John Nicholson (racing driver)

John Nicholson (6 October 1941 – 19 September 2017[1]) was a racing driver from Auckland, New Zealand. He participated in two Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 20 July 1974. He scored no championship points.

John Nicholson

Born	(1941-10-06)6 October 1941 Auckland, New Zealand
Died	19 September 2017(2017-09-19) (aged 75) Clarks Beach, Auckland, New Zealand
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	New Zealander
Active years	1974–1975
Teams	Lyncar
Entries	2 (1 start)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1974 British Grand Prix
Last entry	1975 British Grand Prix

Nicholson was the 1973 and 1974 British Formula Atlantic champion, using a Lyncar chassis[2] and in his 'day job' was an engine-builder for McLaren. Nicholson also worked for Cosworth, Lotus and Embassy Hill, and he prepared a Saab engine for use in a Reynard Formula Three car.[3]

Following his Formula Atlantic success, Nicholson commissioned Martin Slater of Lyncar to build him a Formula One car,[2] despite, by this time, having established his own engine building business, which meant he was unable to commit to a full grand prix season.[4] His race entries, therefore, were mainly in non-championship races. He entered the British Grand Prix in 1974 and 1975 and qualified for the latter race.[2] He was classified 17th, five laps behind, despite crashing in the heavy storm towards the end of the race.[4] Nicholson subsequently planned a further and stronger attempt at Formula One with a privateer McLaren M23 but the purchase of the chassis fell through.[4] He did continue in both Formula Two and Formula 5000 in 1976[4] before racing in his native New Zealand in January 1977.[4]

After retiring from racing, Nicholson turned his sporting attention to powerboat racing as well as continuing with his business interests.[4]

He died in 2017 at the age of 75.[5]