Keith Duckworth

Keith Duckworth Biography

Since the partnership was formed in 1958 by Mike Costin and Keith Duckworth along with Bill Brown and Benny Rood, Cosworth has become the most successful independent engine manufacturer in history with a string of driver and manufacturer titles to its credit in a wide range of formulae with impressive performances in Formula One, IndyCar, Champ Car, WRC, sportscars and MotoGP.

David Keith Duckworth was born on August 10 1933 at Blackburn, Lancashire, the second son of Frank Duckworth, a textile engineer. He was educated as a boarder at Giggleswick, while at home his father fostered his engineering interest by providing a lathe, vertical drill and grinder; with these young Keith made his own model steam and aero engines while earning a reputation for sorting out his neighbors’ electrical or mechanical problems. He recalled: “I once won a bet with my uncle by switching on an electric blanket at two miles range by radio control.”