Ninian Sanderson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ninian Sanderson
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| Born | 14 March 1925 Glasgow, Scotland
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| Died | 1 October 1985 (aged 60) Glasgow, Scotland
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| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
| Years | 1955 – 1963 |
| Teams | Triumph Ecurie Ecosse TVR AC Cars |
| Best finish | 1st (1956) |
| Class wins | 2 (1956, 1963) |
Ninian Sanderson (born May 14, 1925 – died October 1, 1985) was a Scottish car dealer and a famous sports car racing driver. He is best known for winning the tough 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans race, one of the most famous car races in the world.
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Ninian Sanderson: A Racing Champion
Ninian Sanderson was born in Glasgow, Scotland. Like many drivers from his time, he started his racing journey in the early 1950s. He competed in the very competitive 500cc Formula 3 class, which helped him learn important racing skills.
Winning the Le Mans Race
Ninian Sanderson became famous for winning the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans race. He drove for the Ecurie Ecosse team, sharing a special Jaguar D-Type car with his teammate, Ron Flockhart. This was a huge win for them!
The next year, in 1957, Sanderson raced for Ecurie Ecosse again. He finished second with his co-driver, John "Jock" Lawrence. They were only beaten by another D-Type car from their own team.
Ninian also took part in some Formula Two and Formula One races, though these were not championship events. His best result was finishing third in a couple of races in 1952.
In 1999, the Jaguar sports car that Ninian Sanderson drove to win the 1956 Le Mans race was sold for a lot of money. It was bought for £1.71 million, which was the most expensive car ever sold at an auction at that time.
More Than Just a Racer
Ninian Sanderson was known in the racing world for his lively sense of humor. He loved playing practical jokes, sometimes even putting firecrackers in exhaust pipes! He was a down-to-earth person from Glasgow. This was quite different from his teammate Ron Flockhart, who was from Edinburgh. People often said they were "like chalk and cheese" because their personalities were so different.
Besides racing cars, Sanderson was also a very keen yachtsman. He loved racing his yachts on the Clyde River with the same competitive spirit he showed in car racing. He owned several beautiful yachts, including "Corsair" and "Debbie." In 1974, he even had a special racing yacht called "Nippie Sweetie" built for him.
Helping Others and Later Life
In 1983, Ninian Sanderson teamed up with boxer Jim Watt to raise money for a good cause. They went on a sponsored canoe trip and collected £10,500 for the medical oncology unit at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary hospital. This was a special effort for Sanderson, as he had been receiving treatment at that unit for several years.
Ninian Sanderson passed away in 1985 from cancer. He was educated at Strathallan School. After his death, the school magazine quoted F1 racing World Champion Jackie Stewart. Stewart described Sanderson as a "perfectionist, with immense spirit and commitment." His wife, Dorothy Sanderson, passed away in 2007.
Le Mans Race Highlights
Ninian Sanderson competed in the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race several times:
- In 1955, he finished 14th overall and 5th in his class with a Triumph TR2.
- In 1956, he won the race overall and his class with a Jaguar D-Type.
- In 1957, he finished 2nd overall and 2nd in his class, again with a Jaguar D-Type.
- He also won his class in 1963, finishing 7th overall, driving an AC Cobra Hardtop.
