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John Fitzpatrick (racing driver)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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John Fitzpatrick (racing driver)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.