Peter Bryant may not be familiar to most of us but he is in fact the person responsible for the Can-Am Titanium Car. The Cockney racing mechanic who designed and built two of the stiffest challengers to the mighty McLaren Can-Am cars, died of an apparent heart attack at his Las Vegas home on March 31, four days short of his 72nd birthday.
The London-born Bryant caught the racing fever early in life, took a welding course to make himself more marketable, and landed jobs with such teams as Lola and Lotus in Formula One before moving to the United States to work in Indy and Can-Am racing.
In 1969, he pulled together the backing necessary to construct his own car. Driven by Jackie Oliver, the Ti 22 “Titanium Car” proved competitive with the all-conquering McLarens, leading one race, setting one joint fastest lap and finishing a close second twice during 1970.
Bryant leaves a wife, daughter and a son from a previous marriage, as well as 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
(Source) AutoWeek
Tags: Formula One, McLaren, Racing