Ken Downing facts for kids
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| Born | 5 December 1917 Chesterton, Staffordshire, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 3 May 2004 (aged 86) Monte Carlo, Monaco |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  British |
| Active years | 1952 |
| Teams | Connaught (including non-works) |
| Entries | 2 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1952 British Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1952 Dutch Grand Prix |
Kenneth Henry Downing (born December 5, 1917 – died May 3, 2004) was an English racing driver. He came from a rich family and started racing cars in the late 1940s. His very first race was the Eastbourne Rally, where he drove a car called a Healey.
Contents
Ken Downing: A Racing Story
Early Days on the Track
Ken Downing first raced a special car known as a Brooke Special. But in 1951, he switched to a Connaught car. That year was amazing for him! He won 17 races, showing everyone how skilled he was behind the wheel.
Formula One Adventures
In 1952, Ken decided to try racing in single-seater cars, which are the type used in Formula One. He drove a Connaught A-Type. He won the Madgwick Cup race at Goodwood. He also came in second place at the Grand Prix des Frontières in Chimay, but he almost won! He lost the lead just a few meters before the finish line.
Later that year, Ken competed in the British Grand Prix Grand Prix at Silverstone. He finished ninth, which is pretty good! At one point in the race, he was even in fourth place. However, he had to spin his car to avoid another driver who was slower, which made him lose some positions. He also raced in the Dutch Grand Prix Grand Prix later in 1952. Sadly, he had to stop racing in that event because of a problem with his car's oil pressure.
Life After Racing
After 1952, Ken Downing switched to driving an Aston Martin DB3 in 1953. But he soon decided to stop racing cars professionally. In 1955, he moved to South Africa. Later in his life, he lived in Monaco, a small country known for its beautiful coast and famous Grand Prix race. Ken Downing passed away in Monaco in 2004. His daughter, Anne, married a man named Patrick McNally. Patrick's company, Allsport Management, was in charge of the special guest areas and advertising for Formula One races.
