7 replies to this topic

[alfredaustria]

In his new autobiography "Watching the wheels" Damon Hill mentions that he won a race of the Saab Championship 1989, driving a front-Wheel-drive Turbo Saab Saloon-car. He was a guest Driver.

Perhaps do you have more Information about that race: Where? When? Full results?

Thank you.

Kind regards

Alfred

[Tim Murray]

I suspect the race in question is the support race for the British F3 Championship round at Brands Hatch on 17th May 1987. Damon drove the Saab Turbo usually driven by Tiff Needell, who couldn't do this race as he was driving a Toyota at the Le Mans Test Days. I'm guessing Hill got the drive as his F3 car and the Needell Saab were both sponsored by Cellnet.

Damon put the car on pole, lost out to Charles Tippett at the start, but took the lead after a lap and was never headed thereafter.

Results:
1. Damon Hill 9m 44.82s 74.09mph
2. Tony Lanfranchi
3. Charles Tippett
4. Barrie Williams
5. Rob Johnston
6. Gerry Marshall
Fastest lap: Hill 57.03sec 75.97mph (record)

This would appear to be the only time Damon raced in this series, which I think had died by 1989 (I can't find any mention of it that year).

[Vitesse2]

Admittedly a short race, but that's an impressive bunch of tintop pedallers behind him. Especially as Lanfranchi and Marshall (and likely Whizzo too) could probably have driven round Brands blindfold.

[Allan Lupton]

This would appear to be the only time Damon raced in this series, which I think had died by 1989 (I can't find any mention of it that year).

Perhaps something to do with the SAAB restructuring and General Motors' ownership which was happening about then.

[Tim Murray]

Admittedly a short race, but that's an impressive bunch of tintop pedallers behind him. Especially as Lanfranchi and Marshall (and likely Whizzo too) could probably have driven round Brands blindfold.

Lanfranchi had been demoted to the back of the grid for running too much boost in qualifying, whilst Big Gerry was complaining of a tired engine. Even so, a fine performance by Damon as a one-off stand-in. He was less fortunate in the F3 race, being nudged into a spin at Druids on the first lap and then staging a great recovery drive which took him up to 7th at the finish.

[alfredaustria]

I suspect the race in question is the support race for the British F3 Championship round at Brands Hatch on 17th May 1987. Damon drove the Saab Turbo usually driven by Tiff Needell, who couldn't do this race as he was driving a Toyota at the Le Mans Test Days. I'm guessing Hill got the drive as his F3 car and the Needell Saab were both sponsored by Cellnet.

Damon put the car on pole, lost out to Charles Tippett at the start, but took the lead after a lap and was never headed thereafter.

Results:
1. Damon Hill 9m 44.82s 74.09mph
2. Tony Lanfranchi
3. Charles Tippett
4. Barrie Williams
5. Rob Johnston
6. Gerry Marshall
Fastest lap: Hill 57.03sec 75.97mph (record)

This would appear to be the only time Damon raced in this series, which I think had died by 1989 (I can't find any mention of it that year).

 

Hi Tim,

really great, thank you very much.

 

1987 Damon had also one appearance in the MG Maestro Challenge. I guess in Support of the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, july 12, I am not sure.

All I could find was a YouTube-Video in bad Quality:

 

Perhaps have got more Information of this race too?

Thank you.

Kind regards

Alfred

[Tim Murray]

The MG Maestro Challenge was a multi-discipline series which included races, rallies, hillclimbs, sprints and even the odd autotest. In 1987 Roger Dowson Engineering ran a couple of celebrity cars for Austin Rover, and these were driven by Hill and Gary Brabham in the race at Silverstone on 31st August. The video clip tells the story of the race - Brabham and Hill battled for the lead throughout the race until Gary forced Damon wide at Woodcote on lap 9, allowing Dave Taylor through into second place.

Results:
1. Gary Brabham 12m 53.74s 74.81mph
2. Dave Taylor
3. Damon Hill
4. John Chalmers
5. Phil Darbyshire
6. David Hall
Fastest lap: Brabham 1m 16.05s 76.11mph (record)

[alfredaustria]

The MG Maestro Challenge was a multi-discipline series which included races, rallies, hillclimbs, sprints and even the odd autotest. In 1987 Roger Dowson Engineering ran a couple of celebrity cars for Austin Rover, and these were driven by Hill and Gary Brabham in the race at Silverstone on 31st August. The video clip tells the story of the race - Brabham and Hill battled for the lead throughout the race until Gary forced Damon wide at Woodcote on lap 9, allowing Dave Taylor through into second place.

Results:
1. Gary Brabham 12m 53.74s 74.81mph
2. Dave Taylor
3. Damon Hill
4. John Chalmers
5. Phil Darbyshire
6. David Hall
Fastest lap: Brabham 1m 16.05s 76.11mph (record)

Great help.
Thank you very much.
Regards
Alfred