Gerry Ashmore

Joseph Frederick Harold Gerald 'Gerry' Ashmore (25 July 1936 - 25 August 2021): British racing driver from England who competed in Formula One from 1961 to 1962. Participated in four Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, scoring no championship points but achieving notable results in non-championship Formula One events. Together with his mechanic Reg Parnell and Belgian driver André Pilette, established The Three Musketeers racing team to contest Formula One races in 1961, running a privately-entered Lotus 18. Achieved his most impressive result at the 1961 Naples Grand Prix, a non-championship Formula One event, where he qualified on pole position and finished second behind only Giancarlo Baghetti's Ferrari Dino 156, demonstrating world-class single-lap speed.

His pole position at Naples proved he possessed genuine pace when the car was competitive, outqualifying several works teams in the process. Later in 1961, took part in his first World Championship event at the British Grand Prix at Aintree but retired after just a few laps with mechanical failure. Achieved his best World Championship finish of 16th place at the 1961 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, completing the race despite the Lotus being well off the pace set by the works Ferrari and Lotus teams. Continued his Formula One campaign into 1962, attempting to qualify for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in his aging Lotus 18.

Failed to qualify for the 1962 Italian Grand Prix, unable to match the qualifying times of more modern machinery, ending his Formula One World Championship career. After leaving Formula One, continued racing in various British national motorsport events through the mid-1960s. Remained connected to British motorsport throughout his life, maintaining friendships with drivers from his racing generation. Member of the prestigious British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC), an organization limited to accomplished racing drivers.

Lived into his eighties, passing away from cancer on 25 August 2021 at age 85. His death was marked by a notice from the BRDC honoring his contributions to British motorsport. Though his Formula One World Championship career consisted of four starts without points, Ashmore's pole position at Naples and second-place finish demonstrated that he possessed the speed to compete at the highest level when circumstances aligned. Represented the generation of British privateer racers who competed for the love of the sport during Formula One's early years.