Keith Ballisat

Keith Norman R. Ballisat (20 May 1928 – 25 May 1996) was a British racing driver, who drove in endurance races, rallies and Non-Championship Formula One races.

He has competed in events like Monte Carlo Rally, Coupe des Alpes, 24 Hours of Le Mans and Acropolis Rally.

Career as racing driver

Rally sport Keith Ballisat was engaged in the late 1950s and early 1960s in some rallies. In 1958 he was, together with Alain Bertaut, fourth overall in the Alpine Rally and in 1959, second overall in Tulpenrallye. In both cases, a Triumph TR3 was his emergency vehicle.

Circuit racing During his time as a rally driver, Ballisat went in circuit racing at the start. Between 1958 and 1960 he contested the Formula Junior and Formula 2 races. At the Grand Prix de Caen 1958 (emergency vehicle a Cooper T43) it turned out that Lombank Trophy 1960, he finished in seventh place (Cooper T43) and the Crystal Palace Trophy in the same year as sixth (Cooper T43). He also went the Lavant Cup and the Norfolk Trophy in the race.

In the early 1960s, he was a sports car driver and a factory driver for the Standard Motor Company. He drove in 24 Hours of Le Mans four times, [in 1964 for the Rootes Group driving a Sunbeam Tiger] with the best placing in 1961 when he was ninth overall.

After his racing career, he worked for many years in the oil industry and among others for the racing activities of Shell in charge. He died at the age of 68 from cancer.

Personal life He was born in Sutton, Surrey to his parents, Frank Norman Ballisat and Evelyn (née Hogg) and had an older sister, Daphne (born 1926). He married Betty Webley in 1960.

Event results

Rally races Year Rally Car Co-driver Result 1958 Deutschland Rallye Triumph TR3 Peter Roberts 10th 1958 Coupe des Alpes Triumph TR3 Alain Bertaut 4th 1959 Monte Carlo Rally Triumph TR3 Alain Bertaut 119th 1959 International Tulpenrallye Triumph TR3A E. Marvin 2nd 1959 Liege-Rome-Liege Triumph TR3 Alain Bertaut 8th 1961 Acropolis Rally Sunbeam Rapier Peter Jopp 6th 1961 Coupe des Alpes Sunbeam Rapier Tiny Lewis 7th