Dave Charlton

Interesting facts

Born in Yorkshire, England, Charlton's family emigrated to Springs, near Johannesburg, after the Second World War, which set the stage for his South African racing career. He was due to make his Formula One debut on home soil at the 1965 South African Grand Prix in a Lotus-Ford, but a fire during practice forced him to withdraw before he ever actually started a championship race. He raced for Scuderia Scribante in a Brabham BT11 in the 1967 and 1968 World Championship seasons. The 1975 South African title came down to a duel with compatriot Ian Scheckter, who raced more aggressively and won four races in a row, but Charlton's steadier campaign (three wins, five second places) earned him 57 points and the crown after Scheckter retired with a mechanical failure in the season finale at Kyalami on 4 October 1975. His final Formula One start came at the 1975 South African Grand Prix, where he finished 14th in a McLaren M23. He died in Johannesburg on 24 February 2013, aged 76. Dave Charlton made his Formula 1 debut in 1967 and raced until 1975, 8 seasons in total as a South African driver.