Nick Faure

Last updated
Nick Faure
NationalityEnglish
Born (1944-05-28) 28 May 1944 (age 77)
Retired1989

Nick Faure (born 28 May 1944) is a former English Sportscar racing driver, and purveyor of Porsche in the United Kingdom of his era. Known affectionately as Mr. Porsche, Faure achieved fame through racing and selling Porsche 911 and 356s, since the 1960s and his name has become synonymous with the marque. His fame allowed him the opportunity at Le Mans 24 Hours eleven times. He retired from international motor sport after his last race, 1989 Spa 24 Hours. [1] [2]

Contents

Career

In 1967 and 1968, he raced the ex-works 911, that Vic Elford had raced for Porsche GB. In 1969, Faure moved into British Saloon Car Championship, with the support of Porsche Cars GB, racing for the Demetriou Group. During the season, he achieved three fourth place finishes at Silverstone, Snetterton and Crystal Palace. This resulted in 16th place in the overall championship standings (4th in class) For the next three seasons, Faure had step away from the International scene and raced nationally. In 1973, he was invited by Porsche to drive their brand new Carrera RS 2.7 lightweight in the British Production Sports Car Championship. He then moved on to the RS 3.0 version for the following season, still under Porsche Cars GB banner. [2] [3]

1974 also saw Faure receive an invitation to drive a Carrera 3.0 RSR for Ecurie Francorchamps, in the British Airways 1000km, at Brands Hatch. Although, due to gearbox problems, the car did not finish the race, this led to him to this first appearance in the Le Mans 24 hours. He helped steer the Carrera 3.0 RSR of ”Beurlys” to 6th overall, in his attempt in 1975. This would remain Faure’s best result, as he would never again finish inside the top 10. The 1977 Rivet Supply 6 Hours race at Brands Hatch, would see Faure’s best result in a World Sportscar race, when partnered by Bob Wollek, he finished fourth overall in a Porsche Kremer Racing 935. [1] [2] [4]

He would continue to race annually at Le Mans until 1985, taking in some other Word Sportscar race, mainly in England without much success. After finishing 36th in the 1989 24 Heures de Francorchamps - Lotto Trophy, he would retire from International Motor Sport. [1] [5]

Away from the track

Since his association with the Stuttgart marque has been famous from his experience, driving so many types of competition Porsches. Since the mid-1980s, Faure has run his own Porsche Specialist outlet in Surrey, England, selling all thing 911 and 356 related. Faure’s reputation for driving 911s to their limit and sometimes beyond is legendary, in particular his “hands-off” technique of controlling opposite-lock cornering, allowing the car to show off its own self-centering abilities. His wealth of experience and enjoyment owning a 911, he can now supply some of the finest hand-picked examples of these classics. [1]

Racing record

Career highlights

SeasonSeriesPositionTeamCar
1969 British Saloon Car Championship [6] 16thDemetriou Group Porsche 911
1981 World Endurance Championship for drivers [7] [8] 293rdDorset Racing Associates Lola-Cosworth T298

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearClassNoTyresCarTeamCo-DriversLapsPos.Class
Pos.
1975 GT69 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR
Porsche F6 2v SOHC 2992cc
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg ”Beurlys” Flag of Belgium (civil).svg ”Jean Beurlys”
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Cooper
3116th2nd
1976 GT70 Porsche 934
Porsche 930/71 F6 2992cc Turbo
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg ”Beurlys” Flag of Belgium (civil).svg ”Jean Beurlys”
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Goss
168NC
1977 Gr.542 Porsche 935
Porsche 930/72 F6 2807cc Turbo
Flag of Germany.svg Porsche Kremer Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Fitzpatrick
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Guy Edwards
15DNF
engine
1978 S+2.012 G De Cadenet Lola T380
Ford Cosworth DFV V8/90° DOHC 2993cc
Flag of France.svg Simon Phillips Racing with Batco Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Bealsey
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Simon Phillips
99NC
Insufficient distance covered
1979 IMSA+2.561 M Ferrari 512 BB
Ferrari F12 4942cc
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg ”Beurlys” Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Bernard de Dryver
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steve O'Rourke
27412th5th
1980 S+2.011 De Cadenet Lola LM
Ford Cosworth DFV V8/90° 4v DOHC 2993cc
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nick Faure Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Bernard de Dryver
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Jones
DNQ
1981 S+2.021 D De Cadenet Lola LM
Ford Cosworth DFV V8/90° 4v DOHC 2993cc
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dorset Racing Associates Flag of Ireland.svg Vivian Candy
Flag of Ireland.svg Martin Birrane
171DNF
Gearbox casing
1982 C16 A Lola T610
Ford Cosworth DFL V8 3955cc
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ultramar Team Lola Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Guy Edwards
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Rupert Keegan
72DNF
Head gasket
1983 C41 EMKA C83/1
Aston Martin Tickford V8/90° 2v DOHC 5340cc
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg EMKA Productions Ltd. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tiff Needell
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steve O'Rourke
27517th13th
1984 C138 D Dome RC82
Ford Cosworth DFL V8/90° 3296cc
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dorset Racing Associates Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Jones
Flag of Ireland.svg Mark Galvin
156DNF
Oil pressure
1985 C166 D EMKA C84/1
Aston Martin Tickford V8/90° 2v DOHC 5340cc
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg EMKA Productions Ltd. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tiff Needell
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steve O'Rourke
33811th11th

Complete 24 Hours of Spa results

YearClassNoTyresCarTeamCo-DriversLapsPos.Class
Pos.
1989 N/Div.359 Opel Kadett GSi 16V
Opel L4 1998cc
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg East Belgian Racing Team Flag of Switzerland.svg ”Nico”
Flag of Germany.svg Wolf-Dieter Feuerlein
37736th4th

Related Research Articles

Roy Salvadori British racing driver and team manager

Roy Francesco Salvadori was a British racing driver and team manager. He was born in Dovercourt, Essex, to parents of Italian descent. He graduated to Formula One by 1952 and competed regularly until 1962 for a succession of teams including Cooper, Vanwall, BRM, Aston Martin and Connaught. Also a competitor in other formulae, he won the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans in an Aston Martin with co-driver Carroll Shelby.

Emilio de Villota Spanish racing driver

Emilio de Villota Ruíz is a former racing driver from Spain, born in Madrid. He entered 15 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix between 1976 and 1982, qualifying twice. He entered most Spanish Grand Prix between 1976 and 1982 and became a major force in the short-lived Aurora AFX Formula One Championship for F1 cars, winning the title in 1980.

Carlo Facetti Italian racing driver

Carlo Giovanni Facetti is a former racing driver from Italy, mainly known for his success in touring car and sports car racing. In his single attempt at Formula One he failed to qualify for the 1974 Italian Grand Prix with a Brabham BT42 run by the Scuderia Finotto team.

Tim Harvey British racing driver (born 1961)

Tim 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, but competed in the series until 2002. He was also the winner of the invitational Guia Race of Macau touring car event, in 1989.

The 1973 World Sportscar Championship season was the 21st season of FIA World Sportscar Championship motor racing. It featured the 1973 World Championship for Makes and the 1973 Cup for GT Cars which were contested concurrently over a ten race series. The World Championship for Makes, which was open to Group 5 Sports Cars and Group 4 GT Cars, was won by Matra and the Cup for GT Cars, which was open only to Group 4 GT Cars, was won by Porsche.

James Sutton (racing driver)

James Sutton is a racing driver. He won the 2007 Porsche Carrera Cup GB.

Nick Tandy British racing driver

Nick Tandy is a professional British racing driver currently racing for Corvette Racing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. His major victories include the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 2015 Petit Le Mans, the 2018 24 Hours of Nürburgring and the 2020 24 Hours of Spa. He scored also class win at the 2014 24 Hours of Daytona and 2018, 2019, 2020 12 Hours of Sebring.

Earl Bamber New Zealand racing driver

Earl Anderson Bamber is a professional racing driver from New Zealand, currently competing as a factory driver for Porsche Motorsport in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTLM class.

John Fitzpatrick (racing driver) British racing driver

John Fitzpatrick is a former English racing driver, winning many titles throughout his career. He works within motorsport as a consultant doing corporate events and driver management. He published a book "Fitz-My Life at the Wheel" in 2016.

Ian Heward is a British former auto racing driver. He is best known as entering the prestigious British Touring Car Championship in the mid-nineties as an under-funded driver. He started racing as a rally driver in the early 80's and switched to circuit racing with three years in the British Porsche Carrera Cup from 1987 to 1989 in a 924 and 911s. In 1990 he drove in some races in the Formula Ford 1600 and Formula Renault Championships in 90/91. He returned to racing in a Porsche 944 S2 in 1994/5 with the British Production Car Group N series dominated by the Ford Cosworth Sierra 's. This was followed by races in some rounds of the VW Vento Challenge in 1995.

Ahmad Al Harthy Omani racing driver (born 1981)

Ahmad Al Harthy is an Omani racing driver. He won the 2012 Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain Pro-Am 1 Championship and in 2017 became the Blancpain Endurance Cup Pro-Am Champion along with British team-mate Jonny Adam.

Robert Babikan was a British racing driver. He was most notable for competing in the British GT Championship in 2000 and 2001, and racing in a single round of the European Le Mans Series in 2001. He won the Porsche Cup GB in 1996.

CORE Autosport is an American auto racing team founded by Jon Bennett in 2010 and based out of Rock Hill, South Carolina. After claiming the IMSA Lites Championship in 2010, the team, led by team manager, Morgan Brady, made the move to competing in the American Le Mans Series. The team currently competes in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship fielding the Nos. 911 and 912 Porsche 911 RSR as Porsche GT Team in GT Le Mans under a works contract.

The 2014 Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain was a multi-event, one make motor racing championship held across England, France and Scotland. The championship featured a mix of professional motor racing teams and privately funded drivers, competing in Porsche 911 GT3 cars that conformed to the technical regulations for the championship. It was a multi class championship, with drivers grouped based on their ability and experience into three classes: Professional, Professional-Amateur 1 and Professional-Amateur 2. It formed part of the extensive program of support categories built up around the BTCC centrepiece. The 2014 season was the twelfth Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain season, commencing on 30 March at Brands Hatch – on the circuit's Indy configuration – and concluded on 12 October at the same venue, utilising the Grand Prix circuit, after 19 races at 10 meetings. 18 of the races were held in support of the 2014 British Touring Car Championship season, with the other race in support of the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Martino Finotto was an Italian racing driver, mainly known for his success in touring car and sports car racing.

The 2015 Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain was a multi-event, one-make motor racing championship held across England, Belgium and Scotland. The championship featured a mix of professional motor racing teams and privately funded drivers, competing in Porsche 911 GT3 cars that conformed to the technical regulations for the championship. It formed part of the extensive program of support categories built up around the BTCC centrepiece. The 2015 season was the thirteenth Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain season, commencing on 4 April at Brands Hatch – on the circuit's Indy configuration – and finished on 11 October at the same venue, utilising the Grand Prix circuit, after sixteen races at eight meetings. Fourteen of the races were held in support of the 2015 British Touring Car Championship season, with a round in support of the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship.

Manfred Schurti is a former touring and prototype racing car driver from Liechtenstein mainly known for racing factory-entered Porsches.

Guy Chasseuil French racing driver

Guy Chasseuil is a French former racing driver. During his racing career he specialized in rallying and endurance racing.

The 1973 24 Hours of Daytona was a 24-hour endurance sports car race held on February 3–4, 1973 at the Daytona International Speedway road course. The race served as the opening round of the 1973 World Sportscar Championship.

Ludwig Heimrath Sr. Canadian racing driver

Ludwig Heimrath, also called Ludwig Heimrath Sr. was a German-born Canadian racing driver. He won the Trans-Am Series championship in 1977, becoming the first person born outside the United States to win the championship since Horst Kwech in 1966.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Nick Faure (GB) - All Results - Racing Sports Cars". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  2. 1 2 3 "About Me". Nickfaure.com. Retrieved 2014-05-05.
  3. "1969 BSCC". Touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 2014-05-05.
  4. "Brands Hatch 6 Hours 1977 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  5. "Spa 24 Hours 1989". Racing Sports Cars. 1989-07-23. Retrieved 2014-05-05.
  6. "RAC British Saloon Car Championship - 1969". Touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 2014-05-05.
  7. "World Sportscar Championship 1981 standings | Driver Database". Driverdb.com. Retrieved 2014-05-05.
  8. "Nick Faure (GB)'s cars - Photo Gallery". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 2014-05-05.