Alan L. Wilson (born 9 May 1946 in
Durban
Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...
,
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
[Resumé of Alan L. Wilson](_blank)
. Retrieved 20 December 2007.) is a
South African designer of
road course
Road racing is a form of motorsport racing held on a paved road surface. The races can be held either on a closed circuit or on a street circuit utilizing temporarily closed public roads. Originally, road races were held almost entirely on publ ...
race track
A race track (racetrack, racing track or racing circuit) is a facility built for racing of vehicles, athletes, or animals (e.g. horse racing or greyhound racing). A race track also may feature grandstands or concourses. Race tracks are also u ...
s.
Considered one of the most prolific track designers, Wilson has designed and built more than 20 race courses, including
Autobahn Country Club
Autobahn Country Club is an auto racing road course located in Joliet, Illinois, operated as a country club, while also hosting many outside events. Autobahn was the first purpose-built motorsports country club in the United States, and has inspir ...
,
Miller Motorsports Park
Utah Motorsports Campus is a race track facility located in Grantsville near Tooele, Utah, United States. It operated under the name of Miller Motorsports Park from 2006 until October 2015. The course has hosted auto, motorcycle, bicycle and kar ...
Calabogie Motorsports Park Barber Motorsports Park
Barber Motorsports Park is an multi-purpose racing facility located in Birmingham, Alabama. It was built by George W. Barber, and includes the Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum. It has been the site of the IndyCar Series' Grand Prix of Alabam ...
,
Motorsports Park Hastings,
Ningbo International Circuit
The Ningbo International Circuit is a motorsport race circuit near the Chinese city of Ningbo.
Events
The inaugural event was round of the China Formula 4 series in August 2017 before its international debut in October, when it replaced Shan ...
,
Gingerman Raceway, and
Pittsburgh International Race Complex
Pittsburgh International Race Complex (commonly known as Pitt Race) is an auto racing road course located in Wampum, Pennsylvania. Pitt Race hosts amateur and professional automobile, motorcycle, and karting events.
The track
Pittsburgh Inte ...
, as well as overseeing the 2000-2001 redesign of
Circuit Mont-Tremblant
Circuit Mont-Tremblant () is a race circuit about south of the village of Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada. The name of the village of Saint-Jovite was often included in the name of the circuit, but since the village was amalgamated into Mont-Tr ...
. Wilson specializes in designing courses that have wide run-off areas and few obstacles to hit, making them safe for novice drivers participating in
track day
A track day is an organised event in which non-members are allowed to drive or ride around established motor racing circuits, or alternatively (though far less common) on closed or disused airfields. Most race tracks around the world now provide t ...
s with street cars.
Wilson has also played major roles in a number of motorsports venues, including serving as the Director of the
Sports Car Club of America
The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) is a non-profit American automobile club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying, and autocross in the United States. Formed in 1944, it runs many programs for both amateur and professional r ...
's Pro Racing series between 2000 and 2004 and
Chief Steward for
CART
A cart or dray (Australia and New Zealand) is a vehicle designed for transport, using two wheels and normally pulled by one or a pair of draught animals. A handcart is pulled or pushed by one or more people.
It is different from the flatbed tr ...
in 1985.
In 1982, his work as chairman of the
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit in West Kingsdown, Kent, England, United Kingdom. Originally used as a grasstrack motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently host ...
racing club (1978–1982) was honored by the
Formula One Constructors' Association
The Formula One Constructors' Association (FOCA) was an organization of the chassis builders (constructors) who design and build the cars that race in the FIA Formula One World Championship. It evolved from the earlier ''Formula 1 Constructors ...
for orchestrating the best organized
Formula One
Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...
Grand Prix
Grand Prix ( , meaning ''Grand Prize''; plural Grands Prix), is a name sometimes used for competitions or sport events, alluding to the winner receiving a prize, trophy or honour
Grand Prix or grand prix may refer to:
Arts and entertainment ...
that year.
[http://www.wilsonmotorsport.com/public_html/code/professionals.htm Retrieved 20 December 2007]
In 1975, Wilson married
Desiré Wilson
Desiré Randall Wilson (born 26 November 1953) is a former racing driver from South Africa and one of only five women to have competed in Formula One. Born in Brakpan, she entered one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix in 1980 with a non ...
, one of only five women to compete in the Formula One World Championship series and, thus far, the only woman to win a race in an F1 series. The couple does not have any children.
External links
Wilson Motorsport, Inc.
References
1946 births
Living people
Formula One people
South African motorsport people
Motorsport venue designers
{{F1-bio-stub