Henry Surtees
Encyclopedia
Henry John Surtees was a British racing driver and the son of John Surtees
.
, Henry claimed one pole position (
Thruxton
), one race win (Donington Park
) and two fastest laps (Rockingham
and Snetterton
) while driving for the very successful Carlin Motorsport
team. The season was marred by penalties and a disqualification at Oulton Park
.
series in 2008
with Manor Competition. Henry would go on to finish 12th in the championship, including a third place finish during a wild race at Silverstone's National Circuit
. He also competed in the Winter Series again, having finished 13th in 2007. He battled James Calado for the title, with Calado coming out on top.
, in the final two races at Donington Park
for Carlin Motorsport
. Surtees revelled with a win and a second in his two races in the National Class.
ahead of the 2009 season
on 2 January 2009. He drove car number seven in the series. He scored a podium in the first of the two races at Brands Hatch
, coming third, and achieved a pole position at Brno
. Surtees' results placed him fourteenth in the championship, at the end of the season.
on 19 July 2009, during a Formula Two race, Surtees was hit on the head by a wheel from the car of Jack Clarke after Clarke spun into the wall exiting Westfield Bend. The wheel broke its tether and bounced back across the track into the following group of cars and collided with Surtees' helmet. The mass of the wheel hitting his head was 29 kilograms (63.9 lb). The car continued straight ahead into the barrier on the approach to Sheene Curve, also losing a wheel, and came to rest at the end of the curve with its remaining rear wheel still spinning. This indicated that Surtees had lost consciousness, with his foot still pressing the accelerator.
Surtees was extricated from the car and taken to the circuit's medical centre, where he was stabilized before being transferred to the Royal London Hospital
. He was pronounced dead later that day.
His death was attributed to severe head injuries, inflicted by colliding with the wheel
rather than the following crash with the barriers.
Surtees' funeral took place on 30 July at Worth Abbey
, near Turners Hill
, West Sussex
.
In June 2010, a group of Surtees' school friends swam the English Channel
in stints to raise money for charity in his memory. Dominic Robinson, Rory Pickard, Sasha Richards, Nicholas Elvidge, Nicholas Gandy and Benjamin Clyde-Smith raised over £12,000 and completed the swim in 13 hours and 13 minutes, the second completed swim of 2010 and the first relay.
† As Surtees was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.
* Surtees died during round eight of the sixteen round series
.
John Surtees
John Surtees, OBE is a British former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One driver from England. He was 500cc motorcycle World Champion in 1956 and 1958–60, Formula One World Champion in 1964, and remains the only person to have won World Championships on both two and four wheels...
.
Formula BMW UK
Henry Surtees finished his debut season in the championship 7th in the overall points standings, and second in the Rookie Cup. During a season in which the second half was dominated by fellow rookie Marcus EricssonMarcus Ericsson
Marcus Ericsson is a Swedish race car driver. After a successful début in car racing in 2007 which saw him take the British Formula BMW title with Fortec Motorsport, he moved up into the British team's British Formula Three squad...
, Henry claimed one pole position (
Thruxton
Thruxton Circuit
Thruxton Circuit is a motor racing circuit located near the village of Thruxton in Hampshire, England which is used to host a number of motorsport events including British Touring Cars and Formula 3 racing....
), one race win (Donington Park
Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship...
) and two fastest laps (Rockingham
Rockingham Motor Speedway
Rockingham is the UK's most modern motorsport venue and Europe's fastest racing circuit, hosting corporate driving days, driver training, conferencing & exhibitions, vehicle manufacturing events, track days, testing, driving experiences and motorsport...
and Snetterton
Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit
Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit is a motor racing circuit in Norfolk, England. Owned by MotorSport Vision, it is situated on the A11 road some 20 km north-east of the town of Thetford and 30 km south-west of the city of Norwich...
) while driving for the very successful Carlin Motorsport
Carlin Motorsport
Carlin, formerly Carlin Motorsport, is a motor racing team based in the United Kingdom. It competes in four championships — British Formula Three Championship, GP3 Series, World Series by Renault and GP2 Series.-History:...
team. The season was marred by penalties and a disqualification at Oulton Park
Oulton Park
Oulton Park Circuit is a motor racing track in the small village of Little Budworth, Cheshire, England. It is about from Winsford, from Chester city centre, from Northwich and from Warrington with a nearby rail connection along the Mid-Cheshire Line. It occupies much of the area which was...
.
Formula Renault
After two races in 2007, Surtees moved up full-time to the Formula Renault UKBritish Formula Renault Championship
The United Kingdom has two Formula Renault championships: Renault Sport UK's Formula Renault UK championship and the British Automobile Racing Club's BARC Formula Renault championship. Generally, the UK series is recognized as the British Formula Renault.-History:The "British Formula Renault...
series in 2008
2008 Formula Renault UK season
The 2008 Formula Renault UK season was the 20th British Formula Renault Championship season. The season began at Brands Hatch on March 29 and finished at the same venue on September 21, after twenty rounds...
with Manor Competition. Henry would go on to finish 12th in the championship, including a third place finish during a wild race at Silverstone's National Circuit
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the current main circuit entry on the Buckinghamshire side...
. He also competed in the Winter Series again, having finished 13th in 2007. He battled James Calado for the title, with Calado coming out on top.
Formula Three
Surtees competed in one race meeting during the 2008 season2008 British Formula Three season
The 2008 British Formula Three season was the 58th British Formula Three Championship season. It began on 24 March 2008 at Oulton Park's Easter Monday meeting and ended on 12 October at Donington Park after 22 rounds in four different countries. Jay Bridger sealed the National Class championship at...
, in the final two races at Donington Park
Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship...
for Carlin Motorsport
Carlin Motorsport
Carlin, formerly Carlin Motorsport, is a motor racing team based in the United Kingdom. It competes in four championships — British Formula Three Championship, GP3 Series, World Series by Renault and GP2 Series.-History:...
. Surtees revelled with a win and a second in his two races in the National Class.
Formula Two
Surtees signed up to the revived FIA Formula Two ChampionshipFIA Formula Two Championship
-Chassis:Named after both Jonathan Palmer and Patrick Head, the Williams JPH1 chassis and survival cell is of carbon fibre composite monocoque construction. The car was designed to comply with 2005 FIA F1 Safety Regulations. Head protection conforms to the latest 2009 F1 standards...
ahead of the 2009 season
2009 FIA Formula Two Championship season
The 2009 FIA Formula Two Championship season was the first year of the relaunched FIA Formula Two Championship. The championship began on May 30 at the Circuit de Valencia and finished on November 1 at the Circuit de Catalunya, after eight double-header rounds...
on 2 January 2009. He drove car number seven in the series. He scored a podium in the first of the two races at Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
, coming third, and achieved a pole position at Brno
Masaryk Circuit
The Masaryk circuit or Masarykring, now referred to as the Brno Circuit, refers two Czech racing circuits located close to the city of Brno.The original circuit was made up of public roads, and at its longest measured nearly...
. Surtees' results placed him fourteenth in the championship, at the end of the season.
Death
At Brands HatchBrands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
on 19 July 2009, during a Formula Two race, Surtees was hit on the head by a wheel from the car of Jack Clarke after Clarke spun into the wall exiting Westfield Bend. The wheel broke its tether and bounced back across the track into the following group of cars and collided with Surtees' helmet. The mass of the wheel hitting his head was 29 kilograms (63.9 lb). The car continued straight ahead into the barrier on the approach to Sheene Curve, also losing a wheel, and came to rest at the end of the curve with its remaining rear wheel still spinning. This indicated that Surtees had lost consciousness, with his foot still pressing the accelerator.
Surtees was extricated from the car and taken to the circuit's medical centre, where he was stabilized before being transferred to the Royal London Hospital
Royal London Hospital
The Royal London Hospital was founded in September 1740 and was originally named The London Infirmary. The name changed to The London Hospital in 1748 and then to The Royal London Hospital on its 250th anniversary in 1990. The first patients were treated at a house in Featherstone Street,...
. He was pronounced dead later that day.
His death was attributed to severe head injuries, inflicted by colliding with the wheel
rather than the following crash with the barriers.
Surtees' funeral took place on 30 July at Worth Abbey
Worth Abbey
The Abbey of Our Lady, Help of Christians, commonly known as Worth Abbey, is a community of Roman Catholic monks who follow the Rule of St Benedict near Turners Hill village, in West Sussex, England....
, near Turners Hill
Turners Hill
Turners Hill is a village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England. The civil parish covers an area of , and has a population of 1,849 ....
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
.
In June 2010, a group of Surtees' school friends swam the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
in stints to raise money for charity in his memory. Dominic Robinson, Rory Pickard, Sasha Richards, Nicholas Elvidge, Nicholas Gandy and Benjamin Clyde-Smith raised over £12,000 and completed the swim in 13 hours and 13 minutes, the second completed swim of 2010 and the first relay.
Career summary
| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Ginetta GT Junior Championship | 12 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 236 | 3rd | |
| 2007 | Formula BMW ADAC Formula BMW Formula BMW is a junior racing formula for single seater cars. It is positioned at the bottom of the motorsport career ladder alongside the longer established Formula Ford category... |
ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 29th |
| Formula BMW UK Formula BMW Formula BMW is a junior racing formula for single seater cars. It is positioned at the bottom of the motorsport career ladder alongside the longer established Formula Ford category... |
Carlin Motorsport Carlin Motorsport Carlin, formerly Carlin Motorsport, is a motor racing team based in the United Kingdom. It competes in four championships — British Formula Three Championship, GP3 Series, World Series by Renault and GP2 Series.-History:... |
18 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 491 | 6th | |
| Formula Renault 2.0 UK British Formula Renault Championship The United Kingdom has two Formula Renault championships: Renault Sport UK's Formula Renault UK championship and the British Automobile Racing Club's BARC Formula Renault championship. Generally, the UK series is recognized as the British Formula Renault.-History:The "British Formula Renault... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 22nd | ||
| Formula Renault 2.0 UK Winter Series British Formula Renault Championship The United Kingdom has two Formula Renault championships: Renault Sport UK's Formula Renault UK championship and the British Automobile Racing Club's BARC Formula Renault championship. Generally, the UK series is recognized as the British Formula Renault.-History:The "British Formula Renault... |
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 13th | ||
| 2008 | British F3 National Class 2008 British Formula Three season The 2008 British Formula Three season was the 58th British Formula Three Championship season. It began on 24 March 2008 at Oulton Park's Easter Monday meeting and ended on 12 October at Donington Park after 22 rounds in four different countries. Jay Bridger sealed the National Class championship at... |
2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 35 | 11th | |
| Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup The Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup was a Formula Renault 2.0 championship that replaced the Championnat de France Formula Renault 2.0 as of 2008... |
Manor Competition Manor Motorsport Manor Motorsport is a British motor racing team that was formed in 1990 by former single-seater champion John Booth.Throughout its history the team primarily competed in Formula Renault, with past drivers including 2007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen, 2008 F1 World Championship winner... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC† | |
| Formula Renault 2.0 UK 2008 Formula Renault UK season The 2008 Formula Renault UK season was the 20th British Formula Renault Championship season. The season began at Brands Hatch on March 29 and finished at the same venue on September 21, after twenty rounds... |
20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 203 | 12th | ||
| Formula Renault 2.0 UK Winter Series British Formula Renault Championship The United Kingdom has two Formula Renault championships: Renault Sport UK's Formula Renault UK championship and the British Automobile Racing Club's BARC Formula Renault championship. Generally, the UK series is recognized as the British Formula Renault.-History:The "British Formula Renault... |
4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 113 | 2nd | ||
| 2009 | FIA Formula Two Championship 2009 FIA Formula Two Championship season The 2009 FIA Formula Two Championship season was the first year of the relaunched FIA Formula Two Championship. The championship began on May 30 at the Circuit de Valencia and finished on November 1 at the Circuit de Catalunya, after eight double-header rounds... |
MotorSport Vision MotorSport Vision MotorSport Vision is one of the world's foremost motorsport organisations, and the leading operator of UK motor racing venues. MSV has a portfolio ranging from major two and four wheel championships to organising the PalmerSport corporate driving event.... |
8* | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 14th |
† As Surtees was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.
Complete Formula Two results
(races in bold indicate pole position) (races in italics indicate fastest lap)| Year | No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 2009 FIA Formula Two Championship season The 2009 FIA Formula Two Championship season was the first year of the relaunched FIA Formula Two Championship. The championship began on May 30 at the Circuit de Valencia and finished on November 1 at the Circuit de Catalunya, after eight double-header rounds... |
7 | VAL 1 Circuit de Valencia Circuit Ricardo Tormo, also known as Circuit de Valencia and officially named Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo, is a motorsport race track located in Cheste and built in 1999. It has a capacity of 120,000 spectators and seating for 60,000... 7 |
VAL 2 Circuit de Valencia Circuit Ricardo Tormo, also known as Circuit de Valencia and officially named Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo, is a motorsport race track located in Cheste and built in 1999. It has a capacity of 120,000 spectators and seating for 60,000... 12 |
BRN 1 Masaryk Circuit The Masaryk circuit or Masarykring, now referred to as the Brno Circuit, refers two Czech racing circuits located close to the city of Brno.The original circuit was made up of public roads, and at its longest measured nearly... Ret |
BRN 2 Masaryk Circuit The Masaryk circuit or Masarykring, now referred to as the Brno Circuit, refers two Czech racing circuits located close to the city of Brno.The original circuit was made up of public roads, and at its longest measured nearly... Ret |
SPA 1 Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix and the Spa 24 Hours endurance race. It is also home to the all Volkswagen club event, 25 Hours of Spa, run by the Uniroyal Fun Cup. It is one of the most challenging race tracks in the world, mainly due to its... 15 |
SPA 2 Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix and the Spa 24 Hours endurance race. It is also home to the all Volkswagen club event, 25 Hours of Spa, run by the Uniroyal Fun Cup. It is one of the most challenging race tracks in the world, mainly due to its... Ret |
BRH 1 Brands Hatch Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events... 3 |
BRH 2 Brands Hatch Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events... Ret |
DON 1 Donington Park Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship... |
DON 2 Donington Park Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship... |
OSC 1 Motorsport Arena Oschersleben The Motorsport Arena Oschersleben is long race track with a width of 11 – 13 meters and elevation changes of 23 metres. The circuit is located in Oschersleben, Börde , Northern Germany... |
OSC 2 Motorsport Arena Oschersleben The Motorsport Arena Oschersleben is long race track with a width of 11 – 13 meters and elevation changes of 23 metres. The circuit is located in Oschersleben, Börde , Northern Germany... |
IMO 1 Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari is an auto racing circuit near the Italian town of Imola, east of Bologna and east of the Ferrari factory in Maranello.... |
IMO 2 Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari is an auto racing circuit near the Italian town of Imola, east of Bologna and east of the Ferrari factory in Maranello.... |
CAT 1 Circuit de Catalunya The Circuit de Catalunya is a racetrack in Montmeló, to the north of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. With long straights and a variety of corners, the Circuit de Catalunya is seen as an all-rounder circuit.-History:... |
CAT 2 Circuit de Catalunya The Circuit de Catalunya is a racetrack in Montmeló, to the north of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. With long straights and a variety of corners, the Circuit de Catalunya is seen as an all-rounder circuit.-History:... |
14th | 8 |
Henry Surtees Award
In 2010, the Henry Surtees Award was launched, to be awarded annually for the most outstanding performance by a rising motor racer. Its first winner was Formula Renault UK champion Tom BlomqvistTom Blomqvist
Tom Leonard Blomqvist is a British racing driver who lives in Saffron Walden, Essex. He is the son of 1984 World Rally Champion Stig Blomqvist, of Sweden, and raced under a Swedish racing license until August 2010....
.