Bill Thompson (racing driver)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Bugatti_Type_37A_of_Bill_Thompson_%281932_AGP%29.jpg/220px-Bugatti_Type_37A_of_Bill_Thompson_%281932_AGP%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Bill_Thompson_%28MG_K3_Magnette%29_1935_Australian_Grand_Prix.jpg/220px-Bill_Thompson_%28MG_K3_Magnette%29_1935_Australian_Grand_Prix.jpg)
William Bethel Thompson (28 December 1906 – 12 February 1945) was an Australian racing driver. From Summer Hill, Sydney,[1] he was active in motor sport from 1928 to 1936.[2] His competition cars included various Bugattis, a Riley Brooklands and an MG K3.[2] Although his career was not taken to the international level, he met with considerable successful in Australia, winning the Australian Grand Prix three times.
Thompson died as a result of an aircraft accident on 12 February 1945 in the Marshall Islands, Pacific Ocean.[1] At the time of the accident, Thompson was serving in the Royal Australian Air Force and was travelling as an unauthorised passenger in a Consolidated PB2Y Coronado of the United States Navy.[3]
Career results
[edit]Year[4] | Race[4] | Position[4] | Car[4] |
---|---|---|---|
1930 | Australian Grand Prix | 1st | Bugatti Type 37A |
1932 | Australian Grand Prix | 1st | Bugatti Type 37A |
1933 | Australian Grand Prix | 1st | Riley Brooklands |
1934 | Australian Grand Prix | 2nd | MG K3 Magnette |
1935 | Australian Grand Prix | 2nd | MG K3 Magnette |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Grahm Howard, Thompson, William Bethel (1906–1945), adb.anu.edu.au/biography. Retrieved 5 June 2015
- ^ a b Review by Pedr Davis, Bill Thompson, Australian Motor racing Champion - By Kent Patrick, bugatticlubaustralia.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org
- ^ Kent Patrick, Bill Thompson - Australian motor racing champion, 2011, pages 283 to 286
- ^ a b c d John B Blanden, A History of the Australian Grand Prix 1928-1939