Peter Gethin

Peter Gethin, born on February 21, 1940, in Surrey, was a prominent British racing driver and motorsport executive. His career in Formula One spanned from 1970 to 1974, during which he made a significant mark by winning the 1971 Italian Grand Prix with BRM. This victory was notable not only for the win itself but also for the record average speed of two hundred forty-two point six fifteen kilometers per hour, a benchmark that remained unbroken for thirty-two years.

Gethin's journey in motorsport began in sportscar racing, where he competed as a privateer in the British Sports Car Championship until 1965. He then transitioned to Formula Three, racing in both the French and British Championships before advancing to Formula Two. His success in Formula 5000 caught the attention of McLaren, leading to his signing in 1970 to fill the void left by the late Bruce McLaren.

After a successful first year with McLaren, Gethin switched to BRM during the 1971 season, where he achieved his remarkable Italian Grand Prix victory. He continued with BRM in 1972 but faced challenges, resulting in his departure from the team at the end of the season. In the following years, he made sporadic appearances for BRM and Hill, while also securing victories in non-championship races, including the 1973 Race of Champions with Chevron.

Following his Formula One career, Gethin returned to European Formula 5000, where he finished as runner-up in both 1974 and 1975, and won the Tasman Series in 1974. He also participated in the 1974 World Sportscar Championship and achieved runner-up positions in the Canadian-American Challenge Cup and the Rothmans International Series in 1977 before retiring from racing.

In 1986, Gethin founded Peter Gethin Racing, a Formula 3000 team, and served as the director of the British Racing Drivers' Club from 2005 to 2008, contributing to the motorsport community long after his driving days were over.