1988 Le Mans 24 Hours winner Johnny Dumfries has passed away after a short illness.
Known to motorsport fans as Johnny Dumfries, John Crichton-Stuart, the 7th Marquess of Bute kept his family background out of his sporting endeavours as much as he could, even at the height of his career.
Whilst some might offer an uninformed opinion that his rise through the motorsport ranks was because of his aristocratic background, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Indeed his early motorsport exploits in junior single-seater formulae were funded by his own labours, working as a painter a decorator and a part-time van driver for Williams!
He won the British F3 title in 1984 and by 1986 was at Lotus in F1 alongside Ayrton Senna. That was a tough gig and points did not come easily – the season would be his one and only in F1, though he would later test for Benetton.
After F1 Dumfries moved over to sportscar racing and, after a 1987 season spent with Richard Lloyd’s privateer Porsche team as well as spells at Sauber Mercedes and Ecosse he rocked up at TWR in late 1987 as a factory Jaguar driver, assisting Raoul Boesel to the title in the final race of ’87 and sharing the Le Mans winning XJR9 with Andy Wallace and Jan Lammers the following year.
A two year spell with the TOMS Toyota squad followed (below) before his final appearance at Le Mans in a Courage in 1991 after which he left the sport to focus on managing the family’s Mount Stuart estate as his father’s health failed.
There was another sniff of a possible return in 2003 when he tested with David Price’s DBA Zytek but decided not to race.
A family statement described him as “A devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, son and grandfather and loved by all.
“The indomitable spirit and energy which Johnny brought to his life will be greatly missed, and the immense warmth and love with which he embraced his family.
“His heart was firmly rooted on the Island of Bute where he spent much of his time. Johnny chaired the Board of Mount Stuart Trust from its active inauguration in 2005 when Mount Stuart and its gardens opened to the public, and its rural estate was vested into the charitable trust.
“He was a moderniser and an inspirational thinker, transitioning a family home to a progressive, working visitor facility and estate.”
Jan Lammers: “What a shock today, I’m absolutely gutted by the news that my dear friend Johnny Dumfries (John Crichton-Stuart, the 7th marquess) has passed away at the young age of 62.
“The love, joy and energy that he shared with his family and friends are irreplaceable… I hope that the immortal love will give his family and close friends the strength to cope with this tragic loss. It was a privilege to share some great times with you. RIP my precious friend, love you forever.”
All at DSC pass on our condolences to Johnny’s family and friends.
