Henry Charles Taylor (16 December 1932 – 24 October 2013) was a British racing driver from England.
Racing career Born in Shefford, Bedfordshire, Taylor started his career in speedway in East London before switching to a 500cc Formula Three Cooper in 1954, quickly demonstrating his talent. He won two Formula Three championships in 1955, and repeated the achievement in 1956, taking 15 wins.Peter Scherer, "50 Years of British Grand Prix Drivers", tfm, 1999, pp. 88–89. He drove in sports car racing as well, winning in a Jaguar D-Type. Continuing his winning ways in Formula Two in 1958, while scoring several good placings in the UK and in France, he soon graduated to Grand Prix racing.
Taylor participated in 11 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, scoring three championship points, with his best result at the 1960 French Grand Prix, a fourth place in his Cooper T51. That year, he also drove for Ken Tyrrell's Formula Junior team, winning twice. He found less success in the following season's World Championship Grands Prix, but finished second twice in domestic Formula One races, among other strong results. Not long after a serious accident in the 1961 British Grand Prix, Taylor turned away from single-seater racing and took up rallying, taking part in the Monte Carlo Rally.
For the following four seasons, Taylor rallied a Ford Anglia, drove the Ford Cortina on its rally debut,Steve Small, "The Grand Prix Who's Who", Guinness, 1996, p. 421. and also campaigned the highly successful Lotus Cortina, which he also raced in the European Touring Car Championship in 1964. He achieved a number of top six placings in rallies with all three cars, and took two second places in ETCC races.
After retiring from rallying in 1965, Taylor became Ford's Competition Manager. He also drove for the British Olympic bobsleigh team.
Death Taylor died on 24 October 2013 in Vallauris, France after a long battle with ill health.
Racing record
Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 WDC Points 1959 RHH Parnell Cooper T51 F2 Climax Straight-4 MON 500 NED FRA GBR GER POR ITA USA NC 0 1960 Yeoman Credit Racing Team Cooper T51 Climax Straight-4 ARG MON 500 NED BEL FRA GBR POR ITA USA 22nd 3 1961 UDT Laystall Racing Team Lotus 18 Climax Straight-4 MON NEDNC0 Lotus 18/21 Climax Straight-4 BEL FRA GBR GER ITA USA
Complete British Saloon Car Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.) Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DC Pts Class 1963 Alan Andrews Racing Ford Anglia Super SNE OUL GOO AIN SIL CRY SIL BRH15 BRH OUL SNE NC 0 NC
References
External links Henry Taylor profile at The 500 Owners Association