John Taylor

John Malcolm Taylor (23 March 1933 - 8 September 1966): British racing driver from Anstey, Leicestershire best remembered for his successes in club single-seater races, particularly at his local track at Mallory Park. At age fifteen he went to Arbroath Naval College and two years later began specialising in aeronautical engineering. From there he joined the Fleet Air Arm where he was engaged in secret experimental work, then spent time in Korea as a front line maintenance engineer. A former flight engineer with the Royal Air Force, the popular and mild-mannered Lancashire driver started racing in 1958 in Formula Libre.

His early racing saw him progress through Formula Libre and Formula Junior and he went on to contest five World Championship Grands Prix plus several non-championship races. His Formula One debut was on 11 July 1964 at the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch driving the Formula One/Formula Two hybrid Cooper-Ford T71/T73. He raced mainly in non-championship F1 races in 1965 before mounting a more serious F1 campaign in 1966. Sixth place in the International Trophy at Silverstone was repeated at the French GP, earning him his first and sadly only world championship point.

The 1966 German Grand Prix started in heavy mist and rain and on the opening lap Taylor in the Brabham BT11 and Jacky Ickx in the Tyrrell-entered Formula 2 Matra MS5 crashed near the bridge between Quiddelbacher and Flugplatz. He was badly burnt in the crash during 1966's German GP and sadly later died in hospital on 8 September 1966. John Taylor was well-regarded in the racing community for his mild manner and skill, particularly in club racing at Mallory Park where he achieved notable success.