Kenneth McAlpine

McAlpine was born in Cobham, Surrey^[1] and was a grandson of Scottish civil engineer Sir Robert McAlpine, 1st Baronet.^[2] He participated in seven Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 19 July 1952 at the British Grand Prix alongside fellow Connaught driver Kenneth Downing.^[3] During the development of the Connaught Racing Team based at Send in Surrey, McAlpine became a considerable financial backer^[2] and enjoyed several team owner triumphs including Tony Brooks's memorable F1 victory at the 1955 Syracuse Grand Prix.^[4] The team was eventually broken up in 1957 and cars sold off after McAlpine ceased receiving tax concessions.^[5]

McAlpine and co-driver Eric Thompson took part in the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans driving a Connaught ALSR. They retired after 6 hours with engine failure.

After retiring from motor racing, McAlpine returned full-time to his civil engineering business and later established a successful English wine growing and bottling business at his estate in Lamberhurst, Kent.^[2] He was also a member of The Air Squadron.^{[citation needed]}

McAlpine died on 8 April 2023, at the age of 102.^[6]

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