John Fitzpatrick (racing driver)

Summary

John Fitzpatrick (born in Birmingham, 9 June 1943) is a British former 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.

John Fitzpatrick
John Fitzpatrick in 2014
NationalityEnglish
Born (1943-06-09) 9 June 1943 (age 80)
Birmingham, England, UK
Retired1986

He was one of the best Porsche drivers of his era. He began his career driving Touring cars in the BSCC and ETCC, winning the British Saloon Car Championship in 1966. First it was Minis, then Ford Anglias and Escorts; BMW CSs and then Porsche 911s. He then became renowned for his expertise at driving the German machines. He was crowned European GT Champion in 1972, and then again in 1974. He moved to the United States in 1980, driving for Dick Barbour Racing, and capturing the IMSA Camel GT Championship in the process. He won the prestigious Porsche Cup in 1972, 1974 and 1980. In 1981, he moved from driver to team owner-driver, with some success.[1][2]

Racing career edit

BSCC years edit

 
Fitzpatrick (1973)

Fitzpatrick had little racing experience before he entered the British Saloon Car Championship [BSCC], with his pre-career largely unknown. From 1963, Team Broadspeed, employed Fitzpatrick to race their Austin Mini Cooper S in the three of the closing rounds of the year. He won points, although his season was brought to a close with two retirements in the final rounds. For 1964, Fitzpatrick switched to the factory backed Cooper Car Company team, taking his first victory (in class) at the first race. A second win resulted from the fourth meeting, ultimately finishing second in the championship to Jim Clark.[3][4]

In 1965, Fitzpatrick returned to Team Broadspeed, remaining with them for the rest of his BSCC career. The season saw Fitzpatrick claim three podiums (including a class win) in his Morris Mini Cooper S 970. It would be in 1966, however, that Fitzpatrick put his name into the BSCC history books. Team Broadspeed were contracted by Ford to run two 1000cc Ford Anglias in the BSCC, to be driven by Fitzpatrick and Peter Proctor. Peter Proctor had a severe accident in the Goodwood race and his place was taken by Anita Taylor. Fitzpatrick won the Championship overall. Fitzpatrick followed this with a second place overall the following year, before Broadspeed changed to the new Ford Escorts.[5][6]

In the final four years that he competed in the BSCC, Fitzpatrick would not challenge for the title. Team Broadspeed bought a Ford Escort for Fitzpatrick, which meant he would compete directly with the Mini Coopers once more. 1968 saw the Escort struggle early on, however, as the car was not homologated until the third race of the year. Nonetheless, Fitzpatrick took four class wins on the trot during the middle of the season, finishing sixth overall. 1969 saw a further three wins for Fitzpatrick, resulting in a 7th place overall.[7]

In 1970 and 1971, Fitzpatrick would claim a further fifteen wins in class, taking third on the championship in 1970. The new regulations introduced that year seemed to provoke Fitzpatrick to end his driving career in the series, as he entered the world of endurance racing full-time after 1971.[8]

World of Endurance Racing edit

In 1971, Fitzpatrick had signed for the works Ford outfit, Ford Köln, to race in the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC), where he partnered Jochen Mass in the endurance events. After the pair finished 4th in Monza in their Ford Escort RS 1600, Fitzpatrick would race solo in a selection of events, winning the first of these, the Austria-Trophäe, at the Salzburgring. After not finishing any other races, until his final race of 1971, he won the Jarama 4 Hours in alongside Mass[9][10]

 
The BMW that Fitzpatrick co-drove to win the ’72 Grosser Preis der Tourenwagen

For 1972, Fitzpatrick switched to the renowned BMW Team Schnitzer, for another attack at the ETCC title. After a second place in the Brno 2 hours, he joined Rolf Stommelen and Hans Heyer to win the Grosser Preis der Tourenwagen, (sometimes known as the 6 Hours of the Nürburgring) in their BMW 2800 CS. He would finish sixth overall in the end of season standing, one better than the previous season. Meanwhile, away from the ETCC, Fitzpatrick was busy racing a Porsche 911 S for the Porsche Kremer team. He won five of the nine races in the inaugural European GT Championship, en route to the title, beating his nearest rival, Claude Haldi by more than double his points (125pts v 61pts). He also won the coveted Porsche Cup.[11][12][13][14]

In the ETCC, Fitzpatrick returned to Ford Köln, to race their Ford Capri RS 2600. This switched back to Ford, saw him triumph again in the Austria-Trophäe, at the Salzburgring alongside raising Touring Car star, Dieter Glemser. After taking two more podium finishes, including a second place in the Spa 24 Hours, he would finish fifth in the overall standings.[15][16][17]

1974 saw Fitzpatrick return to the European GT Championship. Although the new Porsche 911 Carrera RSR had no competition, the title chase was entertaining, but only because of the Cologne rivalry between Kremer and Georg Loos (Gelo Racing) teams. Drivers switched between the two outfits during the season, including John. Despite this Fitzpatrick got the title by a lot smaller, margin that in 1972 – just 9pts., after winning three races. In the lad from the West Midlands would also win the Porsche Cup for the second time.[14][18]

Another season in the ETCC, and another switched of marques, as Fitzpatrick moves back to München, for the 1975 season. With John back again Schnitzer, he would win a third Austria-Trophäe. For the 1975 European GT season, Fitzpatrick was back with Gelo. It seemed that he might win a third title in four seasons, but fierce competition in the Gelo Team from Tim Schenken and Toine Hezemans, handed the title to Tebernuma Racing's Hartwig Bertrams and their RSR.[19][20]

 
Fitzpatrick and Walkinshaw winning the Silverstone 6 Hours

1976 saw the eagerly awaited World Championship for Makes[WCM] based on silhouette cars arrive, but only one marque was ready; Porsche. Unfortunately for Fitzpatrick, he was racing a BMW 3.5 CSL for Hermetite Products. Although the car was supplied by BMW Motorsport, it was outdated really, but fragile. During the Silverstone 6 Hours, the works Porsche of Jochen Mass and Jacky Ickx hit trouble along with the fast turbo version of the BMW CSL of Ronnie Peterson and Gunnar Nilsson, allowing Fitzpatrick and Tom Walkinshaw through to the win by a mere 20 metres from Bob Wollek and Hans Heyer in a Porsche 935 K2. This pairing would also finish second in the 1000 Martha / Österreichring 6 Hours.[21][22][23]

 
The race winning Morris/Fitzpatrick Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34.

Away from the WCM, Fitzpatrick was winning races outside of Europe. He piloted a BMW 3.0 CSL on behalf of BMW of North America to victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona. Originally, Fitzpatrick was paired with Walkinshaw, but when their car retired, he was switched to the sister car of Peter Gregg and Brian Redman, which would go on to victory, winning by 14 laps. Following a second place in the RAC Tourist Trophy, he triumphed in the Hardie-Ferodo 1000 in an Australian Group C Holden Torana L34 touring car with Bob Morris driving for Ron Hodgson Motors. In a dramatic finish, Fitzpatrick nursed the Torana home trailing smoke over the last few laps. Initially thought to be an engine problem or a broken axle (which the L34 Torana's were notorious for doing), it was later revealed that an oil seal had failed and the leaking oil was getting into the clutch making it slip badly and slowing him down, especially on the steeper parts of the Mount Panorama Circuit.[24][25]

Fitzpatrick was a regular driver at Bathurst, first teaming with 1967 winner Fred Gibson in an Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV in 1975, winning with Morris in 1976 while again joining Morris in 1977 and 1978 in a Torana (both DNF). He teamed with four-time winner Allan Moffat in 1979 in a Ford XC Falcon Cobra (DNF) and again in 1980 in a Ford XD Falcon (DNF). He returned to join forces with Bob Morris in 1981 (XD Falcon - 2nd). His last appearance as a driver in Australia was to have been the 1982 James Hardie 1000, but after Morris qualified their Ford XE Falcon in 6th place, Fitzpatrick had a front wheel break going through Forrest Elbow during the Saturday afternoon practice session causing the car to crash heavily into the wall. The damage was enough to prevent the Seiko sponsored Falcon from starting Australia's Great Race.[26][27][28][29][30][31][32]

For 1977, Fitzpatrick was back at Kremer Racing, where in five WCM races, he co-drove with Wollek to three podium finishes, reaching the top at Hockenheim. But John's main drive for ’77 was back to Touring Cars. He had rejoined Broadspeed, to race the Jaguar XJ12C, however the racing programme got off on the wrong foot because British Leyland would not finalise the decision whether or not to continue with the programme following their debut in 1976. This mean Ralph Broad and Broadspeed guys did not know whether to get on with their development programme. Once Leyland gave the go ahead, valuable time had been lost. Fitzpatrick found himself partnering Tim Schenken, together they raced eight times for Jaguar, they only finished once, in the Grand Prix Brno, held on the old Masaryk Circuit, albeit in 16th place following an exploding tyre. [33][34][35]

Despite Jaguar pulling out of the ETCC, Fitzpatrick found himself in great demand, so much so, he was racing in three major championships, winning races in all of them. His berth in ETCC was the Luigi Team / BMW Italia. Here, he teamed up with Umberto Grano to win the Mugello 100 Giri. Just three weeks earlier, at the very same Mugello, driving for Georg Loos (Gelo Racing) Team's Porsche 935, he won the Mugello 6 Hours, a round of the WCM. This time he was partnered by Toine Hezemans and Hans Heyer. When the series arrived in the United States, Heyer was replaced by Peter Gregg, for a race at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, helping Fitzpatrick and Hezemans to victory. The next round was back in Italy, the 6 Ore di Vallelunga, which although Fitzpatrick did not win, he did finish on the podium in second and third places! The third series Fitzpatrick drove in, was the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft [DRM]. Although he had raced in the championship before, this was the first time he raced the whole series with Gelo Racing, finishing 4th overall in the process. During this season, he scored 7 podium finishes, the best being his victory in the ADAC-Trophy at Zandvoort.[36][37][38][39][40][41]

For 1979, he dropped the ETCC from his schedule, concentration solely of Group 5 racing with Gelo Racing and their Porsche 935. There was mixed fortunes for John, with winless season in the DRM. However, in the WCM, results were better. Firstly with new partners, Wollek and Manfred Schurti, John was able to retain the Mugello 6 Hours. With Fitzpatrick and Wollek entered in two cars for the Rivet Supply Silverstone 6 Hours. Their car with Schurti encountered Turbo problems, but the one with Heyer was victorious, winning by over seven laps. Gelo continued their good form, into the next round, with Fitzpatrick; Wollek and Schurti taking the spoils in the ADAC 1000 km Rennen.[42][43][44]

IMSA years edit

 
Fitzpatrick, Barbour & Plankenhorn en route to 2nd, in 1980 1000km Nürburgring

1980 was the year the Porsche 935K3 became prominent, both across Europe and North America. Dick Barbour Racing had two of their own cars and hired Fitzpatrick as their lead driver. This was a good choice, as the Englishman swept the IMSA GT Championship and beat everybody, including the 1979 Champion, Gregg, winning seven of the fourteen races. These included some of top races; 12 Hours of Sebring and Los Angeles Times Grand Prix, where he was partnered by Barbour and the WCM round at Mosport Park, where Redman joined him. Back in Europe, Fitzpatrick a Dick Barbour car to victory in the ADAC Norisring Trophäe, and 2nd place in the ADAC 1000 km Rennen. When Barbour's 935K3 wasn't available in Europe, Fitzpatrick piloted the Jägermeister Kremer version. Between these cars, he took three more wins, en route to 8th in the overall standings. This resulted in the Porsche Cup returning to his hands.[45][46][47][48][49]

John Fitzpatrick Racing edit

In 1981, Dick Barbour experienced some financial setbacks and Fitzpatrick founded his own team, John Fitzpatrick Racing, with sponsorship from Sachs. In his debut season as the team owner-driver of John Fitzpatrick Racing, he was assisted by the Kremer brothers. By the second race of the 1981 season, he was back in Victory Lane, by winning the Camel GT race at Road Atlanta. Then co-driven by Jim Busby to another victory in the Los Angeles Times Grand Prix. Although the championship for 1982, was between John Paul Jr. and the Interscope Lola T600 of Ted Field and Danny Ongais, John Fitzpatrick Racing [JFR] had some good races with their impressive 935K4. John took the Mid-Ohio round, beating Paul Jr., then had another convincing in at Lime Rock. The 935K4 would not reappear until Road America, where Fitzpatrick took another convincing win, then again at Mid-Ohio, sharing with Englishman David Hobbs. Another Englishman, Derek Bell, partnered Hobbs to assist Fitzpatrick to his third Los Angeles Times Grand Prix win in four seasons. The other JFR 935 at the Riverside was entered for Bell and Stommelen, who was the fastest 935 driver at that time, according to Bell. Rolf went off the road and damaged the car when on fresh tyres, did another lap slowly to check the car out, then went full-bore again only to have the rear body collapse, causing him to lose control and hit a wall. The team had no idea of the severity of Rolf's accident and switched Bell to the Fitzpatrick-Hobbs car. The team of all-English drivers went on to win, unaware that Rolf had died.[2][45][49][50][51]

Away from North America, Fitzpatrick was back behind the wheel of an ETCC Jaguar. He joined Tom Walkinshaw Racing for a few events, a best being a home victory in the Donington 500. Although the Jaguar XJS won on home soil, it was not without some drastic measures by TWR, like the second Jaguar blocking the leading BMW, and passing under a yellow flag. That second Jag was driven by Martin Brundle, Enzo Calderari and Fitzpatrick.[52]

Thanks to a high level of sponsorship from J. David, Fitzpatrick was able to purchase two Porsche 956s to run in the World Endurance Championship [WEC] series and did in fact become the privateer to field a multi-car team of 956s. JFR was also the first use a 956 in the States, running in the Can-Am series because the car was prohibited from the IMSA Camel GT series because of safety issues. The SCCA allowed the 956 provided they complied with full Group C and Can-Am rules. Although this rendered them less than fully competitive, the team's 956 won at Elkhart Lake, on its first American outing. Whilst in the US, JFR had the opportunity of doing some unseen development work. When the 956 was returned to Europe, to race in the Grand Prix International 1000 km, at Brands Hatch, it featured many enhances not seen on the works cars. The soaking Kent track let JFR try out their aerodynamic tweaks and Fitzpatrick and partner for this race, Derek Warwick became only the second team to beat the works team.[50][53]

 
John Fitzpatrick Racing's Porsche 956, in Skoal Bandit livery

For 1984, Guy Edwards brought Skoal Bandit sponsor to the team. JFP added a Porsche 962, as well as a new 956, replacing the Brands Hatch winning 956. The 962 was not popular with JFR's drivers and was sold early into the 1985 season. Only one further victory was gained, this being in a DRM round at the Norisring with Thierry Boutsen behind the wheel, perhaps this was not really surprising, for by then there were so many top-class 956s in action that wins were spread very thinly amongst them.[50][54]

When Skoal Bandit pulled out at the end of 1984, JFR had difficulty in maintaining adequate levels of finance. One car was leased to Manuel Lopez and raced with sponsorship from Canal 9 Peru; it was written off at Silverstone and had to be rebuilt around a new 962 chassis. With backing from the American 100s cigarettes, two cars were entered into the 1985 Le Mans 24 hours, but one of these, the rebuilt car crashed heavily in practise.[50]

For the 1985 Norisring round of the WEC, the works Porsches were not entered, which left one of their lead drivers, Bell, without a drive, so Fitzpatrick offered him one. Bell called the 956 "diabolical. It was painfully, visibly slow, but I drove my backside off from virtually last place of the grid, struggling round to take 11th place shortly before the end". His works teammate, Hans Stuck, had electronic troubles with his Joest Racing Porsche, and eventually wound up 15th. So, at the end of the year, Bell was given the World Championship on the basis of this tie-decider – 11th as opposed to 15th at the Norisring.[51]

After the 1000 km di Mugello, where he finished 4th with Hobbs and Boutsen, Fitzpatrick hung up his helmet, preferring to concentrate on team organisation. He relocated to Spain, and racing during 1986 with backing from various Spanish businesses, notably Danone, he retired from Motor Sport, and he sold his entire team, including racing cars, transporters and all equipment to Jochen Dauer.[50][55]

John Fitzpatrick intended to expand the team into CART for the 1984 season with J. David sponsorship using March customer chassis but the project did not come to fruition.

Racing record edit

Career highlights edit

Season Series Position Team Car
1963 European Touring Car Challenge [56] 88th S.R. Broad & Sons Ltd. Austin Mini Seven
1964 BRSCC British Saloon Car Championship [57][58] 2nd Cooper Car Co. Morris Mini Cooper S
1965 BRSCC British Saloon Car Championship [59] 10th Team Broadspeed Austin Mini Cooper S
1966 BRSCC British Saloon Car Championship [60][61] 1st Team Broadspeed Ford Anglia
1967 BRSCC British Saloon Car Championship [62][63] 2nd Team Broadspeed Ford Anglia
1968 RAC British Saloon Car Championship [64][65] 6th Team Broadspeed Ford Escort GT 1300
European Touring Car Championship – Division 1 [66][67] 11th Broadspeed Ford Anglia
European Touring Car Championship – Division 2 [66][68] 12th Broadspeed Ford Escort GT
1969 European Touring Car Championship – Division 2 [69][70] 6th Team Broadspeed Ford Escort 1300 GT
RAC British Saloon Car Championship [71][72] 7th Team Broadspeed Ford Escort GT 1300
1970 RAC British Saloon Car Championship [73][74] 3rd Team Broadspeed Ford Escort GT 1300
1971 RAC British Saloon Car Championship [75][76] 4th Team Broadspeed Ford Escort RS 1600
European Touring Car Championship [77][78] 7th Ford Köln Ford Escort RS 1600
1972 European GT Championship [13] 1st Porsche Kremer Racing Porsche 911 S
European Touring Car Championship [12][79] 6th Team Schnitzer Motul BMW 2800 CS
1973 European Touring Car Championship [17][80] 5th Ford Köln Ford Capri RS 2600
1974 European GT Championship [18][81] 1st Polifac Racing
Samson Kremer Team
Porsche Carrera RSR
1975 European GT Championship [82][83] 5th Gelo Racing Team Porsche Carrera RSR
1975 European Touring Car Championship [84][85] 32nd Scuderia Tornacum BMW 3.0 CSL
1976 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 [25][86] 1st Ron Hogdson Motors Holden Torana LH L34
1977 Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft [87][88] 29th Vaillant Kremer Team Porsche 935 K2
1978 Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft [40][89] 4th Wesiberg-Gelo-Team Porsche 935-77A
European Touring Car Championship [90][91] 22nd Luigi/BMW Italia BMW 3.0 CSL
1979 Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft [92][93] 6th Gelo Sportswear Team Porsche 935-77A
1980 IMSA Camel GT Championship[94] 1st Dick Barbour Racing Porsche 935 K3
World Challenge for Endurance Drivers [95] 2nd Dick Barbour Racing
Porsche Kremer Racing
Bob Penrod
Porsche 935 K3
AMC Spirit
Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft [96][97] 8th Jägermeister Kremer Racing
Dick Barbour Racing
Porsche 935 K3
1981 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 [31][98] 2nd Bob Morris Motor Sport Ford XD Falcon
Camel GT Championship[99] 3rd Kremer Racing
John Fitzpatrick Racing
Porsche 935 K3/80
World Championship for Drivers [100] 12th John Fitzpatrick Racing Porsche 935 K3/80
Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft [101][102] 33rd T-Bird Swap Shop Porsche 935 K3/80
1982 Camel GT Championship[103][104] 3rd John Fitzpatrick Racing Porsche 935 K3/80
Porsche 935 K4
FIA World Endurance Championship[105] 11th John Fitzpatrick Racing Porsche 935/78
Porsche 935 K4
1983 FIA European Endurance Championship[106][107] 4th John Fitzpatrick Racing Porsche 956
Can-Am[108][109] 8th JDavid Racing Porsche 956
Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft [110] 11th John Fitzpatrick Racing Porsche 935 K4
FIA World Endurance Championship[111] 17th John Fitzpatrick Racing Porsche 956
Camel GTP Championship[112][113] 23rd John Fitzpatrick Racing Porsche 935 K4
European Touring Car Championship [114][115] 45th TWR Jaguar Racing with Motul Jaguar XJS

Complete British Saloon Car Championship results edit

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

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pos. Pts Class
1963 Broadspeed Engineering Austin Mini Cooper S A SNE OUL GOO AIN SIL CRY SIL BRH
12
BRH
Ret
OUL
Ret
SIL 40th 2 11th
1964 Cooper Car Co. Morris Mini Cooper S A SNE
6
GOO
12
OUL
?
AIN
9
SIL
?
CRY
2†
BRH
8
OUL 2nd 38 1st
1965 Team Broadspeed BMC Mini Cooper S B BRH OUL
Ret
10th 18 9th
Austin Mini Cooper S SIL
9
OUL
Ret
Austin Mini Cooper S 970 A SNE
17
GOO
DNS
CRY
4†
5th
Morris Mini Cooper S 970 BRH
Ret
1966 Team Broadspeed Ford Anglia A SNE
?
GOO
?
SIL
14
CRY
4†
BRH
11
BRH
Ret
OUL
6†
BRH
?^
1st 50 1st
1967 Team Broadspeed Ford Anglia A BRH
Ret^
SNE
?
SIL
?
SIL
6
MAL
?†
SIL
?
SIL
Ret
BRH
8
OUL
4†
BRH
7
2nd 62 1st
1968 Team Broadspeed Ford Escort 1300 GT B BRH
Ret^
THR
Ret
SIL
8
CRY
Ret†
MAL
1†
BRH
3
SIL
8
CRO
7^
OUL
NC
BRH
Ret
BRH
9^
6th 42 2nd
1969 Team Broadspeed Ford Escort 1300 GT B BRH
Ret^
SIL
5
SNE
Ret
THR
Ret
SIL
8
CRY
Ret†
MAL
Ret†
CRO
4^
SIL
6
OUL
9
BRH
8
BRH
6
7th 44 3rd
1970 Team Broadspeed Ford Escort 1300 GT B BRH
Ret^
SNE
8
THR
9
SIL
6
CRY
1†
SIL
9
SIL
29^
CRO
5^
BRH
4
OUL
6
BRH
4^
3rd 62 1st
Ford Escort TC C BRH
1
NC
1971 Team Broadspeed Castrol Ford Escort RS1600 C BRH
1^
SNE
2
THR
Ret
SIL
3
CRY
Ret†
SIL
4
CRO SIL
7
OUL
2
BRH
1
MAL
2†
BRH
Ret
4th 67 1st
1972 Team Broadspeed Ford Escort RS1600 C BRH OUL THR SIL CRY BRH OUL SIL
13^
MAL BRH 43rd 4 12th
1973 Ford Köln Ford Capri RS2600 D BRH SIL THR THR SIL ING BRH SIL
17^
BRH NC 0 NC
1974 Gerry Edmonds Racing Triumph Dolomite Sprint B MAL BRH SIL OUL THR SIL THR BRH ING BRH
5†
OUL SNE
6
BRH 34th 3 12th
1978 Hermetite Racing with Leyland Triumph Dolomite Sprint C SIL OUL
2†
THR
Ret
BRH
Ret†
SIL
6
DON MAL BRH DON
8†
BRH
?
THR
?
OUL 12th 28 4th
Source:[116]

† Events with 2 races staged for the different classes.

^ Race with 2 heats - Aggregate result.

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results edit

Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
pos.
1972   Porsche Kremer Racing Team   Erwin Kremer Porsche 911 S GT 39 DNF DNF
1973   Ford Motorenwerke   Dieter Glemser
  Hans Heyer
Ford Capri RS 2600 T3.0 239 DNF DNF
1975   Gelo Racing Team   Toine Hezemans
  Gijs van Lennep
  Manfred Schurti
  Georg Loos
Porsche Carrera RSR GT 316 5th 1st
1976   Hermetite Products Ltd.   Tom Walkinshaw BMW 3.5 CSL Gr.5 17 DNF DNF
1977   Porsche Kremer Racing   Guy Edwards
  Nick Faure
Porsche 935 Gr.5 15 DNF DNF
1978   Weisberg Gelo Team   Toine Hezemans Porsche 935/77A Gr.5 19 DNF DNF
1979   Gelo Sportswear International   Harald Grohs
  Jean-Louis Lafosse
Porsche 935/77A Gr.5
+2.0
196 DNF DNF
1980   Dick Barbour   Brian Redman
  Dick Barbour
Porsche 935 K3/80 IMSA 318 5th 1st
1982   John Fitzpatrick Racing   David Hobbs Porsche 935/78-81 IMSA
GTX
329 4th 1st
1983   John Fitzpatrick Racing   Guy Edwards
  Rupert Keegan
Porsche 956 C 359 5th 5th
  John Fitzpatrick Racing   Dieter Quester
  David Hobbs
Porsche 956 C 135 DNF DNF

Complete 24 Hours of Daytona results edit

Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
pos.
1973   Porsche Kremer Racing   Erwin Kremer
  Paul Keller
Porsche 911 S GT
+2.0
630 6th 5th
1976   BMW of North America   Peter Gregg
  Brian Redman
BMW 3.0 CSL GTO 545 1st 1st
  BMW of North America   Tom Walkinshaw BMW 3.0 CSL GTO 457 15th
(DNF)
10th
(DNF)
1977   KWM Racing   Kenper Miller
  Paul Miller
BMW 3.5 CSL GTO 368 DNF DNF
1979   Gelo Racing Team   Manfred Schurti
  Bob Wollek
Porsche 935/77A GTX 135 DNF DNF
1980   Dick Barbour Racing   Manfred Schurti
  Dick Barbour
Porsche 935 K3/80 GTX 405 29th 9th
1981   Kremer Racing   Jim Busby
  Bob Wollek
Porsche 935 K3/80 GTX 167 DNF DNF
1982   John Fitzpatrick Racing   David Hobbs
  Wayne Baker
Porsche 935 K3/80 GTP 59 DNF DNF

Complete 12 Hours of Sebring results edit

Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
pos.
1972   Libra International Racing   John Buffum Ford Escort RS 1600 T2.5 97 27th 1st
1980   Dick Barbour Racing   Dick Barbour Porsche 935 K3/80 GTX 253 1st 1st
1981   John Fitzpatrick Racing   Jim Busby Porsche 935 K3/80 GTX 129 DNF DNF
1982   John Fitzpatrick Racing   David Hobbs Porsche 935 K3/80 GTP 7 DNF DNF

Complete 24 Hours of Spa results edit

Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
pos.
1965   Team Broadspeed   John Handley Morris Mini Cooper S T1.3 DNF DNF
1969   Ford Chevron Racing Team   Yvette Fontaine Ford Escort TC Div.2 11th 2nd
1970   Ford Chevron Racing Team   Gustaaf Witvrouw Ford Escort TC Div.2/Gr.2 DNF DNF
1971   Ford Köln   François Mazet Ford Escort RS 1600 Div.2 DNF DNF
1972   Team Schnitzer Motul   Alain Peltier
  Christian Ethuin
BMW 2800 CS Div.3 304 4th 4th
  Team Schnitzer Motul   Hans Heyer BMW 2800 CS Div.3 160 DNF DNF
1973   Ford   Jochen Mass Ford Capri RS 2600 LW Div.2 298 2nd 2nd
1974   Ford UK/Hermetitie   Tom Walkinshaw Ford Capri II 3.0 Div.4 DNF DNF
1975   Hermetitie Products   Tom Walkinshaw Ford Capri II 3.0 Div.4 DNF DNF
1978   Veedol Team   Les Blackburn
  Stuart Rolt
Ford Capri II 3.0 Gr.1
+2.5
DNF DNF

Complete 12 Hours of Reims results edit

Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
pos.
1967   David Prophet   David Prophet Ferrari 250 LM P+2.0 DNF DNF

Complete Bathurst 1000 results edit

Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
pos.
1975   Alfa Romeo Dealers Australia   Fred Gibson Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV B 12 DNF DNF
1976   Ron Hodgson Motors   Bob Morris Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 3001cc - 6000cc 163 1st 1st
1977   Ron Hodgson Motors   Bob Morris Holden LX Torana SS A9X 4-Door 3001cc - 6000cc 111 DNF DNF
1978   Ron Hodgson Motors   Bob Morris Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback A 73 DNF DNF
1979   Allan Moffat Racing   Allan Moffat Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop A 136 DNF DNF
1980   Allan Moffat Racing   Allan Moffat Ford XD Falcon 3001-6000cc 3 DNF DNF
1981   Bob Morris Motor Sport   Bob Morris Ford XD Falcon 8 Cylinder & Over 120 2nd 2nd
1982   Seiko Watches   Bob Morris Ford XE Falcon A - DNS DNS

References edit

  1. ^ "John Fitzpatrick". www.johnfitzpatrick.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  2. ^ a b "John Fitzpatrick Porsche 935K4". IMSAblog.
  3. ^ "1963 BSCC - round 8". touringcarracing.net.
  4. ^ "British Saloon Car Championship - 1964". touringcarracing.net.
  5. ^ "British Saloon Car Championship - 1965". touringcarracing.net.
  6. ^ "British Saloon Car Championship - 1966". touringcarracing.net.
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External links edit

  • British Touring Car Championship statistics
  • Profile at Motor Sport magazine archive
Sporting positions
Preceded by British Touring Car Champion
1966
Succeeded by
Preceded by
n/a
European GT Champion
1972
Succeeded by
Preceded by European GT Champion
1974
Succeeded by
Hartwig Bertrams
Preceded by IMSA Camel GT Champion
1980
Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Bathurst 1000
1976
(with Bob Morris)
Succeeded by
Preceded by Porsche Cup
1972
Succeeded by
Clemens Schickentanz
Preceded by
Clemens Schickentanz
Porsche Cup
1974
Succeeded by
Preceded by Porsche Cup
1980
Succeeded by