Robert O’Brien (11 April 1908 – 10 February 1987) was an American racing driver whose career included a solitary Formula One World Championship appearance at the 1952 Belgian Grand Prix.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | American |
| Birthplace | Lyndhurst, New Jersey, USA |
| Born | 11 April 1908 |
| Died | 10 February 1987 |
| First Grand Prix | 1952 Belgian Grand Prix |
| Last Grand Prix | 1952 Belgian Grand Prix |
| Years Active | 1952 |
| Current/Last Team | Privateer: Robert O’Brien Simca-Gordini |
Career
Born in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, O’Brien competed mainly in American sports-car racing. One of his strongest results came at the 1952 12 Hours of Sebring, where he shared a Ferrari 166 MM with Richard Cicurel and finished fourth overall.
Contacts in Belgium later opened the door to several European appearances. At Spa-Francorchamps, O’Brien entered the 1952 Belgian Grand Prix in a Simca-Gordini T15. He qualified last among the 22 entrants, with a time one minute and 23 seconds slower than Alberto Ascari’s pole lap.
O’Brien remained near the rear throughout the race but reached the chequered flag, finishing 14th among 15 classified competitors. It proved to be his only Formula One World Championship start.
He subsequently entered the same Simca-Gordini at Germany’s Grenzlandring, although retirement ended his race. O’Brien then returned to the United States.
His limited and somewhat mysterious European career later inspired unsupported rumours that he had worked for the CIA as a spy. No firm evidence emerged to substantiate the story.
After leaving racing, O’Brien worked in the motor industry in New Jersey and New York. He died in Hackensack, New Jersey, in 1987.
Grand Prix Stats
| Race Entries | 1 |
| Race Starts | 1 |
| Did Not Start | 0 |
| Best Race Start | 22nd |
| Best Race Finish | 14th |
| Retirements | 0 |
| First-Lap Retirements | 0 |
| Not Classified | 0 |
| Disqualified | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 0 |
Qualifying
| Qualifying Sessions | 1 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Privateer: Robert O’Brien Simca-Gordini | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 14 | 0 | 0 | NC |
Stats by Constructor
| Constructor | Years | Entries | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Front Rows | DNF | Best Start | Best Result | Pts Finishes | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Privateer: Robert O’Brien Simca-Gordini | 1952 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
