari, although he did not score any championship points.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | British |
| Birthplace | Ealing, England, UK |
| Born | 27 July 1933 |
| Died | 13 August 2011 |
| First Grand Prix | 1966 British Grand Prix |
| Last Grand Prix | 1966 German Grand Prix |
| Years Active | 1966 |
| Current/Last Team | Privateer: J.A. Pearce Engineering Ltd Cooper |
Born in Ealing, London, Lawrence built a reputation as one of Britain’s most versatile figures in motorsport. Alongside a successful driving career, he became equally known for his engineering and approach to race car development.
Lawrence was a regular driver at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he drove his own machinery against factory-backed teams. His Formula One career came in 1966 when he entered a specially prepared Cooper–Ferrari, making his World Championship debut on 16 July. His Grand Prix appearances were limited to two starts; he delivered no championship points.
Away from Formula One, Lawrence established the London-based engineering company LawrenceTune, which became well known for developing high-performance versions of the Morgan +4 Super Sports and other competition cars.
Lawrence was also responsible for creating the innovative Deep Sanderson series of racing and sports cars. His expertise was later called upon during the development of the Monica 560, the ambitious French luxury saloon introduced in 1972.
A gifted driver, constructor and engineer, Christopher Lawrence occupied a unique place in British motorsport, combining competitive success with technical innovation throughout a career that spanned several decades.
He died from cancer on 13 August 2011 at the age of 78.
Grand Prix Stats
| Race Entries | 2 |
| Race Starts | 2 |
| Did Not Start | 0 |
| Best Race Start | 19th |
| Best Race Finish | 11th |
| Retirements | 1 |
| First-Lap Retirements | 0 |
| Not Classified | 0 |
| Disqualified | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 0 |
Qualifying
| Qualifying Sessions | 2 |
| Reached Q3 | 0 |
| Q2 Eliminations | 0 |
| Q1 Eliminations | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 0 |
Stats by Season
| Year | Constructor | Entries | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Front Rows | DNF | Best Start | Best Result | Pts Finishes | Points | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Privateer: J.A. Pearce Engineering Ltd Cooper | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 11 | 0 | 0 | NC |
