Cameron Earl

Early life

Earl was born in Yorkshire in 1923.

German research

Earl was sent to Germany after the Second World War by the British Intelligence Objectives Sub-Committee to study the development of 1930s Grand Prix racing cars, and wrote an influential report about them. This report aided British engine designers by presenting them with secrets of German design, based on Earl's interviews with designers at Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union in April and May 1947, and blueprints he obtained.

Death

Earl was a technical consultant for the English Racing Automobiles team when on 18 June 1952 during a test drive of racing car R14B at the Motor Industry Research Association's (MIRA) test track in Nuneaton, Warwickshire when his car overturned. Earl, aged 29, died in hospital from a fractured skull.

Cameron Earl was the first driver to die as a result of a crash in a Formula One car.