Saab Turbo Mobil Challenge
Encyclopedia
The Saab Turbo Mobil Challenge was a one-make race series, run by the British Automobile Racing Club
(BARC
) in the UK in 1987 and 1988. The cars permitted to compete were Saab 900
turbo cars in 10- and 12-lap races. The series was sponsored by Mobil
and Saab (Great Britain) Ltd.
sports parts permitted for any adjustments. The wheels were shod with Pirelli
racing slick tyres.
Key specifications for race cars were: no chassis modification; front and rear spoilers as standard, with removal of material permitted for engine cooling; ground clearance front 440 mm (17.3 in), rear 400 mm (15.7 in); sump guard prohibited; engines conforming to Saab-Scania standard H-series Turbo specification, as from model year 1986; oil and water cooler matrices standard; control of wastgate was 'free'; air filter box, element and throttle housing standard; exhaust manifold standard; exhaust system after the manifold was 'free'; the APC system could be deleted; fuel injection equipment standard, with permitted modifications; Saab roadholding kit fitted; Saab anti-roll bar kit fitted; permitted to alter front and rear wheel geometry; gearbox input shaft uprated to Saab 900 Turbo 16S specification; clutch uprated to an AP racing unit; gearbox standard for 1986 model year; Saab-supplied wheels only; specified brake modifications permitted; hanbrake could be removed; fuel tank standard; standard power-steering to be retained.
There were instructions for advertising (see picture).
or Amateur
. Points were awarded as follows: 10 for a win; 9 for 2nd place; 8 for 3rd place etc. down to 1 for 10th place. An extra point was awarded to the drivers who achieved a pole position
or fastest race lap.
In 1988, the drivers (with end-of-season points) were:
The overall winner (1988 Champion) was Charles Tippet, driving for Saab Haymill, based in Farnham Common
, UK. On his way, he scored four race wins and three lap records. His car was in red livery with yellow stripes and raced as No. 28. It is the only survivor of the participating vehicles and is preserved in Oxfordshire
, England
.
The racing livery included advertisements for Scania
, Scantruck, Saab Haymill, Pirelli and Mobil. The driver's name and the names of the service crew were also displayed and remain on the preserved motor car. In addition, some minor bodywork damage can still be seen, acquired during racing. There was a particularly dramatic incident at Donington, on 3 July, in which No. 28 was repeatedly struck by John Llewellyn's car and was eventually forced to spin off.
The Amateur Champion in 1988 was David Field (6), driving the blue and yellow McNaughton Ross Sponsored Car. After a season long battle with Simon Butler (Kentish Saab), Field won the Championship by a single point obtained by virtue of "fastest lap" in the final race of the season, at Thruxton.
British Automobile Racing Club
The British Automobile Racing Club is one of biggest organising clubs for auto racing in the United Kingdom.-History:The Cyclecar Club was formed in 1912, running races for the small and light motorbike powered vehicles at Brooklands as well as rallies and sporting trials. Among the founder...
(BARC
BARC
Barc or BARC may refer to:Institutions* Beltsville Agricultural Research Center* Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, an Indian nuclear research facility* Bradford Amateur Rowing Club* British Automobile Racing ClubVessels and vehicles* Barque...
) in the UK in 1987 and 1988. The cars permitted to compete were Saab 900
Saab 900
The Saab 900 was a car produced by Saab Automobile from 1978 until 1998 in two generations. The first generation from 1978 to 1993 is known as the "classic"; the generation from 1994 to 1998 is known as the "new generation" ....
turbo cars in 10- and 12-lap races. The series was sponsored by Mobil
Mobil
Mobil, previously known as the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, was a major American oil company which merged with Exxon in 1999 to form ExxonMobil. Today Mobil continues as a major brand name within the combined company, as well as still being a gas station sometimes paired with their own store or On...
and Saab (Great Britain) Ltd.
The cars
The cars were capable of 140 mph (225 km/h) and were tuned to production specification, with only SaabSaab
Saab AB is a Swedish aerospace and defence company, founded in 1937. From 1947 to 1990 it was the parent company of automobile manufacturer Saab Automobile, and between 1968 and 1995 the company was in a merger with commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania, known as Saab-Scania.-History:"Svenska...
sports parts permitted for any adjustments. The wheels were shod with Pirelli
Pirelli
Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy. The company, the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer, is present in over 160 countries, has 20 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers.Founded in Milan in 1872,...
racing slick tyres.
Key specifications for race cars were: no chassis modification; front and rear spoilers as standard, with removal of material permitted for engine cooling; ground clearance front 440 mm (17.3 in), rear 400 mm (15.7 in); sump guard prohibited; engines conforming to Saab-Scania standard H-series Turbo specification, as from model year 1986; oil and water cooler matrices standard; control of wastgate was 'free'; air filter box, element and throttle housing standard; exhaust manifold standard; exhaust system after the manifold was 'free'; the APC system could be deleted; fuel injection equipment standard, with permitted modifications; Saab roadholding kit fitted; Saab anti-roll bar kit fitted; permitted to alter front and rear wheel geometry; gearbox input shaft uprated to Saab 900 Turbo 16S specification; clutch uprated to an AP racing unit; gearbox standard for 1986 model year; Saab-supplied wheels only; specified brake modifications permitted; hanbrake could be removed; fuel tank standard; standard power-steering to be retained.
There were instructions for advertising (see picture).
The drivers
Drivers raced in either of two classes, ProfessionalProfessional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
or Amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
. Points were awarded as follows: 10 for a win; 9 for 2nd place; 8 for 3rd place etc. down to 1 for 10th place. An extra point was awarded to the drivers who achieved a pole position
Pole position
The term "pole position", as used in motorsports, comes from the horse racing term where the number one starter starts on the inside next to the inside pole. The term made its way, along with several other customs, to auto racing. In circuit motorsports, a driver has pole position when he or she...
or fastest race lap.
In 1988, the drivers (with end-of-season points) were:
- Professional - Lionel Abbott (31), Adrian Cottrell (10), Andy Dawson (60), Tony Dron (28), Mark Hales (7), Robert Koistenen ((9), John Llewellyn (46), Gerry Marshall (15) and Charles Tippet (99).
- Amateur - Mike Bennion (13), Simon Butler (76), Jonathan Collett-Jobey (2), Simon Fenning (30), David Field (6), James Latham (72), John Myerscough (73), Folke Sarnmark (15), Mick Tester (64), James Tucker (47), Kari Uusitupa (4), and Richard Wardle (34).
The races
The 12 rounds of the 1988 challenge were run at:- Thruxton - 4 April
- Silverstone - 17 April
- Donington - 24 April
- Brands Hatch - 22 May
- Thruxton - 30 May
- Oulton Park - 11 June
- Donington - 3 July
- Snetterton - 31 July
- Brands Hatch - 4 September
- Snetterton - 18 September
- Oulton park - 8 October
- Thruxton - 16 October
The champion
Farnham Common
Farnham Common is a village in the parish of Farnham Royal, in Buckinghamshire, England, about 3 miles north of the town of Slough, on the A355 road between Slough and Beaconsfield. It is to the north of the village of Farnham Royal, and adjoins the woodland of Burnham Beeches.Lois Allan invented...
, UK. On his way, he scored four race wins and three lap records. His car was in red livery with yellow stripes and raced as No. 28. It is the only survivor of the participating vehicles and is preserved in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, England
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...
.
The racing livery included advertisements for Scania
Scania AB
Scania Aktiebolag , commonly referred to as Scania AB or just Scania, is a major Swedish automotive industry manufacturer of commercial vehicles - specifically heavy trucks and buses...
, Scantruck, Saab Haymill, Pirelli and Mobil. The driver's name and the names of the service crew were also displayed and remain on the preserved motor car. In addition, some minor bodywork damage can still be seen, acquired during racing. There was a particularly dramatic incident at Donington, on 3 July, in which No. 28 was repeatedly struck by John Llewellyn's car and was eventually forced to spin off.
The Amateur Champion in 1988 was David Field (6), driving the blue and yellow McNaughton Ross Sponsored Car. After a season long battle with Simon Butler (Kentish Saab), Field won the Championship by a single point obtained by virtue of "fastest lap" in the final race of the season, at Thruxton.