Henry Clifford Allison (8 February 1932 – 7 April 2005) was a British racing driver from England, who participated in Formula One during seasons to for the Lotus, Scuderia Centro Sud, Ferrari and UDT Laystall teams. He was born and died in Brough, Westmorland (now Cumbria).

Formula Three and Sports Cars Allison started his racing career in a Formula Three Cooper 500 in 1953 before being spotted by Colin Chapman. He won the Index of Performance prize driving a 744cc Lotus in the 1957 24 Hours of Le Mans.Flockhart and Bueb Sweep Mark To Win 24-Hour Le Mans Auto Grind, The New York Times, 24 June 1957, Page 40. The Lotus of Allison and Colin Chapman finished sixth in the 1958 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race for sports cars.Collins-Hill Ferrari Wins 12-Hour Race at Sebring, The New York Times, 23 March 1958, Page S1. Allison came in fourth with his Lotus in the 1958 Grand Prix of Europe at Spa-Francorchamps, more than four minutes behind victor Tony Brooks.Brooks Vanwall Finishes First in Grand Prix Race in Belgium, The New York Times, 16 June 1958, Page 30.

Allison and Dan Gurney shared one of three team Ferrari cars that competed in the June 1959 1000 km Nürburgring race. Seventy-five cars entered the 1000 kilometre race which was a world championship event for sports cars.75 Cars To Start at Nürburgring, The New York Times, 7 June 1959, Page S6.

Allison was paired with Jean Behra in a Ferrari which finished second in the 1959 12 Hours of Sebring.Ferraris Score in 12-Hour Race, The New York Times, 22 March 1959, Page S1. The drivers received $1,500 in prize money.Hill and Gendebien Split Sebring Prize of $3,000, The New York Times, 23 March 1959, Page 40. Allison was credited with the fastest lap of the Sebring race in the No. 9 Ferrari. He was clocked at 3 minutes 21.6 seconds on the 97th lap of the 5.2-mile course.It Was Allison, The New York Times, 1 April 1959, Page 49.

During practice before the 8 May 1960 Targa Florio near Palermo, Sicily, Allison skidded off the road. His No. 196 Ferrari 250 TRI had reached a speed of 100 miles per hour when a tyre burst, or so the driver believed. The car crashed into a scrub forest, destroying itself and most of what it touched. When the mishap occurred the Ferrari was nearing the end of the four-mile Buonfornello straight by the sea, the only very fast stretch of road in the event. Allison escaped from the wreck without a scratch, but his face was ashen and his mouth hung open with an expression of fear.Crack-up Frightens Driver Out of Targa Florio in Sicily, The New York Times, 8 May 1960, Page S6. He raced the No. 202 car anyway.

Formula One Lotus (1958, 1961), Ferrari (1959–60) Allison was forced to make numerous pit stops during the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix. His Lotus finished sixth, 12 laps behind race winner Maurice Trintignant.Trintignant Drives Cooper Car to Victory in Monaco's Grand Prix, The New York Times, 19 May 1958, Page 31.

Ferrari's stable of drivers for 1959 were Olivier Gendebien, Phil Hill, Tony Brooks, Jean Behra, Dan Gurney, and Allison.Ferrari To Pass Up Auto Races in Italy, The New York Times, 10 December 1958, Page 59.

For the 1959 Monaco Grand Prix, the Ferrari factory team fielded truncated versions of the cars they ran in future grand prix races. At Monte Carlo the Ferraris' long sleek snouts (air scoops) were cut away to allow more air into the cooling systems.Grand Prix Course in Monaco Is Too Slow, Drivers Complain, The New York Times, 10 May 1959, Page S3. Wolfgang von Trips lost control of his Porsche F2 in a bend where the street was steeply inclined to Casino. Allison's Formula 2 Ferrari crashed into him as he spun. The Lotus of Bruce Halford came next into the blind curve and became part of the wreck. Allison and his Ferrari suffered the least damage while von Trips sustained a gashed face, and Halford had a cut to his arm. None of the three cars could continue.Brabham Wins Grand Prix de Monaco after Moss' Auto Drops Out, 11 May 1959, Page 36.

Jean Behra was fired from Ferrari before the 1959 German Grand Prix at Berlin's AVUS, and got killed there in a Porsche sportscar on the dangerous banking. Due to the new track, there were three days of practice, and the race was split into two heats. Allison was in a reserve entry Ferrari and set the fastest practice lap on Friday, at 2:05.8, 0.1 quicker than Tony Brooks at 2:05.9 who, as a regular entrant, started from pole. When the entries of Behra and another underpowered Formula 2 Porsche were withdrawn, Allison and Ian Burgess were allowed to start, but from the end of the field. Allison's car suffered clutch failure after only 2 laps while Burgess finished 6th. This marks the only time in Formula One history that the fastest qualifier was unable to start on pole, simply because of the car's entry.

In the 1960 Argentine Grand Prix, Allison scored the best result of his Formula 1 career when he finished 2nd. He suffered a major crash behind the wheel of his Ferrari while practising for the 29 May 1960 Monaco Grand Prix, and it took him almost the rest of the year to recover from his injuries. Allison was hurt when his Ferrari slammed into a straw barrier. He was unconscious when he was taken to a hospital. Allison sustained a broken left arm, rib fractures, facial cuts, and a concussion. He was listed in serious condition.British Driver Is Injured in Monte Carlo Crash, The New York Times, 28 May 1960, Page 16.

The following year, Allison suffered another crash at the wheel of his Lotus in practice for the 1961 Belgian Grand Prix. He broke both his knees and fractured his pelvis when his car careened off the course and overturned in a field.Sports Datelines, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 1961, Page A5.

Post-Formula One career This marked the end of his career in motor sport. He kept in touch with the sport through reunions and was always a popular visitor to the paddock.

Allison owned and managed Allison's Garage in Brough. The business had been started by his father and he returned to it after his racing career ended. Allison's also provided the village and school bus services, which Cliff Allison would drive.

Racing record Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 WDC Points 1958 Team Lotus Lotus 12 ClimaxL4 ARG MON NED 500 BEL FRA GBR ITA MOR 18th 3 Lotus 16 ClimaxL4 GER Scuderia Centro Sud Maserati 250F MaseratiL6 POR 1959 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari Dino 156 Ferrari V6 MON 17th 2 Ferrari Dino 246 Ferrari V6 500 NED FRA GBR GER POR ITA USA 1960 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari Dino 246 Ferrari V6 ARG MON 500 NED BEL FRA GBR POR ITA USA 12th 6 1961 UDT-Laystall Racing Team Lotus 18 ClimaxL4 MON NED BEL FRA GBR GER ITA USA NC 0

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Driver Car Class Laps Lotus Engineering Keith Hall Lotus 11 S 1.1 89 DNF DNF Lotus Engineering Keith Hall Lotus 11 S 750 259 14th 1st Lotus Engineering Graham Hill Lotus 15 S 2.0 3 DNF DNF Scuderia Ferrari Hermano da Silva Ramos Ferrari 250 TR/59 S 3.0 41 DNF DNF UDT Laystall Racing Team Mike McKee Lotus Elite S 850 102 DNF DNF

Notes

References

External links Cliff Allison profile at The 500 Owners Association