Johnny Dumfries

John 'Johnny' Colum Crichton-Stuart, 7th Marquess of Bute (26 April 1958 - 22 March 2021): British racing driver from Rothesay, Isle of Bute who used his courtesy title as heir to his father's peerage, 'Earl of Dumfries,' during his racing career. Born as the son of the Marquess of Bute, making him part of one of Scotland's oldest noble families and heir to a large fortune, the young Dumfries was educated at Ampleforth College which he left at age sixteen to pursue a career in motor racing. Rather than relying on family wealth, he worked as a painter/decorator and as a van driver for Williams to raise money to go racing. Having given himself a surname that would not attract attention, Dumfries first made his mark in FF1600 in 1980.

The team dominated the British Formula 3 series in 1984, winning 10 times and also taking part in the European series that year where Dumfries finished runner-up to Ivan Capelli. His only season of F1 was in 1986 for Lotus where he scored three points to finish 13th in the championship. His chance to race for Team Lotus alongside Senna in 1986 came after the Brazilian vetoed the choice of Derek Warwick, feeling that an established British driver might divert attention from his campaign. Johnny only managed two points-paying finishes with fifth in Hungary and sixth in Australia.

By year's end it was clear he would be dropped to make way for Satoru Nakajima who came with the Honda engine deal. Dumfries' biggest win came in the 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans with fellow International F3000 drivers Jan Lammers and Andy Wallace, the marque's first victory in the race since 1957, driving a Jaguar XJR-9LM. He retired from racing in 1991 because of his father's illness and took over the family estate in 1993.