His seven appearances in the series between 1952 and 1955 yielded a best result of 13th place at the Nürburgring in the German Grand Prix of 1954. That autumn, at Syracuse in Sicily, a Connaught became the first British car to win a postwar grand prix, beating the mighty works Maserati team on their home ground. McAlpine was born in Cobham, Surrey, to Sir Thomas McAlpine and the former Maud Dees. Continental Cars prepared the two prewar Maserati grand prix cars with which McAlpine took part in speed trials and hill climbs, followed by his first circuit race on a disused airfield at Gransden Lodge, near Cambridge. When Clarke announced his plan to build a sports car suitable for racing, McAlpine provided the backing. In 1955 McAlpine took the team’s new sports car to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, co-driving with Thompson. Kenneth McAlpine, civil engineer, winemaker, pilot and racing driver, born 21 September 1920; died 8 April 2023.

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