Aston Butterworth was a Formula Two

Formula Two

Formula Two, abbreviated to F2, is a type of open wheel formula racing. It was replaced by Formula 3000 in 1985, but the FIA announced in 2008 that Formula Two would return for 2009 in the form of the FIA Formula Two Championship...

 constructor from the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

, during the years 1952-3 when the World Drivers' Championship was run to Formula Two regulations. They participated in four World Championship Grands Prix, entering a total of four cars.

The project was instigated by Bill Aston

Bill Aston

William "Bill" Aston was a British racing driver who participated in three Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, for his own team Aston Butterworth....

, who decided to build a car for Formula Two; the chassis was a copy of the Cooper

Cooper Car Company

The Cooper Car Company was founded in 1946 by Charles Cooper and his son John Cooper. Together with John's boyhood friend, Eric Brandon, they began by building racing cars in Charles' small garage in Surbiton, Surrey, England in 1946...

 Formula Two, fitted with a flat-four engine devised by Archie Butterworth

Archie Butterworth

Archibald James Butterworth, born 19th June 1912, County Waterford, Ireland-died 12th February 2005. He was an inventor and racing motorist who, in 1948, designed and constructed the A.J.B. Special, a four-wheel-drive 'formula one' racing car. He was a two-time winner of the Brighton Speed Trials...

. The car made its debut in April, 1952 in the Lavant Cup at Goodwood

Goodwood Circuit

Goodwood Circuit is an historic venue for both two- and four-wheeled motorsport in the United Kingdom. The 2.4 mile circuit is situated near Chichester, West Sussex, close to the south coast of England, on the estate of Goodwood House, and completely encircles Chichester/Goodwood Airport...

, finishing eighth with Aston at the wheel. In May a second car was added, driven by Robin Montgomerie-Charrington

Robin Montgomerie-Charrington

Robin "Monty" Montgomerie-Charrington was a British racing driver from England. He took up 500cc Formula 3 in 1950, achieving modest results through '50 and '51. He participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, the European Grand Prix at Spa, Belgium, on 22 June 1952...

, who achieved the team's best finish: third place at Chimay

Grand Prix des Frontières

The Grand Prix des Frontières was a motor race held at Chimay in Belgium. The race was created by Jules Buisseret, who was also responsible for the circuit's existence...

 in June.

Aston entered the car in the 1952 German Grand Prix

1952 German Grand Prix

The 1952 German Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on August 3, 1952 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. It was the sixth round of the 1952 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.- Race report :Sadly...

 where in practice: "Bill Aston had fitted Allard-Steyr cylinder heads to his Butterworth engine with a new carburetter layout and was motoring fairly contentedly," but in the race Aston failed on the second lap as he was: "losing all the oil pressure from his Butterworth engine and deeming it wise to stop before anything broke." Aston continued to appear in races throughout the 1953 season but there was never enough money to develop the program properly. When the new F1 regulations came in 1954 the story of Aston-Butterworth came to an end.

Complete World Championship results

Year	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	Driver	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
1952 1952 Formula One season The 1952 Formula One season was the third season of FIA Formula One motor racing. In comparison to previous seasons, the 1952 season consisted of a relatively small number of Formula One races, following the FIA's decision to run the Grand Prix events counting towards the World Championship of...	Aston NB41	Butterworth F4	?		SUI 1952 Swiss Grand Prix The 1952 Swiss Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on May 18, 1952 at Bremgarten Circuit. It was the first round of the 1952 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.-Qualifying:-Race:- Notes :* Pole...	500 1952 Indianapolis 500 The 1952 Indianapolis 500 was an automobile race held on Friday, May 30, 1952 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event was the second round of the 1952 World Drivers' Championship. Troy Ruttman won the race, bringing the Borg-Warner Trophy home for car owner J.C. Agajanian.Bill Vukovich led...	BEL 1952 Belgian Grand Prix The 1952 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on June 22, 1952 at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. It was the third round of the 1952 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.-Qualifying:-Race:-...	FRA 1952 French Grand Prix The 1952 French Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on July 6, 1952 at Rouen-Les-Essarts. It was the fourth round of the 1952 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.-Qualifying:-Race:- Notes :* Pole...	GBR 1952 British Grand Prix The 1952 British Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on July 19, 1952 at Silverstone Circuit. It was the fifth round of the 1952 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.-Qualifying:-Race:-Drivers'...	GER 1952 German Grand Prix The 1952 German Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on August 3, 1952 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. It was the sixth round of the 1952 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.- Race report :Sadly...	NED 1952 Dutch Grand Prix The 1952 Dutch Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on August 17, 1952 at the Circuit Zandvoort. It was the seventh round of the 1952 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.- Race report :Mike...	ITA 1952 Italian Grand Prix The 1952 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on September 7, 1952 at Monza. It was the eighth and final round of the 1952 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.- Race report :Juan Manuel...
				United Kingdom Bill Aston Bill Aston William "Bill" Aston was a British racing driver who participated in three Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, for his own team Aston Butterworth....					DNP	Ret		DNQ
				United Kingdom Robin Montgomerie-Charrington Robin Montgomerie-Charrington Robin "Monty" Montgomerie-Charrington was a British racing driver from England. He took up 500cc Formula 3 in 1950, achieving modest results through '50 and '51. He participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, the European Grand Prix at Spa, Belgium, on 22 June 1952...			Ret