1981 British Saloon Car Championship

The 1981 RAC Tricentrol British Saloon Car Championship was the 24th season of the championship. Win Percy won his second consecutive drivers title in his Mazda RX-7.

Teams and drivers

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Team Car No. Drivers Class Rounds
Gordon Spice Racing Ford Capri III 3.0S 1   Gordon Spice D 1–4, 6–11
2   Stuart Graham D 1–2
  Phil Martin-Dye 3–11
Equipe Esso VMW Motors Ford Capri III 3.0S 3   Vince Woodman D All
4   Jonathan Buncombe D 2, 4, 6–7, 10
CSH Racing with Esso
and the Daily Mirror
Ford Capri III 3.0S 5   Charles Sawyer-Hoare D 1–4, 6–11
6   Andy Rouse D All
Patrick Motorsport Rover 3500 S 7   Brian Muir D All
8   Rex Greenslade D All
63   Rad Dougall D 11
TWR – Daily Express
Mazda Motorsport/TWR
Team BP
Rover 3500 S 9   Jeff Allam D All
10   Pete Lovett D 1, 5–11
Mazda RX-7 20   Win Percy C 1–10
25   Barry Sheene C 1
  Chuck Nicholson 8–11
Audi 80 GLE 42   Martin Brundle B All
43   Stirling Moss B All
Bestmoor Silencers Ford Capri III 3.0S 11   Graham Goode D 1, 3–4, 6–8, 11
Dennis Leech Ford Capri III 3.0S 13   Dennis Leech D 2–5, 8–10
Track Marshall Ford Capri III 3.0S 15   Chuck Nicholson D 1–7
Richard Grant Racing Ford Capri III 3.0S 16   Mike Kimpton D 1, 3–8
47   Nick Whiting D 1–8, 10
Carroll Shelby Ford Capri III 3.0S 19   Wayne Wainwright D 2–5, 8
Unknown Ford Capri III 3.0S 40   Tony Sugden D 8
Castrol Denmark Ford Escort RS2000 96   Erik Høyer C 5
John Bishop Triumph Dolomite Sprint 79   John Bishop C 5, 7, 10
Mike Buckley Ford Escort RS2000 66   Mike Buckley C 1–7, 9–11
James Burrows Toyota Celica 2000 LB 74   James Burrows C 3–4, 6, 8–11
Terry Nightingale Triumph Dolomite Sprint 92   Terry Nightingale C 5–9
Ian Stirling Talbot Avenger 23   Ian Stirling C 8
Hughes of Beaconsfield Toyota Celica ST 40   Chris Hodgetts B All
Toyota Corolla GT 79   Jonathan Buncombe B 8
  Gordon Mayers 9
  Dave Brodie 10–11
Morris Vulcan Ltd. Volkswagen Golf GTI 44   John Morris B All
Napolina Alfa Romeo Dealer Team Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint 51   Rob Kirby B 2–9, 11
Alfa Romeo Alfasud Ti 81   Jon Dooley A All
Unknown Mitsubishi Lancer GSR 56   Barrie Williams B All
57   Dave Morgan B All
Andy Driver Volkswagen Golf GTI 66   Andy Driver B 1, 3–6, 9, 11
Peter Buxtorf Volkswagen Scirocco GTI 69   Peter Buxtorf B 1–8
Demon Tweeks Volkswagen Golf GTI 54   Alan Minshaw B 2, 5–8, 10
Robin Carlisle Toyota Celica LB 76   Robin Carlisle B 5, 8–9, 11
Bill Postins Volkswagen Scirocco GTI 62   Bill Postins B 8
John Spiller Talbot Sunbeam TI 82   John Spiller B 1–2, 4, 6, 8–9
John Tait Toyota Celica GT 84   John Tait B 1–2, 6, 8–9, 11
Terry Watts Talbot Sunbeam TI 48   Terry Watts B 8
Team Datapost Racing
with Hepolite and Esso
Austin Metro 1300 HLS 70   Alan Curnow A All
77   Richard Longman A All
57   Tim Goss A 10
P.J. Green Racing Mini 1275GT 74   Tim Goss A 1–8
Julian May Racing Ford Fiesta 1.3 80   Terry Nightingale A 1–2, 4
  Alex Moss 5
  Julian May 8
Haynes Ford Fiesta 1.3 99   David da Costa A 1–7, 9–11
Everest Double Glazing Austin Metro 1300 HLS 74   Neil McGrath A 5–9, 11
Stuart Fowler Ford Fiesta 1.3 85   Stuart Fowler A 9
David Grimshaw Ford Fiesta 1.3 39   David Grimshaw A 7–9
François Hamon Simca Rallye 3 76   François Hamon A 8
Colin Hawker Ford Fiesta 1.3 42   Colin Hawker A 2, 4–5
Sigma Austin Metro 1300 HLS 87   Roger Saunders A 2–10
Icon Class
A Under 1300cc
B 1301–1600cc
C 1601–2500cc
D 2501–3500cc

Calendar and winners

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All races were held in the United Kingdom. Overall winners in bold.

Round Circuit Date Class A Winner Class B Winner Class C Winner Class D Winner
1 A Mallory Park, Leicestershire 22 March Not contested.   Win Percy   Andy Rouse
B   Jon Dooley   John Morris Not contested.
2 Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire 29 March   Alan Curnow   Martin Brundle   Mike Buckley   Andy Rouse
3 A Oulton Park, Cheshire 17 April Not contested.   Win Percy   Gordon Spice
B   Jon Dooley   Chris Hodgetts Not contested.
4 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 20 April   Richard Longman   Chris Hodgetts   Win Percy   Vince Woodman
5 A Brands Hatch, Kent 25 May Not contested.   Win Percy   Nick Whiting
B   Neil McGrath   Barrie Williams Not contested.
6 Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire 21 June   Neil McGrath   Chris Hodgetts   Win Percy   Pete Lovett
7 Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire 18 July   Jon Dooley   Chris Hodgetts   Win Percy   Pete Lovett
8 A Donington Park, Leicestershire 16 August Not contested.   Win Percy   Pete Lovett
B   Richard Longman   Chris Hodgetts Not contested.
9 Brands Hatch, Kent 31 August   Richard Longman   Chris Hodgetts   Win Percy   Jeff Allam
10 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 20 September   Richard Longman   Martin Brundle   Win Percy   Jeff Allam
11 Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire 4 October   Jon Dooley   John Morris   Mike Buckley   Jeff Allam

Championship standings

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Drivers' Championship

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Points were awarded on a 9, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis to the top six finishers in each class, with one bonus point for the fastest lap in each class. In races where a class had less than four starters, points would be awarded to the top two finishers (6 & 4 respectively) with one point for the fastest lap. A driver's best nine scores counted towards the championship, dropped scores are shown in brackets. Positions are shown as overall/class.

Pos Driver Class MAL SIL1 OUL2 THR BRA SIL SIL DON BRA THR SIL Pts
1   Win Percy C 2/1 (Ret) 1/1 4/1 2/1 4/1 4/1 1/1 2/1 2/1 78
2   Chris Hodgetts B (Ret) Ret 1/1 11/1 8/4 12/1 ?/1 1/1 8/1 ?/4 7/2 74
3   Jon Dooley A 4/1 13/2 4/1 ?/2 6/3 ?/2 ?/1 (10/4) (16/3) ?/3 10/1 65
4   John Morris B 1/1 8/2 ?/? ?/2 5/3 13/2 ?/2 2/2 9/2 (?/3) 6/1 60
5   Richard Longman A Ret 15/3 13/5 ?/1 7/4 ?/? ?/2 6/1 14/1 ?/1 11/2 58
6   Pete Lovett D 5/4 4/3 1/1 1/1 2/1 3/2 3/2 2/2 52
7   Jeff Allam D 8/7 4/4 Ret 5/4 3/2 Ret 2/2 Ret 1/1 1/1 1/1 50
8   Andy Rouse D 1/1 1/1 3/2 3/3 Ret 3/3 3/3 3/2 5/4 5/4 Ret 49
9   Alan Curnow A Ret 12/1 6/2 ?/3 ?/? ?/4 ?/6 7/2 15/2 ?/2 12/3 48
10   Gordon Spice D 11/9 2/2 2/1 2/2 2/2 Ret 5/4 4/3 7/6 Ret 38
11   Vince Woodman D 3/2 3/3 4/3 1/1 7/6 5/4 Ret Ret Ret 4/3 4/4 35
12   Neil McGrath A 3/1 18/1 ?/3 8/3 DNS 13/4 33
13   Dave Morgan B Ret 24/? 9/6 18/4 2/2 16/4 ?/4 3/3 12/3 ?/2 9/4 33
14   Mike Buckley C 10/2 ?/1 Ret ?/? 8/2 NC Ret 23/3 ?/3 17/1 31
15   Martin Brundle B 2/2 6/1 12/8 ?/5 Ret Ret Ret 4/4 DSQ 10/1 Ret 30
16   Barrie Williams B Ret Ret 3/3 14/3 1/1 Ret ?/3 5/5 13/4 Ret 8/3 30
17   Nick Whiting D 4/3 Ret 5/4 6/5 1/1 6/5 5/4 6/5 16/? 25
18   David da Costa A 5/2 ?/4 ?/? ?/4 4/2 ?/? Ret 17/4 ?/6 16/5 24
19   Stirling Moss B 3/3 22/6 2/2 Ret Ret 15/3 22/7 9/6 DNS ?/5 14/5 20
20   Roger Saunders A 26/? 10/4 ?/6 10/5 ?/3 ?/4 ?/5 19/5 ?/5 19
21   Chuck Nicholson C 8/2 6/2 8/2 Ret 18
22   Tim Goss A 7/4 ?/6 7/3 ?/? 11/6 ?/? ?/5 ?/? ?/4 14
23   Rob Kirby B ?/3 5/4 ?/? 9/5 ?/5 ?/? ?/? 18/5 15/6 14
24   Peter Buxtorf B ?/4 ?/4 8/5 ?/? ?/? ?/? ?/5 Ret 10
25   James Burrows C ?/2 ?/? DNS Ret Ret DNS 21/2 9
26   Terry Nightingale A 6/3 ?/5 ?/5 8
27   Terry Nightingale C 14/4 ?/2 NC DNS Ret 7
28   Brian Muir D Ret Ret 7/6 9/8 11/8 Ret ?/? 4/3 Ret Ret Ret 6
29   Jonathan Buncombe D 5/5 ?/? Ret 6/5 6/5 6
30   Charles Sawyer-Hoare D 9/8 7/6 Ret 10/9 9/8 7/6 7/6 11/7 9/7 5/5 5
31   Alan Minshaw B 21/5 14/6 ?/? ?/6 ?/? ?/6 5
32   John Bishop C 9/3 NC Ret 4
33   Rad Dougall D 3/3 4
34   Ian Stirling C 14/3 4
35   Phil Martin-Dye D 11/10 ?/? 6/5 10/9 Ret 10/8 7/5 ?/? Ret 4
36   John Spiller B ?/5 DNS ?/6 ?/6 ?/? 21/7 4
37   Chuck Nicholson D 6/5 ?/? 9/8 7/6 13/10 7/6 ?/? 4
38   Mike Kimpton D ?/? ?/? ?/? 5/4 14/10 ?/? Ret 3
39   Rex Greenslade D Ret 14/? 6/5 ?/? 10/7 8/7 ?/? Ret Ret Ret Ret 2
40   Erik Høyer C 15/5 2
41   Graham Goode D 7/6 10/9 8/7 ?/? ?/? 9/7 Ret 1
42   Robin Carlisle B ?/? ?/? 20/6 18/7 1
43   John Tait B ?/6 25/? ?/? ?/? 24/8 20/9 1
44   Dennis Leech D ?/? 12/11 ?/? ?/? 13/11 10/6 Ret 1
45   David Grimshaw A Ret ?/? 22/6 1
46   François Hamon A ?/6 1
47   Wayne Wainwright D DNS 8/7 ?/? 12/9 12/10 0
48   Andy Driver B DSQ 11/7 ?/? DSQ ?/? Ret 19/8 0
49   Colin Hawker A DNS ?/? 12/7 0
50   Alex Moss A 13/8 0
51   Tony Sugden D 11/9 0
52   Gordon Mayers B 25/9 0
53   Stuart Graham D Ret ?/? 0
54   Dave Brodie B ?/? Ret 0
55   Jonathan Buncombe B ?/? 0
56   Bill Postins B ?/? 0
57   Terry Watts B ?/? 0
NC   Barry Sheene C Ret 0
NC   Stuart Fowler A Ret 0
NC   Julian May A DNS 0
Pos Driver Class MAL SIL OUL THR BRA SIL SIL DON BRA THR SIL Pts
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

Bold - Pole in class
Italics - Fastest lap in class

Notes:

1.^  – Class A pole position for round 2 is unknown.
2.^  – Class A & B pole positions for round 3 are unknown.
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