Racing driver who won the Le Mans 24 Hours race but had his path to Formula One success blocked by Ayrton Senna
It was Johnny Dumfries’s good fortune to be born into the Scottish aristocracy, as a descendant of Robert the Bruce and the heir to the marquisate of Bute. It was his bad luck, when his career as a grand prix driver appeared to be taking off, to be chosen to partner Ayrton Senna in the Lotus team during the 1986 season.
The young Brazilian, already recognised as Formula One’s outstanding new talent, was adamant that all the team’s efforts needed to be concentrated into supporting the No 1 driver, meaning himself. The man in the second car was effectively there to make up the numbers.