1958 British Saloon Car Championship

Last updated

The 1958 BRSCC British Saloon Car Championship was the inaugural season of the championship. The series was open to four separate classes, up to 1200cc, 1201-1600cc, 1601-2700cc and 2701cc and above. Equal championship points were to be scored in each class, meaning any driver could win the championship without winning any races outright. The first ever round was actually held on 26 December 1957 [1] at Brands Hatch. The final round of the year was held on 5 October back at Brands Hatch. [2] [3]

Contents

Jack Sears and Tommy Sopwith ended the final race on the same number of championship points. With this a possibility going into the final round it was initially suggested the champion would be decided by the toss of a coin. The idea was very unpopular with both drivers, and it was decided two identical looking Marcus Chambers-owned Riley One-Point-Five works rally cars would be brought along for a five lap shoot-out. To make the race fair, they raced five laps, switched cars, then raced five laps again with the driver who had the quickest combined time being crowned champion. In extremely wet conditions, the first head to head was won by Sopwith by 2.2 seconds. The second race was won by Sears by 3.8 seconds. This meant that Sears was crowned the first ever BSCC champion. [4]

Calendar

The Austin A105 with which Jack Sears won the 1958 British Saloon Car Championship 1958 Jack Sears.JPG
The Austin A105 with which Jack Sears won the 1958 British Saloon Car Championship

Overall winners of multi-class races in bold.

RoundCircuitDateClass A WinnerClass B WinnerClass C WinnerClass D Winner
1A Brands Hatch, Kent 7 April Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Sprinzel Not contested. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Sears Not contested.
BNot contested. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan FosterNot contested. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tommy Sopwith
NC Aintree Motor Racing Circuit, Liverpool 19 AprilUnknown. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Foster Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Blond Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gawaine Baillie
2A Brands Hatch, Kent 20 April Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Sprinzel Not contested.
BNot contested. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tommy Bridger Not contested.
CNot contested. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Sears Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tommy Sopwith
NC Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire 3 May Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Hill Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Les Leston Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Uren Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Hawthorn
3A Mallory Park, Leicestershire 11 May Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Sprinzel Not contested.
BNot contested. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Les Leston Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Uren Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gawaine Baillie
4A Brands Hatch, Kent 18 May Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Sprinzel Not contested.
BNot contested. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tommy Bridger Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Sears Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tommy Sopwith
NC Goodwood Circuit, West Sussex 26 May Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Sprinzel Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Barney Everley Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Duncan Hamilton 1
5A Brands Hatch, Kent 8 June Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Sprinzel Not contested.
BNot contested. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tommy Bridger Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Sears Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tommy Sopwith
NC Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit, Norfolk 29 June Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Sprinzel Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Les Leston Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Edgar Wadsworth Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tommy Sopwith
6 Crystal Palace, London 5 July Flag of the United Kingdom.svg George 'Doc' Shepherd Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Foster Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Uren Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tommy Sopwith
NC Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire 19 July Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bob Gerard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Les Leston Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Sears Flag of the United States.svg Walt Hansgen
7 Brands Hatch, Kent 4 August Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Sprinzel Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Foster Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Sears Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tommy Sopwith
8 Brands Hatch, Kent 30 August Flag of the United Kingdom.svg George 'Doc' Shepherd Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Les Leston Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Sears Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tommy Sopwith
9 Brands Hatch, Kent 5 October Flag of the United Kingdom.svg George 'Doc' Shepherd Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Les Leston Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Sears Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tommy Sopwith
NC Brands Hatch, Kent 26 December Flag of the United Kingdom.svg George 'Doc' Shepherd Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Les Leston Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Uren Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gawaine Baillie

1Classes combined.

Championship results

Driver's championship
Pos.DriverCarTeamClassPoints
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Sears Austin A105 Jack SearsC48
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tommy Sopwith Jaguar 3.4 Litre Equipe EndeavourD48
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Sprinzel Austin A35 Team SpeedwellA47
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Doc Shepherd Austin A35 Team SpeedwellA41
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Foster MG Magnette Dick JacobsB40
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Uren Jaguar 3.4 Litre
Ford Zephyr
Jeff UrenC36

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Touring Car Championship</span> Auto racing championship in the United Kingdom

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom, currently organised and administered by TOCA. It was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and was renamed as the British Touring Car Championship for the 1987 season. The championship, currently running Next Generation Touring Car regulations, has been run to various national and international regulations over the years including FIA Group 2, FIA Group 5, FIA Group 1, FIA Group A, FIA Super Touring and FIA Super 2000. A lower-key Group N class for production cars ran from 2000 until 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fabrizio Giovanardi</span> Italian racing driver (born 1966)

Fabrizio Giovanardi is an Italian racing driver. During his career he has won ten touring car titles, including European and British crowns making him the most successful touring car driver worldwide. He has spent the majority of his career racing for Alfa Romeo and Vauxhall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Turkington</span> British racing driver (born 1982)

Colin Henry Turkington is a British racing driver from Northern Ireland who competes in the British Touring Car Championship for Team BMW. He is a 4 time BTCC champion, winning the title in 2009, 2014, 2018 and 2019, having made his debut in the series in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Harvey</span> British racing driver and commentator (born 1961)

Timothy James Harvey is a British racing driver, best known for being the 1992 British Touring Car Champion, and the 2008 and 2010 Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain champion. A household name in the 1990s, Harvey won sixteen races in the British Touring Car Championship between 1987 and 1995, and competed in the series until 2002. He was also the winner of the invitational Guia Race of Macau touring car event, in 1989.

James Peter Kaye is a British auto racing driver. He has been a stalwart competitor of Hondas in various championships since 1995, and has had 2 lengthy spells in the BTCC. He won the BTCC independents' championship in 1992 and 1994.

The 2001 theAA.com MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 44th British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season and marked the beginning of a new era of lower-cost rules and regulations for the series. The season saw a rivalry between Vauxhall teammates Jason Plato and Yvan Muller for the title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 British Touring Car Championship</span> 43rd season of the British Touring Car Championship

The 2000 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship season featured 24 rounds across 12 meetings, it commenced at Brands Hatch on 9 April and concluded at Silverstone on 16 September.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Sears</span> British driver (1930–2016)

Jack Sears was a British race and rally driver, and was one of the principal organisers of the 1968 London-Sydney Marathon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Jordan (racing driver)</span> British racing driver (born 1989)

Andrew Phillip Jordan is a British racing driver, who has driven in the British Touring Car Championship. He was the 2013 British Touring Car Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorbase Performance</span> British motor racing team

Motorbase Performance was a British motor racing team, founded in 2004 by former Production Saloon racer David Bartrum. They are best known for competing in the British Touring Car Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 British Touring Car Championship</span> 53rd season of the British Touring Car Championship

The 2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 53rd British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season. It began at Thruxton Circuit on 4 April and finished after 30 races over ten events at Brands Hatch on 10 October.

Franklyn De Karl Jones is a British former auto racing driver. He is best known for competing in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC)

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lea Wood</span> British racing driver (born 1984)

Lea Wood is a British racing driver and mechanic, employed at his father's garage based in Hereford. He has competed previously in the British Touring Car Championship.

Thomas Edward Brodie Sopwith was a British businessman and car racing driver.

Liam Griffin is a British racing driver and businessman. He is the son of John Griffin and was CEO of minicab company Addison Lee for 10 years before carrying out a management buyout with the private equity firm Carlyle. He is currently the Vice Chairman of Addison Lee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Ingram</span> British racing driver (born 1993)

Tom Ingram is a British racing driver, currently racing in the British Touring Car Championship for Team Bristol Street Motors. Having won the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2010 and the G50 class of the Ginetta GT Supercup in 2011, Ingram was named a British Racing Drivers' Club Rising Star in 2011. He won his first BTCC race at the first round of the 2016 season at Brands Hatch. Ingram is the 2022 British Touring Car champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 British Touring Car Championship</span> 56th season of the British Touring Car Championship

The 2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship was a multi-event motor racing championship for production-based touring cars held across England and Scotland. The championship features a mix of professional motor racing teams and privately funded amateur drivers competing in highly modified versions of Family cars which are sold to the general public and conform to the technical regulations for the championship. It is one of the most popular domestic motor racing series in the United Kingdom, with an extensive program of support categories built up around the BTCC centrepiece. It was the 56th British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season.

Jake Hill is a British racing driver who is currently competing in the British Touring Car Championship for Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport. He has also driven for Motorbase Performance, Rob Austin Racing, AmD Tuning and Team HARD.

Senna Mark James Proctor is a British racing driver, currently competing in the British Touring Car Championship for BTC Racing. He is the son of Mark Proctor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Thompson (racing driver)</span> British racing driver (born 1996)

Robert David Thompson is a British racing driver who most recently competed in the 2023 British Touring Car Championship, driving for Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils. He was the 2022 Jack Sears Trophy winner.

References

  1. "History of the BTCC". BTCC. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013.
  2. "Official BTCC 1958 standings". BTCC. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013.
  3. "British Saloon Car Championship - 1958". Archived from the original on 2007-09-21. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
  4. "Official BTCC history page". BTCC. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013.