From bobsleigh to Formula 1

Robin Widdows (born 27 May 1942) is a British former racing driver from England. He raced in Formula One (once), Formula Two, Formula Three and sports cars with Matra, including Le Mans.

Picture above: Robin Widdows in a Cooper T86 BRM, at the British Formula One Grand Prix 1968 in Brands Hatch, at the very moment where he is forced to retire.

Widdows began his racing career with a MG Midget, but soon acquired a Lotus 23, winning at its wheel the Autosport Class C Championship in 1965. He moved to Formula Three the following year and in 1967 competed in Formula Two with a Brabham BT23, winning at Hockenheim.

In 1968, Widdows joined the Checkered Flag team to compete in a McLaren M4A and that year took part in his only Formula One Grand Prix, for Cooper, in the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, but he had to retire with ignition problems after qualifying in 18th position.

Widdows continued in Formula Two in 1970, with a Brabham, but retired from the sport at the end of the season. Interestingly, he holds the rare distinction of being one of a select group of six who have competed both in Formula 1 and the Olympic Games (bobsleigh in 1964 and 1968).