Jackie Oliver
Oliver in 1969
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| Born | 14 August 1942 |
|---|---|
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |
 British |
| Active years | 1967–1973, 1977 |
| Teams | Lotus, BRM, McLaren, Shadow |
| Entries | 52 (50 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 2 |
| Career points | 13 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 1 |
| First entry | 1967 German Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1977 Swedish Grand Prix |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
|---|---|
| Participating years | 1968–1969, 1971 |
| Teams | J.W. Automotive |
| Best finish | 1st (1969) |
| Class wins | 1 (1969) |
Keith Jack "Jackie" Oliver, (born 14 August 1942 in Chadwell Heath, Essex) is a British former Formula One driver and team-owner from England. He became known as the founder of the Arrows team as well as a racing driver, although during his driving career he won both the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and the Can-Am championship.
Oliver began a long career in motorsport in 1961, driving a Mini in British club saloon racing. He then upgraded to a Lotus Elan and entered GT racing, scoring some excellent results, and then having a difficult time in Formula Three, where his natural speed was blighted by mechanical failures.
Nevertheless, for 1967 he was drafted into the Team Lotus Formula Two team, which also saw him making his Grand Prix debut in the F2 class at the German Grand Prix, where he came 5th overall and won the F2 class. In 1968 he was called up by Colin Chapman to take over the works F1 seat for Team Lotus after the death of Jim Clark. His contract did not include an F2 drive. In discussions with Tony Rudlin, a failed racing driver, at that time responsible for running the Herts and Essex Aero Club for ex-world motor cycling champion, Roger Frogley, a deal was struck to run in the club's colours. Lotus supplied and ran the car, supplied the mechanics and generally acted as competition managers while Rudlin was team manager. The F2 team was reasonably successful although not running full Team Lotus spec. At the end of the year the team was invited to compete in the four races making up the Argentine Temporada. The Herts and Essex Team finished third overall in the series. The F1 season would turn out to be difficult, with Oliver struggling for finishes. He led the British Grand Prix until an engine failure, and would only finish twice, his best result being 3rd place at the season-closing Mexican Grand Prix.
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