Kelvin Burt
Encyclopedia
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. He won his class in a British Touring Car Championship
round at Oulton Park
, before spending 1991 winning the Formula Vauxhall Lotus series, and being voted Autosport Club Driver of the Year. He moved up to British F3
in 1992
, winning the title with Paul Stewart Racing
in 1993
with 9 wins, a record for a British driver.
He did some Porsche Supercup races in 1994, becoming the only Brit to win a race in that form of the series. He also became the test driver for the Jordan Grand Prix
Formula One
team midseason, and the Jordan team put a contract option to consider having him race in F1. However, while that did not come to light, he did surface again as a test driver for Arrows
in 1996.
For 1995 he had his first full BTCC season, replacing the retiring Andy Rouse
in Rouse's Ford team. He took 8th overall, only 2 places behind experienced team-mate Paul Radisich
. He then spent 2 years with Tom Walkinshaw
's Volvo
team, winning a further race. He briefly returned to the BTCC in the Production Class for GA Motorsport in 2002, winning both races he started. He also did two meetings for GA (then racing as Team Sureterm) in the main class in 2004 , scoring 11 points, more than all their other drivers bar Carl Breeze
put together.
For 1998 he went to Japan
, racing successfully in both Touring Cars and GTs, coming 5th overall in the Touring Car series. He raced in Sweden in 2000 before dominating the British GT series' GTO Class in 2001, taking 8 wins for Parr Motorsport in a Porsche. He was ASCAR runner-up in 2002. In 2003 he raced in the FIA GT Championship for Team Maranello in a Ferrari, taking two third places. In 2006 he did the Porsche Supercup race at Silverstone, but focused on the lower-level Porsche Cup, whilst forging a punditry career as co-commentator to Martin Haven
for British F3. He gained wider attention for a huge crash he has during the Porsche Carrera Cup race at Thruxton
, in which his car barrel-rolled after contact with James Sutton
and cleared a fence. Burt was not badly hurt, although a marshal was treated for shock. As the Carrera race was part of the BTCC meeting at the track, footage was screened by ITV in their coverage of the series.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
auto racing
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
driver. After attending the Jim Russell Racing Drivers' School in 1987 he turned to Formula Ford racing, battling hard against David Coulthard
David Coulthard
David Marshall Coulthard, MBE, , sometimes known as DC, is a British former Formula One racing driver from Scotland.Coulthard, who was born in Dumfries and raised nearby in Twynholm, made his Formula One debut in 1994 and won 13 Grands Prix in a career spanning 15 seasons...
for the championship. He won his class in a 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...
round at Oulton Park
Oulton Park
Oulton Park Circuit is a motor racing track in the small village of Little Budworth, Cheshire, England. It is about from Winsford, from Chester city centre, from Northwich and from Warrington with a nearby rail connection along the Mid-Cheshire Line. It occupies much of the area which was...
, before spending 1991 winning the Formula Vauxhall Lotus series, and being voted Autosport Club Driver of the Year. He moved up to British F3
British Formula Three Championship
The British Formula Three Championship is an international motor racing series that takes place primarily in the United Kingdom with a small number of events in mainland Europe. It is a junior-level feeder formula that uses small single seater Formula Three chassis. Its current official title is...
in 1992
1992 British Formula Three season
The 1992 British Formula Three season was the 42nd British Formula Three Championship, won by Brazilian Gil de Ferran. The season started on March 22 at Donington Park and ended on October 4 at Silverstone following sixteen races...
, winning the title with Paul Stewart Racing
Paul Stewart (driver)
Paul Stewart is a former racing driver and the son of three-times Formula One World Champion Jackie Stewart....
in 1993
1993 British Formula Three season
The 1993 British Formula Three season was the 43rd British Formula Three Championship, won by Kelvin Burt. The season started on March 21 at Silverstone and ended at Thruxton on October 10 at following fifteen races...
with 9 wins, a record for a British driver.
He did some Porsche Supercup races in 1994, becoming the only Brit to win a race in that form of the series. He also became the test driver for the Jordan Grand Prix
Jordan Grand Prix
Jordan Grand Prix was a Formula One constructor that competed from 1991 to 2005. The team is named after Irish businessman and founder Eddie Jordan...
Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
team midseason, and the Jordan team put a contract option to consider having him race in F1. However, while that did not come to light, he did surface again as a test driver for Arrows
Arrows
Arrows Grand Prix International was a British Formula One team active from to . For a period of time, it was also known as Footwork.-Origins :...
in 1996.
For 1995 he had his first full BTCC season, replacing the retiring Andy Rouse
Andy Rouse
Andrew "Andy" Rouse is an English racing driver, most notably in the BTCC. He won the BTCC in 1975, 1983, 1984 and 1985....
in Rouse's Ford team. He took 8th overall, only 2 places behind experienced team-mate 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:...
. He then spent 2 years with Tom Walkinshaw
Tom Walkinshaw
Tom Walkinshaw was a Scottish racing car driver and the founder of the racing team Tom Walkinshaw Racing...
's Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
team, winning a further race. He briefly returned to the BTCC in the Production Class for GA Motorsport in 2002, winning both races he started. He also did two meetings for GA (then racing as Team Sureterm) in the main class in 2004 , scoring 11 points, more than all their other drivers bar Carl Breeze
Carl Breeze
Carl Breeze is a British auto racing driver, born 7 July 1979. He is not to be confused with Hyla Breese, another racer with British Touring Car Championship experience. His racing heroes include Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet and Valentino Rossi....
put together.
For 1998 he went to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, racing successfully in both Touring Cars and GTs, coming 5th overall in the Touring Car series. He raced in Sweden in 2000 before dominating the British GT series' GTO Class in 2001, taking 8 wins for Parr Motorsport in a Porsche. He was ASCAR runner-up in 2002. In 2003 he raced in the FIA GT Championship for Team Maranello in a Ferrari, taking two third places. In 2006 he did the Porsche Supercup race at Silverstone, but focused on the lower-level Porsche Cup, whilst forging a punditry career as co-commentator to Martin Haven
Martin Haven
Martin Haven is a freelance British motorsport commentator, who lives in Royal Leamington Spa. He is the Eurosport commentator for the World Touring Car Championship....
for British F3. He gained wider attention for a huge crash he has during the Porsche Carrera Cup race at Thruxton
Thruxton Circuit
Thruxton Circuit is a motor racing circuit located near the village of Thruxton in Hampshire, England which is used to host a number of motorsport events including British Touring Cars and Formula 3 racing....
, in which his car barrel-rolled after contact with James Sutton
James Sutton (racing driver)
James Sutton is a racing driver. He won the 2007 Porsche Carrera Cup-Early years:Before he embarked on a career in cars, Sutton raced in karting, winning the London Cup in 2000 before becoming the Junior TKM British champion in 2001, before moving onto Formula ICA and in 2003 racing in the British...
and cleared a fence. Burt was not badly hurt, although a marshal was treated for shock. As the Carrera race was part of the BTCC meeting at the track, footage was screened by ITV in their coverage of the series.