1958 British Saloon Car Championship

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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]

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

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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. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-09-21. Retrieved 2010-09-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Official BTCC history page". BTCC. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013.