Mike MacDowel

Michael George Hartwell MacDowel (13 September 1932 - 19 January 2016): British racing driver from Suffolk who participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, the 1957 French Grand Prix at Rouen-Les-Essarts, sharing his car with Jack Brabham after Brabham crashed. MacDowel is far better remembered for his extraordinary success in British hillclimbing, where he won the British Hill Climb Championship in 1973 and 1974 and set the course record at Shelsley Walsh in 1973—a record that stood for years. Born in Suffolk, MacDowel showed promise from his debut season in 1954, winning twice at Ibsley in a Lotus VI. The Lotus VI was a basic sports car designed for club racing, and MacDowel's victories demonstrated natural talent.

Graduating to a Lotus Nine (Lotus IX) in 1955, MacDowel dominated the 750 Motor Club's 1172 Formula championship, a category for production-based cars with engines up to 1172cc. His dominance earned him opportunities with Cooper, and he partnered Le Mans winner Ivor Bueb to a class-winning tenth place at the 1955 RAC Tourist Trophy race at Dundrod in Northern Ireland, driving a works Cooper T39 'Bobtail.' The TT result established MacDowel's credentials with Cooper. MacDowel's Formula One opportunity came in 1957 when Cooper entered him in an F1-specification 1500cc Cooper T43 for the French Grand Prix (Grand Prix de l'ACF) at the daunting Rouen-Les-Essarts road circuit on 7 July.

The circuit, located in Normandy, was a fast, dangerous track with limited run-off and trees lining the course—typical of 1950s street circuits. MacDowel qualified 15th and last on the grid—not a strong performance but sufficient to make the race. During the race, Australian driver Jack Brabham crashed his Cooper on lap four, damaging his car beyond immediate repair. Cooper team management decided to bring in MacDowel from the race and give his car to Brabham, who was fighting for championship points.

MacDowel had completed 30 laps when he was called into the pits and instructed to hand over his car to Brabham. Brabham continued in MacDowel's car, but both drivers were credited with seventh place—outside the points, which only extended to fifth place. The shared-drive finish was common in 1950s Formula One, where teams prioritized their lead drivers over customers or junior teammates. MacDowel's single Formula One start consisted of 30 laps before being ordered to hand his car to Brabham—an anticlimactic end to his Grand Prix career.

Following his Formula One appearance, MacDowel mainly raced closed-wheel cars through 1964, including a Jaguar Mk2 and Ferrari 250 GTO for motor trader John Coombs. MacDowel was subsequently appointed a director of Coombs of Guildford, the prestigious sports car dealership, demonstrating his business acumen beyond driving. After a break from racing, MacDowel competed in hillclimb events from 1968 until well after his 60th birthday—an extraordinary career spanning nearly three decades of hillclimbing. In 1973, he set what was then the course record at Shelsley Walsh—28.

21 seconds for the 1000-yard course—a time that stood for years as the benchmark. The Shelsley Walsh hillclimb is Britain's oldest motorsport venue still in use, and setting the course record there brought MacDowel lasting fame. MacDowel won the British Hill Climb Championship in both 1973 and 1974, back-to-back titles that established him as Britain's premier hillclimb driver. His dominance in hillclimbing far exceeded his modest Formula One appearance, and he is remembered far more for his Shelsley Walsh record and championship titles than for his 30 laps at Rouen.

MacDowel hung up his helmet at the end of 1979, retiring from competition at age 47 after over 25 years of racing. He remained involved in historic motorsport, occasionally attending events and reunions. MacDowel passed away on 19 January 2016 at age 83. Obituaries in British motorsport publications celebrated his hillclimbing achievements, particularly his Shelsley Walsh record and back-to-back British championships, with his Formula One appearance mentioned as a footnote.

Known for his two British Hill Climb Championships (1973-1974), Shelsley Walsh course record set in 1973, handing his car to Jack Brabham after 30 laps at the 1957 French Grand Prix, partnership with Ivor Bueb at the 1955 Tourist Trophy, directorship of Coombs of Guildford dealership, and hillclimbing career lasting into his 60s, Mike MacDowel's legacy rests on hillclimbing rather than Formula One. His single Grand Prix start, ending when he surrendered his car to a teammate, barely hints at a racing career spanning over three decades and multiple championships.