Richard Attwood

Richard James David "Dickie" Attwood (4 April 1940 - Present): British racing driver who competed in 17 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix between 1964 and 1969, best remembered for co-driving Porsche to its first victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970. Born in Wolverhampton, England, Attwood progressed through British club racing and Formula Junior before reaching Formula One. He made his World Championship debut at the 1964 British Grand Prix driving for BRM, with whom he achieved his best F1 result: second place at the 1968 Monaco Grand Prix in the BRM P126, demonstrating exceptional car control around the demanding street circuit. Attwood competed for BRM, Lotus, and Cooper during his F1 career, scoring 11 championship points with one podium finish.

His final Formula One start came at the 1969 Monaco Grand Prix when he substituted for the injured Jochen Rindt in the Lotus 49B, finishing a strong fourth. While his F1 career was respectable but not spectacular, Attwood found his greatest success in sports car racing. In 1970, he partnered with Hans Herrmann to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans driving a Porsche 917K, giving Porsche its historic first overall victory at the legendary endurance race after years of trying. The 1970 Le Mans was one of the most attrition-filled races in history, with only seven of 51 starters classified as finishers due to treacherous rain and brutal conditions.

After 343 laps covering 4,607.811 kilometers, Attwood and Herrmann crossed the line victorious, beginning Porsche's eventual record of 19 Le Mans wins. Attwood later described the moment: "There was no euphoria, I was absolutely drained." He continued racing through the 1970s in various sports car championships and remained active in historic motorsport for decades. In 2025, Porsche congratulated Attwood on his 85th birthday, recognizing his continued association with the marque.

Attwood remains one of the most respected figures in British motorsport history, particularly within the Porsche community. Known for: Winning the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans with Porsche, achieving Porsche's first overall Le Mans victory, finishing second at the 1968 Monaco Grand Prix for BRM, and maintaining a lifelong association with Porsche and historic racing.