Engineer with a Monza Pole

Mike Parkes, an engineer as well as a driver, took pole at Monza in 1966 and finished second twice for Ferrari.

Born in Richmond, Surrey, Mike Parkes worked as an automotive engineer, helping develop the Hillman Imp at Rootes, while building a strong sports car career. He first entered a World Championship race at the 1959 British Grand Prix in a Formula Two car entered by Fry, but did not start.

Ferrari gave him a Formula One chance in 1966. He finished second at the French Grand Prix and then took pole position at the Italian Grand Prix and finished second again. In 1967 he was fifth in the Netherlands, but a crash at the Belgian Grand Prix ended his Formula One career after six starts. He had won the 12 Hours of Sebring for Ferrari in 1964, and he died in a road accident near Turin in 1977.

0 world titles, 0 wins, 1 pole positions, 6 starts.

Teams

• Scuderia Ferrari

Victories