Obituary: Adrian Yates-Smith

This former Porsche endurance regular died on October 4 following a stroke. After starting out in speed events, Yates-Smith burst onto the club racing scene in 1977, making an instant impression in Modsports with his blisteringly quick, self-developed 911.

This car served him well in British rounds of the World Championship for Makes in 1979 and 1980: sharing the drastically altered, flat-fronted 911 with Barrie Williams, he finished sixth in the ’80 Brands Hatch Six Hours.

The following year he showed real flair driving and preparing Preston Henn’s Porsche 935, only to hang up his helmet following a stirring drive in the ’81 Silverstone Six Hours after falling out with the American.– RH