Motor racing driver. Gerald 'Gerry' Hussey Buchanan Birrell was born in Milngavie, Glasgow, Scotland, he followed his older brother Graham into motor racing with his first race in 1961 at Charterhall driving the family Austin A40. He proved to be even faster than him. In 1961 he re-built a Lotus 11 from a burned out wreck and raced that. In 1964/65 the brothers took on the faster Lotus Cortinas in their Cortina GT, before building an Anglia. By 1969 he was competing in the European Formula Ford Championship beating even the works Lotus cars. Moving up to F3 in 1970 he showed his expertise by winning races at Thruxton, Brands Hatch, Hammeenlinna and Paul Ricard. As well as driving the works Ford Cologne Capris, he progressed to F2 with a works Chevron drive. It was fully expected that with his impressive talent, he would take over the vacant F1 Tyrrell seat from out-going Jackie Stewart in 1974. He was entered in a round of the European F2 Championships in Rouen-les-Essarts, France, one of the fastest of circuits. During practice trying for a fast lap, as he passed the pits towards the daunting sweepers of Virage des Six Freres, a front tyre went onto the flinty edge of the track and punctured at 155mph. He struck the Armco barriers head on but they were badly erected and lifted allowing the out-of-control Chevron under them with fatal consequences. British motor racing had lost one of it's shining stars.
Motor racing driver. Gerald 'Gerry' Hussey Buchanan Birrell was born in Milngavie, Glasgow, Scotland, he followed his older brother Graham into motor racing with his first race in 1961 at Charterhall driving the family Austin A40. He proved to be even faster than him. In 1961 he re-built a Lotus 11 from a burned out wreck and raced that. In 1964/65 the brothers took on the faster Lotus Cortinas in their Cortina GT, before building an Anglia. By 1969 he was competing in the European Formula Ford Championship beating even the works Lotus cars. Moving up to F3 in 1970 he showed his expertise by winning races at Thruxton, Brands Hatch, Hammeenlinna and Paul Ricard. As well as driving the works Ford Cologne Capris, he progressed to F2 with a works Chevron drive. It was fully expected that with his impressive talent, he would take over the vacant F1 Tyrrell seat from out-going Jackie Stewart in 1974. He was entered in a round of the European F2 Championships in Rouen-les-Essarts, France, one of the fastest of circuits. During practice trying for a fast lap, as he passed the pits towards the daunting sweepers of Virage des Six Freres, a front tyre went onto the flinty edge of the track and punctured at 155mph. He struck the Armco barriers head on but they were badly erected and lifted allowing the out-of-control Chevron under them with fatal consequences. British motor racing had lost one of it's shining stars.
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