Andy Rouse
Encyclopedia
Andrew "Andy" Rouse is an English
racing driver, most notably in the BTCC
. He won the BTCC
in 1975, 1983, 1984 and 1985.
Andy Rouse is regarded by many people as one of the most successful drivers ever to appear in the BTCC
. His 60 overall wins in the category was the highest total by any driver for many years, until being overhauled by Jason Plato at Brands Hatch in the opening round of the 2011 season.
Coming from an engineering background, Rouse was originally an apprentice with an agricultural engineering company. He had been interested in motor sport from an early age and had run self-built autocross specials in his teens and then Formula Ford. In 1971 he funded his racing activities by working for Broadspeed
, the race car engineering company set-up by Brummie
Ralph Broad. Rouse's combined engineering and driving talent soon became apparent to Broad, who then encouraged his motorsport career by providing him with assistance to race in other championships.
His first step into saloon car racing came in 1972, when he entered the Ford Escort Mexico series. He won this one-make championship in his first year, and soon stepped up into the British Saloon Car Championship. Over the following years, Rouse was successful in a number of Broadspeed entered cars (including Ford Escorts, Triumph Dolomite Sprints
and Ford Capri
s) winning his class in 1973, 1974 and taking the title in 1975.
In 1976, Broadspeed ran the works Jaguar XJ12C cars, for which Rouse was both driver and race development engineer. Great results were expected from these powerful cars but unfortunately British Leyland stopped the program the following season following a string of poor results. With no works deal for 1978, Ralph Broad sold his stake in the company and Broadspeed soon went into liquidation.
In 1981, Rouse set up his own engineering company, Andy Rouse Engineering, taking many of the ex-Broadspeed employees with him. His success on the track continued with Championship wins in 1983 and 1984. He also won the Willhire 24 Hour
in 1981 and 1983. Ford then gave him the 'works' contract to build and drive their next generation touring car, the Sierra Cosworth
, which was to dominate the BTCC
until the end of the decade. Rouse won the championship again in 1985 driving a Sierra XR4Ti
, but this was to be his last overall title, although he won Class A again in 1988 and 1989. He was third overall in 1988
, 1989
, 1990
and 1991
, before setting up the works Ford Mondeo
team for 1993
, hiring Paul Radisich
to drive alongside himself. He retired from driving at the end of 1994
, hiring Kelvin Burt
as Paul's team-mate for 1995
. He also ran a semi-works Nissan
team in 1996
, and later built a Super Touring specification Toyota Corolla
which failed to find a racing team.
Since the demise of his touring car teams, Rouse has spent several years trying to promote a rival series to the British Touring Car Championship
; his "Supercar V8" proposal was based around a spaceframe chassis, normally aspirated V8 engine, and bodywork modelled on medium to large saloon cars. This series has not yet materialized.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
racing driver, most notably in the BTCC
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
. He won the BTCC
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
in 1975, 1983, 1984 and 1985.
Andy Rouse is regarded by many people as one of the most successful drivers ever to appear in the BTCC
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
. His 60 overall wins in the category was the highest total by any driver for many years, until being overhauled by Jason Plato at Brands Hatch in the opening round of the 2011 season.
Coming from an engineering background, Rouse was originally an apprentice with an agricultural engineering company. He had been interested in motor sport from an early age and had run self-built autocross specials in his teens and then Formula Ford. In 1971 he funded his racing activities by working for Broadspeed
Broadspeed
Broadspeed is a United Kingdom-based automotive group. Established in automotive engineering, it now acts as an internet based retailer.- Broadspeed in the 1960s :...
, the race car engineering company set-up by Brummie
Brummie
Brummie is a colloquial term for the inhabitants, accent and dialect of Birmingham, England, as well as being a general adjective used to denote a connection with the city, locally called Brum...
Ralph Broad. Rouse's combined engineering and driving talent soon became apparent to Broad, who then encouraged his motorsport career by providing him with assistance to race in other championships.
His first step into saloon car racing came in 1972, when he entered the Ford Escort Mexico series. He won this one-make championship in his first year, and soon stepped up into the British Saloon Car Championship. Over the following years, Rouse was successful in a number of Broadspeed entered cars (including Ford Escorts, Triumph Dolomite Sprints
Triumph Dolomite
The Triumph Dolomite was a popular small saloon car produced by the Triumph Motor Company division of the British Leyland Corporation in Canley, Coventry between October 1972 and August 1980.-History:...
and Ford Capri
Ford Capri
Ford Capri was a name used by the Ford Motor Company for three different automobile models. The Ford Consul Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Britain between 1961 and 1964. The Ford Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Europe from 1969 to 1986...
s) winning his class in 1973, 1974 and taking the title in 1975.
In 1976, Broadspeed ran the works Jaguar XJ12C cars, for which Rouse was both driver and race development engineer. Great results were expected from these powerful cars but unfortunately British Leyland stopped the program the following season following a string of poor results. With no works deal for 1978, Ralph Broad sold his stake in the company and Broadspeed soon went into liquidation.
In 1981, Rouse set up his own engineering company, Andy Rouse Engineering, taking many of the ex-Broadspeed employees with him. His success on the track continued with Championship wins in 1983 and 1984. He also won the Willhire 24 Hour
Willhire 24 Hour
The Willhire 24 Hour was an endurance race for production cars held at Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit in Norfolk, England between 1980 and 1994. Over the years, the race included both sports cars and saloon cars. Latterly, it was contested by competitors running in the FIA Group N specification...
in 1981 and 1983. Ford then gave him the 'works' contract to build and drive their next generation touring car, the Sierra Cosworth
Ford Sierra
The Ford Sierra is a large family car that was built by Ford Europe from 1982 until 1993. It was designed by Uwe Bahnsen, Robert Lutz and Patrick le Quément. The code used during development was "Project Toni"....
, which was to dominate the BTCC
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
until the end of the decade. Rouse won the championship again in 1985 driving a Sierra XR4Ti
Ford Sierra
The Ford Sierra is a large family car that was built by Ford Europe from 1982 until 1993. It was designed by Uwe Bahnsen, Robert Lutz and Patrick le Quément. The code used during development was "Project Toni"....
, but this was to be his last overall title, although he won Class A again in 1988 and 1989. He was third overall in 1988
1988 British Touring Car Championship season
The 1988 Dunlop RAC British Touring Car Championship, was the 31st season of the championship. The drivers title was won by Frank Sytner, driving a BMW Team Finance BMW M3. Second place overall was Phil Dowsett who dominated class D...
, 1989
1989 British Touring Car Championship season
The 1989 Esso RAC British Touring Car Championship, was the 32nd season of the championship. This season was the final year of the four separate class format, with the championship changing to just two classes for 1990. There were a total of thirteen rounds with the best eleven scores for each...
, 1990
1990 British Touring Car Championship season
The 1990 Esso RAC British Touring Car Championship season was the 33rd British Touring Car Championship season and marked the last year of the Group A era. It was also the final year of the multi-class format.-Changes for 1990:...
and 1991
1991 British Touring Car Championship season
The 1991 Esso RAC British Touring Car Championship season was the 34th British Touring Car Championship season and marked the first year of the Super Touring era.-Changes for 1991:...
, before setting up the works Ford Mondeo
Ford Mondeo
The Mondeo was launched on 8 January 1993, and sales began on 22 March 1993. Available as a four-door saloon, a five-door hatchback, and a five-door estate, all models for the European market were produced at Ford's plant in the Belgian city of Genk...
team for 1993
1993 British Touring Car Championship season
The 1993 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship season was 36th British Touring Car Championship season.-Season summary:At the end of 1992 BMW GB withdrew from the championship after the rules had been changed in a direction which BMW felt disadvantaged them...
, hiring Paul Radisich
Paul Radisich
Paul Radisich is a New Zealand racing driver of Croat origin. He has competed in saloon cars for many years - both European-style tourers and the V8 Supercars of Australia and New Zealand.-Early years:...
to drive alongside himself. He retired from driving at the end of 1994
1994 British Touring Car Championship season
The 1994 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship season was the 37th British Touring Car Championship season.-Changes for 1994:*The number of double header meetings were increased from three to seven...
, hiring Kelvin Burt
Kelvin Burt
Kelvin Burt is a British auto racing driver. After attending the Jim Russell Racing Drivers' School in 1987 he turned to Formula Ford racing, battling hard against David Coulthard for the championship...
as Paul's team-mate for 1995
1995 British Touring Car Championship season
The 1995 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship was won by John Cleland in a Vauxhall Cavalier. The Independents' title was won by Matt Neal in his Team Dynamics Ford Mondeo with fourteen class wins.-Entry List:-Calendar & Winners:...
. He also ran a semi-works Nissan
Nissan Motors
, usually shortened to Nissan , is a multinational automaker headquartered in Japan. It was a core member of the Nissan Group, but has become more independent after its restructuring under Carlos Ghosn ....
team in 1996
1996 British Touring Car Championship season
The 1996 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship season marked the arrival of Audi to the sport with their four wheel drive A4s. The title was won by Frank Biela, with Swiss driver Alain Menu again finishing in second place and Swede Rickard Rydell in third.-BTCC:* Rouse Sport were neither...
, and later built a Super Touring specification Toyota Corolla
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is a line of subcompact and compact cars manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, with over 35 million...
which failed to find a racing team.
Since the demise of his touring car teams, Rouse has spent several years trying to promote a rival series to the British Touring Car Championship
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
; his "Supercar V8" proposal was based around a spaceframe chassis, normally aspirated V8 engine, and bodywork modelled on medium to large saloon cars. This series has not yet materialized.