Robin Widdows
British racing driver and bobsledder (born 1942) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robin Michael Widdows (born 27 May 1942 in Cowley, Middlesex) is a British former racing driver from England. He participated in Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Three and sportscars including Le Mans.[1]
Robin Widdows (1970) | |
Born | (1942-05-27) 27 May 1942 (age 82) |
---|---|
Formula One World Championship career | |
Nationality | ![]() |
Active years | 1968 |
Teams | Cooper |
Entries | 1 |
Championships | 0 |
Wins | 0 |
Podiums | 0 |
Career points | 0 |
Pole positions | 0 |
Fastest laps | 0 |
First entry | 1968 British Grand Prix |
Last entry | 1968 British Grand Prix |
Widdows began his career with an MG Midget and a Lotus 23 winning the Autosport Class C Championship in 1965.[2] He moved to Formula Three the following year[2] and in 1967 competed in Formula Two with a Brabham BT23, winning the Rhine Cup at Hockenheim.[2] In 1968, Widdows joined The Chequered Flag team to compete in a McLaren M4A[2] and that year took part in his only World Championship Grand Prix, for Cooper, in the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch but retired with ignition problems.[2] He returned to Formula Two the following season with Bob Gerard and also raced sportscars for Matra.[2] Widdows continued in Formula Two in 1970, with a Brabham, but retired from the sport part way through the season.[2]
Widdows holds the rare distinction of being one of a select group of six who have competed in both a Formula One World Championship race and the Olympic Games (bobsleigh in 1964 and 1968).[3]
On 17 January 1965, he became the fastest Englishman to ride the Cresta Run from Junction with a time of 44.14 secs, recorded in the Harjes Cartier Silver Chip handicap race.