Motoring historian’s plea over tragic racer who styled himself ‘Ippocastano’

Bid to find details of devout Christian who drove under pseudonym

He was the mystery motor racing hero who gave his life in pursuit of the chequered flag.

Peter Hawtin raced under the name of “Ippocastano” in case his father happened to spot him because he was strongly against him racing.

Amateur driver Hawtin was killed aged 32 in 1971 after his Cooperchevrolet crashed at Oulton Park in a Formula 5,000 event.

Hawtin was also a devout Christian and well regarded as a youth leader, and among those he helped convert to Christianity was a republican bishop who became a leading critic of the royal family.

Motoring historian Richard Evans has been trying to piece together details of his life to shed new light on his achievements, and his investigation has now switched to Dundee.

“It’s an intriguing story involving a future bishop influenced by a young racing driver who had a short-lived hobby and untimely early death,” said Mr Evans.

Hawtin, who worked as a development engineer for Aston Martin in Newport Pagnell, chose the name Ippocastano because it had been in a book he had read and stuck in his mind.

Mr Evans is appealing for information in Dundee to find a work colleague of Hawtin’s from Aston Martin in 1971 who is believed to have moved to Dundee after working for Rolls-royce at the luxury car-maker’s plant at Crewe.

“He was formerly an engineer at Rolls-royce in Crewe and before that with Aston Martin and a colleague of

Peter Hawtin,” said Mr Evans. “Peter lived in Oxfordshire and shared a flat with Max Robertson in Newport Pagnall during the week.

“Does Max still live in Dundee? If he does, would he be able to provide Peter’s family background?”

The Bishop of Willesden, Pete Broadbent, who branded William and Kate “shallow celebrities” and called the royal family “philanderers”, became a Christian because of Hawtin’s influence.

He said: “From a non-church background and as an avowed atheist, I became a Christian because of the prayers and example of great Christian youth leaders. One, Peter Hawtin, put huge time and energy into mentoring and disciplining us.”

Hawtin died after he lost control when the brakes on his car apparently locked.

The car split in two with the engine and rear wheels flying into the crowd.

The remains caught fire with Hawtin inside. By the time ambulances and fire apparatus reached him and put out the blaze he was dead.

Anyone with information can contact merrythought@btinternet.com

Peter Hawtin took the name Ippocastano to mask his identity from his father.