John Fitzpatrick (racing driver)

John Fitzpatrick
John Fitzpatrick in 2014
Nationality	English
Born	(1943-06-09) 9 June 1943 (age 73) Birmingham, England, UK
Retired	1986

John Fitzpatrick (born in Birmingham, 9 June 1943) is a former English racing driver, winning many titles throughout his career. He works within motorsport as a consultant doing corporate events and driver management. He still participates in historic races.

He was one of the best Porsche drivers of his era. He began his career driving Touring cars in the BSCC and ETCC, winning the British Saloon Car Championship in 1966. First it was Minis, then Ford Anglias and Escorts; BMW CSs and then Porsche 911s. He then became renowned for his expertise at driving the German machines. He was crowned European GT Champion in 1972, and then again in 1974. He moved to the United States in 1980, driving for Dick Barbour Racing, and capturing the IMSA Camel GT Championship in the process. In 1981, he moved from driver to team owner-driver, with some success.

Fitzpatrick had little racing experience before he entered the British Saloon Car Championship [BSCC], with his pre-career largely unknown. From 1963, Team Broadspeed, employed Fitzpatrick to race their Austin Mini Cooper S in the three of the closing rounds of the year. He won points, although his season was brought to a close with two retirements in the final rounds. For 1964, Fitzpatrick switched to the factory backed Cooper Car Company team, taking his first victory (in class) at the first race. A second win resulted from the fourth meeting, ultimately finishing second in the championship to Jim Clark.

In 1965, Fitzpatrick returned to Team Broadspeed, remaining with them for the rest of his BSCC career. The season saw Fitzpatrick claim three podiums (including a class win) in his Morris Mini Cooper S 970. It would be in 1966, however, that Fitzpatrick put his name into the BSCC history books. Team Broadspeed were contracted by Ford to run two 1000cc Ford Anglias in the BSCC, to be driven by Fitzpatrick and Peter Proctor. Peter Proctor had a severe accident in the Goodwood race and his place was taken by Anita Taylor. Fitzpatrick won the Championship overall. Fitzpatrick followed this with a second place overall the following year, before Broadspeed changed to the new Ford Escorts.

In the final four years that he competed in the BSCC, Fitzpatrick would not challenge for the title. Team Broadspeed bought a Ford Escort for Fitzpatrick, which meant he would compete directly with the Mini Coopers once more. 1968 saw the Escort struggle early on, however, as the car was not homologated until the third race of the year. Nonetheless, Fitzpatrick took four class wins on the trot during the middle of the season, finishing sixth overall. 1969 saw a further three wins for Fitzpatrick, resulting in a 7th place overall.