LEC Refrigeration Racing

Last updated

LEC
Full nameLEC Refrigeration Racing
Founder(s) David Purley
Noted staffMike Earle
Noted drivers Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Purley
Formula One World Championship career
First entry 1973 Monaco Grand Prix
Races entered10 [1]
Engines Cosworth
Race victories 0
Points0
Pole positions 0
Fastest laps 0
Final entry 1977 British Grand Prix

LEC Refrigeration Racing was a UK motor racing team and Formula One constructor based at Bognor Regis, West Sussex. They participated in ten Grands Prix using a March in 1973 and their own car, the LEC CRP1, in 1977.

Contents

Formula One

1973

In 1973 David Purley hired a March 731 and with backing from his family's refrigeration company LEC Refrigeration, made a largely unsuccessful attempt at Formula One. Purley and the team made their debut in Monaco where the fuel tank broke. Purley did not make the restart at the British GP after he spun off. It was at the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix, however, where Purley carried out arguably his most memorable actions. Upon witnessing a crash which left fellow British driver Roger Williamson trapped in his overturned and burning car, Purley abandoned his own race and attempted to save Williamson, who was participating in only his second Formula One race. Purley later recalled that upon arriving at the scene, he heard Williamson crying for help as the fire began to take hold. Purley's efforts to right the car and extinguish the flames were in vain as he received no help from nearby track marshals or emergency workers, in spite of attempts to encourage them, and other passing drivers, to come to his aid; Williamson died from asphyxiation. Because the marshalls were not wearing fire resistant clothing and the passing drivers believed that Purley was attempting to extinguish his own car, having escaped a fiery crash unharmed; they had no idea that a second driver was involved. The team took their first finish at the German GP. Purley also finished in Italy.

1977

LEC CRP1 Formula One car. LEC CRP1 Donington Grand Prix Collection in 2007.jpg
LEC CRP1 Formula One car.
Cockpit of the CRP1. LEC Cosworth CRP1 at Goodwood 2014 003.jpg
Cockpit of the CRP1.

LEC racing returned to Formula One in 1977 with their own LEC chassis designed by Mike Pilbeam [2] and run by Mike Earle. It was this car in which Purley suffered serious injuries in an accident during pre-qualifying for that year's British Grand Prix. He survived an estimated 179.8 g when he decelerated from 173 km/h (108 mph) to 0 in a distance of 66 cm (26 inches) after his throttle got stuck wide open and he hit a wall. [3] For many years, this was thought to be the highest g-force ever survived by a human being. [3] He suffered multiple fractures to his legs, pelvis and ribs.

The second CRP1 has been restored and has competed in historic Formula One racing alongside a modern replica built by WKD Motorsport. [4]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

YearChassisEngineTyresDriver1234567891011121314151617PointsWCC
1973 March 731 Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE FRA GBR NED GER AUT ITA CAN USA
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Purley RetDNSRet159
1977 LEC CRP1 Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G ARG BRA RSA USW ESP MON BEL SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN JPN —0
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Purley DNQ1314RetDNPQ
Source: [5]

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References

  1. ↑ "LEC Formula one results on chicanef1.com". Formula One Results. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  2. ↑ Walton, Jeremy (June 1978). "Interview: Design on the Hills, Translated by Mike Pilbeam". Motor Sport magazine archive. p. 44. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  3. 1 2 Anton Sukup (1977). "David PURLEY Silverstone crash" . Retrieved 31 July 2006.
  4. ↑ Brown, Allen. "Lec CRP1 car-by-car histories". oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  5. ↑ Small, Steve (1994). The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who. Guinness. p. 305. ISBN   0851127029.


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