First of all, thank you guys for the recent team ID on the Karl Jones and likely Graham Scarborough entries.
Description: Round 12 of 12 of the 1987 Dunlop tyres RAC British Touring Car Championship held over 15 laps at the 4.778 kilometer Silverstone Grand Prix circuit on Sunday 6 October 1987.
Yet another clash with a World champion counter, this time at Mount Panorama, Australia, and a bit of musical chairs saw an altered line up for the final round of the BTCC. Dennis Leech and Tim Harvey were in their usual Rovers with the ever more competitive David Carvell and Graham Scarborough along in their similar cars. With Graham Goode still sidelined and Andy Rouse down under, Peter Hall was sole RS500 runner although joined by Australian Rex Muldoon in his Group A RS Cosworth rally version. Mike O’Brien was also out to see some action with historic racer Chris Aylett joining the fray with the David Brodie Mitsubishi Starion, so far only seen at the GP support race in July.
Frank Sytner was absent in class B, the BMW M3 sold to Allan Minshaw who was missing from the entry list anyway. With Mark Hales secure of the class B title as well as second overall Graham Hathaway would take over the lead Terry Drury Escort joining Lionel Wiffen in the straightened second car. Karl Jones made it once more in the Asquith/Duckhams version while Jon Dooley would finish the line-up in his Alfa 75 Turbo. Colin Pearcy and Roger Saunders were only class C contenders. If not exactly in a direct points battle they were tied on five class victories before the Silverstone finale. With the championship in the bag for the second year Chris Hodgetts was down under, with usual class B runner Mark Hales replacing him in the lone CHMS Corolla with the previous round Corollas as selective opposition in the hands of Geoff Kimber-Smith and Tiff Needell present. Tony Crudgington would make a return to the series with his Corolla while the series' two Escort RS1600is would be driven by Phil Dowsett (May) and Mark Goddard (Gaunt).
Grid:
1.A – Pete Hall, 1:40.40
2.A – David Carvell, 1:41.43
3.A – Dennis Leech, 1:42.14
4.A – Tim Harvey, 1:42.17
5.A – Mike O'Brien, 1:43.28
6.A – Graham Scarborough, 1:43.47
7.A – Gary Aylett, 1:44.68
8.A – Rex Muldoon, 1:47.67
9.B – Karl Jones, 1:48.46
10.D – Tiff Needell, 1:48.98
11.D – Mark Hales, 1:49.31
12.B – Graham Hathaway, 1:49.56
13.B – Jon Dooley, 1:50.14
14.D – Geoff Kimber-Smith, 1:51.09
15.B – Lionel Wiffen, 1:51.70
16.D – Tony Crudgington, 1:52.03
17.D – Phil Dowsett, 1:52.04
18.D – Mark Goddard, 1:52.07
19.C – Colin Pearcy, 1:52.38
20.C – Roger Saunders, 1:52.55
21.B – Kevin Eaton, 1:53.19
Despite being a bit slow off the line Peter Hall rounded the first turn in second but soon powered past lightning starting Dennis Leech for the lead. David Carvell and Tim Harvey joined Leech in a three way Rover dash with attention focusing on the close points battle among Leech and Harvey. The action also allowed Mike O’Brien to join the fun but soon dropped back with an alternator problem. Out front Peter Hall could secure his first victory of the year in very commanding fashion. Behind Dennis Leech fought off the attention of David Carvell but midway through Leech opened up for Carvell to have a go at the chikane. It would only be at Copse that the white Rover was in front even bringing Harvey with him. But then the Istel car went slightly off at Club half a lap later. With David Carvell already off into the distance towards a well deserved second, Harvey was pressuring Leech for third when the pair arrived at the Woodcote chicane on the 11th lap. Harvey took the inside line from a momentarily brakeless Leech. A frantic pumping of the pedal brought back the stopping power to the black Rover but sending him off into the gravel and the first retirement of the year. Tim Harvey was thus third and class A winner in the championship stakes. Mike O’Brien and Graham Scarborough was next a long way ahead of Rex Muldoon. Chris Aylett had a driveshaft let go after 11 laps joining Leech on the retirement list.
Karl Jones took an immediate lead in class B only to see the tail lights of Kevin Eatons Bluebird within a short time. Unfortunately the Nissan engine cried enough on the forth tour ending his race. For Jones a misfire halted progression leaving the class win to Graham Hathaway in the lead Drury Escort. Jon Dooley took second despite an off song engine, but obviously matters were worse for Karl Jones who finally managed third from Lionel Wiffen. Colin Pearcy took yet another uncontested class C win in the Metro when the engine in the Roger Saunders Renault 5 expired on lap 10. Mark Hales assured the Chris Hodgetts outfit of an 11th win of the season when Tiff Needell was first caught out by a momentarily stranded Muldoon Sierra at the start and then finally a wiring problem by lap six. With Tony Crudgington left at the start with a broken gearbox and Geoff Kimber-Smith retiring with an engine failure on the very last lap, it was left for Escort drivers Mark Goddard and Phil Dowsett to take the final class D podium finishes.
Result:
1./ #2 / Pete Hall / Rouse / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 15 laps / 25m49.03s / FL
2./ #5 / David Carvell / Potter / A / Rover Vitesse / 15 laps / 26m00.61s
3./ #8 / Tim Harvey / Maguire / A / Rover Vitesse / 15 laps / 26m04.71s
4./ #7 / Mike O'Brien / Docking / A / Holden Commodore VK / 15 laps / 26m08.09s
5./ #3 / Graham Scarborough / Thomas / A / Rover Vitesse / 15 laps / 26m14.09s
6./ #? / Rex Muldoon / Muldoon? / A / Ford Sierra RS Cosworth / 15 laps / 27m26.77s
7./ #38? / Graham Hathaway / Drury / B / Ford Escort RS Turbo / 15 laps / 27m35.70s / FL
8./ #31 / Jon Dooley / Dooley / B / Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo / 14 laps
9./ #66? / Mark Hales / Hodgetts / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 14 laps / FL
10./ #22 / Karl Jones / Asquith / B / Ford Escort RS Turbo / 14 laps
11./ #39 / Lionel Wiffen / Drury / B / Ford Escort RS Turbo / 14 laps
12./ #55 / Colin Pearcy / Pearcy / C / MG Metro Turbo / 14 laps / FL
13./ #? / Mark Goddard / Gaunt / D / Ford Escort RS1600i / 14 laps
14./ #74 / Phil Dowsett / May / D / Ford Escort RS1600i / 14 laps
DNFs
#77 / Geoff Kimber-Smith / Kimber-Smith / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 13 laps / Engine
#9 / Chris Aylett / Brodie / A / Mitsubishi Starion Turbo / 11 laps / Driveshaft
#4 / Dennis Leech / Leech / A / Rover Vitesse / 10 laps / Accident
#45 / Roger Saunders / Saunders / C / Renault 5 GT Turbo / 10 laps / Engine
#70 / Tiff Needell / TOM's GB / D / Toyota Corolla FX / 6 laps / Electrics
#32 / Kevin Eaton / Eaton / B / Nissan Bluebird Turbo / 3 laps / Engine
#62 / Tony Crudgington / Crudgington / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 0 laps / Gearbox
I will return with a stab at the point standings as well as thoughts about the drivers and the season as a whole, but for now I will wish you all a Happy New Year
Jesper