Innes Ireland
Innes Ireland | |
|---|---|
Ireland in 1966 | |
| Born | Robert McGregor Innes Ireland 12 June 1930 Mytholmroyd, West Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 22 October 1993 (aged 63) Reading, Berkshire, England |
| Spouses | Norma Thomas
(m. 1954; div. 1967)Edna Humphries
(m. 1967; div. 1972)Jean Mander (m. 1993) |
| Children | 3 |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality | British |
| Active years | 1959–1966 |
| Teams | Lotus, BRP, Parnell, White |
| Entries | 53 (50 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Podiums | 4 |
| Career points | 47 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 1 |
| First entry | 1959 Dutch Grand Prix |
| First win | 1961 United States Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1966 Mexican Grand Prix |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
| Years | 1958–1960, 1962–1966 |
| Teams | Lotus, Écurie Écosse, BRP, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Ford |
| Best finish | 6th (1964) |
| Class wins | 0 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1953–1958 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Commands | Territorial Army (1955–1958) Parachute Regiment (1953–1954) King's Own Scottish Borderers (1953) |
Robert McGregor Innes Ireland (12 June 1930 – 22 October 1993) was a British racing driver and journalist, who competed in Formula One from 1959 to 1966. Ireland won the 1961 United States Grand Prix with Lotus.
Born in Mytholmroyd and raised in Scotland, Ireland initially served in the British Army, reaching the rank of lieutenant in 1955. Ireland competed in Formula One for Lotus, BRP, Reg Parnell Racing and Bernard White Racing, winning the United States Grand Prix in 1961 with the former, as well as finishing fourth in the 1960 World Drivers' Championship and taking victories at eight non-championship races. He entered eight editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1958 to 1966, and was a race-winner in the British Saloon Car Championship.
Upon retiring from motor racing, Ireland started a career as a journalist in the late-1980s for ESPN, later working with automobile magazines Road & Track and Autocar. He was the president of the British Racing Drivers' Club from 1992 until his death the following year.