(c) 'Who is Who' by Steve Small, 2000

Родился: 04.08.1917 Индианаполис, Индиана Сезонов в Ф1: 2 Лет в Ф1: 3 Гран При: 2 Старты: 2 Победы: - подряд: Подиумы: - подряд: Поул-позиции: - подряд: Первый ряд: - подряд: Быстрые круги: - подряд: Лучший финиш: 9 Лучший старт: 20 Дубли: Хет-трики: Лидирование старт/финиш: Большие шлемы: Круги: 60 - лидирования: Километры: 548.2 - лидирования: Очки: - за один сезон: - подряд:

Ф1: 1953-1955

Год	Команда	Шасси
1953	HW Motors Ltd	HWM 53
1955	Stirling Moss Ltd	Maserati 250F

With just two Grand Prix races recorded against his name, the uninitiated may be given the false impression that John Fitch was just another insignificant run-of-the-mill driver - far from it.

Born into a wealthy family, and with a motoring background courtesy of his step-father, Fitch served as a fighter pilot during World War II, and was held as a ROW after being shot down. In poor physical condition upon his release, he did not turn to motor racing until 1949, but was soon a major name in SCCA circles. In March 1951, on his first racing trip overseas, he won the Peron Grand Prix, a sports car race in Buenos Aires, driving an Allard-Cadillac. This victory brought him to the attention of millionaire racer and entrant Briggs Cunningham, who took him into his sports car team, which was attempting to win Le Mans and other long-distance events. John won the Sebring 12 Hours, and finished third in the Cunningham at Le Mans in 1953, a season which also saw him dip his toe into single-seater racing with HWM in the Italian GP and finish fourth at Aix-les-Bains in a Cooper-Bristol, attempt to qualify for Indianapolis, and take part in the Monte Carlo and Alpine Rallies...

Having impressed Neubauer during a test in a 300SL Mercedes in 1952, Fitch finally got the call from the great man and found himself in the factory sports car team for 1955, and reserve driver (not used) at a couple of Grands Prix. Unfortunately this was the year of the Le Mans disaster, and Fitch's co-driver 'Levegh' was a central figure in the tragedy. John did, however, have the satisfaction of sharing the winning Mercedes with Moss at Dundrod later in the year before the Stuttgart team withdrew from racing.

Fitch then returned to the States, initially to help Chevrolet's sports car effort, which limited his racing somewhat, but nothing was allowed to get in the way of his annual pilgrimage to Sebring which lasted until 1964 - by which time he was fully involved in the management of the Lime Rock circuit, which was used for both racing and the testing of road cars.

(c) 'Who is Who' by Steve Small, 2000