Innes Ireland

Interesting facts

Innes Ireland made his debut for Team Lotus at the 1959 Dutch Grand Prix, and by 1960 he had finished fourth in the championship while also winning three non-championship races. In 1961, recovering from serious injuries sustained at the Monaco Grand Prix, he came back to win the non-championship Solitude and Flugplatzrennen races. On 10 September 1961, his victory at the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen gave Lotus its first-ever World Championship race win. His colorful, freewheeling personality made him a favorite in the paddock, even though many considered him thoroughly unpredictable. Despite that historic win, Colin Chapman let him go from Lotus at the end of the 1961 season, preferring to build the team's future around the young Jim Clark instead. Ireland continued driving for BRP, Reg Parnell Racing and Bernard White Racing, until the 1966 Mexican Grand Prix, his final Formula One start. Innes Ireland made his Formula 1 debut in 1959 and raced until 1966, 8 seasons in total as a British driver. He scored a total of 47 championship points over his career.