Gloucester owner and former F1 boss Tom Walkinshaw dies

Gloucester Rugby Club owner and president and former head of the Formula 1 team Tom Walkinshaw, has died aged 64.

The former Benetton, Arrows and Ligier owner, who took the Kingsholm in 1997, had been suffering from cancer.

The Scot took the Formula Two and touring cars before launching his own team of Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR), who won twice at Le Mans.

He joined the Benetton team in 1991 and helped recruit designer Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher.

Walkinshaw won a European title touring car for Jaguar in 1984, and TWR Jaguar cars won at Le Mans in 1988 and 1990.

He ran alongside engineering Benetton until 1994, when Schumacher won the world title.

Walkinshaw moved to Ligier and Arrows run, where he persuaded the world champion Damon Hill to join the team in 1997, although financial problems saw the linen fold in 2002.

Walkinshaw took over as the owner of Kingsholm Gloucester in April 1997, after buying a majority stake.

He was chairman of Premier Rugby, the body of top-flight clubs' umbrella from 1998-2002 and helped establish stability after a chaotic period for the newly professional sport.

During his tenure of four years as president, introduced the Rugby Premiership salary cap and the average attendance increased by 33% in the Premiership.


Walkinshaw then led the club team for negotiations with Rugby Football Union over the release of players from England, whose details are set out in an eight-year contract.

Gloucester have never managed to win the Premiership title in Walkinshaw, but it was awfully close, finishing top of the table three times during the regular season only to lose in the play-offs.

In 2003, Gloucester finished 15 points ahead only to be beaten by Wasps in the first Premiership Grand Final.

The Cherry and Whites did win the 2005 European Challenge Cup, beating London Irish 36-34 after extra time in a thrilling final at The Stoop.

Bath former player Olly Barkley of Gloucester said on Twitter: "Very sorry to hear about the passing of Tom Walkinshaw Amazing man My thoughts are with his family and close friends ..."

Mark Foster, now Exeter, also posted his best wishes, saying. "Saddened by the news of the death of Tom Walkinshaw, a great man who did so much for Gloucester Rugby over the years will be much missed, my thoughts go out to his family .

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