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Paddy McNally

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Paddy McNally
McNally at the Belgian Grand Prix in 1970
Born
Patrick Sean McNally

(1937-12-20) 20 December 1937 (age 86)
Donegal, Ireland[1]
NationalityIrish, British
Occupations
  • Businessman
  • racing driver
  • journalist
  • socialite
Years active1963–2011
Known forFormula 1 and association with Sarah Ferguson
Spouse
Anne Downing
​
​
(m. 1967; died 1980)​
Children2

Patrick Sean McNally (born 20 December 1937)[2] is an Irish businessman, former racing driver, and socialite. He was chief executive of Allsport Management, a Swiss-based company part of the Formula One Group, which controlled Formula One advertising and hospitality via the Paddock Club.[3]

Early life[edit]

McNally was born on 20 December 1937, reportedly in County Donegal, Ireland.[1][4][5] He was the fourth and youngest son of G/Capt. Dr. Patrick McNally.[6][7] He grew up on a farm in County Monaghan and was educated at Stonyhurst College.[7] He initially worked in London as a Grand Prix reporter.[8][9]

Career[edit]

Beginning his career as a motorsports journalist for Autosport magazine, McNally was also involved in sports car racing in the 1960s. He then moved to Switzerland and worked for Philip Morris's Marlboro as a sponsorship consultant.[8][9] Later he was a driver manager of Niki Lauda and James Hunt, respectively.[5]

McNally began working with Bernie Ecclestone in the late 1970s.[8] In 1984, he set up Allsport Management SA, a company which provided corporate hospitality and trackside advertising for Formula One events.[10] Based in Geneva, Allsport and related Allsopp Parker & Marsh (APM), registered in Ireland,[11] owned the trackside advertising rights at Formula One circuits and operated the Formula One Paddock Club, the Grand Prix hospitality provider.[5]

In 2006, he sold Allsport Management to CVC for an estimated £300 million.[4][12][9]

Personal life[edit]

According to the Sunday Times Rich List, McNally has a net worth of £510 million.[13]

McNally was formerly married to the daughter of Ken Downing with whom, before her death in 1980, he had two sons.[6] He dated Sarah Ferguson (later Duchess of York) between 1982 and 1985.[14][15][16] The pair remain close friends.[17] He has homes in the Côte d'Azur and Switzerland, notably chalets in Verbier.[18][19] He also owns Warneford Place, Wiltshire, the former home of Ian Fleming. In 2004, the property was burgled.[20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Irish Rich List 2019: profiles 18-50, featuring U2". The Sunday Times. 24 March 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Patrick McNally | BRDC Members | British Racing Drivers' Club". www.brdc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  3. ^ Saward, Joe (4 January 2000). "The Paddock Club". GrandPrix.com. Archived from the original on 6 November 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2006.
  4. ^ a b "Paddy McNally". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "Ireland's Rich List: 41-50". Independent.ie. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  6. ^ a b Seward, Ingrid (1991). Sarah, HRH the Duchess of York : a biography. Internet Archive. London : HarperCollins. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-00-215188-7.
  7. ^ a b McNally, Peter (2013). The Time of My Life. p. 7. ISBN 978-1-909304-59-8.
  8. ^ a b c "Paddy McNally". www.grandprix.com. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Bower, Tom (2011). No Angel: The Secret Life of Bernie Ecclestone. Internet Archive. London : Faber & Faber. pp. 128–130. ISBN 978-0-571-26929-7.
  10. ^ "Paddy McNally". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Irish firm linked to F1 made profits of ?137k". Independent.ie. 30 October 2004. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Paddy McNally". Independent.ie. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  13. ^ "2014 Sunday Times Rich List reveals wealthiest Brits in motoring". Driving.co.uk from The Sunday Times. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Fergie: Bedlam Over the Bride". The Washington Post. 1986.
  15. ^ Cochrane, Kira (24 May 2010). "Why I feel sorry for Sarah Ferguson". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  16. ^ "McNally tops Donegal Rich List with €517m". www.donegallive.ie. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  17. ^ Maguire, Stephen (8 February 2011). "The Donegal millionaire who is still cutting a dash with royalty". Donegal Daily. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  18. ^ "The Beginnings of a Royal Catfight? Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson's Fraught Relationship". Vanity Fair. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  19. ^ Walsh, Niamh (16 January 2022). "Sarah Ferguson Comforted By Old Irish Flame On Ski Holiday". Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  20. ^ "Daring raid on tycoon's home". Wiltshire Gazette & Herald. 22 June 2004. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
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