1988 Dunlop RAC British Touring Car Championship - Discussion & Results

[chunterer]

I thought Asquith were in Beds or Herts, near to the late Gerry Marshall, who was the other business partner beforehand.

Curnow was and i'm sure Longman still is based in the Christchurch area of Dorset if that's any help.

Mark Hales was from Bedfordshire I think?

Couple of other things. Now that rumoured Tom's GB Supra.....

Didn't John Wickham enter one in a couple of Spa 24's in 88/89 or 90 with Dowsett in the roster? Begs the question if they had this car all along and whether they did a few enduro's after the BTCC plans came to nought?

Vic Lee replaced Hodgetts in the MIL team from May/June time for a while.

Dennis Leech went sideways into a marshalls post prior to the chicane in that Thruxton round necessitating a reshell. I think this was the only time his car was reshelled from a shunt. The thinking in the Rover thread is that he replaced his original Martin Thomas built car with a TWR chassis (a rebuilt Bastos car pranged at Zolder in late '85?) with numerous late model upgrades ready for the 1987 season? Can't recall if this was totally verified?

This was the car used again in 1988, I'm not sure if he ran again in '88 after that shunt???

[KA]

Originally Posted by Tim Wilkinson

The TOM'S Corolla had 203bhp at the start of '88, apparently. Not bad from a 1600, I'll be lucky if my Nova has 60% of that! The '87 RSTs had 230bhp.

Sorry for creating more questions today - with that RST and the Commodore, everything's going out of whack. Of course, that's if we believe everything we read, which I don't think we can.

The track test (I'd forgotten about it!) gives a couple of clues that makes me think that Asquith were based in West Kingsdown, by Brands. Jones' '87 car was Curnow's '86 Datapost entry (a Longman car). What happened to Longman's car from '86, and where did Mark Hales' car come from? More questions, haha!

Now you mention it West Kingsdown rings a bell with me

The Longman car is probably still around- there's a Datapost RS Turbo around in Ford RS Owners Club circles which I think is the ex-Longman car.

The Hales car might have been built by Terry Drury Racing themselves- I think they were running a single car for Hales against the Datapost team in '86 (Datapost didn't run a second RS Turbo until '86 either- their '85 campaign was a Turbo for Longman and an RS1600i for Curnow, as the Turbo wasn't homologated until mid-year) TDR's second car appeared in '87.

[KA]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Couple of other things. Now that rumoured Tom's GB Supra.....

Didn't John Wickham enter one in a couple of Spa 24's in 88/89 or 90 with Dowsett in the roster? Begs the question if they had this car all along and whether they did a few enduro's after the BTCC plans came to nought?

Think that was the Japanese end of TOM'S? They came over for Spa a few times around that time, with both Corollas and Supras (When TOM'S GB ran their first fwd Corolla for Dowsett and Needell at Spa in '87, IIRC, there was also a Japanese-crewed rwd AE86 entered by TOM'S)

Originally Posted by chunterer

Vic Lee replaced Hodgetts in the MIL team from May/June time for a while.

Lee shared the #1 car with Hodgetts at Donington, then drove the second Supra when that finally appeared. After Chris parted company with the team, Mark Hales and Ian Flux took over #1

Originally Posted by chunterer

Dennis Leech went sideways into a marshalls post prior to the chicane in that Thruxton round necessitating a reshell. I think this was the only time his car was reshelled from a shunt. The thinking in the Rover thread is that he replaced his original Martin Thomas built car with a TWR chassis (a rebuilt Bastos carpranged at Zolder in late '85?) with numerous late model upgrade ready for the 1987 season? Can't recall if this was totally verified?

This was the car used again in 1988, I'm notm sure if he ran again in '88 after that shunt???

That sounds about right- the 1987 onwards Leech car has been reshelled a couple of times, but I think one of them was by a later owner. Think it started life as the ex-Walkinshaw '85 Zolder Bastos car rebuilt into a new shell by Dennis (from vague memory, the Zolder shunt was a first-lap job, and a fairly big hit- something like Tom got tapped from behind and turned around in front of the pack, and was collected pretty much head-on by a 635....)

According to the race results I've got, Dennis repaired the Rover and carried on for a few more rounds before parking it just after mid-season (Thruxton had been his first appearance of the year- think he did Rounds 3-6 and 8)

[Jesper OH]

Round 4 of 13 of the 1988 Dunlop RAC British Touring Car Championship held on Sunday 15th May 1988 over x laps of the 2.500 miles Donington Park circuit.

The 1 hour 2 driver round, but why was it moved from Oulton Park to Donington Park?

1./ #22 / Andy Rouse, David Sears / ARE-Kaliber / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / x laps / 1h00m51.61s
2./ #19 / Laurence Bristow, Tim Harvey / ARE-CAM / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 1h00m55.61s
3./ #21 / Guy Edwards, Johnny Dumfries / ARE-Kaliber / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 1h01m24.39s
? / #23 / Win Percy, Allan Grice / NME-Nissan / A / Nissan Skyline GTS-R / 4th in class
? / #14 / Mike Newman, ? / Goode-Listerine / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 5th in class
? / #17 / Bob Sands, ? / CC-Crystal / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 6th in class
? / #7 / Mike O'Brien, ? / Docking-Swan / A / Holden Commodore VL /
? / #1 / Chris Hodgetts, Vic Lee / MIL / A / Toyota Supra Turbo /
DNF / #8 / Jerry Mahony, ? / Dowson-Arquati / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth /
Fastest lap: Win Percy or Allan Grice

Class B:
? / #33 / Frank Sytner, James Weaver / Richards-Mobil / B / BMW M3 / 1st in class
? / #36 / Godfrey Hall, ? / Maguire / B / BMW M3 / 2nd in class
? / #38 / Dave Wallis, ? / Drury / B / Ford Escort RS Turbo / 3rd in class
? / #39 / Lionel Wiffen, ? / Drury / B / Ford Escort RS Turbo / 4th in class
DNF / #32 / Mike Smith, ? / Richards-Mobil / B / BMW M3 /
DNF / #44 / Roland Ratzenberger, ? / Minshaw-Demon Tweeks / B / BMW M3
Fastest lap: Godfrey Hall

Class C:
? / #55 / James Shead, ? / Maguire / C / VW Golf GTI 16V / 1st in class
DNF / #50 / John Brindley, ? / Minshaw-Demon Tweeks / C / VW Golf GTI 16V /
DNS / #48 / Andrew Jeffrey, ? / Jeffrey?-Specialist Cars Aberdeen / C / VW Golf GTI 16V /
Fastest lap: James Shead

Class D:
? / #77 / Geoff Kimber-Smith, ? / Kimber-Smith / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 1st in class
? / #70 / Phil Dowsett, Tiff Needell / TOM's GB / D / Toyota Corolla FXGT / 2nd in class
? / #61 / Kevin Eaton, ? / MIL / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 3rd in class
? / #63 / Tony Crudgington, ? / Crudgington / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 4th in class
? / #60 / Mark Hales, ? / CHMS / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 5th in class
Fastest lap: ?

Jesper

[Jesper OH]

Round 5 of 13 of the 1988 Dunlop RAC British Touring Car Championship held on Monday 30th May 1988 over x laps of the x.xxx miles/3.791 kms Thruxton circuit.

1./ #22 / Andy Rouse / ARE-Kaliber / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / x laps /
2./ #16 / Karl Jones / Asquith-Duckhams / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth /
3./ #8 / Jerry Mahony / Dowson-Arquati / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth /
? / #14 / Mike Newman / Goode-Burlington / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 4th in class
? / #5 / Tim Harvey / Drury-? / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 5th in class
? / #7 / Mike O'Brien / Docking-Swan / A / Holden Commodore VL / 6th in class
? / #21 / Guy Edwards / ARE-Kaliber / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth /
? / #10 / Robb Gravett / ARE-? / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth /
DNF / #19 / Laurence Bristow / ARE-CAM / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth
Fastest lap: Mike Newman

Class B:
? / #44 / Roland Ratzenberger / Minshaw-Demon Tweeks / B / BMW M3 / 1st in class
? / #36 / Godfrey Hall / Maguire / B / BMW M3 / 2nd in class
? / #33 / Frank Sytner / Richards-Mobil / B / BMW M3 / 3rd in class
? / #32 / Mike Smith / Richards-Mobil / B / BMW M3 / 4th in class
Fastest lap: Godfrey Hall

Class C:
? / #50 / John Brindley / Minshaw-Demon Tweeks / C / VW Golf GTI 16V / 1st in class
? / #55 / James Shead / Maguire / C / VW Golf GTI 16V / 2nd in class
Fastest lap: James Shead

Class D:
? / #70 / Phil Dowsett / TOM's GB / D / Toyota Corolla FXGT / 1st in class
? / #63 / Tony Crudgington / Crudgington / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 2nd in class
DNF / #77 / Geoff Kimber-Smith / Kimber-Smith / D / Toyota Corolla GT /
Fastest lap: Phil Dowsett

Good day for Alan Minshaw winning both class B and C, beating John Maguire into second in both classes!

Jesper

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Jesper OH

Round 4 of 13 of the 1988 Dunlop RAC British Touring Car Championship held on Sunday 15th May 1988 over x laps of the 2.500 miles Donington Park circuit.

The 1 hour 2 driver round, but why was it moved from Oulton Park to Donington Park?

1./ #22 / Andy Rouse, David Sears / ARE-Kaliber / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / x laps / 1h00m51.61s
2./ #19 / Laurence Bristow, Tim Harvey / ARE-CAM / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 1h00m55.61s
3./ #21 / Guy Edwards, Johnny Dumfries / ARE-Kaliber / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 1h01m24.39s
? / #23 / Win Percy, Allan Grice / NME-Nissan / A / Nissan Skyline GTS-R / 4th in class
? / #14 / Mike Newman, Robert Speak? / Goode-Listerine / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 5th in class
? / #17 / Bob Sands, ? / CC-Crystal / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 6th in class
? / #7 / Mike O'Brien, ? / Docking-Swan / A / Holden Commodore VL /
? / #1 / Chris Hodgetts, Vic Lee / MIL / A / Toyota Supra Turbo /
DNF / #8 / Jerry Mahony, ? / Dowson-Arquati / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth /
Fastest lap: Win Percy or Allan Grice

Class B:
? / #33 / Frank Sytner, James Weaver / Richards-Mobil / B / BMW M3 / 1st in class
? / #36 / Godfrey Hall, ? / Maguire / B / BMW M3 / 2nd in class
? / #38 / Dave Wallis, ? / Drury / B / Ford Escort RS Turbo / 3rd in class
? / #39 / Lionel Wiffen, ? / Drury / B / Ford Escort RS Turbo / 4th in class
DNF / #32 / Mike Smith, Will Hoy ? / Richards-Mobil / B / BMW M3 /
DNF / #44 / Roland Ratzenberger, Alan Minshaw? ? / Minshaw-Demon Tweeks / B / BMW M3
Fastest lap: Godfrey Hall

Class C:
? / #55 / James Shead, ? / Maguire / C / VW Golf GTI 16V / 1st in class
DNF / #50 / John Brindley, ? / Minshaw-Demon Tweeks / C / VW Golf GTI 16V /
DNS / #48 / Andrew Jeffrey, Vic Covey? ? / Jeffrey?-Specialist Cars Aberdeen / C / VW Golf GTI 16V /
Fastest lap: James Shead

Class D:
? / #77 / Geoff Kimber-Smith, ? / Kimber-Smith / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 1st in class
? / #70 / Phil Dowsett, Tiff Needell / TOM's GB / D / Toyota Corolla FXGT / 2nd in class
? / #61 / Kevin Eaton, ? / MIL / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 3rd in class
? / #63 / Tony Crudgington, ? / Crudgington / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 4th in class
? / #60 / Mark Hales, ? / CHMS / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 5th in class
Fastest lap: ?

Jesper

Couple of thoughts in bold, but KA will likely confirm which i've got right along with the other gaps. I used to know these things off by heart, but it was a long time ago!!

O'Brien, Mahoney and G Hall's teammates are on the tip of my tongue.......

For example Sears actually pedalled a sister Maguire run black M3 in the last couple of rounds, but here he was partnering Andy Rouse's Sierra....... I have long held my own theories about why David appeared in that M3 later on when he had such good relations with Rouse..... Andy's main tital rival was Frank Sytner, also in an M3.....

But that's something we can cover when you reach that stage Jesper!

[KA]

Originally Posted by Jesper OH

Round 4 of 13 of the 1988 Dunlop RAC British Touring Car Championship held on Sunday 15th May 1988 over 47 laps of the 2.500 miles Donington Park circuit.

The 1 hour 2 driver round, but why was it moved from Oulton Park to Donington Park?

Not sure of the reason for the change, but it became a fixture at Donington in 1988-90- We also got one at Brands in '90

1./ #22 / Andy Rouse, David Sears / ARE-Kaliber / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 47 laps / 1h00m51.61s
2./ #19 / Laurence Bristow, Tim Harvey / ARE-CAM / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 1h00m55.61s
3./ #21 / Guy Edwards, Johnny Dumfries / ARE-Kaliber / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 1h01m24.39s
4/ #23 / Win Percy, Allan Grice / NME-Nissan / A / Nissan Skyline GTS-R / 4th in class 1h01m28.85
5 / #14 / Mike Newman, Robert Speak / Goode-Listerine / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 5th in class 1h01m47.33
6 / #17 / Bob Sands, Richard Jones / CC-Crystal / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 6th in class 46 laps
7 / #33 / Frank Sytner, James Weaver / Richards-Mobil / B / BMW M3 / 1st in class/ 46 laps
8 / #7 / Mike O'Brien, Sean Brown? / Docking-Swan / A / Holden Commodore VL / 46 laps
9 / #36 / Godfrey Hall, Barrie Williams / Maguire / B / BMW M3 / 2nd in class/46 laps
10/#10/Robb Gravett, Gary Ayles/ Rouse-ICS/A/Ford Sierra RS500/45 laps
11/#4/Dennis Leech, David Carvell/ Leech/A/Rover Vitesse/44 laps
12/#27/Peter Buxtorf, Barry Robinson/Buxtorf/A/BMW 635CSi/43 laps
13/#20/Graham Hathaway, Peter Townsend/Hathaway/A/Ford Sierra RS500/43 laps
14 / #77 / Geoff Kimber-Smith, Barbara Cowell / AGK / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 1st in class/42 laps
15 / #70 / Phil Dowsett, Tiff Needell / TOM's GB / D / Toyota Corolla FXGT / 2nd in class/42 laps
16 / #61 / Kevin Eaton, Alex Moss / MIL / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 3rd in class/42 laps
17 / #38 / Dave Wallis, Lionel Abbott / Drury / B / Ford Escort RS Turbo / 3rd in class/42 laps
18 / #39 / Lionel Wiffen, Robin Parsons / Drury / B / Ford Escort RS Turbo / 4th in class/41 laps
19 / #55 / James Shead, John Morris / Maguire / C / VW Golf GTI 16V / 1st in class/41 laps
20 / #63 / Tony Crudgington, Alastair Davidson / Crudgington / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 4th in class/41 laps
21/ #60 / Mark Hales, Patrick Watts/ CHMS / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 5th in class/ 40 laps
DNF/#24/Nick May, John Lepp/Trident Motorsport/A/Maserati Biturbo-
DNF / #32 / Mike Smith, Will Hoy / Richards-Mobil / B / BMW M3 /- propshaft & exhaust damage?
DNF/#16/Karl Jones, Ian Flux/Asquith-Duckhams/A/Ford Sierra RS500/ 16 laps- brakes
DNF / #8 / Jerry Mahony, Mark Hales / Dowson-Arquati / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth /engine
DNF/ #15 / Graham Goode, Alistair Lyall / Goode-Listerine / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 26 laps-overheating
DNF / #44 / Alan Minshaw, Roland Ratzenberger, / Minshaw-Demon Tweeks / B / BMW M3/ fuel tank
DNF / #1 / Chris Hodgetts, Vic Lee / MIL / A / Toyota Supra Turbo /
DNF / #50 / John Brindley, John Llewellyn / Minshaw-Demon Tweeks / C / VW Golf GTI 16V
DNS / #48 / Andrew Jeffrey, John Clark / Jeffrey?-Specialist Cars Aberdeen / C / VW Golf GTI 16V /

I've only got a few qualifying times, but the grid order as far as I can tell was:

1:Rouse/Sears 1m14.24
2:Newman/Speak 1m14.73
3:Bristow/Harvey
4:Goode/Lyall 1m15.17
5:Gravett/Ayles
6:Grice/Percy
7:Edwards/Dumfries 1m15.84
8:Jones/Flux
9:Hodgetts/Lee
10:Sytner/Weaver
11:O'Brien/Brown
12:Hall/Williams?- possibly 13th?
13:Leech/Carvell?- possibly 12th?
14: Minshaw/Ratzenberger
15: Mahony/Hales
16: Smith/Hoy?
17: Sands/Jones 1m19.30
18: Hathaway/Townsend
19: Dowsett/Needell or May/Lepp
20: Jeffrey/Clark?
21:Buxtorf/Robinson
22: Brindley/Llewellyn
23: Hales/Watts
24: Eaton/Moss
25: Kimber-Smith/Cowell
26: Shead/Morris
27:Crudgington/Davidson
28:Wallis/Abbott
29:Wiffen/Parsons

There are a few inconsistencies and gaps, (eg the Hall/Williams M3 and Leech/Carvell Rover might be the wrong way round, and I seem to a have both the Dowsett/Needell TOM'S Corolla and the Maserati in 19th...) so I suspect some of these are wrong

Can anyone fill the rest of these in or correct my errors?

According to my notes of the result, John Lepp didnt post a qualifying time in the Maserati- not sure if this meant that Nick May had to drive solo?

[Tim Wilkinson]

Donington 1 hour grid.

Pole - Rouse / Sears (A pole 1m14.24)
2 - Newman / Speak
3 - Bristow / Harvey
4 - Goode / Lyall
5 - Gravett / Ayles
6 - Percy / Grice
7 - Edwards / Dumfries
8 - K Jones / Flux
9 - Hodgetts / Lee
10 – Weaver / Sytner (B pole 1m16.81)
11 - Brown / O’Brien & Smith / Hoy tied (both on 1m17.46)
12 - Williams / G Hall
13 - Leech / Carvell
14 - Ratzenberger / Minshaw
15 -Mahony / Hales
16 - ? (Autosport adjusting for having two 11s?)
17 - Sands / R Jones
18 - Hathaway / Townsend
19 – Dowsett / Needell (D pole 1m23.11)
20 - May / Lepp
21 – Robinson / Buxtorf
22 – Brindley / Llewellyn (C pole 1m23.71)
23 – Hales / Watts
24 – Eaton / Moss
25 – Cowell / Kimber-Smith
26 – Shead / Morris
27 – Crudgington / Davidson
28 – Wallis / Abbott
29 – Wiffen / Parsons
NS – Jeffrey / Clark. (had a time quick enough to qualify them 22nd, on class C pole – 1m23.60)

Amazing to see the class B RSTs bringing up the rear.

Lepp didn't qualify (blown turbo seal in 1st qually not fixed for 2nd), so May could run for 20 laps only. It lasted 9.

A couple of data inconsistencies in the mag - the Jeffrey / Clark Golf not being given class pole or a grid number - it didn't line up for the race, but had still qualified. The written report credits Brindley / Llewellyn with the quickest C time, which it didn't actually have. And the two 11s on the grid, and the places not adjusted until the missing 16 appears. So really shoudl read -

11 & 12 - Brown / O’Brien & Smith / Hoy tied (both on 1m17.46)
13 - Williams / G Hall
14 - Leech / Carvell
15 - Ratzenberger / Minshaw
16 -Mahony / Hales

Full results and weekend news to follow......

[chunterer]

So how did Sean Brown get to team up with O'Brien in the Commodore?

Didn't remember that!!

I know he had been a prodsaloon regular for several years that decade, latterly in a Sierra Cosworth.

I'm guessing he fancied a taste of Group A with a view to moving up to join Gravett, Mahoney, Bristow and Smithy, his former RS Cosworth sparring partners in '89?

Mind you funny he should do that in a Holden then!!! Could he have been tempted to buy the car at some stage?

Interesting one as a lot of the other pairings had some kind of link, or had either driven with or against each other at various stages.

[Jesper OH]

Round 6 of 13 of the 1988 Dunlop RAC British Touring Car Championship held on Sunday 5th June 1988 over x laps on the x.xxx miles/x.xxx kms Silverstone circuit.

Class A:
1./ #22 / Andy Rouse / ARE-Kaliber / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth /
2./ #10 / Robb Gravett / ARE-? / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth /
3./ #14 / Mike Newman / Goode-Listerine / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth /
? / #19 / Laurence Bristow / ARE-CAM / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 4th in class
? / #21 / Guy Edwards / ARE-Kaliber / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 5th in class
? / #5 / Tim Harvey / Drury-? / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 6th in class
? / #8 / Jerry Mahony / Dowson-Arquati / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / ?
? / #7 / Mike O'Brien / Docking-Swan / A / Holden Commodore VL / ?
Fastest lap: Andy Rouse

Class B:
? / #33 / Frank Sytner / Richards-Mobil / B / BMW M3 / 1st in class
? / #32 / Mike Smith / Richards-Mobil / B / BMW M3 / 2nd in class
? / #36 / Godfrey Hall / Maguire-? / B / BMW M3 / 3rd in class
DNF / #44 / Roland Ratzenberger / Minshaw-Demon Tweeks / B / BMW M3 / ?
Fastest lap: Frank Sytner

Class C:
? / #55 / James Shead / Maguire-? / C / VW Golf GTI 16V / 1st in class
DNS / #50 / John Brindley / Minshaw-Demon Tweeks / C / VW Golf GTI 16V / ?
Fastest lap: James Shead

Class D:
? / #70 / Phil Dowsett / TOM's GB / D / Toyota Corolla FXGT / 1st in class
? / #63 / Tony Crudgington / Crudgington / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 2nd in class
DNF / #60 / Mark Hales / Hodgetts / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 0 laps / Accident
DNF / unknown / 0 laps / Accident
DNS / #77 / Geoff Kimber-Smith / Kimber-Smith / D / Toyota Corolla GT / ?
Fastest lap: Phil Dowsett

There seems to have been four starters in class D, but as two of these retired before two completed laps points were given according to only two starters. A new for 1988 rule I believe.

Jesper

[Tim Wilkinson]

Full results - Donington 1hr (47 laps) race - 15th May 1988

Position	Driver	Team/Sponsor	Class	Car	Time/Laps
1	Andy Rouse / David Sears	Rouse-Kaliber	A	Ford Sierra	1h00m.51.61s
2	Laurence Bristow / Tim Harvey	ARE / CAM Shipping	A	Ford Sierra	1h00m55.61s
3	Guy Edwards / Johnny Dumfries	Rouse-Kaliber	A	Ford Sierra	1h01m24.39s
4	Win Percy / Allan Grice	Nissan Motorsport Europe	A	Nissan GTR-S	1h01m28.85s
5	Mike Newman / Robert Speak	Goode / Burlington	A	Ford Sierra	1h01m47.33s
6	Bob Sands / Richard Jones	CC Racing / Crystal Facilities	A	Ford Sierra	46 laps
7	James Weaver / Frank Sytner	Prodrive-BMW Finance/Mobil	B	BMW M3	46 laps
8	Sean Brown / Mike O’Brien	ADR / Autoglass	A	Holden Commodore VL	46 laps
9	Barrie Williams / Godfrey Hall	Maguire / MILA	B	BMW M3	46 laps
10	Robb Gravett / Gary Ayles	ICS	A	Ford Sierra	45 laps
11	Dennis Leech / David Carvell	Dennis Leech	A	Rover Vitesse	44 laps
12	Barry Robinson / Peter Buxtorf	Peter Buxtorf	A	BMW 635CSi	43 laps
13	Graham Hathaway / Rod Townsend	Hathaway / Soans	A	Ford Sierra	43 laps
14	Barbara Cowell / Geoff Kimber-Smith	AGK Motorsport	D	Toyota Corolla GT	42 laps
15	Phil Dowsett / Tiff Needell	TOM's Toyota	D	Toyota Corolla GT	42 laps
16	Kevin Eaton / Alex Moss	MIL Motorsport	D	Toyota Corolla GT	42 laps
17	Dave Wallis / Lionel Abbott	Drury / Kenwood Car Hi-Fi	B	Ford Escort RST	42 laps
18	Lionel Wiffen / Robin Parsons	Drury	B	Ford Escort RST	41 laps
19	James Shead / John Morris	Maguire / David Sutton	C	VW Golf GTi 16v	41 laps
20	Tony Crudgington / Alistair Davidson	Crudgington / Kaylance	D	Toyota Corolla GT	41 laps
21	Mark Hales / Patrick Watts	CHMS / AJG Transport	D	Toyota Corolla GT	40 laps
DNF	Chris Hodgetts / Vic Lee	MIL Motorsport	A	Toyota Supra Turbo	30 laps
DNF	Roland Ratzenberger / Alan Minshaw	Minshaw / Demon Tweeks	B	BMW M3	30 laps – fuel feed
DNF	Jerry Mahony / Mark Hales	Dowson / Arquait & Evans Halshaw	A	Ford Sierra	29 laps –
DNF	Graham Goode / Alistair Lyall	GGR / Listerine	A	Ford Sierra	27 laps - cooling
DNF	Karl Jones / Ian Flux	Asquith / Duckhams	A	Ford Sierra	17 laps - brakes
DNF	John Brindley / John Llewellyn	Minshaw / Demon Tweeks	C	VW Golf GTI 16v	14 laps – fuel feed
DNF	Mike Smith / Will Hoy	Prodrive-BMW Finance/Mobil	B	BMW M3	13 laps – propshaft
DNF	Nick May / John Lepp	Trident Motorsport / Campari	A	Maserati Biturbo	9 laps – turbo seal
DNS	Andrew Jeffrey / John Clark	Aberdeen Car Specialists	C	VW Golf GTI 16V

(First-named started the race)

Qually news –
The CHMS Corolla (Hales) was damaged when Mike Newman ran into the side of it in the Craner Curves. It was bent, but raced.
Gary Ayles got the drive with Robb Gravett in the ICS as his Dad has business connections with Pete Hall. Ayles enjoyed it and said he’d be back. [mid 90s in a Mondeo before he did?]
The Maserati had turbo seal issues which meant John Lepp didn’t qualify and so the race was just an extended test session – they couldn’t go full distance on 1 driver. The problem reappeared in the race. Much of the team parts were caught up in the dock strike – an issue of running a car in Britain from Italy.
The Nissan had battery issues and didn’t manage much running, and hadn’t tested since the ETC meeting a month before.
Bristow / Harvey suffered from a split turbo pipe, and Jerry Mahony reckoned he was off the pace as he’d missed testing because of an engine failure.

Race –
Rouse led for 10 laps until Percy’s Nissan had worked his way up the field and took the lead on lap 10. Grice stayed ahead after the pit-stops, but the left-rear went off and needed changing, dropping the Nissan down the order. Harvey took his Sierra up to 2nd and was closing on Rouse. Edwards & Dumfries found out they’d been running with 1.6 bar of boost instead of 1.8. Gravett had to pit early to pull bodywork off of the tyres.
Weaver and Sytner easily took class A after Mike Smith retired early on, blaming prop-shaft damage on Weaver running him off the track and over kerbs on the opening lap, and Minshaw retired his BMW after Ratzenberger had handed over to him in the class lead after battling with Weaver. Whizzo Williams had been leading, but spun out when a Sierra went off track and blew earth in through the window and it got into his face (!)
Only one finisher in class C (Shead / Morris). Dowsett handed over to Needell in the lead, before a tyre exploded in the Craner Curves. Cowell and Kimber-Smith took the class, only 8 seconds ahead of a recovering Needell, just pipping Alex Moss. Apparently Dowsett & Needell had been a little leisurely in the change-over.....

Fastest laps -
A - Percy 1m14.66
B - Williams 1m17.22
C - Shead 1m24.77
D - Moss 1m22.09

I'm a little surprised at the B & D fastest laps.

News -

May 26th -
Commodore homologation further delayed. Now not likely until September 1st.

[KA]

Originally Posted by Jesper OH

Round 5 of 13 of the 1988 Dunlop RAC British Touring Car Championship held on Monday 30th May 1988 over 17 laps of the x.xxx miles/3.791 kms Thruxton circuit.

1./ #22 / Andy Rouse / ARE-Kaliber / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 17 laps /22m23.49? (time might well be wrong)
2./ #16 / Karl Jones / Asquith-Duckhams / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 23m55.89
3./ #8 / Jerry Mahony / Dowson-Arquati / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 23m57.38
4 / #14 / Mike Newman / Goode-Burlington / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 4th in class 23m57.41
5 / #5 / Tim Harvey / Drury-? / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 5th in class 24m23.04
6/ #7 / Mike O'Brien / Docking-Swan / A / Holden Commodore VL / 6th in class/ 24m24.78
7/#15/Graham Goode/Goode-Listerine/A/Ford Sierra RS500/ 24m30.58?
8 / #44 / Roland Ratzenberger / Minshaw-Demon Tweeks / B / BMW M3 / 1st in class 24m32.30
9/ #36 / Godfrey Hall / Maguire / B / BMW M3 / 2nd in class/24m35.25
10/#20/Graham Hathaway/Hathaway/A/Ford Sierra RS500/24m39.18
11/ #21 / Guy Edwards / ARE-Kaliber / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 16 laps
12/#1/Chris Hodgetts/MIL/A/Toyota Supra Turbo/16 laps
13 / #33 / Frank Sytner / Richards-Mobil / B / BMW M3 / 3rd in class/ 16 laps
14 / #32 / Mike Smith / Richards-Mobil / B / BMW M3 / 4th in class/16 laps
15 / #10 / Robb Gravett / ARE-? / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 16 laps
16 / #50 / John Brindley / Minshaw-Demon Tweeks / C / VW Golf GTI 16V / 1st in class/16 laps
17? / #70 / Phil Dowsett / TOM's GB / D / Toyota Corolla FXGT / 1st in class/16 laps
18/ #55 / James Shead / Maguire / C / VW Golf GTI 16V / 2nd in class/16 laps
19/ #63 / Tony Crudgington / Crudgington / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 2nd in class/16 laps
20/#2/Vic Lee/MIL Motorsport/A/Toyota Supra Turbo/15 laps
21/#24/Nick May/Trident Motorsport/A/Maserati Biturbo/14 laps

DNF/#4/Dennis Leech/Leech/A/Rover Vitesse/14 laps- differential
DNF / #19 / Laurence Bristow / ARE-CAM / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth/12 laps- wheel stud?
DNF / #77 / Geoff Kimber-Smith / Kimber-Smith / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 0 laps, spun off
DNF/ #39/Lionel Wiffen/TDR/B/Ford Escort RS Turbo/0 laps- engine

Good day for Alan Minshaw winning both class B and C, beating John Maguire into second in both classes!

Jesper

Grid:
1-Rouse 1m21.75
2-Jones-1m22.67
3-Mahony-1m22.73
4-Newman- 1m22.92
5-Harvey-1m23.07
6-Edwaards-1m23.17
7-O'Brien-1m23.45?
8-Goode-1m23.65
9-Bristow-1m23.85
10-Hathaway-1m24.04
11-Sytner-1m24.34
12-Smith-1m24.52
13-Leech-1m24.70
14-Hodgetts-1m24.86
15-Ratzenberger-1m25.21
16-Hall-1m25.68
17-Gravett-1m26.44
18-Shead-1m29.79
19-Dowsett-1m29.79
20-Brindley-1m29.71
21-May-1m30.81
22-Crudgington-1m31.08
23-Kimber-Smith-1m32.31
24-Lee-1m34.83
25-Wiffen-1m36.29

[Jesper OH]

Originally Posted by Tim Wilkinson

Gary Ayles got the drive with Robb Gravett in the ICS as his Dad has business connections with Pete Hall. Ayles enjoyed it and said he’d be back. [mid 90s in a Mondeo before he did?]

He did race a Peugeot 405 in the Italian CIVT series in the early 1990's and making a brief appearence in one of the British 405s at around the same time ..with Robb Gravett as his teammate IIRC!

From your notes, this was a one hour timed event? A preview of the 1987 Oulton Park 2-driver race it was scheduled for 30 laps, incidently lasting an hour in wettish conditions.

Jesper

[Tim Wilkinson]

Round 5 - Thruxton, May 30th.

Grid -

1 Rouse (A pole 1m21.75)
2 K Jones
3 Mahony
4 Newman
5 Harvey
6 Edwards
7 O'Brien
8 Goode
9 Bristow
10 Hathaway
11 Sytner (B pole 1m24.34)
12 Smith
13 Leech
14 Hodgetts
15 Ratzenberger
16 G Hall
17 Gravett
18 Shead (C pole 1m29.79)
19 Dowsett (D pole 1m29.91)
20 Brindley
21 May
22 Crudgington
23 Kimber-Smith
24 Lee
25 Wiffen

Qually notes -

Dry first session, very wet in the second - Edwards quickest in 2nd session, from Rouse. TDR had swapped Harvey's Sierra onto Koni shocks and the "big axle" that offered better traction. MIL were running two Supras for the first time, Vic Lees finished the night before; Hodgetts suffered from an oil leak onto the rear tyres in the first session. The Supra's power comes in one big lump, making it a handful in the wet. Gravett suffered a blown engine in the first session, and lack of boost all day.

[KA]

Originally Posted by Jesper OH

Round 6 of 13 of the 1988 Dunlop RAC British Touring Car Championship held on Sunday 5th June 1988 over 15 laps on the x.xxx miles/x.xxx kms Silverstone circuit.

(Scheduled for 15 laps- Stopped and re-started after lap 1 shunt, re-run over 12 laps)

Class A:
1./ #22 / Andy Rouse / ARE-Kaliber / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth /18m50.47
2./ #10 / Robb Gravett / ARE-? / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 19m57.49
3./ #14 / Mike Newman / Goode-Listerine / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth /20m04.95
4 / #19 / Laurence Bristow / ARE-CAM / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 4th in class/ 20m14.53
5/ #21 / Guy Edwards / ARE-Kaliber / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 5th in class/ 20m15.74
6 / #5 / Tim Harvey / Drury-? / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 6th in class/ 20m18.00
7/#15/Graham Goode/Goode-Listerine/A/Ford Sierra RS500/20m22.75
8 / #8 / Jerry Mahony / Dowson-Arquati / A / Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth / 20m26.75
9/#16/Karl Jones/Asquith-Duckhams/A/Ford Sierra RS500/ 20m27.90
10/ #7 / Mike O'Brien / Docking-Swan / A / Holden Commodore VL / ?
20m47.92
11/ #33 / Frank Sytner / Richards-Mobil / B / BMW M3 / 1st in class/20m49.20
12/ #32 / Mike Smith / Richards-Mobil / B / BMW M3 / 2nd in class/20m56.59
13/ #36 / Godfrey Hall / Maguire-? / B / BMW M3 / 3rd in class/Class B:
14/#4/Dennis Leech/Leech/A/Rover Vitesse/21m11.49
15/#15/Graham Hathaway/Hathaway/A/Ford Sierra RS500
16/ #44 / Roland Ratzenberger / Minshaw-Demon Tweeks / B / BMW M3 /21m52.81 (including 1 minute penalty for jump start)
17./#70 / Phil Dowsett / TOM's GB / D / Toyota Corolla FXGT / 1st in class/11 laps
18./#55 / James Shead / Maguire-? / C / VW Golf GTI 16V / 1st in class/11 laps
19? / #63 / Tony Crudgington / Crudgington / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 2nd in class/11 laps

(my notes, probably taken from the Autosport report give Crudgington in 19th- I've also got the Motoring News report and just noticed their race result gives Kimber-Smith in 19th.....
Reading the race report itself, it lists Kimber-Smith as being involved in the lap 1 shunt, so I'm guessing the MN results list is wrong...)

DNF/#1/Chris Hodgetts/MIL Motorsport/A/Toyota Supra Turbo/engine
DNF/#2/Vic Lee/MIL Motorsport/A/Toyota Supra Turbo/engine
Both Supras out by lap 3 with blown engines

DNS / #50 / John Brindley / Minshaw-Demon Tweeks / C / VW Golf GTI 16V / 0 laps- accident
DNS / #77 / Geoff Kimber-Smith / AGK / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 0laps- accident
DNS / #61 / Mark Hales / Hodgetts / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 0 laps / Accident
DNS / John Lepp/Trident Motorsport/A/Mserati Biturbo/ 0 laps / Accident

There seems to have been four starters in class D, but as two of these retired before two completed laps points were given according to only two starters. A new for 1988 rule I believe.

Jesper

Details of the lap 1 shunt, according to MN:

Harvey, having made an appalling start from the second row to be down near the back .He was obviously anxious to make up places again quickly, but coming through Maggots for the first time, his Sierra came into contact with Lepp's Maserati, sending the Campari car into a spin across the track.
Following immediately behind, Hales, with Crudgington to his left and Brindley behind, could see a gap to the right of Lepp, went for it, but then had Brindley hit the Maserati and send it into the passenger door of Hales' car with sufficient force to completely cave in the side of the Toyota and snap the rollcage. With Kimber-Smith also involved and wrecked cars strewn across the track, the red flags came out to stop the race.
None of those involved in the accident were able to restart

Ratzenberger's jump start penalty was for creeping at the start. According to team boss Minshaw, it was down to a clutch problem- 'We couldn't buy the neccessary part from Prodrive,as they said they didnt have the neccessary part either'