Peter Mitchell-Thomson, 2nd Baron Selsdon (28 May 1913 – 7 February 1963) won the 1949 24 Hours of Le Mans together with Luigi Chinetti in a Ferrari 166 MM. He was the son of William Lowson Mitchell-Thomson, 1st Baron Selsdon (1877–1938) and (Anne) Madeleine Mitchell-Thomson, Lady Selsdon (1887–1946), and the father of Malcolm McEacharn Mitchell-Thomson, 3rd Baron Selsdon (b. 1937). Racing career Pre-war Mitchell-Thomson's mother Anne, Lady Selsdon, was an active supporter of British club racing, particularly for Frazer Nash. She provided competition cups for the Frazer-Nash car club. She entered an un-blown Frazer Nash for him to drive at Brooklands, and would stand in the pits opening golf umbrellas adorned with various symbols in order to pass information onto him during races. He finished seventh in the 1933 B.R.D.C. 500 Miles Race, and represented Oxford University in an inter-varsity race at the Brooklands finale later that year. He returned to "The 500" in 1934, retiring with engine troubles, and again in 1935, not classified as a finisher. In 1934, Mitchell-Thomson led a team of three Frazer Nash drivers to fourth place in the Light Car Club's annual Relay Race at Brooklands. He was part of the Frazer Nash team on the 1934 Alpine Trial, a gruelling endurance test held over six days and from Nice to Munich, and helped the team secure second place in their group. He finished 6th in class and 15th overall in the Ulster Tourist Trophy. He was jointly awarded the Selsdon Bowl by the Frazer Nash Car Club for all-round performance in 1934. In 1935, Mitchell-Thomson represented Oxford in the inter-varsity speed trials at Syston Park. At the Donington Meeting in August, he took part in two races but suffered brake troubles. Under the direction of W. O. Bentley, Lagonda Ltd. redeveloped their V12 road car for the 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 4½ litre engine was tuned for a theoretical top speed of and the car weighed just . Lagonda built two cars for the race; Mitchell-Thomson purchased one and entered with Lord William Waleran as co-driver. The team gave strict instructions not to exceed a pre-determined average speed based on the 1938 event, to ensure that the untried design went the distance. The cars did not challenge the likes of Bugatti and Delage, the former setting a new distance record, but impressed the British motoring press by securing third and