For the first time in 40 years, Williams F1 technical chief Patrick Head will be listed as an entrant in a motor race. At Revival, he will enter the very Cooper Mk2 Jaguar that his father campaigned in period. The last time he entered a car in his own name was in 1973, when Ray Mallock raced a Lola 240 Super Vee single-seater. In 1977, Patrick co-founded Williams Grand Prix Engineering with, of course, Sir Frank Williams.
He was given the chance to enter the Cooper by its owner, Laurent Philippe. Ludovic Lindsay will be racing the car with Ben Shuckburgh, whose CKL Developments is preparing the car. It will be in the Sussex Trophy for world championship sports cars of 1955 to 1960, which will take place on Revival Friday.
“Head Sr’s most notable victory was the 1957 100km sports car race at Goodwood”
Only three Cooper-Jaguars were built, and Michael Head bought the car at the end of 1955 minus brakes, electrics and even a body. They were quickly fitted by Dunlop, Lucas and Williams & Pritchard respectively, and the car was ready for competition for the 1956 season.
Head Sr’s most notable victory was the 1957 100km sports car race at Goodwood, which took place on the Whitsun weekend. He saw off competition from the likes of Peter Blond and Jack Fairman. In the previous year, he had numerous wins at other races around the UK. Patrick Head said: ‘It’s a real privilege to be able to run a car in which my father took a pretty significant win at Goodwood back in the day.’
The team will no doubt be looking for similar success during Revival…
Patrick Head (left) with Sir Frank Williams
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