The Professor of mechanics

[Wizzo]

Respected former Formula 1 chief mechanic Peter Kerr has died at the age of 73.

Kerr, a New Zealander, worked with the likes of Ronnie Peterson and Niki Lauda at the March team co-founded by Max Mosley.

He later moved to the Shadow outfit and thence to Arrows, where he stayed until his retirement, working in a research and development role.

Such was his expertise that he became known as the “professor of mechanics”, which was in fact his job title at Arrows.

Latterly Kerr worked with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone on the development of F1 pass technology, instigating the upgrade from a paper to a plastic system.