Formula One legend Peter Warr passes away, leaving his considerable legacy behind
Just a little while ago, the sad demise of Peter Warr was reported. A very popular Formula One figure owing to his multi-dimensional roles in the sport, he left for the eternal life due to a heart attack, in France. Though he had
raced for some time as a very skilful driver in various series’, his most significant contribution in the sport was his effective management of some of very successful Formula One teams like Lotus, Wolf and Fittipaldi.
Warr started off his professional life as a Royal Guards officer but soon his love for autos took him to motor racing world. At the age of 20, in 1958, he went to join Lotus which was then in its emerging stages. He also raced with sports cars and in Formula
Junior, while in 1963 his great racing skills took him to the Japanese Grand Prix at Mount Fuji with his Lotus.
However, it was not very long before his innate management skills became so evident that he was signed by Colin Chapman, the founder of Team Lotus, to manage his Formula One team. He took the responsibility in October 1969.
Warr was born with management and training skills, which he quickly proved as he guided the young lad, Emerson Fittipaldi, towards winning the World Championship in 1972 in only the Brazilian’s second year with the F1 team.
His popularity as a brilliant manager took him to Walter Wolf’s new team in 1976 called Wolf R1 which made their mark right in their first race as they bagged victory in Argentina, with Jody Scheckter behind the wheels. Later, the driver won the Monaco and
Canadian Grands Prix as well.
In 1979 Wolf changed its name to Fittipaldi after the Brazilian racer’s name, while Warr still continued managing the team. However, in 1981, Chapman succeeded in bringing the old manager back to Lotus, where he became the team principal in December 1982 as
Chapman passed away.
The English manager had a tough time dealing with Nigel Mansell and therefore signed the young, promising, Brazilian racer Ayrton Senna for the 1985 season. Senna had a good 1987 season with the team and won six races before he moved to McLaren for the next
season. Then Warr was then quick to sign the world champion of the year, Nelson Piquet.
Until 1989 he stayed faithfully with Lotus taking the team to its apex, while later he became a permanent steward. Not very long ago he got appointed as Secretary of the British Racing Drivers’ Club, a position he enjoyed thoroughly.
His last public appearance with Formula One was earlier this year in March, as the Bahrain GP organisers brought out the Special Lotuses before an enthusiastic crowd in a ceremony that was demonstrated by Fittipaldi and Mario Andretti.
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