Ian Stewart (racing driver)

Ian Macpherson McCallum Stewart (15 July 1929 – 19 March 2017)^[1] was a British racing driver from Scotland.

Nationality British

BornIan Macpherson McCallum Stewart
(1929-07-15)15 July 1929

Edinburgh, Scotland

Died19 March 2017(2017-03-19) (aged 87)

Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland

Activeyears1953

Quick facts Nationality, Born ...

Ian Stewart
Ian Stewart during National Service in 1949
Nationality	British
Born	Ian Macpherson McCallum Stewart (1929-07-15)15 July 1929 Edinburgh, Scotland
Died	19 March 2017(2017-03-19) (aged 87) Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland
Formula One World Championship career Active years 1953 Teams privateer Connaught Entries 1 First entry 1953 British Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career Years 1952–1954 Teams Jaguar Cars Ltd. Best finish 4th (1953)

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Stewart was regarded by Jim Clark as a highly-strung individual who "at the wheel was as relaxed as anyone". His only appearance in a World Championship Grand Prix came at the 1953 RAC British Grand Prix, in which – due to ignition failure – he failed to finish in his Ecurie Ecosse-entered Connaught-Lea Francis A. Stewart's main competition was as part of the Jaguar racing Ecurie Ecosse team.^[2][3]

Stewart made a name for himself racing a Jaguar XK120 in British national events, winning 23 races in just three seasons, including the Jersey International and the Wakefield Trophy. He was a founder member of Ecurie Ecosse who adopted the colour he had resprayed his XK120 as their team colour, he was also responsible for their distinctive badge.^[4] During this period, he was one of three Ecurie Ecosse drivers for the team's debut race at Charterhall, which resulted in a second place for Stewart.^{[citation needed]} It was with the Merchiston team that Stewart won most of his races. This success led to some works outings for the Jaguar marque at Le Mans.^[5][6]

It is often said that during the 1954 Les 24 Heures du Mans he rolled an Aston Martin DB3S on the fast stretch between Arnage and White House corners; that however was Jimmy Stewart,^[7] the older brother of future Formula One driver's champion Jackie Stewart. Ian had already retired from racing following a crash in the 1954 Argentinian 1000k sports car race to tend to his family's agricultural and public house businesses in Perth and Kinross.^[8][9]