David Hampshire

Who was David Hampshire?

David Alan Hampshire was a racing driver from England. He was born in Mickleover, Derby, Derbyshire and died in Newton Solney, in South Derbyshire.

David Hampshire first appeared amongst the likes of Bira, Villoresi, Tony Rolt, Raymond Mays, Peter Whitehead, Lesley Brooke and Reg Parnell in the 1939 Nuffield Trophy at Donington Park. However, the Maserati 6CL which he was driving, formerly owned by Arthur Dobson and re-engineered into an 1100cc car, only managed a few laps, retiring with a melted piston. The car was subsequently returned to 1500cc format. He raced the 6CL again at the 1939 Brooklands Whit Monday meeting and the Sydenham Trophy at Crystal Palace on 20 May. It had a final outing at Donington Park on 12 August 1939 just before the outbreak of World War 2.

After the Second World War,there were virtually no circuits in England to begin with so Sprints were undertaken at Gransden Lodge and Shelsley Walsh. Later in 1946 he competed in his Delage 158L in the Albi Grand Prix and the Grand Prix des Nations in which he finished 8th.

In 1947 he first drove Reg Parnell's "The Challenger" in the British Empire Trophy and Reg's ERA E type at Lausanne both ending in retirements.