John James

John James (10 May 1914 - 27 January 2002): John James was a British racing driver from Packwood, Warwickshire, who worked as an engineer and became a wealthy car collector with a lifelong passion for motorsport. James began his racing career at the famous Brooklands circuit, competing at the Whitsun meetings in 1935 and 1936 driving a supercharged Lea-Francis. These pre-war appearances at Brooklands, Britain's first purpose-built motor racing circuit, marked him as an early enthusiast of competitive motorsport. World War II interrupted James's racing activities, but after the conflict, he returned to competition with renewed enthusiasm.

He participated in hillclimbs and sprints driving an Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 and a Bugatti T54, showcasing his appreciation for classic Italian and French racing machinery. In 1949, he achieved a fourth-place finish with his Sunbeam at the Wakefield Trophy at the Curragh in Ireland, demonstrating his continued competitiveness. In 1951, James purchased a Formula One Maserati 4CLT/48 from Reg Parnell and entered that year's British Grand Prix at Silverstone, marking his entry into World Championship racing. He qualified seventeenth on the grid, a respectable position in a competitive field.

However, his race lasted only 23 laps before a damaged radiator forced his retirement, with his Maserati becoming the first retirement of the race. This sole World Championship appearance came on 14 July 1951. When Formula One regulations changed for 1952, limiting the championship to Formula 2 cars, James's Maserati was relegated to competing in Formula Libre races only. He participated in several sprint races with the car before deciding to retire from competitive racing, focusing instead on his other interests.

James was a wealthy individual who amassed an impressive collection of historic racing cars, reflecting his deep appreciation for motorsport history and automotive engineering. He spent many years living in Malta, where he maintained his interest in Formula One and continued to follow the sport closely until his death. John James passed away on 27 January 2002 at the age of 87, remembered as a gentleman racer and collector whose passion for motorsport spanned from the pre-war Brooklands era through to the modern age of Formula One.