Peter Walker

Peter Walker (October 7, 1912 - March 1, 1984): Born Peter Douglas Conyers Walker in Huby, Yorkshire, this versatile British racing driver achieved legendary status through his remarkable victory at the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans while also competing in the early years of Formula One. Walker's path to international motorsport began with hillclimb competitions, where his impressive performances caught the attention of Lofty England, manager of Jaguar's sports car racing team. England rewarded Walker's talent with a drive in a Jaguar XK120, beginning a partnership that would lead to immortality at Le Mans. The 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans became Walker's defining achievement.

During practice, he astonished the competition by completing a best lap in darkness at 4 minutes and 50 seconds, averaging 104 mph - a time no other driver, including Stirling Moss, could match. Co-driving with Peter Whitehead in a Jaguar C-Type, Walker and his teammate dominated the race, completing 267 laps around the Circuit de la Sarthe over 24 hours. They won with a commanding nine-lap advantage over the second-place Talbot-Lago, securing Jaguar's first-ever Le Mans victory and writing themselves into motorsport history. Walker's Formula One career ran parallel to his sports car success.

In 1951, he participated in two World Championship Grands Prix, driving the revolutionary but troublesome BRM P15 with its complex V16 engine. At the British Grand Prix, Walker demonstrated extraordinary courage and determination. Despite suffering painful burns on his hands and legs from the intense heat of the engine and exhaust system, he persevered and finished the race in seventh place. The British press celebrated Walker and his teammate Reg Parnell as heroes for completing the race despite their severe injuries, enduring significant pain for the honor of British motorsport.

While Walker was unable to score World Championship points during his brief Formula One career, his versatility and achievements in sports car racing, particularly his Le Mans triumph, secured his place among Britain's most accomplished racing drivers. He passed away on March 1, 1984, remembered as both a Le Mans hero and a courageous Formula One competitor.