Motorsport world 'deeply saddened' by death of F1 great
Motorsport fans are paying tribute to the life of John Crichton-Stuart after the Scottish aristocrat and former Le Mans winner died at the age of 62.
The former Formula 1 driver raced under the name Johnny Dumfries and won the 24-hour Le Mans race in 1988.
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Also known as the 7th Marquess of Bute, the 62-year-old's family confirmed that he died after a short illness.
The F1 great's family issued a statement describing him as a “devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, son and grandfather and loved by all”.
“The indomitable spirit and energy which Johnny brought to his life will be greatly missed, and the immense warmth and love with which he embraced his family," the statement read.
“His heart was firmly rooted on the Island of Bute where he spent much of his time. Johnny chaired the Board of Mount Stuart Trust from its active inauguration in 2005 when Mount Stuart and its gardens opened to the public, and its rural estate was vested into the charitable trust.
“He was a moderniser and an inspirational thinker, transitioning a family home to a progressive, working visitor facility and estate.
“His island projects include the internationally respected Bute Fabrics and, most recently, the Kerrylamont Centre for Rural Excellence and Bute Yard. He was a philanthropist through his foundation, particularly focusing on Scotland and the West Coast.
“His family request privacy at this time.”
The Guild of Motoring Writers added: "We are very sorry to see that Honorary Member Johnny Dumfries, the 7th Marquess of Bute (who was team-mate to Ayrton Senna with Team Lotus in 1986 – AND won the 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans) has passed away, aged just 62. #RIP"
The Grand Tour host Jeremy Clarkson was also among those to pay tribute to Crichton-Stuart on Twitter.
"FFS. Now cancer has got poor old Johnny Bute. So sad."
Fans pay respects to motorsport icon
Similar tributes poured in across social media as the motorsport world paid their respects to the iconic driver.
One video is all I need to explain why I was obsessed with F1 in the mid-eighties. It's Johnny Dumfries manhandling 1300 bhp of Lotus around the punishing streets of Adelaide with Murray and James loving every second of it!
Can my heroes stop dying, thanks! #RIPJohnnyDumfries pic.twitter.com/YV03xzTkFl— Declan Brennan (@TheRaceTool) March 22, 2021
FFS. Now cancer has got poor old Johnny Bute. So sad.
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) March 22, 2021
I’m very sad to hear of the passing of John Colum Crichton-Stuart, 7th Marquess of Bute, aka Johnny Dumfries, 62. He started 15 GPs, all of them in ’86, all of them for Lotus, all of them in the beautiful Lotus 98T (pic), & he won at #LeMans for Jaguar in ’88. #RIPJohnnyDumfries pic.twitter.com/P4GuS9BuaB
— Matt Bishop (@TheBishF1) March 22, 2021
We are deeply saddened to hear John Crichton-Stuart, 7th Marquess of Bute known as Johnny Dumfries prior to his ascension to Marquessate has passed away. Johnny drove for Lotus in #F1 and won Le Mans in 1988.
1958-2021 RIP Johnny pic.twitter.com/kmowgD7lJs— Zakspeed Yamaha F1 🇩🇪🇯🇵 (@East_ZakSpeedF1) March 22, 2021
Sad passing of The Marquess of Bute John Crichton-Stuart. Of the Island of Bute, an F1 driver, aka Johnny Dumfries, driving alongside Ayrton Senna, a former winner of Le Mans. A well liked aristocrat who leaves a wife & 4 children. Condolences to his family and his many friends.
— Hugo Deynem (@CllrHDeynem) March 22, 2021
We are deeply saddened by the news that Johnny Dumfries has passed away aged 62.
John Colum Crichton-Stuart, the 7th Marquess of Bute, won the 1988 Le Mans 24 Hours for Jaguar, 1984 British F3 Championship and went on to become the team mate of Ayrton Senna at Lotus during 1986. pic.twitter.com/gwJeGOw0V0— Lotus Drivers Club | LDC (@LotusDriverClub) March 22, 2021
RIP Johnny Dumfries, aka The Most Honourable John Colum Crichton-Stuart, 7th Marquess of Bute. https://t.co/ULD1UjuIKj
— Ponza / Gordon (@PonzaLT) March 22, 2021
Johnny Dumfries (1958 – 2021) Another sad day in F1 and Motorsport.
John Colum Crichton-Stuart, 7th Marquess of Bute, was a Scottish peer and a racing driver. In 1986 he joined Ayrton Senna at Lotus, he’s most notable for winning the 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans.#RIP #F1 #Formula1 pic.twitter.com/JBgpaDDdeC— FthOne (@FthOne_) March 22, 2021
#F1 | Former @F1 driver John #Dumfries 🇬🇧, who started 15 Grands Prix for Lotus in the 1986 season alongside @ayrtonsenna, has passed 😭 away at the age of 62. The 7th Marquess of Bute, whose real name was John Colum Crichton-Stuart, won #LeMans24H in 1988. #RIP 🙏 Johnny.
📸 F1 pic.twitter.com/tzQlHJpKUI— MatraX Lubricants (@MatraxRacing) March 22, 2021
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