Peter Warr
Peter Eric Warr (18 June 1938, Kermanshah, Iran[1] – 4 October 2010, Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, France)[2] was a British businessman, racing driver and a manager for several Formula One teams, including Walter Wolf Racing, Fittipaldi Automotive, and Team Lotus.
Early life
Warr served a period of
Motorsport management
Warr was selected by Colin Chapman in late 1969 to be Team Lotus' Competitions Manager in Formula One, and helped mastermind Jochen Rindt and Emerson Fittipaldi's World Championships in 1970 and 1972, respectively. At the end of 1976 Warr moved to the new team set up by Canadian oil magnate Walter Wolf, and oversaw a very successful first year in which Jody Scheckter won three races and challenged for the World Championship. Wolf's fortunes flagged and at the end of 1979 was merged with the Copersucar Fittipaldi team. By mid 1981 Chapman had enticed Warr back to Lotus, where he would remain until 1989.
After Chapman's death, Warr took over the role of the team boss. He hired a young
As Lotus team manager, Warr signed Japanese giant
After a poor start to the 1989 season, Warr was asked to stand down as Lotus boss and was replaced by Rupert Mainwaring and Peter Collins. The change in Lotus team management took place before the ninth round in Germany.
Warr died suddenly of a heart attack on 4 October 2010, in Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, France.[7] The sport's commercial rights holder and former Brabham team principal, Bernie Ecclestone, paid tribute to Warr's importance to Formula One, saying that "he helped me to build it to what it is today".[8]
Warr's book My view from the pit wall was unfinished when he died. Journalist Simon Taylor added a prologue and commentary and it was published by Haynes Publishing in 2012.[9]
References
- ^ "Peter Warr: Racing driver and team manager who nurtured the careers of". The Independent. 30 October 2010. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
- ^ "Team Bosses: Peter Warr". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
- ^ Tremayne, David (10 October 2010). ""Now look here, Chap...": Remembering Peter Warr". GrandPrix+ (71): 63–67.
- ^ Competition Press, Vol.8-No.10, 26 May 1962, Page 5.
- ^ "Last Legend of Lotus" (in Japanese). LCI Limited / Lotus Magazine (Lotus Magazine 09). Archived from the original on 27 March 2009.
- ^ Taylor, Simon (December 2009). "Lunch with...Nigel Mansell". Motor Sport. 85 (12): 62.
- Formula One Administration. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
- Formula One Administration. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
- ^ Chris Medland (20 February 2012). "Book review: Team Lotus: My View from the Pit Wall". ESPN F1.