David Piper

David Ruff Piper (born 2 December 1930) and began his career in the mid-1950s by competing in sprints and hill-climbs, before beginning circuit racing with a Lotus Eleven. He then moved up to a Lotus 16 which he used in 1959 and 1960 to compete in both Formula One and Formula Two, entered by David Piper Racing finished 3rd at the hands of Richard Attwood and Brian Redman and was purchased by Piper who himself drove his Lola T70-Chevy which overheated. In October 1969, at the Japanese Grand Prix, Piper raced his 917 for the first time, supported by Jo Siffert, for a 6th place finish. Back in Europe, Piper finished 3rd at the Hockenheimring, before winning the Kyalami 9 Hours in November, with Attwood.

During the shooting of the film Le Mans on 16 September 1970, Piper crashed a JWA-supplied Porsche 917K and lost part of one leg.

The active career of the Porsche 917K in WSC and similar Group 4 races ended with the 1971 season. It still could enter for a few years in Group 7 racing like Can-Am and Interserie, but for that the regular 917 was underpowered as Porsche added turbocharging to the quite different 917/10 TC models. Piper later raced his personal and other cars in historic events.

Racing record Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 WDC Points 1959 Dorchester Service Station Lotus 16 (F2) Climax 1.5l Straight-4 MON 500 NED FRA GBR GER POR ITA USA NC 0 1960 Robert Bodle Ltd. Lotus 16 Climax 2.5l Straight-4 ARG MON 500 NED BEL FRA GBR POR ITA USA NC 0

Complete British Saloon Car Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.) Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 DC Pts Class 1970 Pierre de Plessis Chevrolet Camaro Z28 BRHDNS SNE7THRSIL CRY2† SIL SIL CRO BRH OUL BRH BRH 31st 8 6th 1978 Ian Bracey Triumph Dolomite Sprint SIL OUL THR BRH SIL DON MALRet† BRH DON BRH THR OUL NC 0 NC † Events with 2 races staged for the different classes.

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Gallery