Peter Arundell showed promise right from the start of his career, finishing 2nd with his MG TC at a BARC event at Goodwood in 1957. His second year of racing was filled with success competing in many events in a Lotus 11, a marque that would play a pivotal part in his future. However, it was in an Elva that he won the traditional Brands Hatch Boxing Day event, the John Davy Trophy, in 1959. By that time, he had come to the notice of Team Lotus, and joined Trevor Taylor in their Formula Junior team.
At the 2009 British Grand Prix, Taylor told me, “Peter and I were very good friends; we had many memorable times together. Although a friend, racing was racing; once in the car, he was a different man. He drove hard, but fair.”
When Taylor moved to partner with Jim Clark in the Lotus F1 team, Arundell took the mantle of team leader of the Formula Junior team, winning 18 of his 25 races and deservedly becoming both British and European champion of 1962. That should have been the point where he progressed to the top rung of the sport, in Formula One. Patiently, he remained in Formula Junior, keeping up his winning ways and retaining his British crown in 1963. Eventually, he got his call to partner with Clark for 1964, although he had previously raced in non-championship F1 races in 1963 deputizing for an injured Taylor.
In his first Grand Prix at Monaco, he found exactly what life would be like as Clark’s teammate. On the last lap, as he ran 3rd ahead of Clark in 4th, both suffering from low oil pressure, Arundell was asked to wait and allow Clark to cross the line first. Clark’s car, however, expired as he drove toward Casino Square and Arundell was allowed to finish on the podium. His early performances showed his potential, but his career came to an abrupt halt on July 5, 1964, on lap 31 of the F2 Grand Prix de Reims. His Lotus 32 spun and was hit by Richie Ginther in the Midland Racing Partnership Lola T55. The accident threw Arundell from his car and left him suffering multiple injuries from which, it could be said, he never really recovered.
He returned to the fold in 1966 as Clark’s number 2, but after a season of dismal results—although Clark didn’t fare much better—Arundell was replaced by Graham Hill for 1967. Brief appearances in Alan Mann’s Escort, F3, and Formula Vee were the swansong of his racing career, and he bowed out of the sport at the end of 1969. He then left the UK to pursue business opportunities in the United States, returning in latter years to make appearances at both Lotus and historic events.
By Mike Jiggle
