STATUE UNVEILED TO ACE WHO WAS 'IN A CLASS OF HIS OWN'

MOTORSPORT10:30 - 31 July 2003

A tribute to Roger Williamson was unveiled at the Donington Grand Prix Collection exactly 30 years to the day the motor-racing ace was killed in the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
The life-size bronze statue was commissioned by Donington Park owner Tom Wheatcroft and his son, Kevin, in tribute to the brilliant Leicestershire driver, who was Wheatcroft's protege in the early 1970s.
During a moving ceremony, the memorial was unveiled by Tom Wheatcroft and Williamson's sister, Barbara Upton.
Wheatcroft said: "I still have fond and vivid memories of Roger. His seasons with my team in Formula 3 and Formula 2 were magical.
"He was in a class of his own and could easily have been the Ayrton Senna of his day. He was in the same mould. Nobody can take his place in my heart.
"Williamson was competing in Formula 3 at Monaco in 1971 when he met Wheatcroft. They became friends and went on to win national championships.
Wheatcroft finally achieved his dream to enter Formula One GP racing, and entered Williamson in selected events in 1973. But just two weeks after his World Championship debut in the British GP, Williamson was killed when his car crashed, overturned and caught fire in Holland.
The depth of affection felt for Williamson was reflected at the ceremony by the large attendance, which included Jordan GP commercial director Ian Phillips, who worked with Wheatcroft's team at the time, and Trevor Foster, who was one of Wheatcroft Racing's mechanics. "There was no doubt that Roger was a future world champion," said Foster.
The statue, created by Scottish sculptor David Annand, is the latest addition to the Memorial Garden at the Donington Grand Prix Collection, which also has several of Williamson's cars on display.

From:http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=42626&
command=displayContent&sourceNode=42317&contentPK=6550769