Bobby Verdon-Roe

Last updated

Bobby Verdon-Roe
Nationality Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British
Born (1965-11-21) 21 November 1965 (age 58)
Winchester, England
Racing career
StartsTBC
WinsTBC
PolesTBC
Previous series
2011
2010
2009
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1998
1997
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
Historic Formula One Championship
Historic Formula One Championship
Historic Formula One Championship
24 Hours of Le Mans
FIA GT Championship
FIA GT Championship
FIA GT Championship
British GT Championship
British GT Championship
FIA GT Championship
British GT Championship
TVR Tuscan Challenge
TVR Tuscan Challenge
BTCC
BTCC
Formula Renault
Formula Renault
British Formula Ford Championship
Formula First
Championship titles
2011
2010
2009
1997
1991
Historic Formula One Championship
Historic Formula One Championship
Historic Formula One Championship
Tuscan Challenge
Formula Renault

Robert Geoffrey Verdon-Roe (born 21 November 1965 in Winchester, Hampshire) is a British racing driver who has raced in various formats of motor sport throughout his career. He has won Formula Renault, TVR Tuscan and Historic Formula One Championships.

Contents

He is the grandson of Sir Alliott Verdon Roe who was a pioneer of British aviation and founder of the Avro aircraft company. [1] He was educated at Ashdown House and Stowe School having been brought up in Portugal.

Racing career

In 1988 he started racing in single-seaters, with no previous karting experience. Verdon-Roe came 3rd in the Formula First championship of 1988. [2]

In 1989 he moved into Formula Ford and finished 3rd in the P&O European Ferries Championship behind David Coulthard and Kelvin Burt.

During 1990 and 1991 he raced in Formula Renault, culminating with him winning the Championship in 1991 after a heated battle with Jason Plato. [3] He was nominated for an Autosport Award.

In 1992 Verdon-Roe switched to touring cars with a drive in a Vauxhall Cavalier for the Ecurie Ecosse team in the British Touring Car Championship. [4] He also raced in the latter half of the Formula Vauxhall Championship that year.

In 1993 he drove a semi-works Toyota Carina E for the Park Lane Toyota Carina team. His best result that year was a 6th place at Snetterton and finished the championship down in 19th. [5]

After a quiet spell which included a one-off race in Formula Three in 1994, Verdon-Roe returned to motorsport in the TVR Tuscan Challenge. In 1997 he won the TVR Tuscan championship overall and was nominated for an Autosport award. [6] In 1998 he stayed with the factory team and finished a close 2nd in the championship [7] and the same year, competed with the new TVR Speed 12 in the British GT Championship. [8] He also had his first taste of Historic racing, teaming up with Gerry Marshall in a Jaguar E-Type at Silverstone, finishing third after gaining pole position. [9]

In 1999 he briefly raced for the Lister works team in the FIA GT Championship, before returning to TVR and racing their new Cerbera Speed 12 GT car in the British GT Championship in 2000 and 2001, winning three races and eventually finishing 3rd in the championship. [10]

Verdon-Roe also drove one-off races in the European Le Mans Series in 2001 in 2002. [11] In 2002 he returned to the Lister team and raced the Lister Storm in the FIA GT Championship. Highlights included a 2nd place at Silverstone and 2nd place at the Spa 24 hours, Lister's best ever result in a 24-hour race. [12]

In 2003 he raced for the newly formed Creation Autosportif racing team driving the 2000 FIA GT Championship winning Lister Storm chassis (002) to 4th place in the FIA GT Championship.

In 2004 he again raced for Creation at Donington Park and the Spa 24 Hours in the Lister. He also raced once in the British GT Championship for Rollcentre Racing in the Mosler MT900R. There were also a number of entries in various historic events including the Le Mans 24 Hours Group C support race and winning the Spa-Francorchamps Classic Endurance Race. [13]

In 2005 he raced in the Le Mans 24 hours race driving a Dallara Nissan LMP1 car for the Rollcentre team, [14] as well as the Spa 24 Hours for the Lister team.

In 2008 he won the Goodwood Revival's feature race, the RAC TT Celebration, driving a Ferrari 330 LMB with Peter Hardman, the first victory for a Ferrari in the TT since the Revival began. [15]

In 2009 Verdon-Roe won FIA Historic Formula One Championship driving a McLaren M26. At the Revival he shared the Ferrari 330 LMB with Emanuele Pirro finishing 2nd. [16]

Verdon-Roe 2010 Historic Grand Prix of Monaco BVR Monaco.jpg
Verdon-Roe 2010 Historic Grand Prix of Monaco

In 2010 he won the Grand Prix Historique of Monaco aboard the ex-James Hunt McLaren. [17]

He also won the FIA Historic Formula One championship ground effect class and finished 2nd overall driving a McLaren MP4/1B. [18] At the Goodwood Revival he shared the Ferrari with Tom Kristensen, but retired having started from pole position. [19]

In 2011 he again finished 2nd overall in the FIA Historic Formula One Championship and won the ground effect class in the ex-Niki Lauda McLaren. [20] At the Revival he raced Aston Martin DBR1-2 to 2nd place in the Sussex Trophy. [21]

In 2012 he finished 2nd in the Grand Prix Historique of Monaco [22] and 2nd in Goodwood Revival's TT Celebration race driving a Jaguar E-type. [23]

In 2015 he won the Sussex trophy in the Ferrari Dino 246S at the Goodwood Revival. [24]

In 2021 he finished 5th with Martin Brundle in the AC Cobra known as Snakeyes in the RAC TT at the Goodwood Revival. [25]

In 2022 he finished 7th with Alex Brundle in the AC Cobra known as Snakeyes in the RAC TT at the Goodwood Revival. [26]

In 2023 he finished 9th, after it rained, in Snakeyes, with Alex Brundle in the RAC TT at the Goodwood Revival. [27]

Racing record

Formula Renault Championship Results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamCar123456789101112PosPoints
1991Fortec MotorsportVan Diemen RF91Oulton Park

3rd

Silverstone

2nd

Thruxton

3rd

Brands Hatch

4th

Oulton Park

2nd

Snetterton

2nd

Mallory Park

1st

Donington Park

1st

Cadwell Park

1st

Brands Hatch

DSQ

Knockhill

1st

Thruxton

3rd

1stxx

Complete British Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamCar1234567891011121314151617PosPts
1992 Ecurie Ecosse Vauxhall Vauxhall Cavalier SIL
11
THR
16
OUL
7
SNE
13
BRH
9
DON
1

11
DON
2

9
SIL
8
KNO
1

Ret
KNO
2

Ret
PEM BRH
1
BRH
2
DON SIL 14th9
1993 Park Lane Toyota Junior Team Toyota Carina E SIL
14
DON
Ret
SNE
6
DON
12
OUL
7
BRH
1

8
BRH
2

15
PEM
15
SIL
12
KNO
1

Ret
KNO
2

Ret
OUL
13
BRH
17
THR
17
DON
1

Ret
DON
2

DNS
SIL
Ret
19th11

British Formula 3

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamCar123456789101112PosPoints
1994DAW RacingDallara F393Silverstone

DNF

xx

24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLapsPos.Class
Pos.
2005 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Rollcentre Racing Flag of Germany.svg Michael Krumm
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Harold Primat
Dallara SP1-Nissan LMP1133DNFDNF

24 Hours of Daytona Results

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLapsPos.Class
Pos.
2002 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Nash Motorsport Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bobby Verdon-Roe

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ian McKellar Flag of Brazil.svg Thomas Erdos Flag of the United States.svg Ron Johnson

Saleen S7-R-Ford 6.9L V8 GTS42839th7th

FIA GT Championship Results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClass12345678910111213PosPoints
1999Lister Storm Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bobby Verdon-Roe

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Julian Bailey Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tiff Needell

Lister Storm GTMGT1Monza

Ret

Silverstone GP

Ret

2001Lister Storm Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bobby Verdon-Roe

Flag of Scotland.svg Jamie Campbell-Walter

Lister Storm GTMGTJarama

ESP Ret

Estoril

PT 2nd

2002Lister Storm Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bobby Verdon-Roe

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul Knapfield Flag of Spain.svg Miguel Angel de Castro Flag of Belgium (civil).svg David Sterckx Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Justin Law Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ian McKellar Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Warnock

Lister Storm GTMGTMagny Cours

Ret

Silverstone

2nd

Spa 24 hours

2nd

2003Creation Autosportif Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bobby Verdon-Roe

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Snowdon Flag of Italy.svg Marco Zadra Flag of the Netherlands.svg Duncan Huisman

Lister Storm GTMGTBarcelona

4th

Magny Cours

15th

Enna Pergusa

4th

Brno

6th

Donington

5th

Spa 24 hours

DNF

Anderstorp

DNF

Oschersleben

2nd

Estoril

DNF

Monza

8th

4th =30
2004Creation Autosportif Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bobby Verdon-Roe

Flag of Scotland.svg Jamie Campbell-Walter Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Snowdon Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Derbyshire

Lister StormGTDonington

DNF

Spa 24 hours

DNF

2005Lister Storm Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bobby Verdon-Roe

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Justin Keen Flag of the United States.svg Liz Halliday Flag of Denmark.svg Jens Moller

Lister StormGTSpa 24 hours
2005Konrad Motorsport Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bobby Verdon-Roe

Flag of Germany.svg Harald Becker

Saleen S7-RGTMonza

17th


Complete British GT Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClass12345678910111213PosPoints
1998TVR Engineering Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bobby Verdon-Roe

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Short Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Kent

TVR Cerbera Speed 12 GT1 SIL
1

OUL
1

CRO
1

SNE
1

4
SIL
1

7
DON
1

9
SIL
1

DNS
SPA
1

SIL
1

2000 TVR Engineering Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bobby Verdon-Roe

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ian McKellar

TVR Cerbera Speed 12 GT THR
1

Ret
CRO
1

Ret
OUL
1

7†
DON
1

Ret
SIL
1

1
BRH
1

3
DON
1

Ret
CRO
1

4
SIL
1

9
SNE
1

Ret
SPA
1

4
SIL
1

3
6th60
2001TVR Motorsport Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bobby Verdon-Roe

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Caine

TVR Cerbera Speed 12 GT SIL
1

5
SNE
1

15
DON
1

3
OUL
1

3
CRO
1

2
ROC
1

1
CAS
1

2
BRH
1

1
DON
1

2
KNO
1

8
THR
1

Ret
BRH
1

13
SIL
1

3rd

FIA Historic Formula One

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamCarClass12345678910111213PosPoints
2009Scuderia BVRMcLaren M26 -5F1 Historic1st
2010Scuderia BVRMcLaren MP4/1BF1 Historic1st
2011Scuderia BVRMcLaren MP4/1BF1 Historic1st


Goodwood Revival RAC TT

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLapsPos.Class
Pos.
2007Tim Samways Sporting & Historic CarsPeter HardmanFerrari 330 LMB3rd
2008Tim Samways Sporting & Historic CarsPeter HardmanFerrari 330 LMB1st
2009Tim Samways Sporting & Historic CarsEmanuelle PirroFerrari 330 LMB2nd
Tim Samways Sporting & Historic CarsNick LeventisFerrari 246S Sino1st
2010Tim Samways Sporting & Historic CarsTom KristensenFerrari 330 LMBDNF
2011JD ClassicsJohn YoungJaguar E-Type2nd
2012
2014Mark Lewis MotorsportJamie McIntyreIso A3/C6th
2015Tim Samways Sporting & Historic CarsFerrari 246S Dino1st
2021Historic AutomobilesMartin BrundleAC Cobra5th
2022Historic AutomobilesAlex BrundleAC Cobra7th
2023Historic AutomobilesAlex BrundleAC Cobra9th

 – Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed a sufficient number of laps.

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References

  1. "Strakka Racing Goodwood Revival summary". Motorsport.com. 26 July 2016. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  2. "Formula First Championship (1987-2000)".
  3. "Formula Renault UK Championship (1991)".
  4. "BTCC Championship Results (1992)".
  5. "BTCC Championship Results (1993)".
  6. "TVR Tuscan Challenge Results (1997)".
  7. "TVR Tuscan Challenge Results (1998)".
  8. "All Results of TVR Cerbera Speed 12 (1998-2002)".
  9. "Silverstone Result (1998)".
  10. "British GT Championship (2001)".
  11. "Daytona Rolex 24h Result (2002)".
  12. "FIA GT 24 HOURS OF SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS Race Report (2002)".
  13. "LMES Spa-Francorchamps, Classic Endurance Race (2004)".
  14. "Le Mans Entry 2005".
  15. "Goodwood Revival Race Results 2008". 23 September 2008.
  16. "Goodwood Revival 2009". 22 September 2009.
  17. "Historic Grand Prix of Monaco 2010" (PDF).
  18. "FIA Historic Formula 1 Championship 2010".
  19. "Goodwood Revival 2010". 21 September 2010.
  20. "FIA Historic Formula 1 Championship 2011".
  21. "Goodwood Revival 2011". 19 September 2011.
  22. "FIA Historic Formula 1 Championship 2012" (PDF).
  23. "Goodwood Revival 2012". 24 September 2012.
  24. "Goodwood Revival 2015". 14 September 2015.
  25. "Goodwood Revival 2021" (PDF).
  26. "Goodwood Revival 2022" (PDF).
  27. "Goodwood Revival 2023" (PDF).

Other sources

Sporting positions
Preceded by British Formula Renault
UK series champion

1991
Succeeded by