John Whitmore (racing driver)
Sir John Whitmore ( born October 16, 1937) is a former British racing driver and nonfiction author who has worked as a coach and consultant today.
Background and education
John Whitmore was the son of Sir Francis Henry Douglas Charlton Whitmore and his second wife Ellis Johnson to the world. He inherited a not inconsiderable fortune next to the peerage as well as the family seat Orsett Hall. Whitmore, who was an avid amateur pilot, took advantage of the generous parking areas to start with his private plane in their own area and can land. He sold Orsett Hall in 1968. The building was completely destroyed by fire in 2007 but rebuilt two years later in the old style. His father is said to have won the time possession of playing cards from the previous owner Digby wind field.
Whitmore attended elite schools and elite universities such as Eton College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He also made in Cirencester trained as an agricultural engineer.
Racing career
In contrast to his father, who was lieutenant-colonel in the British Army, a hit Whitmore no military career. End of the 1950s he made his second passion into a profession, to car racing. After a few club races he went professional in 1959 in touring car racing. In retrospect, Whitmore was attested great talent. He renounced almost entirely on the Monopostosport and achieved his success solely in touring and sports car racing. In the 1960s, he was considered one of Britain's best touring car drivers. Even Formula 1 drivers had a hard time beating him. The British trade press referred to him as champion in the Mini Cooper. In 1961 he won with the small race car the Appreciation of the British Touring Car Championship. In addition to the Mini Cooper Ford Lotus Cortina was the second race car, the Whitmore moved with great mastery. With the Cortina in 1965, he won the overall title of Division II of the European Touring Car Championship.
As early as 1959 he had given with little racing experience, made his debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and was a partner of Jim Clark tenth in the overall standings. Overall, Whitmore was five times at this endurance race at the start, the tenth rank In 1959, his best finish in the overall standings.
In 1966 he drove a strong season in the World Sportscar Championship. Both the 1000- km race at Monza as well as the 1000- km race at Spa -Francorchamps he missed in second overall victory just barely. At Monza, Masten Gregory was his partner in Spa he drove with Frank Gardner. In both cases, a Ford GT40 was the race car.
At the end of the season 1966 he declared only 29 years old his retirement from racing and turned to other fields of activity to.
Sports psychologist, coach and author
After his racing career Whitmore worked as a sports psychologist, wrote books over the coaching and a biography of his racing colleagues Jack Sears. Today Whitmore works as Executive Chairman and Coach at Performance Consultants and coaches managers worldwide.