Kenneth McAlpine

Kenneth McAlpine (21 September 1920 - 7 April 2023): British racing driver from Addington, Surrey who participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, the 1952 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, retiring after two laps with clutch failure. McAlpine holds the remarkable distinction of being the longest-lived Formula One driver, passing away at the age of 102 years and 198 days, surpassing Prince Bira who died at age 71 in 1985 and held the record for decades. Born into the prominent construction family (his grandfather was Sir Robert McAlpine, 1st Baronet, founder of the Sir Robert McAlpine construction firm), Kenneth McAlpine had both the means and connections to pursue his passion for motorsport.

He raced Connaughts in the early 1950s and was not just a driver but also a significant financial backer of the Connaught team, providing crucial support during the British constructor's efforts to compete with larger, better-funded teams. Beyond his brief Formula One appearance, McAlpine competed in various British national races during the early 1950s, though without notable success. His most significant contribution to motorsport came through his financial support of Connaught, helping keep the team afloat during difficult periods and enabling them to achieve their greatest triumph—Tony Brooks' victory at the 1955 Syracuse Grand Prix, which remains the only Formula One World Championship race won by a British car with a British driver between 1924 and 1955.

After retiring from racing in the mid-1950s, McAlpine pursued his other great passion—viticulture. He established a vineyard in Portugal and became a respected figure in the wine industry, dedicating decades to producing quality wines. Throughout his extraordinarily long life, spanning over a century, McAlpine witnessed Formula One's evolution from its dangerous early days of front-engined cars and minimal safety equipment through to the modern era of hybrid power units and advanced safety systems. His longevity allowed him to see drivers he raced against become legends, their deaths mourned, and their achievements celebrated across generations.

McAlpine rarely gave interviews in his later years, living quietly in Portugal surrounded by his vineyards. News of his death in April 2023 prompted tributes from the motorsport community, celebrating not just his age but his connection to Formula One's pioneering era. Known as a gentleman racer who competed for the love of the sport rather than professional ambition, McAlpine's life spanned from the era of Bentley Boys through to the dominance of Red Bull Racing, making him a unique link between Formula One's past and present.