Terry Fullerton
Encyclopedia
Terry Fullerton is a retired racing driver from London, United Kingdom, who was the Karting World Champion
in 1973 and is best known as the teammate and rival of Ayrton Senna
during his karting days.
, wanted to pursue his dream as a Formula One
driver but his brother, Alec, was killed in a motorcycle racing accident at Mallory Park
in 1964. Having witnessed the grief his family went through with the family loss, he abandoned his ambition to spare his family further anguish and continued to race karts. Fullerton qualified but failed to be selected for the British team to compete in the Karting World Championship in 1967, but was able to race under an Irish licence on proving that his bloodline was Irish. He made it through to the World Championships that year and the next, but had limited success. In 1971, Fullerton began to compete under his own nationality. His efforts soon paid off when he became the first Briton in 1973 to win the title. In 1978, when driving for the Italian DAP factory team, he became team-mate of a young Ayrton Senna
on his first visit to Europe. The two drivers raced against each other the following year, and their final world championship encounter took place in 1980 in Nivelles-Baulers
, Belgium. Fullerton won the first race, but retired with engine failure in the second and in the final race. He finished third overall behind Senna in his final year of karting, after which Senna switched to racing cars. The pair was regarded by its team manager, Angelo Parrilla, as the best in the world.
At a press conference at the 1993 Australian Grand Prix
, when asked which driver he had the most satisfaction of racing against, Senna cited Fullerton over his Formula 1 arch-rival Alain Prost
. This comment, which Fullerton took to be a word of mouth, was proven at the screening of the documentary film about the driver
in 2010.
Apart from the world championship, Fullerton won the British Junior Karting Championship between 1966 and 1968. He also won the British Championships eight times. He solely raced karts throughout his career, as he saw strong enough financial incentives and prestige for him to remain in the sport – having been noticed by and been in a relationship with a Miss Universe
, and travelled the world.
Having retired as a driver in 1984, Fullerton ran his own team, and he then made a successful career coaching up-and-coming racing drivers. Indycar
driver Justin Wilson, Force India
driver Paul Di Resta
, double Indianapolis 500
winner Dan Wheldon
, double 24 Hours of Le Mans
winner Allan McNish
and former F1 driver Anthony Davidson
were amongst those he taught – the latter two he regarded as his best students.
Fullerton currently lives in Costessey
, Norwich with his wife and his daughter.
Karting World Championship
The Karting World Championship is ruled by the CIK-FIA. It takes place once a year, each year in a different country, and is kart racing's flagship event. Starting 2011, the championship will be disputed on five rounds, each of them in a different country....
in 1973 and is best known as the teammate and rival of Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna da Silva was a Brazilian racing driver. A three-time Formula One world champion, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time...
during his karting days.
Biography
Terry Fullerton, who came from West LondonWest (London sub region)
The West is a sub-region of the London Plan corresponding to the London Boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow. The sub region was established in 2004 and was adjusted in 2008 to include Kensington and Chelsea. The west has a population of 1.6 million and...
, wanted to pursue his dream as a 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...
driver but his brother, Alec, was killed in a motorcycle racing accident at Mallory Park
Mallory Park
Mallory Park is a motor racing circuit situated in the village of Kirkby Mallory, just off the A47, between Leicester and Hinckley. With the full car circuit measuring only 1.35 miles it is amongst the shortest permanent race circuits in the UK...
in 1964. Having witnessed the grief his family went through with the family loss, he abandoned his ambition to spare his family further anguish and continued to race karts. Fullerton qualified but failed to be selected for the British team to compete in the Karting World Championship in 1967, but was able to race under an Irish licence on proving that his bloodline was Irish. He made it through to the World Championships that year and the next, but had limited success. In 1971, Fullerton began to compete under his own nationality. His efforts soon paid off when he became the first Briton in 1973 to win the title. In 1978, when driving for the Italian DAP factory team, he became team-mate of a young Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna da Silva was a Brazilian racing driver. A three-time Formula One world champion, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time...
on his first visit to Europe. The two drivers raced against each other the following year, and their final world championship encounter took place in 1980 in Nivelles-Baulers
Nivelles-Baulers
Nivelles-Baulers was a race track near Brussels, Belgium locally referred to as Nivelles in French and Nijvel in Dutch.Built in 1971, the circuit hosted two rounds of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix in 1972 and 1974 during the time when the race was supposed to alternate between Walloon and...
, Belgium. Fullerton won the first race, but retired with engine failure in the second and in the final race. He finished third overall behind Senna in his final year of karting, after which Senna switched to racing cars. The pair was regarded by its team manager, Angelo Parrilla, as the best in the world.
At a press conference at the 1993 Australian Grand Prix
1993 Australian Grand Prix
The 1993 Australian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Adelaide on November 7, 1993. It was the final round of the 1993 Formula One season....
, when asked which driver he had the most satisfaction of racing against, Senna cited Fullerton over his Formula 1 arch-rival Alain Prost
Alain Prost
Alain Marie Pascal Prost, OBE, Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur is a French racing driver. A four-time Formula One Drivers' Champion, Prost has won more titles than any driver except for Juan Manuel Fangio , and Michael Schumacher . From 1987 until 2001 Prost held the record for most Grand Prix...
. This comment, which Fullerton took to be a word of mouth, was proven at the screening of the documentary film about the driver
Senna (film)
Senna is a 2010 documentary film that depicts the life and death of Brazilian motor-racing champion, Ayrton Senna. It is Asif Kapadia's fourth feature film as director, and is produced by ESPN/Working Title and distributed by Universal Pictures/Walt Disney Pictures...
in 2010.
Apart from the world championship, Fullerton won the British Junior Karting Championship between 1966 and 1968. He also won the British Championships eight times. He solely raced karts throughout his career, as he saw strong enough financial incentives and prestige for him to remain in the sport – having been noticed by and been in a relationship with a Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
, and travelled the world.
Having retired as a driver in 1984, Fullerton ran his own team, and he then made a successful career coaching up-and-coming racing drivers. Indycar
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
driver Justin Wilson, Force India
Force India
Sahara Force India Formula One Team, the trading name of Force India Formula One Team Limited, is a Formula One racing team based in Silverstone, United Kingdom which currently holds an Indian licence. The team was formed in October 2007 when a consortium led by Indian businessman Vijay Mallya and...
driver Paul Di Resta
Paul di Resta
Paul di Resta is a British racing driver from Scotland, currently competing in Formula One with Force India. He is also a former DTM champion.-Personal life:...
, double Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
winner Dan Wheldon
Dan Wheldon
Daniel Clive "Dan" Wheldon was a British racing driver from England. He was the 2005 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series champion, and winner of the Indianapolis 500 in both 2005 and 2011...
, double 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
winner Allan McNish
Allan McNish
Allan McNish is a Scottish racing driver. He is a two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, most recently in 2008, and two-time American Le Mans Series champion.- Early life :...
and former F1 driver Anthony Davidson
Anthony Davidson
Anthony Denis Davidson is a British former Formula One racing driver from England, born in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. He has raced for Minardi, Super Aguri and been a test and/or reserve driver for the British American Racing, Honda and Brawn GP teams...
were amongst those he taught – the latter two he regarded as his best students.
Fullerton currently lives in Costessey
Costessey
Costessey is a civil parish situated west of Norwich in Norfolk, England. The parish comprises two settlements: the long-established village of Costessey , and New Costessey , which developed during the first half of the 20th century and has become a suburb of Norwich...
, Norwich with his wife and his daughter.