Ken Downing

Kenneth Henry Downing (5 December 1917 in Chesterton, Staffordshire – 3 May 2004 in Monte Carlo) was a racing driver from England. Downing was born into a wealthy family, whose interests included manufacturing, transport and garages.[1] He began racing at 21, competing in his first event the Eastbourne Rally in a Healey, and competed in sports car races throughout the 1940s. Initially racing a Brooke Special, he switched to a Connaught in 1951,[1] winning 17 races throughout the year.[2]

For the musician, see K. K. Downing.

Ken Downing
Born(1917-12-05)5 December 1917
Died3 May 2004(2004-05-03) (aged 86)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality British
Active years1952
TeamsConnaught (including non-works)
Entries2
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1952 British Grand Prix
Last entry1952 Dutch Grand Prix

Downing switched to single seaters in 1952 racing a Connaught A-Type, and won the Madgwick Cup at Goodwood and second place at the Grand Prix des Frontières at Chimay Belgium, where he lost the lead at the end of the race several metres before the finish line.[3] He finished ninth in his first World Championship event at Silverstone, but had run fourth in the race before spinning while avoiding a backmarker.[1] He competed in the Dutch Grand Prix later that year, but retired from an oil-pressure problem.[3] He switched to an Aston Martin DB3S for 1953, but decided to retire from racing soon after.[2]

He emigrated to South Africa in 1955, and later lived in Monaco where he died in 2004.[4] His daughter Ann married Patrick McNally, whose company Allsport Management controls the corporate hospitality and circuit advertising for Formula One.[1]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 WDC Points
1952 Connaught Engineering Connaught Type A Lea-Francis SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR
9		 GER NED ITA NC 0
Kenneth Downing SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER NED
Ret		 ITA
Source:[5]

References
  1. "Ken Downing profile". GrandPrix.com. Inside F1. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  2. "Statistics: Ken Downing". Grand Prix Archive. Crash Media Group. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  3. Williamson, Martin. "Ken Downing profile". ESPNF1.com. ESPN. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  4. Jenkins, Richard. "Where are they now: Ken Downing". Old Racing Cars. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  5. Small, Steve (1994). The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who. Guinness. p. 124. ISBN 0851127029.
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