Bill Whitehouse

Bill Whitehouse (1 April 1909, England - 14 July 1957, Reims, France) was a British racing driver and garage owner who competed as a privateer during the early years of the Formula One World Championship. He owned a garage in England and through racing became friends with fellow car dealer Bernie Ecclestone, forming connections that would prove significant in British motorsport circles. Whitehouse started racing in a Cooper 500 in 1949, competing in 500cc Car Club National races, which later became Formula 3. He enjoyed considerable success with Cooper, competing as a factory driver in 1951 and participating in numerous races across Europe, including events at Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Goodwood, and various Continental circuits.

His Formula One World Championship career consisted of a single race: the 1954 British Grand Prix at Silverstone on 17 July 1954, where he drove a privately entered Connaught. Unfortunately, he failed to finish the race, scoring no championship points. Between 1951 and 1957, Whitehouse participated in various non-championship Formula One races as a privateer, driving Cooper and Connaught cars. His racing career demonstrated the challenges faced by independent privateers attempting to compete against better-funded factory teams during the 1950s.

Whitehouse was killed on 14 July 1957 in a Formula Two crash at Reims, France, just three years after his sole World Championship appearance. His death at age 48 came while he was still actively pursuing his passion for motorsport, representing the dangers that privateers faced during this era of racing.