Richard Dutton (b1952)
Richard Dutton, who originates from Leicester, was a prolific speedway rider for the city club, until a bad accident curtailed his progress, leaving him with two broken legs.
During recuperation he began thinking about 4-wheel racing, and after his rehabilitation he began training as a race mechanic. He became a driver in 1974, racing Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000 and Formula 3
Local lad Martin Angeloni got to know him in a pub one Saturday in 1977 and they got talking about racing. Dutton was so convinced, he offered Martin a part time job helping at weekend races.
In 1977 he formed Richard Dutton Racing and was involved both as team owner and driver, winning Championships throughout Europe in Formula Ford 2000 (British & European). He also won the Sports Car Championship in North America and Europe.
He was very competitive and won several races, then a friend asked him to rent him the car for a race, which he did. Richard’s business brain kicked in and so Richard Dutton Racing was born, with Martin being one of two mechanics he employed,, working out of his parents’ garage in Long Bennington,
The business was getting too big to work from so he bought the William Street premises in Grantham.
Meanwhile, he bought a property in Old Somerby to live.
The business ran successfully from there for three years, but the business grew even bigger so when a unit came available on London Road, – the former National Tyre Co -they moved again.
By this time, the workforce had grown to six mechanics.
They won the European and British FF 2000 Championship with the late Bertrand Fabi, also claiming the Howitt printers Donington Award with another driver Ross Hockenhull,
Apart from race cars he also ran a rally car, an Opel Ascona for Alastair Sutherland and we also won the 2ltr sports car series with James Thompson in 1984 during this time he acquired the PowerTune business on Earlesfield Lane.
His business went from strength to strength and at one point had several teams based at Daventry under the Fortec Motorsport banner which he bought in 1995, winning many championships and at one point was Juan Pablo Montoya’s manager along with Heiki Kovvaleinan, both F1 drivers at the time. Past drivers for the team also included Juan, Gianmaria Bruni, Danny Watts, Jamie Green, James Rossiter, Mike Conway, Fabio Carbone
The Daventry-based squad currently competes in Formula Renault 3.5, plus Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0. The team runs four cars in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship.
The Fortec team, now run by his son Oliver, also compete in the Formula Renault series,
He still enjoys his racing and competes in historic racing with a Lotus Cortina.
He is happily married to Kim, have two children and spends his time at his homes in France or the UK.
Compiled with the assistance of Martin Angeloni
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