Bill Aston
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Aston was a British
racing driver who participated in three Formula One
World Championship Grands Prix, for his own team Aston Butterworth
.
Prior to taking part in Formula One, Aston was a test pilot and motorcycle
racer. He turned to four-wheel racing with a Cooper
-JAP
in Formula 3 and later graduated into Formula 2. He came close to winning a heat race at Chimay
in 1951, driving an 1,100 c.c. Cooper
, but his car failed on the last lap. In the same year he set a 500cc world speed record at Montlhéry in the streamlined Cooper, fitted with a V-twin J.A.P. motor.
For 1952 he teamed up with Archie Butterworth
to build the Aston Butterworth
, a car that raced quite well, but was unfortunately very unreliable. He entered the car in the 1952 German Grand Prix
but failed on the second lap. At the Italian Grand Prix
he failed to make it through qualifying. Aston raced on into his 60s, with a Mini
and a Jaguar
, before he retired.
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...
racing driver who participated in three Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
World Championship Grands Prix, for his own team Aston Butterworth
Aston Butterworth
Aston Butterworth was a Formula Two constructor from the United Kingdom, during the years 1952-3 when the World Drivers' Championship was run to Formula Two regulations...
.
Prior to taking part in Formula One, Aston was a test pilot and motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
racer. He turned to four-wheel racing with a 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...
-JAP
JA Prestwich Industries Ltd
JA Prestwich Industries, was an English engineering company named after founder John Alfred Prestwich, which produced cinematographic equipment, internal combustion engines , and other examples of precision engineering.-History:J. A...
in Formula 3 and later graduated into Formula 2. He came close to winning a heat race 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 1951, driving an 1,100 c.c. 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...
, but his car failed on the last lap. In the same year he set a 500cc world speed record at Montlhéry in the streamlined Cooper, fitted with a V-twin J.A.P. motor.
For 1952 he teamed up with 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...
to build the Aston Butterworth
Aston Butterworth
Aston Butterworth was a Formula Two constructor from the United Kingdom, during the years 1952-3 when the World Drivers' Championship was run to Formula Two regulations...
, a car that raced quite well, but was unfortunately very unreliable. He 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...
but failed on the second lap. At the Italian Grand Prix
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...
he failed to make it through qualifying. Aston raced on into his 60s, with a Mini
Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...
and a Jaguar
Jaguar (car)
Jaguar Cars Ltd, known simply as Jaguar , is a British luxury car manufacturer, headquartered in Whitley, Coventry, England. It is part of the Jaguar Land Rover business, a subsidiary of the Indian company Tata Motors....
, before he retired.
Complete Formula One World Championship results
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
W S Aston | Aston Aston Butterworth Aston Butterworth was a Formula Two constructor from the United Kingdom, during the years 1952-3 when the World Drivers' Championship was run to Formula Two regulations... NB 41 |
Butterworth Aston Butterworth Aston Butterworth was a Formula Two constructor from the United Kingdom, during the years 1952-3 when the World Drivers' Championship was run to Formula Two regulations... Flat 4 Flat-4 A flat-4 or horizontally opposed-4 is a flat engine with four cylinders arranged horizontally in two banks of two cylinders on each side of a central crankcase... |
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'... DNS |
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... Ret |
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... DNQ |
NC | 0 |