Paddy McNally

Early life

Patrick Sean McNally, born 20 December 1937 in Gravesend, Kent, was the son of an RAF medical officer and Mary Deane Outred, and nephew of racing driver Redmond Gallagher. He grew up at Poplar Vale in County Monaghan and attended Stonyhurst College, where he shone at rugby and boxing. After quitting accountant training, he became a travelling salesman. His older brother, Peter McNally, was an LWT director.

Career

McNally entered motorsport with his first race in 1959, competing in mid-level sports car, rally and endurance racing through the 1960s and winning several notable races. From 1963 he worked as a motorsports journalist for Autosport magazine. Residing in Lausanne, he became a sponsorship consultant for Philip Morris's Marlboro. He briefly managed Niki Lauda in the mid-1970s and later managed James Hunt between 1977 and 1979 on behalf of Marlboro.

By 1983 he began working with Bernie Ecclestone, and in December 1983 founded Allsport Management SA, which provided corporate hospitality and trackside advertising for Formula One events. Allsport and its related company Allsopp Parker & Marsh owned trackside advertising rights and operated the Formula One Paddock Club. In March 2006 he sold Allsport to CVC, remaining chief executive until his retirement in 2011.

Personal life and death

In 1967, McNally wed Anne Downing, whose father was the wealthy racer Ken Downing; the couple had two sons, Sean and Rollo. They later split, and Anne died of cancer in 1980. From 1982 to 1985, he dated Sarah Ferguson, who nicknamed him "the Toad" and wanted to marry him; they stayed close friends. He was also romantically linked to Finnish model Nina Rindt.

Starting in 1980, he owned chalets in Verbier, including Les Gais Lutins, known as "Cocaine Castle," where he threw wild parties. He also had a villa in Provence and later bought Sevenhampton Place, Ian Fleming's former home. In April 2026, his son Sean died suddenly at 56. McNally passed away on 22 July 2026 at 88; Princess Beatrice attended his funeral.