1983 British Saloon Car Championship

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The 1983 RAC Trimoco British Saloon Car Championship was the 26th season of the championship. Steve Soper driving a works Rover SD1 built by TWR was initially champion, but after he and the team was disqualified on a technicality, Andy Rouse won his second drivers title in an Alfa Romeo GTV6.

Contents

Season overview

The sporting regulations changed to FIA sanctioned Group A specification, and three different classes competed for honours. TWR expanded their team and ran a trio of Rover Vitesses for Pete Lovett, Jeff Allam and Steve Soper. Austin Rover would also back Roger Dowson Engineering who ran Turbo Metros in Class B whilst Ford supported a semi-works Ford Escort outfit in Class C. GM/Opel entered a single Opel Monza for Tony Lanfranchi. Reigning champion Win Percy would once again drive for Toyota, this time at the wheel of a Supra. Meanwhile, Frank Sytner raced for the works BMW team. [1]

TWR dominated the season, winning all 11 races. The drivers had the races pretty much their own way until Sytner, who had fallen out with Walkinshaw and left TWR the previous season, protested the legality of the Rover cars to the governing body. In response, Walkinshaw protested Sytner's BMW which led to extended legal wrangling which would drag on until long after the season was over. [2]

Soper beat his more experienced team mates and won the outright championship, while Andy Rouse who had taken over the Alfa Romeo GTV6 run by Pete Hall won Class B after a season long dice with the Metros. In Class C, Alan Minshaw took the class honours in his Volkswagen Golf, seeing off the Ford challenge.

However, six months after the championship was over, Sytner's protest was heard by a Tribunal of Enquiry, chaired by veteran legal counsel Lord Hartley Shawcross. The result was the RAC disqualified the Rover team entirely over bodywork irregularities and engine installation issues, handing the title to Rouse. In response, Austin Rover withdrew from the BSCC immediately as a works outfit to concentrate on competing in Europe, and would not return until 2001 under the guise of MG Rover. [3]

Teams and drivers

TeamCarNo.DriversRounds
Class A
Hughes of Beaconsfield/Toyota GB Toyota Celica Supra 1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Win Percy 1 4–5, 8–11
Team Sanyo Racing with Esso
Hepolite Glacier Racing with Esso
Rover Vitesse 2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Allam All
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Pete Lovett All
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steve Soper 1–4, 6–11
Gordon Spice Racing Rover Vitesse 5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gordon Spice 6, 8–10
Dennis Leech Rover Vitesse 6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dennis Leech 4–8
Burlington Wallcoverings Ltd. Ford Capri III 3.0S 9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Newman 1–2, 7–10
Equipe Esso/Daily Mirror Rover Vitesse 10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Charles Sawyer-Hoare All
GM Dealer Sport Opel Monza 3.0E 11 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Lanfranchi 1–3, 5–11
Graham Goode Racing Ford Capri III 3.0S 12 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Goode 1, 5, 7–8
Mark Hales Ford Capri III 3.0S 16 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mark Hales 8
Team Colt Cars Mid-West Mitsubishi Starion Turbo 18 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dave Brodie 6–11
Grace International Racing BMW 635CSi 19 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Frank Sytner 6–9, 11
Cheylesmore BMW Motorsport BMW 635CSi 20 Flag of Germany.svg Hans-Joachim Stuck 8–10
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonathan Palmer 11
Brian Chatfield Ford Capri III 3.0S 29 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brian Chatfield 10–11
Class B
Hamish Irvine Mazda RX-7 30 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Hamish Irvine 1–5, 7–11
Napolina Alfa Romeo Dealer Team
Napolina Alfa Romeo Dealer Team
with Hampshires of Dorking
Alfa Romeo GTV6 31 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jon Dooley All
Terry Nightingale Mazda RX-7 32 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Terry Nightingale 8
Industrial Control Services Ltd. Alfa Romeo GTV6 34 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Pete Hall 1–3
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Rouse 4–11
Unipart with Daily Express MG Metro Turbo 35 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Pond 4–11
36 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Patrick Watts 8–11
37 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle 11
Tom Dodd-Noble Mazda RX-7 ? Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Dodd-Noble 4
Class C
Volkswagen Sport Volkswagen Scirocco GTI 60 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John MorrisAll
Royal Mail Datapost Ford Escort RS1600i 66 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Curnow All
77 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Longman All
Ordibel UK Ltd. Volkswagen Golf GTI 67 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Greenhalgh 1–5, 7–8, 10
Brooklyn Motorsport Ford Escort RS1600i 69 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Hodgetts All
Julian May Racing Ford Fiesta XR2 70 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jock Robertson 1–4
Ford Escort RS1600i 6–9, 11
Lloyds of Stafford Ford Escort RS1600i 72 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Rob Hall All
Lionel Abbott Ford Escort RS1600i 74 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lionel Abbott 2–5, 7
Unipart with Daily Express MG Metro 78 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Patrick Watts 2–7
Hughes of Beaconsfield/Toyota GB Toyota Corolla GT 80 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Win Percy 1 1
Tony Crudgington Ford Fiesta XR2 82 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Crudgington 8
Napolina Alfa Romeo Dealer Team
Napolina Alfa Romeo Dealer Team
with Hampshires of Dorking
Alfa Romeo Alfasud Ti 83 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Rob Kirby All
84 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andrew Thorpe All
Demon Tweeks Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI 86 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Minshaw All
RZ Racing Toyota Corolla GT 87 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Driver 3
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Crudgington 5
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Geoff Kimber-Smith 6–11
Terry Watts Talbot Sunbeam Ti 88 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Terry Watts 8–9
Jenny Birrell Toyota Corolla GT 95 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jenny Birrell 11
GTI Engineering Volkswagen Golf GTI 100 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Lloyd 11

Notes:

1. ^  – Win Percy was ineligible for points at round 4.

Calendar and winners

Overall winners in bold.

RoundCircuitDateClass A winnerClass B winnerClass C winner
1 Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire 20 March Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steve Soper Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Hamish Irvine Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Win Percy
2 Oulton Park, Cheshire 1 April Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Allam Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jon Dooley Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Morris
3 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 4 April Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Pete Lovett Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jon Dooley Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Greenhalgh
4 Brands Hatch, Kent 10 April Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steve Soper Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Rouse Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Curnow
5 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 30 May Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Pete Lovett Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Rouse Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Curnow
6 Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire 12 June Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steve Soper Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Rouse Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Hodgetts
7 Donington Park, Leicestershire 25 June Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Pete Lovett Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Rouse Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Morris
8 Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire 16 July Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steve Soper Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jon Dooley Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Longman
9 Donington Park, Leicestershire 14 August Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steve Soper Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Pond Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Minshaw
10 Brands Hatch, Kent 29 August Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Pete Lovett Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Rouse Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Hodgetts
11 Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire 2 October Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Allam Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Rouse Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Hodgetts

Championship standings

Drivers' championship

Points were awarded on a 9, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis to the top six finishers in each class, with one bonus point for the fastest lap in each class. In races where a class had less than four starters, points would be awarded to the top two finishers (6 & 4 respectively) with one point for the fastest lap. A driver's best nine scores counted towards the championship, dropped scores are shown in brackets. Positions are shown as overall/class.

PosDriverClass SIL OUL THR BRA THR SIL DON SIL DON BRA SIL Pts
DSQ Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steve Soper A1/13/37/51/11/1Ret1/11/12/22/268
DSQ Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Pete Lovett A3/32/21/1Ret1/12/21/12/2Ret1/14/463
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Rouse B3/14/15/14/1Ret7/28/17/161
DSQ Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Allam A2/21/12/22/22/2RetRet3/3Ret4/41/153
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Minshaw C(11/5)12/411/310/211/39/312/312/28/114/4(Ret)45
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Hodgetts C13/714/613/5Ret12/47/1Ret13/39/211/110/143
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Curnow C9/3?/?Ret9/18/1Ret13/414/412/413/311/242
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Hamish Irvine B8/16/25/25/27/36/320/2Ret9/2Ret42
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jon Dooley BRet4/14/16/3RetRetRet10/1Ret18/39/236
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Longman C14/89/216/813/510/2RetRet11/111/316/612/335
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John MorrisCRet8/115/711/3Ret8/210/1RetRet17/716/731
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Pond BRet6/2Ret5/225/56/1Ret17/331
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Rob Hall C10/410/3RetRetRetRet11/215/5Ret12/2Ret22
11 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Rob Kirby CRet13/510/212/4DNS11/514/517/613/5RetRet18
12 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Greenhalgh C7/2?/?9/115/715/717/7Ret15/517
13 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Lanfranchi ARet5/46/49/56/53/37/710/66/66/617
14 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Charles Sawyer-Hoare A4/4DNS3/3Ret3/34/48/58/8Ret7/7Ret16
15 Flag of Germany.svg Hans-Joachim Stuck A5/52/23/312
16 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Frank Sytner A3/32/2DSQRetRet10
17 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Win Percy C6/19
18 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Patrick Watts C?/?12/414/613/510/4Ret9
19 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Newman A5/511/57/49/95/5DNS9
20 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Patrick Watts B21/3RetRet18/47
21 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Win Percy A8/4DNS6/63/3RetRet5
22 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dennis Leech A4/3RetRet9/6Ret5
23 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andrew Thorpe CNC?/?14/616/8Ret12/6Ret18/714/6Ret14/55
24 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gordon Spice ARet23/124/45/55
25 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dave Brodie ARet16/716/10RetRet3/34
26 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Goode ARet5/4RetRet3
27 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Dodd-Noble B7/43
28 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Lloyd C13/43
29 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Terry Nightingale B22/43
30 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonathan Palmer A5/52
31 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle B19/52
32 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jock Robertson C12/6?/?RetRetWDDNSRetRet15/62
33 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lionel Abbott CDNSRetDNS14/615/62
34 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Pete Hall BRet7/38/30
35 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Geoff Kimber-Smith C13/718/8DNS15/7RetRet0
36 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brian Chatfield A10/88/70
37 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Terry Watts C24/8Ret0
38 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mark Hales A19/110
NC Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Crudgington CRetRet0
NC Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Driver CDNS0
NC Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jenny Birrell CDNS0
PosDriverClass SIL OUL THR BRA THR SIL DON SIL DON BRA SIL Pts
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenPoints classification
BlueNon-points classification
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleRetired, not classified (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
BlankDid not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

Bold - Pole in class
Italics - Fastest lap in class

References

  1. "1983 Trimoco RAC British Saloon Car Championship - Discussion & Results - Page 5 - TenTenths Motorsport Forum". tentenths.com. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
  2. "RAC British Saloon Car Championship - 1983". touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
  3. Adams, Keith (2011-08-05). "Rover SD1 in motor sport". AROnline. Retrieved 2021-12-24.