Peter Westbury was a British racing driver and engineer whose career spanned Formula One, hillclimbing, sports cars, and innovative car design. Although his appearances in Formula One were limited, Westbury built a formidable reputation elsewhere—particularly in hillclimbing, where he became one of Britain’s leading drivers.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | British |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 May 1938 Roehampton, England, UK |
| Died | 7 December 2015 (aged 77) Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Active years | 1969–1970 |
| Teams | non-works Brabham, BRM |
| Entries | 2 (1 start) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1969 German Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1970 United States Grand Prix |
Racing career
Early innovation and hillclimb success
Westbury’s motorsport journey began with ingenuity. Early in his career, he competed in a homebuilt special known as the M.G.W., before moving on to a Cooper-Climax in 1960, later modified with a Daimler V8 engine.
His true breakthrough came in hillclimbing. Westbury won the British Hill Climb Championship twice, in 1963 and 1964, establishing himself as one of the discipline’s standout drivers.
In 1963, he drove his own creation—the Felday—powered by a supercharged 2.6-litre Daimler V8. The following year, he switched to the innovative Ferguson P99, a four-wheel-drive machine equipped with a Climax engine and loaned from Ferguson Research. With it, he secured his second championship title.
Westbury also showcased the P99’s versatility beyond hillclimbs, running it at the Brighton Speed Trials and at the First International Drag Festival in 1964, where it recorded an impressive quarter-mile time of 11.01 seconds. He even drove a Lotus 23-BRM sports car at the same event, highlighting his adaptability across disciplines.
Engineering and development
Westbury was not just a driver—he was deeply involved in car design and development. In 1965, he created the Felday-BRM 4, a four-wheel-drive sports car that won on its debut at Brands Hatch.
The car continued to show promise in 1966, with Westbury and MacDaghorn sharing victories at Mallory Park. It even attracted the attention of Jim Clark, who raced it at Brands Hatch later that year.
Westbury went on to develop further versions of the Felday series, experimenting with powerful Ford engines and different drivetrain layouts. His work demonstrated a willingness to push technical boundaries, particularly with four-wheel-drive systems.
He also revived the BRM P67—an experimental four-wheel-drive Formula One car—helping return it to competition in hillclimbing. The car went on to dominate the 1968 championship after further development.
Formula Three and circuit racing
In 1967, Westbury returned to circuit racing, competing in Formula Three with a Brabham-Ford. He enjoyed a strong season, taking victories at Silverstone, Chimay, and Clermont-Ferrand—circuits known for their speed and difficulty.
Formula One appearances
Westbury’s Formula One career was brief but notable. He entered two World Championship Grands Prix:
- At the 1969 German Grand Prix, he drove a Formula Two-spec Brabham-Cosworth. He finished ninth overall and fifth among the F2 runners.
- In 1970, he attempted to qualify for the United States Grand Prix in a works BRM but was unable to do so after suffering an engine failure.
He did not score any World Championship points.
Legacy
Peter Westbury’s career is defined as much by engineering creativity as by driving skill. While his Formula One record was modest, his achievements in hillclimbing, his willingness to experiment with unconventional designs, and his success across multiple disciplines mark him out as a true innovator.
He represents a generation of racers who blurred the line between driver and engineer—building, modifying, and racing their own machines in pursuit of performance.
Complete Formula One World Championship results
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Felday Engineering Ltd | Brabham BT30 (F2) | Cosworth Straight-4 | RSA | ESP | MON | NED | FRA | GBR | GER 9 | ITA | CAN | USA | MEX | NC | 0 | ||
| 1970 | Yardley Team BRM | BRM P153 | BRM V12 | RSA | ESP | MON | BEL | NED | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | ITA | CAN | USA DNQ | MEX | NC | 0 |
Teammates & Qualifying Head-to-Head
| Teammate | Years | Races | Qualifying H2H |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Eaton | 1970 | 1 | – |
| Jackie Oliver | 1970 | 1 | – |
| Pedro Rodriguez | 1970 | 1 | – |
