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Peter Sutcliffe

b. 1936

British racing driver

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About Peter Sutcliffe

Born 1936. Peter Sutcliffe is an Italian racing driver and racing automobile driver.

Peter Harry Sutcliffe (born 1 December 1936), a British textile manufacturer from Huddersfield, was active in sports car racing until 1967. Between 1959 and 1967 he won the 1964 Prix de Paris at the Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry, and the 1965 Pietermaritzburg 3 hours. He raced in Aston Martins, Jaguar D-Type and E types, Shelby Cobra Daytona, Ford GT40s and works Ferrari 330P4s.

Racing career After starting to race in the 1950s, his career was interrupted by national service. In 1960–61, before he returned in 1962, to race a Jaguar D-Type. From 1963 to 1967, he took part in events that counted towards the World Sportscar Championship, like the 1000km Nürburgring.

In 30 starts,

He also took part in the last race event at Germany's Solitudering in July 1965, the XIII Grosser Preis der Solitude, where he drove the Formula 2 Brabham BT10 Cosworth of David Prophet Racing. However, he crashed in his only monoposto race.

Sutcliffe was called by the Scuderia Ferrari to share one of the four Ferrari 330P4 (Chassis #0860, #19) with factory driver Günter Klass in the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans. After Lorenzo Bandini had been killed and Mike Parkes had been badly injured in F1 races, the Scuderia had planned that Leo Cella would drive the powerful 4-litre, but the Italian rally driver refused to drive the big sportscar after a long test run at Modena circuit. The fine race of Klass and Sutcliffe had an end after 296 laps on the 19th hour due to engine failure. A week later, Sutcliffe scored his only pole position, at the Trophée d'Auvergne at Louis Rosier Circuit Charade near Clermont-Ferrand, in 3:37,6" with a Ford GT40. He finished second in the race, behind Paul Hawkins, and ahead of Jo Schlesser, both also driving GT40s.

Sutcliffe was hired again by Ferrari to drive one of the 330P4 12-cylinder prototypes at the 6 hours BOAC 500 at Brands Hatch later in the year, finishing fifth, now paired with Ludovico Scarfiotti as Klass had been killed at Mugello the weekend before.

Races 1963: Sutcliffe crashed a Jaguar D-Type at the Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit 1964: 24 Hours of Le Mans Aston Martin DP214 with Mike Salmon 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans, Scuderia Filipinetti Shelby Cobra Daytona with Peter Harper, DNF 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, Scuderia Filipinetti Ford GT40 Mk. I 4.7L V8, DNF 1966 Rothmans 12 Hour International Sports Car Race, Peter Sutcliffe Racing Ford GT40, with Frank Matich, 2nd behind Jackie Stewart and Andy Buchanan (Ferrari 250LM)

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Also known as
Peter Harry Sutcliffe

People in Peter Sutcliffe's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Peter Sutcliffe's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Peter Sutcliffe?

British racing driver

When was Peter Sutcliffe born?

Peter Sutcliffe was born on 1 December 1936 in Huddersfield.

What is Peter Sutcliffe's occupation?

Peter Sutcliffe is a racing driver and racing automobile driver.

What nationality is Peter Sutcliffe?

Peter Sutcliffe is Italian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Peter Sutcliffe

· Wikidata: Q7177188

· DBpedia: Peter Sutcliffe (racing driver)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Peter Sutcliffe. https://biography.guide/peter-sutcliffe-racing-driver/

MLA: "Peter Sutcliffe." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/peter-sutcliffe-racing-driver/.

Chicago: "Peter Sutcliffe." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/peter-sutcliffe-racing-driver/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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