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{{short description|Motor racing team}}
[[Image:LEC CRP1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The surviving LEC CRP1 Formula One car.]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
'''LEC''' was a [[Formula One]] team and constructor from the [[United Kingdom]]. They participated in ten Grands Prix, five using their own [[LEC CRP1|CRP1]] car in {{F1|1977}}, and five with a hired [[March Engineering|March]] [[March 731|731]] in an earlier attempt in {{F1|1973}}. Purley competed in various kinds of motorsport including a successful [[Formula 5000]] campaign in a [[Chevron Cars Ltd|Chevron]] between his two stints in Formula One.
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}{{More citations needed|date=February 2019}}{{Former F1 team |
Short_name = LEC |
Long_name = LEC Refrigeration Racing |
Logo = |
Base = |
Founders = [[David Purley]] |
Staff = Mike Earle |
Drivers = {{flagicon|UK}} [[David Purley]] |
Engines = [[Cosworth]] |
Debut = [[1973 Monaco Grand Prix]] |
Races = 10 <ref name=ref >{{cite web|url= http://www.chicanef1.com/indiv.pl?name=LEC%20Refrigeration%20Racing |title= LEC Formula one results on chicanef1.com|work= Formula One Results |access-date= 27 November 2012 }}</ref> |
Cons_champ = |
Drivers_champ = |
Wins = 0 |
Poles = 0 |
Fastest_laps = 0 |
Points = 0 |
Last race = [[1977 British Grand Prix]] |
}}


'''LEC Refrigeration Racing''' was a UK [[Motorsport|motor racing]] team and [[Formula One]] constructor based at [[Bognor Regis|Bognor Regis, West Sussex]]. They participated in ten [[Grand Prix motor racing|Grands Prix]] using a [[March Engineering|March]] in {{F1|1973}} and their own car, the LEC CRP1, in {{F1|1977}}.
The LEC car was designed by [[Mike Pilbeam]] for [[David Purley]], and named after the [[LEC Refrigeration|family refrigeration business]] that had backed Purley's previous racing efforts. The team was run by [[Mike Earle]] with a group of engineers and mechanics who later went on to become [[Onyx (racing team)|Onyx Race Engineering]].


==Formula One==
Purley was gradually coming to terms with the car, but at the [[1977 British Grand Prix]] the throttle stuck open in practice and sent Purley into a wall, demolishing the car and causing Purley severe injuries.


===1973===
A second car was built for Purley's return to racing in 1979, although he preferred to concentrate on the national-level [[British Formula One Series|Aurora F1 series]] in the UK.


In {{F1|1973}} [[David Purley]] hired a March 731 and with backing from his family's refrigeration company LEC Refrigeration, made a largely unsuccessful attempt at Formula One. Purley and the team made their debut in Monaco where the fuel tank broke. Purley did not make the restart at the [[1973 British Grand Prix|British GP]] after he spun off. It was at the [[1973 Dutch Grand Prix]], however, where Purley carried out arguably his most memorable actions. Upon witnessing a crash which left fellow British driver [[Roger Williamson]] trapped in his overturned and burning car, Purley abandoned his own race and attempted to save Williamson, who was participating in only his second Formula One race. Purley later recalled that upon arriving at the scene, he heard Williamson crying for help as the fire began to take hold. Purley's efforts to right the car and extinguish the flames were in vain as he received no help from nearby track marshals or emergency workers, in spite of attempts to encourage them, and other passing drivers, to come to his aid; Williamson died from [[asphyxia]]tion. Because the marshalls were not wearing fire resistant clothing and the passing drivers believed that Purley was attempting to extinguish his own car, having escaped a fiery crash unharmed; they had no idea that a second driver was involved. The team took their first finish at the [[1973 German Grand Prix|German GP]]. Purley also finished in [[1973 Italian Grand Prix|Italy]].
==Complete Formula One results==

===1977===

[[File:LEC CRP1 Donington Grand Prix Collection in 2007.jpg|thumb|right|250px|LEC CRP1 Formula One car.]]
[[File:LEC Cosworth CRP1 at Goodwood 2014 003.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Cockpit of the CRP1.]]
LEC racing returned to Formula One in 1977 with their own LEC chassis designed by [[Mike Pilbeam]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Walton|first=Jeremy|title=Interview: Design on the Hills, Translated by Mike Pilbeam|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/june-1978/44/interview-design-hills-translated-mike-p|work=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport]] magazine archive|date=June 1978|page=44|access-date=30 December 2019}}</ref> and run by Mike Earle. It was this car in which Purley suffered serious injuries in an accident during pre-qualifying for [[1977 British Grand Prix|that year's British Grand Prix]]. He survived an estimated 179.8 [[g-force|g]] when he decelerated from 173&nbsp;km/h (108&nbsp;mph) to 0 in a distance of 66&nbsp;cm (26&nbsp;inches) after his throttle got stuck wide open and he hit a wall.<ref name="Purley">{{cite web| author=Anton Sukup| title=''David PURLEY'' Silverstone crash| year=1977| url=http://www.asag.sk/bio/purley.htm| access-date=31 July 2006}}</ref> For many years, this was thought to be the highest g-force ever survived by a human being.<ref name="Purley"/> He suffered multiple fractures to his legs, pelvis and ribs.

The second CRP1 has been restored and has competed in historic Formula One racing alongside a modern replica built by WKD Motorsport.<ref name="Brown">{{cite web|last1=Brown|first1=Allen|title=Lec CRP1 car-by-car histories|url=http://www.oldracingcars.com/lec/crp1/|website=oldracingcars.com|access-date=22 September 2017}}</ref>

==Complete Formula One World Championship results==
([[:Template:F1 driver results legend 2|key]])
([[:Template:F1 driver results legend 2|key]])
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
! Year
! Year
! Driver
! Chassis
! Chassis
! Engine
! Engine
! Tyres
! Driver
! 1
! 1
! 2
! 2
Line 32: Line 62:
! 16
! 16
! 17
! 17
! WDC
! Points
! Pts.
! WCC
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"| {{F1|1973}}
| [[1973 Formula One season|1973]]
|rowspan="2"| [[March Engineering|March]] 731
! [[David Purley]]
|rowspan="2"| [[Ford Cosworth DFV|Cosworth DFV]] 3.0 [[V8 engine|V8]]
! [[March Engineering|March]] [[March 731|731]]
|rowspan="2"| {{Goodyear}}
! [[Cosworth]] [[V8 (engine)|V8]]
| [[1973 Argentine Grand Prix|ARG]]<br />
| [[1973 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]<br />
| [[1973 South African Grand Prix|RSA]]<br />
| [[1973 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]<br />
| [[1973 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]<br />
|bgcolor="#EFCFFF"| [[1973 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]<br />Ret
| [[1973 Swedish Grand Prix|SWE]]<br />
| [[1973 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br />
|bgcolor="white"| [[1973 British Grand Prix|GBR]]<br />DNS
|bgcolor="#EFCFFF"| [[1973 Dutch Grand Prix|NED]]<br />Ret
|bgcolor="#CFCFFF"| [[1973 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br />15
| [[1973 Austrian Grand Prix|AUT]]<br />
|bgcolor="#CFCFFF"| [[1973 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]<br />9
| [[1973 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]<br />
| [[1973 United States Grand Prix|USA]]<br />
|
|
| [[1973 Argentine Grand Prix|ARG]]
| [[1973 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]
| [[1973 South African Grand Prix|RSA]]
| [[1973 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]
| [[1973 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]
| [[1973 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]
| [[1973 Swedish Grand Prix|SWE]]
| [[1973 French Grand Prix|FRA]]
| [[1973 British Grand Prix|GBR]]
| [[1973 Dutch Grand Prix|NED]]
| [[1973 German Grand Prix|GER]]
| [[1973 Austrian Grand Prix|AUT]]
| [[1973 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]
| [[1973 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]
| [[1973 United States Grand Prix|USA]]
|
|
|
! -
|rowspan="2"|
! 0
|rowspan="2"|
|-
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|UK}} [[David Purley]]
| [[1977 Formula One season|1977]]
|
! [[David Purley]]
|
! LEC [[LEC CRP1|CRP1]]
|
! [[Cosworth]] [[V8 (engine)|V8]]
|
| [[1977 Argentine Grand Prix|ARG]]<br />
|
| [[1977 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]<br />
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| [[1977 South African Grand Prix|RSA]]<br />
|
| [[1977 United States Grand Prix West|USW]]<br />
|
|bgcolor="#FFCFCF"| [[1977 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]<br />DNQ
|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| DNS
| [[1977 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]<br />
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|bgcolor="#CFCFFF"| [[1977 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]<br />13
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 15
|bgcolor="#CFCFFF"| [[1977 Swedish Grand Prix|SWE]]<br />14
|
|bgcolor="#EFCFFF"| [[1977 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br />Ret
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 9
|bgcolor="#FFCFCF"| [[1977 British Grand Prix|GBR]]<br />DNPQ
|
| [[1977 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br />
|
| [[1977 Austrian Grand Prix|AUT]]<br />
|
| [[1977 Dutch Grand Prix|NED]]<br />
|
| [[1977 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]<br />
|-
| [[1977 United States Grand Prix|USA]]<br />
| [[1977 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]<br />
|rowspan="2"| [[1977 Formula One season|1977]]
|rowspan="2"| LEC CRP1
| [[1977 Japanese Grand Prix|JPN]]<br />
|rowspan="2"| [[Ford Cosworth DFV|Cosworth DFV]] 3.0 [[V8 engine|V8]]
! -
|rowspan="2"| {{Goodyear}}
! 0
|
| [[1977 Argentine Grand Prix|ARG]]
| [[1977 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]
| [[1977 South African Grand Prix|RSA]]
| [[1977 United States Grand Prix West|USW]]
| [[1977 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]
| [[1977 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]
| [[1977 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]
| [[1977 Swedish Grand Prix|SWE]]
| [[1977 French Grand Prix|FRA]]
| [[1977 British Grand Prix|GBR]]
| [[1977 German Grand Prix|GER]]
| [[1977 Austrian Grand Prix|AUT]]
| [[1977 Dutch Grand Prix|NED]]
| [[1977 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]
| [[1977 United States Grand Prix|USA]]
| [[1977 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]
| [[1977 Japanese Grand Prix|JPN]]
|rowspan="2"|'''—'''
|rowspan="2"|'''0'''
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|UK}} [[David Purley]]
|
|
|
|
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DNQ
|
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 13
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 14
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
!colspan="24"|{{center|{{small|Source:<ref>{{cite book|last=Small|first=Steve|title=The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who|date=1994|publisher=Guinness|page=305 |isbn=0851127029}}</ref>}}}}
|}
|}


== References ==
==References==
{{reflist}}
*[http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/con-lec.html LEC profile at Grand Prix encyclopedia]

*[http://www.chicanef1.com/indiv.pl?name=LEC%20Refrigeration%20Racing LEC Formula One results]


{{Formula One constructors}}
{{Formula One constructors}}
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[[Category:British auto racing teams]]
[[Category:British auto racing teams]]
[[Category:British racecar constructors]]
[[Category:British racecar constructors]]
[[Category:1973 establishments in the United Kingdom]]

[[Category:1977 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]

[[Category:Auto racing teams established in 1973]]
{{F1-stub}}
[[Category:Auto racing teams disestablished in 1977]]

[[ca:LEC F1]]
[[es:LEC Refrigeration Racing]]
[[fr:LEC (Formule 1)]]
[[it:LEC (Formula 1)]]
[[ja:LEC (F1)]]
[[pt:LEC Refrigeration Racing]]
[[sl:LEC (Formula 1)]]
[[fi:LEC Refrigeration Racing]]
[[sv:LEC Refrigeration Racing]]

Latest revision as of 15:24, 29 June 2024

LEC
Full nameLEC Refrigeration Racing
Founder(s)David Purley
Noted staffMike Earle
Noted driversUnited Kingdom David Purley
Formula One World Championship career
First entry1973 Monaco Grand Prix
Races entered10 [1]
EnginesCosworth
Race victories0
Points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
Final entry1977 British Grand Prix

LEC Refrigeration Racing was a UK motor racing team and Formula One constructor based at Bognor Regis, West Sussex. They participated in ten Grands Prix using a March in 1973 and their own car, the LEC CRP1, in 1977.

Formula One

[edit]

1973

[edit]

In 1973 David Purley hired a March 731 and with backing from his family's refrigeration company LEC Refrigeration, made a largely unsuccessful attempt at Formula One. Purley and the team made their debut in Monaco where the fuel tank broke. Purley did not make the restart at the British GP after he spun off. It was at the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix, however, where Purley carried out arguably his most memorable actions. Upon witnessing a crash which left fellow British driver Roger Williamson trapped in his overturned and burning car, Purley abandoned his own race and attempted to save Williamson, who was participating in only his second Formula One race. Purley later recalled that upon arriving at the scene, he heard Williamson crying for help as the fire began to take hold. Purley's efforts to right the car and extinguish the flames were in vain as he received no help from nearby track marshals or emergency workers, in spite of attempts to encourage them, and other passing drivers, to come to his aid; Williamson died from asphyxiation. Because the marshalls were not wearing fire resistant clothing and the passing drivers believed that Purley was attempting to extinguish his own car, having escaped a fiery crash unharmed; they had no idea that a second driver was involved. The team took their first finish at the German GP. Purley also finished in Italy.

1977

[edit]
LEC CRP1 Formula One car.
Cockpit of the CRP1.

LEC racing returned to Formula One in 1977 with their own LEC chassis designed by Mike Pilbeam[2] and run by Mike Earle. It was this car in which Purley suffered serious injuries in an accident during pre-qualifying for that year's British Grand Prix. He survived an estimated 179.8 g when he decelerated from 173 km/h (108 mph) to 0 in a distance of 66 cm (26 inches) after his throttle got stuck wide open and he hit a wall.[3] For many years, this was thought to be the highest g-force ever survived by a human being.[3] He suffered multiple fractures to his legs, pelvis and ribs.

The second CRP1 has been restored and has competed in historic Formula One racing alongside a modern replica built by WKD Motorsport.[4]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

[edit]

(key)

Year Chassis Engine Tyres Driver 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Points WCC
1973 March 731 Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE FRA GBR NED GER AUT ITA CAN USA
United Kingdom David Purley Ret DNS Ret 15 9
1977 LEC CRP1 Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G ARG BRA RSA USW ESP MON BEL SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN JPN — 0
United Kingdom David Purley DNQ 13 14 Ret DNPQ
Source:[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "LEC Formula one results on chicanef1.com". Formula One Results. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  2. ^ Walton, Jeremy (June 1978). "Interview: Design on the Hills, Translated by Mike Pilbeam". Motor Sport magazine archive. p. 44. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  3. ^ a b Anton Sukup (1977). "David PURLEY Silverstone crash". Retrieved 31 July 2006.
  4. ^ Brown, Allen. "Lec CRP1 car-by-car histories". oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  5. ^ Small, Steve (1994). The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who. Guinness. p. 305. ISBN 0851127029.


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