Tom Walkinshaw

Tom Walkinshaw ( born August 14, 1946 in Mauldslie Farm, Midlothian, Scotland; near † December 12, 2010 Penicuik, Midlothian ) was a British racing driver and the founder and owner of the racing team Tom Walkinshaw Racing.

Career

First race went Walkinshaw 1968 in the Scottish Formula Ford 1600 series, which he was able to finish the following year as champion. In 1970 he competed in the British Formula 3 Championship. After Sponsors problems and a serious accident in which he broke both legs, Walkinshaw ended his single-seater career.

Touring and sports cars

1974 Walkinshaw moved to touring car and won in the same year on a Ford Capri, the British Touring Car Championship. After the end of the contract with Ford Walkinshaw founded in 1976 his own team, Tom Walkinshaw Racing ( TWR ), and was with John Fitzpatrick on a BMW CSL celebrate the first great victory at Silverstone.

TWR continued over the following years a variety of brands in different racing series. Under Walkinshaws Director racing cars were constructed on the basis of automobiles BMW, Mazda, Opel, Rover and Jaguar. 1980 and 1981, the British Touring Car Championship was won. The Range Rover, with the René Metge could win the 1981 Dakar Rally, was built by Walkinshaws team.

1982 started with TWR Jaguar in the European and with Rover in the British Touring Car Championship. The victory in the European Cup in 1984 with Walkinshaw as a driver and at the 24 Hours of Spa with a Jaguar XJS Jaguar prompted to instruct the TEC to develop a car for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

1987 and 1988, won with the TWR designed by Tony Southgate and later by Ross Brawn Jaguar XJR prototypes the World Sportscar Championship in 1988 and 1990 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1991 a third title to the World Sportscar Championship.

Formula 1

Tom Walkinshaw took over the post of chief engineer at Benetton Formula 1 team, with which he could win the 1994 World Cup. End of the year he was redirected after disputes of Benetton team boss Flavio Briatore to Ligier, which he originally intended to buy, but investors against French interests, Alain Prost preferred than later owner, ultimately drew the short straw. 1996 Walkinshaw bought then the Arrows team, just with Yamaha Engines, former world champion Damon Hill at the Grand Prix of Hungary missed the first victory in 1997. At that time, TWR 1500 employees in the UK, Sweden, Australia and the USA.

2002 Arrows went bankrupt and moved with TWR into the financial abyss. The Australian part of the company took over the Holden brand from the company Holden Special Vehicles was formed and took in the V8 Supercar series. 2006 Walkinshaw returned to the team and helped with the title of the driver Rick Kelly. The end of 2006 Walkinshaw bought the small Australian sports car manufacturer Elfin.

Le Mans results

Others

• The Oxford Brookes University gave Tom Walkinshaw honorary Doctor of Engineering.
• Walkinshaw was chairman of the Gloucester Rugby Club.