Bruce Johnstone

Bruce enhanced his reputation with a Volvo before entering single-seater competition, and he really came to prominence nationally in 1960, when he finished sixth in the Formula Libre South African Grand Prix won by Paul Frère. Less than a year later he finished runner-up to Syd van der Vyver in the 1961 South African championship with his Cooper-Alfa, and was invited to drive for the Yeoman Credit team, under the stewardship of Reg Parnell. It was not a happy partnership, however, as Johnstone crashed the car both in the Natal GP and then in practice for the South African GP, rendering him a non-starter.

Bruce came to Europe briefly in 1962 and drove for Ian Walker, winning the up-to-1.5 litre class in the Nürburgring 1000 Km with Peter Ashdown in a Lotus 23, and taking fifth in the Vanwall Trophy at Snetterton with Walker’s Formula Junior Lotus. He also drove a works BRM in the Gold Cup race at Oulton Park, finishing fourth, and took the same car to ninth place in his only championship Grand Prix appearance later that year. Undeniably Johnstone was a talented and versatile driver, for he won the Rand 9 Hours at Kyalami sharing David Piper’s Ferrari 250 GTO that year, before slipping out of competition prematurely.