Pete Lovely


Gerard Carlton "Pete" Lovely was a racecar driver and businessman from the United States. He was born in Livingston, Montana.

Racing career

On November 9, 1957, Lovely won the first ever race held at Laguna Seca, driving a Ferrari. Lovely participated in 11 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on May 10, 1959. He scored no championship points. He was best known in his Formula One career for racing various private Lotus cars in World Championship events including a hybrid made from a Lotus 69 Formula Two car fitted with a Formula One-specification, 3.0L Cosworth DFV V8 engine. After his retirement from Formula One he was an entrant in various kinds of racing in the USA until the 1980s. Lovely's racing career spanned more than 50 years, and he continued to participate in Vintage and Historic events into the 2000s.

Business career

Lovely opened "Pete Lovely Volkswagen", a Volkswagen dealership in Fife, Washington in 1954 and ran it for 34 years. He also owned "Pete Lovely Racing" which restored vintage race cars.
Pete's only son, Chris, began working on Pete's cars at a young age and went on to become a highly respected mechanic in Can-Am, CART, Champ Car and IndyCar, working for championship-winning teams.

Racing record

Complete Formula One World Championship results

YearTeamChassisEngine12345678910111213Pts
1959Team LotusLotus 16Climax FPF 2.5 L4MON
DNQ
500NEDFRAGBRGERPORITAUSANC0
1960Fred ArmbrusterCooper T51Ferrari 107 2.5 L4ARGMON500NEDBELFRAGBRPORITAUSA
11
NC0
1969Pete Lovely Volkswagen Inc.Lotus 49BFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8RSAESPMONNEDFRAGBRGERITACAN
7
USA
Ret
MEX
9
NC0
1970Pete Lovely Volkswagen Inc.Lotus 49BFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8RSAESPMONBELNED
DNQ
FRA
DNQ
GBR
NC
GERAUTITACANUSA
DNQ
MEXNC0
1971Pete Lovely Volkswagen Inc.Lotus 69 SpecialFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8RSAESPMONNEDFRAGBRGERAUTITACAN
NC
USA
NC
NC0

Complete Formula One Non-Championship results

YearTeamChassisEngine12345678
1959Team LotusLotus 16Climax FPF 2.5 L4GLVAININT
15
OULSIL
1969Pete Lovely Volkswagen Inc.Lotus 49BFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8ROC
6
INT
Ret
MADOUL
1970Pete Lovely Volkswagen Inc.Lotus 49BFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8ROC
Ret
INT
13
OUL
1971Pete Lovely Volkswagen Inc.Lotus 49BFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8ARGROCQUE
DNQ
SPRINTRINOULVIC