The 1966 RAC Tourist Trophy saw the world’s oldest motor race, organised by the Royal Automobile Club, return to Oulton Park on 29 April, for the 31st running of the RAC International Tourist Trophy Race sponsored by Daily Express. The TT, was the second round of the British Sports Car Championship.
Report
Entry Despite the race being dropped from the World Sportscar Championship, the event still attracted a total of 30 sports cars, across two classes. However, just 21 took part in qualifying.
Qualifying The Formula One (F1) regular, and winner of the previous year’s TT, Denny Hulme took pole position for the Sidney Taylor team, in their Lola-Chevrolet T70 Mk.2, averaging a speed of , around the circuit. Dick Protheroe lost his life at the wheel of a Ferrari 330P-64 following an accident during a practice session.
Race The race was held over 140 laps of the circuit, split into two heats of 70 laps. Hulme took overall victory, winning with an aggregated time of 4hrs 06:11.200mins., averaging a speed of . Second place went to Tony Dean, in his Brabham-Climax BT8. The podium was completed by Peter Sutcliffe, in his Ford GT40. As Sutcliffe was also the Group 6 class winner, he was awarded The Oulton Trophy. For Hulme, this victory was his second Tourist Trophy, he would go on and win a further two, the last being in 1986.
Classification
Aggregate Results Pos. No. Group Driver(s) Entrant Car - Engine Time, Laps Reason Out 1st 4 Gr. 7 Denny Hulme Sidney Taylor Lola-Chevrolet T70 Mk.2 4hrs 06:11.200140 laps 2nd 14 Gr. 7 Tony Dean Race Proved by Willment Brabham-Climax BT8 135 3rd 48 Gr. 6 Peter Sutcliffe Peter Sutcliffe Ford GT40 134 4th 58 Gr. 7 Geoff Breakell G.H. Breakell Brabham-Climax BT8 132 5th 18 Gr.7 Tommy Weber Vegantune Engineering Lotus-BRM 23 131 6th 36 Gr.6 Peter de Klerk Porsche Cars (GB) Ltd. Porsche 906 131 7th 26 Gr. 7 John Coundley John O. Coundley McLaren Elva M1A Oldsmobile 126 8th 24 Gr. 7 Peter Gethin Derek Bennett Robert Ashcroft Racing Ltd. Crosslé-BMW 9S 125 9th 38 Gr. 6 David Piper David Piper Ferrari 365 P2 123 10th 56 Gr. 7 Peter Sadler Peter Sadler Lotus-Ford 30 122 11th 50 Gr. 6 Alan Rees Maranello Concessionaires Ltd. Ferrari 250 LM 119 12th 20 Gr. 7 Mike Garton Vegantune Engineering Lotus-Ford 23 114 13th 28 Gr. 7 Brian Redman Red Rose Racing Team Lola-Chevrolet T70 Mk.2 111 2: Final drive DNF 54 Gr. 7 Malcolm Wayne Malcolm Wayne Elva-BRM DNF DNF 6 Gr.7 Hugh Dibley Racing Partnership (Jersey) Ltd. Lola-Chevrolet T70 Mk.2 2: Oil pressure DNF 30 Gr. 7 Keith St. John Radio London Racing McLaren Elva-Ford Mk II DNF DNF 16 Gr.7 Mac Daghorn Felday Engineering Ltd. Felday-BRM 4 Mechanical DNF 8 Gr.7 Frank Gardner Alan Brown McLaren Elva-Ford Mk I DNF DNF 2 Gr.7 Jack Brabham Brabham Racing Organisation Ltd. Brabham-Repco BT17 Repco 2: Oil Leak DNF 32 Gr.7 David Prophet David Prophet McLaren Elva-Chevrolet DNF DNF 42 Gr.6 Mike Parkes Maranello Concessionaires Ltd. Ferrari Dino 206 S 1: Ring & pinion DNS 44 Gr.6 Dick Protheroe Dick Protheroe Ferrari 330 P-64 Fatal accident in practice DNS 46 Gr.6 Richard Bond Nick Cussons Ford GT40 Source: Fastest lap: Denny Hulme, 1:37.400secs. (102.646 mph)
References