Tom Boardman (racing driver)
Encyclopedia
Tom Boardman is a British
auto racing
driver. His greatest achievement to date is winning the 2005 SEAT Cupra Championship
for the Triple R team which he runs with father, John, who was previously a rallycross
driver in the 1970s.
he and his dad were taken with the idea of entering a car and so Tom's first experience of competitive motorsport was in 1993, in Ministox. Four seasons and four championships later he moved on to autograss
where he took two further championships in two seasons.
After these early successes he moved in to the brand new T-Car Series for 1999 where he took seven wins from eight races to come out on top of a field of promising youngsters. A fast-pass to motorsport success seemed assured.
In 2000 he acquired a Peugeot 306
which, having waited patiently for his 16th birthday in order to comply with the rules, he entered in selected rounds of the National Saloons Championship. This was just one small step away from the British Touring Car Championship
and his arrival on the scene at such a young age sparked many people to question whether or not he was too young.
with his family-run Tom Boardman Racing team.
The following season
he joined Peter Briggs' Edenbridge Racing team, finishing 6th in the production class in a BMW
(well behind team-mate Norman Simon), before joining John Batchelor
's Team Varta in 2003
. Both years were trying with 2002 seeing him struggle with rear wheel drive and his 2003 blighted by his teams mistakes towards the end of the season which meant that, despite winning more races than any other driver, he would finish only fourth in the final class positions.
Tom has always looked to compete in a large variety of machinery and took to the rally stages
towards the end of 2003, with some success, and this led to the formation of Special Tuning (UK) Ltd. He has also competed in the Renault Clio Winter Series with TCR and has tested a number of BTCC cars including the VLR Peugeot 307 and the Seat Leon.
2005 saw a rule change in the championship allowing independent teams to enter cars and the Boardman family, having enjoyed success on the rally
stages, took the decision to reform the family team which had entered as Tom Boardman Racing back in 2001 and who had provided the infrastructure for the now defunct Team Varta operation. It was an impressive return to competition with Tom taking the championship crown and a cheque for £100,000. The team would also run a second car for Jonathon Young for the second half of the season with Tom taking on a 'mentor' role.
With the champion driver barred from returning to the championship, a strange situation engineered by Seat Sport UK, Tom decided to concentrate on managing the team for 2006. Triple R would also enter a car in the Spanish series for Tom himself to keep him 'match fit' and to give them experience of the new model that would not be used in the British championship until 2007. However, Boardman remained in the Spanish series for 2007.
For 2008, Boardman competed in the SEAT León Eurocup
, and won the Spanish SEAT León Supercopa.
début in June at the Estoril
round of the series as a reward for his performances in the Eurocup.
He contested a full season in the WTCC for the SUNRED Engineering
team in 2009. He finished fifth in the Independent's Trophy, taking one Independent win at the Race of UK
.
He contested his home round
in 2010, for SUNRED Engineering.
on Sunday 4 September, in the third race of the day. Boardman and his team confirmed plans to remain in the BTCC in 2012
, with an option to move into the WTCC.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
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. His greatest achievement to date is winning the 2005 SEAT Cupra Championship
SEAT Cupra Championship
The SEAT Cupra Championship was a one make series that ran for six years between 2003 and 2008, the last five of which ran as a support package to the British Touring Car Championship. The series will not continue for 2009, due to SEAT UK ending its racing activities...
for the Triple R team which he runs with father, John, who was previously a rallycross
Rallycross
Rallycross is a form of sprint style automobile racing, held on a closed mixed-surface racing circuit, with modified production or specially built road cars, similar to the World Rally Cars, although usually with about stronger engines, due to e.g. their 45 mm turbo restrictor plates. It is...
driver in the 1970s.
Early years
Tom first started driving cars at a very young age on the farmland where his father's recovery business was based. After a chance visit to a local 1/4 mile oval trackOval track
Oval track racing, also known as oval racing, is a form of closed-circuit automobile racing that is contested on an oval-shaped track. An oval track differs from a road course in that the layout resembles an oval with turns in only one direction, almost universally left...
he and his dad were taken with the idea of entering a car and so Tom's first experience of competitive motorsport was in 1993, in Ministox. Four seasons and four championships later he moved on to autograss
Autograss
Autograss racing is Britain’s most popular form of amateur motor racing. It takes place at venues throughout England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland....
where he took two further championships in two seasons.
After these early successes he moved in to the brand new T-Car Series for 1999 where he took seven wins from eight races to come out on top of a field of promising youngsters. A fast-pass to motorsport success seemed assured.
In 2000 he acquired a Peugeot 306
Peugeot 306
The Peugeot 306 is a small family car built by the French car manufacturer Peugeot from 1993 to 2002 replacing the 309. Peugeot gave the 306 many updates and aesthetic changes to keep up the competition but it was replaced by the 307 in 2001. Cabriolet and estate versions continued until 2002...
which, having waited patiently for his 16th birthday in order to comply with the rules, he entered in selected rounds of the National Saloons Championship. This was just one small step away from 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...
and his arrival on the scene at such a young age sparked many people to question whether or not he was too young.
British Touring Car Championship
Tom would become the youngest driver in the history of the BTCC when he joined the Production Class of the 20012001 British Touring Car Championship season
The 2001 theAA.com MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 44th British Touring Car Championship season and marked the beginning of a new era of lower-cost rules and regulations for the series.-Changes for 2001:...
with his family-run Tom Boardman Racing team.
The following season
2002 British Touring Car Championship season
The 2002 Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 45th British Touring Car Championship season.-Teams and drivers:...
he joined Peter Briggs' Edenbridge Racing team, finishing 6th in the production class in a BMW
BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series is a compact executive car manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. Successor to the BMW New Class, it has been produced in five different generations and in no less than five different body styles. It is BMW's best-selling model, accounting for around 30% of the...
(well behind team-mate Norman Simon), before joining John Batchelor
John Batchelor (racing)
William John Batchelor , more commonly known as John Batchelor, was an English racing driver, businessman, political activist, and football investor. He was chairman of York City F.C...
's Team Varta in 2003
2003 British Touring Car Championship season
The 2003 Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 46th British Touring Car Championship season.-Changes for 2003:-Teams and drivers:For 2003 all three main manufacturers in the premier Touring class ran three cars...
. Both years were trying with 2002 seeing him struggle with rear wheel drive and his 2003 blighted by his teams mistakes towards the end of the season which meant that, despite winning more races than any other driver, he would finish only fourth in the final class positions.
Tom has always looked to compete in a large variety of machinery and took to the rally stages
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
towards the end of 2003, with some success, and this led to the formation of Special Tuning (UK) Ltd. He has also competed in the Renault Clio Winter Series with TCR and has tested a number of BTCC cars including the VLR Peugeot 307 and the Seat Leon.
SEAT Cupra and Triple R
A late deal saw him enter the 2004 SEAT Cupra Challenge with backing from his father's Special Tuning operation. At this time the series consisted of identical cars prepared by a single team and, despite a total lack of any pre-season testing, Tom impressed many observers by shrugging off his previous reputation and demonstrating a new-found maturity. He would score a podium result first time out and a win at the second meeting. He was always up against it as many of the drivers were in their second season in the championship but he managed to stay in with a shout of championship victory right up to the final meeting of the year when a 'do or die' gamble on tyre choice saw him drop down to third position in the final standings.2005 saw a rule change in the championship allowing independent teams to enter cars and the Boardman family, having enjoyed success on the rally
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
stages, took the decision to reform the family team which had entered as Tom Boardman Racing back in 2001 and who had provided the infrastructure for the now defunct Team Varta operation. It was an impressive return to competition with Tom taking the championship crown and a cheque for £100,000. The team would also run a second car for Jonathon Young for the second half of the season with Tom taking on a 'mentor' role.
With the champion driver barred from returning to the championship, a strange situation engineered by Seat Sport UK, Tom decided to concentrate on managing the team for 2006. Triple R would also enter a car in the Spanish series for Tom himself to keep him 'match fit' and to give them experience of the new model that would not be used in the British championship until 2007. However, Boardman remained in the Spanish series for 2007.
For 2008, Boardman competed in the SEAT León Eurocup
SEAT León Eurocup
The SEAT León Eurocup was a one-make touring car racing series which uses SEAT Leóns, run by SEAT Sport.-Background:The championship began in 2008, making its debut at Circuit de Valencia, as a support series for the World Touring Car Championship, in which SEAT is a leading manufacturer...
, and won the Spanish SEAT León Supercopa.
WTCC
Boardman made his World Touring Car ChampionshipWorld Touring Car Championship
For the video game, known as World Touring Car Championship in Japan, see TOCA World Touring CarsThe FIA World Touring Car Championship is an international Touring Car championship sanctioned by the FIA.-History:...
début in June at the Estoril
Autódromo do Estoril
The Autódromo do Estoril is a race course in Portugal, owned by state-run holding management company Parpública. Its length is . It was the home of the Formula One Portuguese Grand Prix from 1984 to 1996....
round of the series as a reward for his performances in the Eurocup.
He contested a full season in the WTCC for the SUNRED Engineering
SUNRED Engineering
Sunred is a Spanish-based auto racing team and constructor. They are best known for competing in the World Touring Car Championship.-Racing History:...
team in 2009. He finished fifth in the Independent's Trophy, taking one Independent win at the Race of UK
2009 FIA WTCC Race of UK
The FIA WTCC Marriott Race of UK 2009 was the eighth round of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held on July 19, 2009 at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent, England...
.
He contested his home round
2010 FIA WTCC Race of UK
The 2010 FIA WTCC Marriott Race of UK was the sixth round of the 2010 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held at Brands Hatch in Kent, England on July 18, 2010. It was the sixth running of the Race of UK...
in 2010, for SUNRED Engineering.
BTCC
Boardman returned to the BTCC in 2010, racing for the family-run Special Tuning UK team sponsored by Club SEAT. Boardman continued in the BTCC in 2011, with the rebranded Special Tuning Racing team and took his first victory at KnockhillKnockhill Racing Circuit
Knockhill Racing Circuit in Fife is Scotland's national Motorsport centre. The circuit is located in the Fife countryside about north of Dunfermline. The track, initially opened in 1974, is long and 10 metres wide and was created by joining service roads to a nearby disused mineral railway,...
on Sunday 4 September, in the third race of the day. Boardman and his team confirmed plans to remain in the BTCC in 2012
2012 British Touring Car Championship season
The 2012 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is a multi-event motor racing championship for sedan based touring car racing cars held across England and Scotland...
, with an option to move into the WTCC.
Complete WTCC results
(Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Position | Points | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 2008 World Touring Car Championship season The 2008 World Touring Car Championship season was the fifth World Touring Car Championship season, the fourth since its 2005 return. It began on March 2, and ended on November 16, after twenty-four races... |
SUNRED Racing Development SUNRED Engineering Sunred is a Spanish-based auto racing team and constructor. They are best known for competing in the World Touring Car Championship.-Racing History:... |
SEAT León TFSI SEAT León The SEAT León is a small family car built by the Spanish car manufacturer, and Volkswagen Group subsidiary SEAT, S.A. since October 1998.The two León generations are, or have been built upon two differing variants of the Volkswagen Group A platform, and they also share many other components with... |
BRA | MEX | ESP | FRA | CZE | POR | UK | GER | EUR | ITA | JPN | MAC | NC | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Ret | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 2009 World Touring Car Championship season The 2009 World Touring Car Championship season was the sixth FIA World Touring Car Championship season, the fifth since its 2005 return. It began on March 8, and ended on November 22, after twenty-four races... |
SUNRED Engineering SUNRED Engineering Sunred is a Spanish-based auto racing team and constructor. They are best known for competing in the World Touring Car Championship.-Racing History:... |
SEAT León 2.0 TFSI SEAT León The SEAT León is a small family car built by the Spanish car manufacturer, and Volkswagen Group subsidiary SEAT, S.A. since October 1998.The two León generations are, or have been built upon two differing variants of the Volkswagen Group A platform, and they also share many other components with... |
BRA 2009 FIA WTCC Race of Brazil The FIA WTCC HSBC Race of Brazil 2009 was the first round of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held on March 8, 2009 at the Autódromo Internacional de Curitiba near Curitiba, Brazil... |
MEX 2009 FIA WTCC Race of Mexico The FIA WTCC HSBC Race of Mexico 2009 was the second round of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held on March 22, 2009 at the Autódromo Miguel E. Abed near Puebla, Mexico... |
MAR 2009 FIA WTCC Race of Morocco The FIA WTCC HSBC Race of Morocco 2009 was the third round of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held on May 3, 2009 at the Marrakech Street Circuit in Marrakech, Morocco... |
FRA 2009 FIA WTCC Race of France The FIA WTCC Race of France 2009 was the fourth round of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held on May 17, 2009 at the temporary Circuit de Pau street circuit in Pau, France. The race also doubles-up as the 2009 Pau Grand Prix... |
ESP 2009 FIA WTCC Race of Spain The FIA WTCC Race of Spain 2009 was the fifth round of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held on May 31, 2009 at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo near Valencia, Spain.- External links :*... |
CZE 2009 FIA WTCC Race of the Czech Republic The FIA WTCC Marriott Race of the Czech Republic 2009 was the sixth round of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held on June 21, 2009 at the Masaryk Circuit near Brno, Czech Republic.- External links :*... |
POR 2009 FIA WTCC Race of Portugal The FIA WTCC Race of Portugal 2009 was the seventh round of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held on July 5, 2009 at the temporary Circuito da Boavista street course in Porto, Portugal.- Background :... |
UK 2009 FIA WTCC Race of UK The FIA WTCC Marriott Race of UK 2009 was the eighth round of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held on July 19, 2009 at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent, England... |
GER 2009 FIA WTCC Race of Germany The FIA WTCC Race of Germany 2009 was the ninth round of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship season, and the fifth running of the FIA WTCC Race of Germany. It was held on September 6, 2009 at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben near Oschersleben, near Magdeburg in Germany... |
ITA 2009 FIA WTCC Race of Italy The FIA WTCC Stihl Race of Italy 2009 was the tenth round of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship season, and the fifth running of the FIA WTCC Race of Italy. It was held on September 20, 2009 at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari near Imola, in Italy... |
JPN 2009 FIA WTCC Race of Japan The FIA WTCC Kenwood Race of Japan 2009 was the eleventh round of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship season and the second running of the FIA WTCC Race of Japan. It was held on November 1, 2009 at the Okayama International Circuit near Mimasaka, Japan. The two races were won by BMW drivers... |
MAC 2009 Guia Race of Macau The FIA WTCC Marriott Guia Race of Macau 2009 was the twelfth and final round of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship season. It was the fifth running of the Guia Race of Macau as a World Touring Car Championship round. It was be held on November 22, 2009 on the temporary Guia Circuit around the... |
NC | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 11 | 19 | 16 | 21 | 9 | Ret | 17 | 19 | 13 | 19 | 15 | Ret | 11 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 10 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 15 | Ret | |||||||
| 2010 2010 World Touring Car Championship season The 2010 World Touring Car Championship season was the seventh season of the FIA World Touring Car Championship, and the sixth since its 2005 return. It began with the Race of Brazil at Curitiba on March 7 and ended with the Guia Race of Macau at the Guia Circuit on November 21, after twenty-two... |
SUNRED Engineering SUNRED Engineering Sunred is a Spanish-based auto racing team and constructor. They are best known for competing in the World Touring Car Championship.-Racing History:... |
SEAT León 2.0 TFSI SEAT León The SEAT León is a small family car built by the Spanish car manufacturer, and Volkswagen Group subsidiary SEAT, S.A. since October 1998.The two León generations are, or have been built upon two differing variants of the Volkswagen Group A platform, and they also share many other components with... |
BRA 2010 FIA WTCC Race of Brazil The 2010 FIA WTCC HSBC Race of Brazil was a World Touring Car Championship round held at Autódromo Internacional de Curitiba near Curitiba, Brazil on 7 March 2010. It was the opening round of the 2010 World Touring Car Championship season and the fifth running of the FIA WTCC Race of Brazil... |
MAR 2010 FIA WTCC Race of Morocco The 2010 FIA WTCC Race of Morocco was the second round of the 2010 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held at the Marrakech Street Circuit in Marrakech, Morocco on 2 May 2010. It was the second running of the FIA WTCC Race of Morocco... |
ITA 2010 FIA WTCC Race of Italy The 2010 FIA WTCC Yokohama Race of Italy was the third round of the 2010 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, near Monza, Italy on May 23, 2010. It was the sixth running of the FIA WTCC Race of Italy... |
BEL 2010 FIA WTCC Race of Belgium The 2010 FIA WTCC Monroe Race of Belgium was the fourth round of the 2010 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held at Circuit Zolder, near Heusden-Zolder, Belgium on June 20, 2010... |
POR 2010 FIA WTCC Race of Portugal The 2010 FIA WTCC Race of Portugal was the fifth round of the 2010 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve near Portimão in Portugal on July 4, 2010. It was the fourth running of the Race of Portugal, and the first time the series had visited the... |
UK 2010 FIA WTCC Race of UK The 2010 FIA WTCC Marriott Race of UK was the sixth round of the 2010 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held at Brands Hatch in Kent, England on July 18, 2010. It was the sixth running of the Race of UK... |
CZE 2010 FIA WTCC Race of the Czech Republic The 2010 FIA WTCC Monroe Race of the Czech Republic was the seventh round of the 2010 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held at the Masaryk Circuit near Brno, Czech Republic on August 1, 2010. It was the fifth running of the Race of the Czech Republic... |
GER 2010 FIA WTCC Race of Germany The 2010 FIA WTCC Race of Germany is the eighth round of the 2010 World Touring Car Championship season. It is being held at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben near Oschersleben, Germany on September 5, 2010. It is the sixth running of the Race of Germany.... |
ESP 2010 FIA WTCC Race of Spain The 2010 FIA WTCC DHL Race of Spain was the ninth round of the 2010 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo near Valencia, Spain on September 19, 2010. It was the sixth running of the Race of Spain. The two races were won by SR-Sport drivers Gabriele Tarquini... |
JPN 2010 FIA WTCC Race of Japan The 2010 FIA WTCC Kenwood Race of Japan was the tenth round of the 2010 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held at the Okayama International Circuit near Mimasaka, Japan on October 31, 2010. It was the third running of the Race of Spain... |
MAC 2010 Guia Race of Macau The 2010 FIA WTCC Guia Race of Macau, presented by Sociedade de Jogos de Macau was the eleventh and final round of the 2010 World Touring Car Championship season. It was the sixth running of the Guia Race of Macau as a World Touring Car Championship round. It was held on the Guia Circuit on the... |
NC | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 13 | Ret | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||