Jack Rex Lewis (born 1 November 1936) is a British former racing driver from Stroud, Gloucestershire. A successful privateer, he rose rapidly from Formula Three to Formula One, where he scored three points from ten World Championship appearances.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | British |
| Birthplace | Stroud, Gloucestershire, England |
| Born | 1 November 1936 |
| First Grand Prix | 1961 Belgian Grand Prix |
| Last Grand Prix | 1962 German Grand Prix |
| Years Active | 1961–1962 |
| Current/Last Team | Privateer: Ecurie Galloise Cooper |
Career
Lewis entered racing in 1958 after purchasing a Formula Three Cooper-Norton from Cheltenham driver Ivor Bueb.
His debut at Mallory Park produced an immediate surprise: fourth place. At Brands Hatch, however, Lewis made front-page news for an altogether different reason. A photographer caught his overturned Cooper with one of Lewis’s hands extended towards the ground, creating the illusion that he was holding the car up.
He was back behind the wheel within a week—and won at Full Sutton. Another victory followed at Oulton Park.
Across 13 races in his first Formula Three season, Lewis scored three wins and added four further podium finishes. It was an exceptional return for a newcomer who was learning in public, occasionally upside down.
Formula Two
Lewis moved into Formula Two with a Cooper-Climax in 1959. At Montlhéry near Paris, he won his first race in the category by more than two minutes.
The following season brought a championship title. Lewis finished ahead of reigning Formula One world champion Jack Brabham, confirming that his early success was based on considerably more than beginner’s luck.
Formula One
For 1961, Lewis purchased a Cooper T53 directly from the company’s Surbiton factory and entered Formula One as an independent.
He made his World Championship debut at the Belgian Grand Prix on the original Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Lewis qualified in the middle of the field and finished ninth in his first Grand Prix.
Another ninth place followed at the Nürburgring, but his season’s defining result came at Monza. Lewis drove to fourth in the Italian Grand Prix and collected three championship points.
Apart from Stirling Moss, he was the only independent entrant to score in Formula One during 1961. His performances earned him Grade A driver status for the following season.
Écurie Galloise
Lewis formed Écurie Galloise—the Welsh Racing Team—for 1962. Its backing came from the Western Sporting Press and his father’s Stroud business, H&L Motors, where Lewis had also become a director.
The team purchased a BRM V8 for the new campaign, but the car proved deeply unsatisfactory and was eventually returned to the factory. Lewis had little choice but to bring his previous Cooper back into service.
He finished seventh at the Dutch Grand Prix, but the season never matched the promise of 1961.
Politics added to the frustration. At Monaco, Lewis recorded a faster time than three factory drivers yet was denied a place on the starting grid by the organisers.
There were dangerous moments as well. He lost a wheel at high speed during an event at Oulton Park and collided with Graham Hill in the French Grand Prix.
By the end of 1962, Lewis had contested ten World Championship Grands Prix and scored three points—all from his fourth place at Monza.
Retirement
Disillusioned with unreliable equipment and the politics surrounding Formula One, Lewis retired in 1963 while his career still appeared to be gathering momentum.
He moved to a farm in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, where he bred Arabian horses, raised sheep and brought up two daughters.
After 18 years of farming, Lewis returned to Gloucestershire in 1981 to help his father operate H&L Motors, the family motorcycle business.
He had a son, Jack Lewis Jr, in 1988 and later returned to live in his birthplace of Stroud.
Grand Prix Stats
| Race Entries | 10 |
| Race Starts | 9 |
| Did Not Start | 0 |
| Best Race Start | 13th |
| Best Race Finish | 4th |
| Retirements | 4 |
| First-Lap Retirements | 0 |
| Not Classified | 0 |
| Disqualified | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 1 |
Qualifying
| Qualifying Sessions | – |
| Reached Q3 | – |
| Q2 Eliminations | – |
| Q1 Eliminations | – |
| Did Not Qualify | 1 |
Points
| Points Scored | 3 |
| Points Finishes | 1 |
| Most Points in a Single Season | 3 (1961) |
| Seasons with Points | 1 |
