Robb Gravett

Last updated

Robb Gravett
Rob Gravett at the British GP support round of the BTCC 1995 (49773137752).jpg
Gravett in 1995
Nationality Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British
Born (1956-05-10) 10 May 1956 (age 67)
London, England
British Touring Car Championship
Years active12
Teams Graham Hathaway Racing
ICS plc
Trakstar Motorsport
Peugeot Talbot Sport
Team Mondeo
Roy Kennedy Racing
Foesport
Team Dynamics
Rock-It Cargo
Brookes Motorsport
Starts152
Wins13
Poles14
Fastest laps16
Best finish1st in 1990
Championship titles
1990
1990
1997 		British Touring Car Championship
BTCC - Class A
BTCC Independents Cup

Robb Gravett (born 10 May 1956 (sometimes noted as 2 May 1956 [1] ) is a British retired racing driver and team owner from London. He started his motorsport career on two wheels, racing Moto Cross at the age of 12. By 15, he was already British champion, but decided to switch to four-wheeled racing in his early 20s. Robb began racing cars in 1978, eventually entering the British Touring Car Championship in 1987.

Contents

He won the 1987 Willhire 24 Hour co-driving with Graham Hathaway and entered the Bathurst 1000 on four occasions with a best finish of 8th in 1989. He went on to win the 1990 British Touring Car Championship winner with his own Trakstar team, in a Ford Sierra RS500 built by his own team and ran with no permanent major sponsorship till the later rounds.

Trakstar Motorsport

Gravett co-founded Trakstar in 1989 with Mike Smith – Robb finished 2nd in his class that year, behind Andy Rouse's Ford Sierra RS500. In 1990 he won 9 races in the sole Trakstar RS500 enjoying a fierce on-track rivalry with Rouse. There were 2 different classes of cars racing for the same title in 1990, each scoring points based on where they finished among their own class. Robb dominated his class and won the championship outright, the only driver to take the overall title in the Sierra RS500, despite operating on a shoestring budget. The key to Gravett's success was the Yokohama tyres that Trakstar used, which were more durable than the Dunlop rubber used by most of the field. During 1990, Gravett had a run in two races in the DTM championship, but did not score any points. [2] Trakstar also built the Honda Civic run under the PG Tips Racing banner for Ray Armes that season.

The championship changed to a single-class in 1991, and Trakstar secured manufacturer support from Ford to run Sierra Sapphires that year with sponsorship from Shell Oil and engines prepared by Mountune, however Gravett was short on good results. Originally planned to be one of two cars run by the team, a second bodyshell was built but never completed. The Sierra Sapphire arrived late and had not turned a wheel before the first round at Silverstone. [3] This led to a difficult development period and the team experimented with different engine and gearbox configurations and even four wheel drive in an effort to catch up. The car was down on power and difficult to set up. [4] Results started to come towards the end of the year but it was too late. Despite being the works outfit, Ford was not investing in the team or the car's development costs. Unable to find a new title sponsor, the team struggled with lack of funds throughout the year and by the end of the season were forced into administration. Ford took a year out in 1992 before returning to the BTCC in 1993 with Andy Rouse.

Later career

Gravett joined the factory Peugeot squad for 1992 and 1993. Peugeot had great success in European touring car racing, but never challenged in the BTCC, partly because of budgetary issues. The 405 needed a lot of development work, but Gravett pressed on, nearly winning the TOCA challenge at the end of 1992. He managed to finish 2nd at Brands Hatch in 1993, matching Peugeot's best ever result in the BTCC. Steve Soper had made a forceful move on him on the last lap, but was given a penalty and placed in third. He didn't have a drive in 1994, and returned a year later as an independent driver. [5]

Despite his success, the BTCC teams at the time were increasingly promoting international drivers and Gravett would not drive for a works team again. He turned his attention to running as a privateer, but was no less committed, including a then best 3rd overall finish at Snetterton for an independent. He went on to win the Total sponsored 1997 Independent BTCC Championship in a Graham Hathaway prepared Honda Accord. He drove for Brookes Motorsport in his final year of racing, finishing second in the Independents' Cup. He partnered Brookes at that year's Bathurst 1000, but failed to finish. [6] Gravett was reported to be considering a comeback to the BTCC in 2014, but ultimately this came to nothing. [7]

Gravett is now running a driver safety driving programme called "Ultimate Car Control UK Ltd" with the head office at Crowthorne in Berkshire and regional centres across the county. [8] He is also a Director of Brand Synergy- a consortium hoping to save the British Grand Prix. [9]

He is now divorced. He has a son who has started a career in motorsport, running in the BARC Sax Max Championship.

Racing record

Complete British Touring Car Championship results

(key) Races in bold indicate pole position (1 point awarded – 1996 onwards all races) Races in italics indicate fastest lap (1 point awarded – 1987–1989 in class) (* signifies that driver lead feature race for at least one lap – 1 point given in 1998 only)

YearTeamCarClass1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526Overall
Pos		PtsClass
Pos
1987 Graham Hathaway Racing Ford Sierra RS500 A SIL OUL THR THR SIL SIL
Ret		 BRH SNE DON OUL DON SIL NC0NC
1988 ICS plc Ford Sierra RS500 A SIL OUL THR
Ret		 DON
10		 THR
15		 SIL
2		 SIL
5		 BRH
11		 SNE
2		 BRH
Ret		 BIR
C		 DON SIL 22nd148th
1989 Trakstar Motorsport Ford Sierra RS500 A OUL
1		 SIL
2		 THR
5		 DON
2		 THR
Ret		 SIL
1		 SIL
2		 BRH
1		 SNE
1		 BRH
Ret		 BIR
5		 DON
2		 SIL
3		4th742nd
1990 Trakstar Motorsport Ford Sierra RS500 A OUL
12		 DON
2		 THR
1		 SIL
1		 OUL
1		 SIL
1		 BRH
1		 SNE
1		 BRH
1		 BIR
Ret		 DON
1		 THR
3		 SIL
1		1st2071st
1991 Trakstar Motorsport Ford Sierra Sapphire SIL
20		 SNE
13		 DON
Ret		 THR
14		 SIL
18 1 		BRH
9		 SIL
Ret		 DON
1
9		 DON
2
4		 OUL
9		 BRH
1
5		 BRH
2
2		 DON
7		 THR
9		 SIL
13		11th28
1992 Peugeot Talbot Sport Peugeot 405 Mi16 SIL
15		 THR
Ret		 OUL
Ret		 SNE
Ret		 BRH
11		 DON
1
10		 DON
2
Ret		 SIL
15		 KNO
1 		KNO
2 		PEM
10		 BRH
1
12		 BRH
2
Ret		 DON
11		 SIL
16		24th1
1993 Peugeot Talbot Sport Peugeot 405 Mi16 SIL
Ret		 DON
Ret		 SNE
7		 DON
14		 OUL
DNS		 BRH
1
DSQ		 BRH
2
16		 PEM
11		 SIL
9		 KNO
1
Ret		 KNO
2
DNS		 OUL
Ret		 BRH
2		 THR
4		 DON
1
17		 DON
2
13		 SIL
DNS		13th34
1994 Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Ghia THR BRH
1 		BRH
2 		SNE SIL
1 		SIL
2 		OUL DON
1 		DON
2 		BRH
1 		BRH
2 		SIL KNO
1 		KNO
2 		OUL BRH
1 		BRH
2 		SIL
1 		SIL
2 		DON
1
11		 DON
2
Ret		NC0
1995 Roy Kennedy Racing Vauxhall Cavalier 16v DON
1
19		 DON
2
15		 BRH
1 		BRH
2 		THR
1 		THR
2 		SIL
1 		SIL
2 		OUL
1 		OUL
2 		BRH
1 		BRH
2 		DON
1 		DON
2 		20th13
Foesport Ford Mondeo Ghia SIL
13		 KNO
1
10		 KNO
2
14		 BRH
1
19		 BRH
2
13		 SNE
1
3		 SNE
2
Ret		 OUL
1
16		 OUL
2
DNS		 SIL
1
15		 SIL
2
Ret
1996 Team Dynamics Ford Mondeo Si DON
1
12		 DON
2
Ret		 BRH
1
Ret		 BRH
2
15		 THR
1
13		 THR
2
14		 SIL
1
19		 SIL
2
Ret		 OUL
1
16		 OUL
2
15		 SNE
1 		SNE
2 		BRH
1 		BRH
2 		SIL
1
Ret		 SIL
2
18		 KNO
1
15		 KNO
2
16		 OUL
1 		OUL
2 		THR
1 		THR
2 		DON
1 		DON
2 		BRH
1 		BRH
2 		NC0
1997 Rock-It Cargo Honda Accord DON
1 		DON
2 		SIL
1
13		 SIL
2
10		 THR
1
16		 THR
2
16		 BRH
1
12		 BRH
2
13		 OUL
1
14		 OUL
2
13		 DON
1
17		 DON
2
Ret		 CRO
1
15		 CRO
2
14		 KNO
1
13		 KNO
2
10		 SNE
1
14		 SNE
2
13		 THR
1
16		 THR
2
Ret		 BRH
1
10		 BRH
2
14		 SIL
1
16		 SIL
2
14		18th3
1998 Brookes Motorsport Honda Accord THR
1
17		 THR
2
16		 SIL
1
13		 SIL
2
12*		 DON
1
15		 DON
2
Ret		 BRH
1
16		 BRH
2
17		 OUL
1
15		 OUL
2
16		 DON
1
8		 DON
2
Ret		 CRO
1
Ret		 CRO
2
14		 SNE
1
13		 SNE
2
9		 THR
1
16		 THR
2
Ret		 KNO
1
Ret		 KNO
2
12		 BRH
1
16		 BRH
2
12*		 OUL
1
15		 OUL
2
12		 SIL
1
Ret		 SIL
2
DNS		19th7
  1. ^ – Race was stopped due to heavy rain. No points were awarded.

Complete European Touring Car Championship results

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

YearTeamCar1234567891011DCPts
1988 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Baynard Cars Ltd Ford Sierra RS500 MNZ DON EST JAR DIJ VAL NÜR SPA ZOL SIL
9		 NOG NC0

Complete Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship results

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

YearTeamCar1234DCPoints
1988 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Shell Ultra Hi Racing Ford Sierra RS500 BAT
Ret		 WEL PUK FJI NC0

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft results

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

YearTeamCar12345678910111213141516171819202122Pos.Pts
1990 AMG Motorenbau GmbH Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2 ZOL
1 		ZOL
2 		HOC
1 		HOC
2 		NÜR
1 		NÜR
2 		AVU
1 		AVU
2 		MFA
1 		MFA
2 		WUN
1 		WUN
2 		NÜR
1 		NÜR
2 		NOR
1 		NOR
2 		DIE
1 		DIE
2 		NÜR
1
16		 NÜR
2
17		 HOC
1 		HOC
2 		NC0

Complete Japanese Touring Car Championship results

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

YearTeamCarClass123456DCPts
1990 Napolex Racing Team Ford Sierra RS500 JTC-1 NIS SUG SUZ TSU SEN FUJ
Ret		NC0

Complete Bathurst 1000 results

YearCar#TeamCo-DriverCarClassLapsPos.Class
Pos.
1988 18 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Shell Ultra Hi Racing Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Bowe
Flag of New Zealand.svg Neville Crichton 		Ford Sierra RS500 A27DNFDNF
1989 18 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Shell Ultra Hi Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Allam Ford Sierra RS500 A1588th8th
1990 40 Flag of New Zealand.svg Mark Petch Motorsport Flag of Italy.svg Gianfranco Brancatelli Ford Sierra RS500 1118DNFDNF
1998*29 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brookes Motorsport Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lee Brookes Honda Accord ST49DNFDNF

* Super Touring race

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References

  1. ↑ "Robb Gravett". Super Touring Register. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "ford-sierra-cosworth | Motor Sport Magazine". Archived from the original on 9 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "under-scrutiny-trakstar | Motor Sport Magazine". Archived from the original on 23 September 2016.
  4. ↑ "Trakstar Ford Sierra Sapphire - 1991 BTCC - TenTenths Motorsport Forum".
  5. ↑ "Peugeot 406: STW success vs. BTCC failure - TenTenths Motorsport Forum".
  6. ↑ "Home". robbgravett.com.
  7. ↑ "Former champion Robb Gravett weighing up BTCC return".
  8. ↑ "Home". ultimatecarcontrol.com.
  9. ↑ "Former reporter leads GP consortium". Independent.co.uk . 7 October 2004.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Autosport
National Racing Driver of the Year
1990		Succeeded by
Sporting positions
Preceded by British Touring Car Champion
1990		Succeeded by
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