Ninian Sanderson(14 May 1925 – 1 October 1985) was a Scottish car dealer,sports car racingdriver, and winner of the1956 24 Hours of Le Mans.[1][2]
Ninian Sanderson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 14 March 1925 Glasgow,Scotland |
| Died | 1 October 1985(aged 60) Glasgow, Scotland |
| 24 Hours of Le Manscareer | |
| Years | 1955–1963 |
| Teams | Triumph Ecurie Ecosse TVR AC Cars |
| Best finish | 1st(1956) |
| Class wins | 2(1956,1963) |
Racing career
editSanderson was born inGlasgow.In common with many drivers of his era, he cut his racing teeth in the highly competitive 500ccFormula 3class in the early 1950s. He is best known for winning the1956 24 Hours of Le Mansfor theEcurie Ecosseteam, together withRon Flockhartin an ex-worksJaguar D-Type.[3][4]The following year Sanderson again competed for Ecurie Ecosse, finishing second with co-driverJohn "Jock" Lawrence,only beaten by the other Ecurie Ecosse D-Type driven by Flockhart andIvor Bueb.
He took part in several non-championshipFormula TwoandFormula Oneraces with Ecurie Ecosse, with a best result of third in the 1952 Scotland National Trophy and 1952 Joe Fry Memorial Trophy.[5]He was a reserve driver with the team for the1953 British Grand Prixbut did not compete in the race.[6]
In 1999 the Jaguar sports car that won the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans was sold atChristie'sin London for £1.71 million.[7]At that time it was the most expensive car ever bought at auction.[7]
Although reputedly not the easiest of men to get along with, Ninian Sanderson was well known in racing circles for his lively sense of humour. Fond of practical jokes he was not averse to putting firecrackers up exhaust pipes and ribbing members of the public with his race-bred black humour. The contrast in personalities within the Ecurie Ecosse team was stark; down-to-Earth, Glaswegian Sanderson, and refined, Edinburgh-born Flockhart were "like chalk and cheese".
Sanderson was also a keen yachtsman and regularly raced his yachts on the Clyde with the same competitive spirit and ebullience as in his motor racing. He owned several beautiful Clyde boatyard McGruer-built yachts: a Dragon class keelboat named "Corsair" built in 1947 and an 8-metre class cruiser racer "Debbie" built in 1966. In 1974 he also commissioned McGruer to build his well-known 3/4-Tonner racing yacht "Nippie Sweetie".[8][9]
In 1983 Sanderson andJim Wattraised £10,500 for the medical oncology unit at theGlasgow Royal Infirmaryfollowing a sponsored canoe trip fromBroomielawtoTarbert,Loch Fyne.[10]Sanderson had been receiving treatment at the unit for several years; he died of cancer in 1985.[1][10]His wife Dorothy Sanderson died in 2007.[11]
Sanderson was educated atStrathallan School.In the announcement of his death the school magazineThe Strathallianquoted F1 racing World championJackie Stewartdescribing Sanderson as a 'perfectionist, with immense spirit and commitment.'[2]
Racing record
editComplete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
edit| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 |  Standard Triumph Ltd.
|
Bob Dickson
|
Triumph TR2 | S2.0 | 242 | 14th | 5th |
| 1956 | Ecurie Ecosse
|
Ron Flockhart
|
Jaguar D-Type | S5.0 | 300 | 1st | 1st |
| 1957 | Ecurie Ecosse
|
John 'Jock' Lawrence
|
Jaguar D-Type | S5.0 | 319 | 2nd | 2nd |
| 1958 | Ecurie Ecosse
|
John 'Jock' Lawrence
|
Jaguar D-Type | S3.0 | 2 | DNF (Engine) | |
| 1959 | Standard Triumph Ltd
|
 Claude Dubois
|
Triumph TR3S | GT2.0 | 114 | DNF (Radiator) | |
| 1960 | Standard Triumph Ltd
|
Peter Bolton
|
Triumph TRS | S2.0 | 249 | N/C* | |
| 1961 | Ecurie Ecosse
|
Alan McKay
|
Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite | S1.0 | 40 | DNF (Accident) | |
| 1962 | TVRCars
|
Peter Bolton
|
TVRGrantura Mk3 | E2.0 | 3 | DNF (Overheating) | |
| 1963 | AC CarsLtd
|
Peter Bolton
|
AC CobraHardtop | GT+3.0 | 310 | 7th | 1st |
- Note *:Not Classified because car failed to complete 80% of its Index of Performance distance.
Complete 12 Hours of Sebring results
edit| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Ecurie Ecosse
|
Ivor Bueb
|
Jaguar D-Type | S3.0 | 22 | DNF (Valve springs) | |
References
edit- ^ab"Sanderson remains a battler until the end".The Herald.Glasgow. 2 October 1985. p. 5.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^ab"Ninian Sanderson"(PDF).The Strathallian 1985-1986.Vol. 14, no. 3. p. 73. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 1 July 2015.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^"Scottish win in Le Mans Grand Prix. Sanderson and Flockhart Defeat Moss and Collins".The Herald.Glasgow. 30 July 1956. p. 5.Retrieved11 October2017.
- ^"Death Marks End of Le Mans Race".The Victoria Advocate.30 July 1956. p. 5.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^"Ninian SANDERSON - Involvement Non World Championship • STATS F1".statsf1.Retrieved7 July2021.
- ^"Britain 1953 - Race entrants • STATS F1".statsf1.Retrieved7 July2021.
- ^ab"Sports car sells for £1.71m".BBC.28 October 1999.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^"McGruer build list"(PDF).McGruer boatyard build list.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 26 February 2015.Retrieved4 May2016.
- ^"McGruer yacht register - Debbie".McGruer yacht register.Archived fromthe originalon 17 September 2016.Retrieved4 May2016.
- ^ab"Charity cheque".The Herald.Glasgow. 15 June 1983. p. 3.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^"Dorothy Sanderson".The Herald.Glasgow. 17 February 2007.Retrieved1 July2015.
External links
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