13 Facts About Tom Wheatcroft

Frederick Bernard "Tom" Wheatcroft was an English businessman and car collector.

Tom Wheatcroft made his fortune through building and construction, and was known for resurrecting the Donington Park motor racing circuit and founding the Donington Grand Prix Collection museum.

Frederick Bernard Wheatcroft was born in the market town of Castle Donington, Leicestershire, in 1922.

Tom Wheatcroft had only 20 months of formal schooling, and following the end of this he became an apprentice plasterer.

Tom Wheatcroft was in attendance at the circuit during the 1937 and 1938 Donington Grand Prix races:.

Tom Wheatcroft saw action in many theatres, including Madagascar, India and the Middle East, and was a part of the Allied invasion of Italy.

At the 1971 Monaco Formula Three race Tom Wheatcroft became acquainted with Roger Williamson, from Leicester, and began to support his driving career.

In 1973 Tom Wheatcroft sponsored a seat for Williamson in the Formula One March Engineering works team, run by Max Mosley.

Tom Wheatcroft crashed on the first lap of his debut, at the ill-fated 1973 British Grand Prix, then again on the eighth lap of the Dutch Grand Prix.

Henton's best result with the Tom Wheatcroft 002 was third place in the Silverstone Circuit round of the European Formula Two Championship.

However, having lost money on the event Tom Wheatcroft decided not to pursue a follow-up race the next year.

In 2007, Tom Wheatcroft agreed a 150-year lease of the land on which the circuit and museum are located to Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd.

Tom Wheatcroft died, aged 87, on 31 October 2009 at his home in Arnesby, after a long illness.