Alan Rees, co-founder of March and Arrows, dies

A figure of British motorsport passed away on Friday, September 6. Alan Rees died at the age of 86 following a long illness, as announced by his son Paul Rees on Facebook.

Alan Rees is well credited with three participations in Formula 1 between 1966 and 1967, but he has the distinction of having competed in two Grands Prix at the wheel of Formula 2, at the 1966 and 1967 German Grand Prix. At the time, the organizers of the event, located on the northern loop of the Nürburgring, the Nordschleife, accepted F2 cars among the F1 cars in order to enlarge the starting grid. It was in Germany, with a Brabham BT23 from the Roy Winkelmann Racing team, that he achieved his best result in 1967 (7th).

However, Alan Rees was best known for his management skills. Once his racing career was behind him, the native of Langstone, Wales, co-founded March Engineering, his initials being the 'AR' in 'March', alongside Max Mosley, Graham Coaker and Robin Herd. Then, in late 1971, he joined Shadow Racing Cars, where he became team principal, in F1 and Can-Am. Seven years later, yet another initiative. He left Shadow to co-found Arrows, along with Italian businessman Franco Ambrosio, former driver Jackie Oliver, Dave Wass and Tony Southgate. In 1996, along with the other remaining founders, he sold Arrows to Tom Walkinshaw. Following Max Mosley's death in 2021, Alan Rees was the last surviving March co-founder.