Francis Curzon, 5th Earl Howe

Francis Richard Henry Penn Curzon, 5th Earl Howe (1 May 1884 – 26 July 1964), styled Viscount Curzon from 1900 to 1929, was a British naval officer, Member of Parliament, and racing driver and promoter. In the 1918 UK general election he won the Battersea South seat as the candidate of the Conservative Party, which he held until 1929. While in Parliament he took up motor racing, and later won the 1931 24 Hours of Le Mans race. He ascended to the House of Lords in 1929, succeeding his father as the 5th Earl Howe. In 1928, he co-founded the British Racing Drivers' Club with Dudley Benjafield and served as its president until his death in 1964.

Early life Curzon was born 1 May 1884 in Mayfair, London. He was the only son of Richard Curzon, 4th Earl Howe and Lady Georgiana Elizabeth Spencer-Churchill. The winning criteria were subjective and were determined at the discretion of the awarding panel. In 2016 the winner was Ed Jones, The inaugural winners under the new criteria were Philip Walker and Gordon Shedden who, together with co-driver Miles Griffiths, won the 2019 Spa Six Hours historic endurance race.

Winners of the Earl Howe Trophy - Historic Racing Year Recipient Achievement 2024 Oliver Bryant Peter Auto 2.0L Cup winner, and Goodwood Revival Driver of the Meeting 2023 Andy Priaulx Winner of the Goodwood RAC TT Celebration and Spa Six Hours races 2022 Gordon Shedden 2021 Michael Lyons Three-fold winner at the 2021 Historic Grand Prix of Monaco 2020 Not awarded 2019 Philip WalkerGordon Shedden Winner of the 2018 24 Hours of Daytona GTLM class, and championship runner-up and three-time class winner in the 2018 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 2017 Sam Bird Winner of both races of the 2017 New York City ePrix 2016 Ed Jones Winner of the 2016 Indy Lights series 2015 Richard Westbrook Championship runner-up and two-time race winner in the 2015 United SportsCar Championship 2014 Jack Harvey Championship runner-up and four-time race winner in the 2014 Indy Lights season 2013 Justin Wilson Fifth place in the 2013 Indianapolis 500 2012 Dario Franchitti Winner of the 2012 Indianapolis 500 2011 Dan Wheldon Winner of the 2011 Indianapolis 500 2010 Dario Franchitti Winner of the 2010 Indianapolis 500 2009 Dario Franchitti Winner of the 2009 IndyCar Series 2008 David Coulthard Third place in the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix 2007 Dario Franchitti Winner of the 2007 Indianapolis 500 2006 Dan Wheldon Fourth place in the 2006 Indianapolis 500 2005 Dan Wheldon Winner of the 2005 Indianapolis 500 2004 Dan Wheldon Third place in the 2004 Indianapolis 500 2003 Mark Taylor Winner of the 2003 Infiniti Pro Series 2002 Dario Franchitti Three-time race winner in the 2002 CART season 2001 Dan Wheldon Championship runner-up and two-time race winner in the 2001 Indy Lights season 2000 James Weaver Winner of the 2000 Grand American Road Racing Championship 1999 Dario Franchitti Championship runner-up and three-time race winner in the 1999 CART season 1997 James Weaver Andy Wallace Winners of the 1997 24 Hours of Daytona 1996 Mark Blundell Two top-five finishes in the 1996 IndyCar World Series 1993 Nigel Mansell Winner of the 1993 IndyCar World Series 1987 Johnny Dumfries Race winner in the 1987 IMSA GT Championship 1984 Derek Bell Five-time race winner and third place in the 1984 IMSA GT Championship This list is incomplete. Awarded posthumously.

Personal life On 28 October 1907, Curzon married his first cousin Mary Curzon (30 October 1887 – 1 September 1962), daughter of the Hon. Montagu Curzon and wife Esmé FitzRoy. She married Formula One driver Piers Courage. After Courage's death in the 1970 Dutch Grand Prix, she married John Aspinall. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward.

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Awards and honours Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) British War Medal Victory Medal 1939–1945 Star Defense Medal War Medal 1939–1945 King George V Coronation Medal King George V Silver Jubilee Medal King George VI Coronation Medal Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal Reserve Decoration