​John Fitzpatrick Group C Porsches - The Definitive History

• Specification

  Limited to 750 copies signed by the author, Mark Cole.

  We also have 9 copies signed by Rupert Keegan, John Fitzpatrick & Mark Cole and 2 copies signed by John Fitzpatrick & Mark Cole.

  ISBN 978-1-907085-88-8

• John Fitzpatrick Racing was a highly successful privateer Porsche team in the glorious early years of Group C sportscar racing, first with 956s, then 962s.

  From 1983 to 1986, Fitzpatrick’s operation made 66 Group C entries in 44 races in the World Endurance Championship, the German Deutsche Rennsport-Meisterschaft and the American Can-Am, winning three times and taking another 11 podium positions. This book tells the story of this exciting team, its five Group C Porsches and what became of them, its crews, its drivers, its races and – above all – its charismatic owner, John Fitzpatrick, arguably the best British driver never to have raced in Formula 1.

Part One: Setting the Scene

Fitz’s driving career, Enter Group C, The Porsche 956/962 story

Part Two: The Races

The 1983 season, 1984 season, 1985 season and 1986 season

Part Three: Fitz’s men

Kenneth Acheson, Jurgen Barth, Derek Bell, Thierry Boutsen, Peter Brock, Guy Edwards, George Fouche, Jo Gartner, Keith Greene, David Hobbs, Rupert Keegean, Franz Konrad, Sarel van der Merwe, Andrew Miedecke, Larry Perkins, David Prewitt, Dieter Quester, Fermin Valez, Emilio de Villota, Derek Warwick, Dudely Wood and more…

Part Four: Later Life

The collector, The restorer, The racer and individual chassis histories

John Fitzpatrick's story: during an extraordinary 22 years behind the wheel, he was the youngest-ever winner of the British Saloon Car Championship and became one of Porsche's most garlanded champions.

The birth of Group C: this new category rejuvenated sportscar racing when it was introduced in 1982 and heralded the development of the legendary Porsche 956.

The 1983 season: the highlight was victory for Fitzpatrick and Derek Warwick in the Brands Hatch 1,000Kms, but there were podiums too in the 1,000Kms races at Spa and Imola – and a win in the Can-Am race at Elkhart Lake.

The 1984 season: with Fitzpatrick now running a two-car team, the stand-out result was third place in the Le Mans 24 Hours for David Hobbs, Sarel van der Merwe and Philippe Streiff, while strong second places came at the Nürburgring and Mosport, and thirds in Britain at Silverstone and Brands Hatch.

The 1985 season: loss of sponsorship necessitated a reduced programme, mainly with single-car entries, but Le Mans brought another fine finish with fourth place for Jo Gartner, David Hobbs and Guy Edwards.

The 1986 season: Le Mans again provided the highlight with another fourth place, this time for Emilio de Villota, Fermín Velez and George Fouché.

Numerous interviews with drivers and other team personnel bring colour and anecdotes to the story, with significant names including John Fitzpatrick himself and Porsche's Jürgen Barth, plus star drivers such as Derek Warwick, David Hobbs and Thierry Boutsen.

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