Cliff Allison is a racing driver from United Kingdom who last raced in Formula 1 for Lotus-Climax. Allison has recorded 0 wins and 1 podium from 17 starts.[1]
A Racer Rating of 4,776 ranks Allison 508th of 15,348 indexed drivers, on an Elo scale where the strongest reach the low five figures. It is built from every indexed race in the driver's file, decayed for time since their last race.
| 1961-06-18 | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | DNF | −134 |
| 1961-05-14 | Circuit de Monaco | P8 | +27 |
| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Podiums | DNFs | Poles | Points | Pos | Gain/Loss | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | ▸Formula 1 | Lotus-Climax | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | P18 | −107 | 4,776 |
| 1960 | ▸Formula 1 | Ferrari | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | P12 | +142 | 4,883 |
| 1959 | ▸Formula 1 | Ferrari | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | P17 | −113 | 4,741 |
| 1958 | ▸Formula 1 | Team Lotus | 9 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | P18 | +54 | 4,854 |
| Rival | Rating | Raced | Ahead | Behind | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇫🇷 Maurice Trintignant | 4,839 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 50% |
| 🇸🇪 Jo Bonnier | 4,402 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 71% |
| 🇺🇸 Phil Hill | 4,199 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% |
| 🇬🇧 Stirling Moss | 5,388 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% |
| 🇦🇺 Jack Brabham | 5,211 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40% |
| 🇺🇸 Harry Schell | 4,981 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40% |
| 🇬🇧 Roy Salvadori | 4,461 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% |
| 🇬🇧 Mike Hawthorn | 5,537 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0% |
| 🇳🇿 Bruce McLaren | 5,136 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 25% |
| 🇬🇧 Tony Brooks | 4,920 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 25% |
Cliff Allison was a British Formula 1 driver who competed across four seasons from 1958 to 1961, amassing 17 starts for Lotus and Ferrari-affiliated entries without recording a victory. His single podium finish came during this period at a time when Formula 1 grids contained world champions and drivers of the highest international calibre. He retired from active competition in 1961.[1]
Allison's record against contemporary rivals reveals a driver capable of competitive performances against strong opposition, though without the consistency to establish himself as a front-runner. He traded wins and losses with Maurice Trintignant, a respected professional of similar standing, finishing ahead in four shared races and behind in four others. Against Jo Bonnier, another established competitor, he held a 5–2 advantage. His head-to-head record against stronger drivers proved more difficult; Phil Hill, a Silver-graded professional and champion, finished ahead of Allison in six of seven shared races, and Stirling Moss, one of the era's great drivers, beat him in four of five encounters. Allison nonetheless managed individual victories over Jim Clark and Jack Brabham, both multiple champions, and over Wolfgang von Trips, a front-ranking driver. His average finishing position across all classified starts was 6.7, placing him in the middle of competitive fields that included drivers of international pedigree.[2]
Most of Allison's work came with Team Lotus, which fielded him in eight races across his career. The team's broader record, 45 wins and 57 drivers fielded during its history, reflects its standing as a serious operation, though Allison's tenure coincided with the team's earlier years before its era of dominance. He has since become a subject of historical motorsport interest, noted in retrospective examinations of Formula 1's British drivers.