25 Facts About Peter Gethin

Peter Kenneth Gethin was a British racing driver and motorsport executive, who competed in Formula One from 1970 to 1974.

Peter Gethin progressed to Formula Three the following year, competing in the French and British Championships before graduating to Formula Two.

Peter Gethin won several titles in Formula 5000, prompting McLaren to sign him in 1970 to replace the recently-deceased Bruce McLaren.

Peter Gethin remained at BRM in 1972 but was dropped at the end of the season, only making one-off appearances for BRM and Hill in 1973 and 1974, respectively.

Peter Gethin returned to European Formula 5000 upon his departure, twice finishing runner-up in 1974 and 1975, amongst winning the Tasman Series in the former.

Peter Gethin was the director of the British Racing Drivers' Club from 2005 until 2008.

Peter Gethin made his debut in F1 for McLaren at the 1970 Dutch Grand Prix, replacing the team's founder, Bruce McLaren, who had been killed at the Goodwood Circuit earlier in the month.

Peter Gethin joined a three car team which included Andrea de Adamich and Dan Gurney.

Peter Gethin was nine-tenths of a second ahead of his more illustrious but ageing teammate Gurney.

Peter Gethin engaged in a good fight early in the race with Henri Pescarolo's Matra, but soon got the better of the Frenchman and was still running in 10th when he had an accident on lap 19.

Peter Gethin missed the French and British Grands Prix, as former McLaren legend and 1967 world champion Denny Hulme drove the car, but he returned for the German Grand Prix.

The Austrian Grand Prix at the Osterreichring was next, and it was another disappointing qualifying session for Peter Gethin, who was down in 21st and comprehensively trounced by his teammates Hulme and de Adamich.

Peter Gethin was again the rearmost of the McLaren cars at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, but it was an improved performance, as he was 17th and as close as he had been to the pole time, 2.050 seconds behind Jacky Ickx's Ferrari.

Peter Gethin played the race strategy well, and did not have to make any moves on the track, save one against Pescarolo.

Peter Gethin was behind Hulme for a while, but the Kiwi retired with wheel problems.

Peter Gethin raced strongly in the first half of the race, crucially getting ahead of the Brabhams of Jack Brabham and Rolf Stommelen, but both were able to pass him before too long.

Peter Gethin raced strongly again, keeping the faster car of 1964 world champion John Surtees, in the car bearing his name, behind for a number of laps.

Peter Gethin remained with McLaren for 1971, in a team now reduced to two cars, with Peter Gethin partnering Hulme for another year.

Peter Gethin took a career best 7th, only 0.9 seconds behind Jacky Ickx's Ferrari on pole and over three-tenths ahead of Hulme.

Peter Gethin fast dropped behind Hulme and the second Ferrari of Mario Andretti, and when things straightened out he was down in 10th, behind Francois Cevert's Tyrrell and the Lotus of Emerson Fittipaldi as well.

Peter Gethin dropped a further place on the first lap, to Rolf Stommelen's Surtees.

Peter Gethin gradually gained places due to others' retirements and a good overtake on John Surtees.

Peter Gethin ran as high as 11th before he hit the barriers on lap 23.

Peter Gethin won the 1971 Italian Grand Prix with the fastest average speed in Formula One history, but this was his only podium finish.

Peter Gethin died at the age of 71 in December 2011 after a long illness.