Guy Edwards

Guy Edwards is a British former racing driver who recorded eleven starts in the Formula One World Championship between 1974 and 1976. He was also active in the sports car racing, recording nine starts at Le Mans 24 Hours. He ended a career in 1989 after he spent two seasons in the British Touring Car Championship.

His son Sean Edwards (born 1986) followed his path in racing but unfortunately lost a life in an accident at Queensland Raceway in October 2013.

Guy Edwards

Starting a career in the sports car racing

Guy Richard Goronwy Edwards was born in December 1942 in Macclesfield, Cheshire. He started a racing career in the mid-1960s, driving a Marcos Mini GT in selected rounds of the World Sportscar Championship with different co-drivers. In 1969, he was driving a Chevron B8-BMW, sharing it mostly with Mike Franey.

He was driving an Astra RNR2-Cosworth prototype in 1970 and then switched to Lola T212-Cosworth in 1971, participating in more than twenty races over the year. One of those races was the Le Mans 24 Hours, where he made a debut in the #50 Lola T212, sharing a car with Roger Enever. They didn't finish the race.

Entering Formula 5000 in 1971

In October 1971, Edwards was also driving McLaren M10B-Chevrolet in the Formula 1 Victory Race at Brands Hatch, against greatest stars of Formula 1. Unfortunately, the race was stopped after 15 laps because of the fatal accident of Jo Siffert. Edwards was classified 20th.

Next year, he continued to race in the Formula 5000 with McLaren, finishing 16th in the championship. In the sports car races, he was driving a Lola T290-Chevrolet, finishing fourth in the European 2-litre Sports Car Championship.

Double programme with Lola in 1973

In 1973, Edwards continued to compete in the Formula 500 but he switched to Lola T330 (Chevrolet). He was a race winner two times, finishing fifth in the final points.

In the sports car races, Edwards also stayed in Lola, finishing third in the European 2-litre Sports Car Championship after he won two rounds in a Lola T292-Chevrolet.

In 1974, edwards was driving the #27 Lola T370 for Embassy Racing

Formula One debut with Embassy Hill's Lola-Cosworth

In 1974, Edwards was ready for a debut in the Formula 1 World Championship. Graham Hill hired him to drive for Embassy Racing in the #27 Lola T370-Cosworth. He finished 11th in his first F1 Grand Prix in Argentina.

Later in the season, he was outqualifed in two events (Spain, Germany) and scored seventh place at the Swedish Grand Prix as his best result. For the last four events, he was replaced by Rolf Stommelen.

Third place in the 1975 European Formula 5000

Parallel to his F1 commitments in 1974, Edwards was driving for Embassy Racing in the Formula 5000, winning one race to finish 15th in the points.

In 1975, Edwards had no arrangements in Formula 1 and he returned full time to Formula 5000, finishing third in the final standings of the European championship, behind Teddy Pilette and Peter Gethin. In the same year, he also participated in few rounds of the European 2-litre Sports Car Championship with Lola.

Guy Edwards in 1976

1976 – four Grand Prix starts with Hesketh Racing

In 1976, Edwards returned to Formula 1 with Hesketh Racing under the banner of Penthouse Rizla Racing. He made a debut in the #25 Hesketh 308D-Cosworth at the Belgian Grand Prix in May, failing to qualify for the race. Two months later, he made a start with Hesketh at the French Grand Prix, finishing 17th.

He later retired at Brands Hatch and finished 15th at Nürburgring Nordschleife. That race was marked by a horrific accident of Niki Lauda. Edwards was one of the drivers who was trying to get Lauda out of flames. In October, Edwards finished 20th in the Canadian Grand Prix in his last race with Hesketh.

Two seasons in the Shellsport International Series

In 1976, Edwards also participated in the inaugural season of the Shellsport International Series, the UK-based competition opened for F1, F2, F5000 and Formula Atlantic cars. He won one race at Oulton Park.

In 1977, Edwards spent a full season in the series, driving a March-Cosworth F5000 car for RAM Racing. He was a race winner two times, at Snetterton, Thruxton and Brands Hatch, finishing second in the points behind Tony Trimmer.

One more last Grand Prix attempt and return to Le Mans

Besides racing in the Shellsport Series, Edwards made a one-off return to Formula One in 1977, driving the #35 BRM P207 for Stanley BRM at the British Grand Prix. He failed to qualify for the race at Silverstone.

In 1977, Edwards also made a return to Le Mans, joining the Porsche Kremer Racing to drive the #42 Porsche 935. His co-drivers were John Fitzpatrick and Nick Faure. They stopped with a broken engine after just 15 laps.

Guy Edwards in the 1978 British Formula 1 Series

Three seasons in the British Formula 1 Series

In 1978, the Shellsport Series had been converted into the British Formula One, later known as Aurora F1 Series. Edwards stayed the regular competitor in a March-Cosworth, winning two races (Oulton Park and Thruxton) to finish fourth in the points.

In 1979, Edwards won one race in the Aurora F1 Series, driving a Fittipaldi F5A-Cosworth. He was a race winner at Brands Hatch, finishing fifth in the final standings.

In 1980, his third year in the British Formula 1, Edwards triumphed two times in an Arrows A1-Cosworth, finishing third in the championship, behind Emilio de Villota and Eliseo Salazar. The season 1980 was the last for Edwards in the British Formula 1.

Guy Edwards successfully raced in the Aurora F1 Series until 1980

Two class podiums at Le Mans 24 Hours

While racing in the British F1, Edwards made two starts at Le Mans 24 Hours. In 1978, he was driving the #19 Ibec P6-Cosworth for Ibec Racing Developments Hesketh Team, retiring after 195 laps. In 1980, Edwards joined John Paul Sr and John Paul Jr in the #73 JLP Racing Porsche 935. They finished ninth overall and second in the IMSA class.

In 1981, Edwards left open-wheel racing to participated in sports car races only. He was driving a Lola T600-Cosworth for a factory team in the World Championship and at Le Mans. Sharing the #18 Lola T600 with Emilio de Villota and Juan Fernandez, Edwards finished 15th overall and third in the S+2.0 class. In the championship races, Edwards and de Villota were the winners at Enna-Pergusa and Brands Hatch.

Guy Edwards scored his best overall result at Le Mans in 1985, finishing fourth in the #33 Porsche

Returning to Le Mans until 1985

In 1982, Edwards stayed with Team Lola in the World Endurance Championship, not scoring wins or podiums in a Lola T610. His full-time partner was Rupert Keegan. At Le Mans, Nick Faure joined them but they retired after 72 laps.

In 1983, Edwards and Keegan finished fifth at Le Mans in the #16 Porsche 956 of John Fitzpatrick Racing, together with team owner John Fitzpatrick. Edwards and Keegan raced together at Le Mans in 1984, sharing the #55 Skoal Bandit Porsche 962 with Roberto Moreno. They crashed out after 72 laps.

Edwards recorded his last Le Mans attempt in 1985, driving the #33 Porsche 956B for Fitzpatrick Porsche Team. Sharing a car with David Hobbs and Jo Gartner, he finished in the fourth place overall, behind three other Porsches.

Guy Edwards was driving the #21 Ford Escort RS500 in 1988

1988 - joining Andy Rouse in the British Touring Car Championship

Guy Edwards was out of racing for two seasons, getting a son in 1986. In 1988, he joined Andy Rouse to drive the #21 Ford Sierra RS500 for his Kaliber Racing in the British Touring Car Championship but also in one round of the European Touring Car Championship (Tourist Trophy).

In his first BTCC season, Edwards scored four podiums to finish 11th in the overall standings and fifth in the Class A. His teammate and team owner Andy Rouse was third overall and the Class A champion.

Ending a career at the end of 1989

Edwards stayed with the team for one more season, driving the #10 Kaliber Ford Sierra RS500. He was on a podium just once, at Silverstone, finishing 33rd in the overall standings and ninth in the class.

It was the last season of competitive racing for Edwards, he retired at the age 47. During his racing career, Edwards was awarded a Queen's Gallantry Medal for his involvement in saving Niki Lauda's life in 1976 Nürburgring's crash.

Photos: Getty Images, Deviant Art, F1 Fanatic,