Geoffrey Crossley

Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English {{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters | check | ignoreblank = y | unknown = Template:Main other | preview = Page using Template:Infobox F1 driver with unknown parameter "_VALUE_" | embed | child | subbox | name | Name | image | Image | image_size | upright | image_upright | alt | caption | birth_name | birth_date | birth_place | death_date | death_place | relations | relatives | nationality | Nationality | years | Years | teams | Teams | Team(s) | team | Team | engines | Engines | current_team | current team | Current team | 2025 Team | 2026 Team | car_number | car number | Car number | races | Races | championships | Championships | wins | Wins | podiums | Podiums | points | Points | poles | Poles | fastest_laps | fastest laps | Fastest laps | first_race | first race | First race | first_win | first win | First win | last_win | last win | Last win | last_race | last race | Last race | last_position | last position | Last position | last_season | last season | Last season | bf1_years | bf1 years | BF1 Years | bf1_races | bf1 races | BF1 Races | bf1_championships | bf1 championships | BF1 Championships | bf1_wins | bf1 wins | BF1 Wins | bf1_podiums | bf1 podiums | BF1 Podiums | bf1_points | bf1 points | BF1 Points | bf1_poles | bf1 poles | BF1 Poles | bf1_fastest_laps | bf1 fastest laps | BF1 Fastest laps | signature | signature_size | signature alt | signature_alt | website | module | module1 | module2 | module3 | module4 | module5 | record template1 | record template2 | record template3 | record template4 | record template5 | career template1 | career template2 | career template3 | career template4 | career template5 | updated | Updated }} Geoffrey Crossley (11 May 1921 – 7 January 2002)<ref name=orc>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> was a British racing driver from England. He participated in two World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 13 May 1950. He scored no championship points. He also participated in numerous non-Championship Formula One races.

Racing career

By profession, Geoffrey Crossley was a furniture manufacturer,<ref name=parker>Template:Cite book</ref> but he had been a keen amateur racing driver since just before World War II. Following the war he maintained his interest, and competed in a few races using a pre-war Alta, including the 1947 British Empire Trophy race on the Isle of Man.

In 1949 he bought an Alta GP Grand Prix car, GP2, from the manufacturer, in Surrey. Made to order, the car featured a sleeker bodywork than its predecessors.<ref name=concept>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> With it, Crossley took International Class F (Template:Convert to Template:Convert) standing start speed records over 50 km (125.92 mph), 50 miles (124.49 mph) and 100 km (124.17 mph) at the Montlhéry circuit in late 1949.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Crossley also campaigned the Alta GP in selected races in 1949, including the 1949 Belgian Grand Prix, where he finished seventh and last, six laps down on the winner.

The following year he took part in the first ever World Championship Formula One race: the 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit. He qualified in 17th place,<ref name=8W>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> three places ahead of Joe Kelly in a similar Alta, despite the latter's higher specification engine. Crossley's race ended with transmission failure on lap 43.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Later that season Crossley entered the Alta for the 1950 Belgian Grand Prix, where he qualified 12th and finished in ninth position.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In addition to his Championship entries, Crossley also took part in a number of non-Championship races in the Alta, but at the end of the 1950 season he decided to retire due to the high costs of the sport.<ref name=parker />

He made a brief return to motorsport in 1955, after he built a Lea-Francis-engined special which he called the Berkshire Special.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Crossley entered the car for the 1955 Richmond Trophy race at Goodwood Circuit, but teething troubles with the car meant that he was slowest in practice<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and he decided to withdraw from the event.<ref name=parker /> Owing to work and family commitments Crossley abandoned the Berkshire Special's development,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and withdrew from racing for good.

Geoffrey Crossley died from a stroke, in the John Radcliffe Hospital, on 7 January 2002.<ref name=orc />

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	WDC	Points
1950	Geoffrey Crossley	Alta GP	Alta L4s	GBR Template:Small	MON	500	SUI	BEL Template:Small	FRA	ITA	NC	0