David Purley GM

Captured mid-corner, number 33, this image shows David Purley GM (1945–1985) at Brands Hatch in August 1973, pushing hard through the circuit in his LEC-entered March 73B - his name clearly visible on the bodywork he ran under his family's banner throughout his career.

The car is competing not in Formula One but in Formula Atlantic, where Purley was having a dominant season. Running the March - originally built for F2 in 1972 and converted for Atlantic the following year - he won five races in the British championship that year, including the opening round. This photograph is believed to capture one of those performances.

A former officer in the Parachute Regiment who saw active service in Aden before turning to motorsport, Purley brought the same fearless instinct to racing that he had carried in uniform. He is remembered as one of the bravest men ever to compete in Formula One - at the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix, he abandoned his own race and fought with his bare hands to save fellow driver Roger Williamson, whose car was overturned and burning on the circuit. For his courage, Purley was awarded the George Medal.

Beyond his heroism, he was a committed and tenacious competitor who funded his own career through the family refrigeration business, built his own team, and never stopped pushing.

This photograph captures exactly that spirit - a driver, flat out, on his own terms.

Each made to order print is produced using archival giclée printing on Canson Baryta gloss paper - a premium fine art paper favoured by professional photographers for its exceptional detail, rich tonal range, and long-lasting colour. Your print arrives with a certificate of authenticity, personally included with every order.

Photograph © Trevor Rogers. All rights reserved.