West Surrey Racing
 |
|
| Founded | 1981 |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Dick Bennetts |
| Base | Sunbury-on-Thames, England |
| Team principal(s) | Dick Bennetts |
| Current series | BTCC |
| Former series |
WTCC British F3 International Formula 3000 A1 Grand Prix |
| Current drivers |
 Colin Turkington Rob Collard Andrew Jordan
|
| Teams' Championships |
BTCC – Independents: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014 BTCC: 2014 |
| Drivers' Championships |
British Formula 3: 1981: Jonathan Palmer 1983: Ayrton Senna 1985: Maurício Gugelmin 1990: Mika Häkkinen 1991: Rubens Barrichello BTCC – Independents: 2004: Anthony Reid 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014: Colin Turkington BTCC: 2009, 2014: Colin Turkington |
| Website | http://www.wsr-racing.com/ |
West Surrey Racing is a UK-based motorsport team run by New Zealander Dick Bennetts. He is responsible for masterminding the careers of such names as Ayrton Senna, Mika Häkkinen, Jonathan Palmer, Rubens Barrichello, Maurício Gugelmin and Eddie Irvine with his involvement in F3 and a racing academy in the 80s and 90s. Founded in 1981, WSR has won more than 70 races in Formula 3 and more than 20 class and outright wins in the BTCC.
WSR moved to the BTCC in 1996 having been chosen to run the works Ford team, with Andy Rouse having left running the team to attempt to establish his own Nissan team. WSR worked in cooperation with Reynard Motorsport, who built the chassis while WSR ran the race team itself. The 1996 season was one of limited success, with Ford stalwart Paul Radisich partnered by Steve Robertson, (The man who is now the manager of Kimi Räikkönen). The Mondeo had never really lived up to its hype since its inception in 1993, and Radisich ended the season 13th with 27 points, and Robertson 20th, with a paltry 2 points, even finishing lower than Independents Gary Ayles, Owen McAuley, Lee Brookes and Richard Kaye. The peak of this disappointment was possibly achieved at Round 1, when Radisich, who was running well down the order, crashed into teammate Robertson at turn 1, after Robertson had spun the car.
WSR Ford finished 7th in the Team's Championship, just ahead of the factory Peugeots of Tim Harvey and Patrick Watts.
For 1997, Radisich was partnered by departing Renault no.2 Will Hoy, the 1991 British Touring Car Champion. Initially, an improved facelifted Mondeo was far from competitive. However, as the year continued, Hoy and Radisich were consistently fighting for points, and Radisich ended with 41 points to finish 13th, and Hoy 15th with 27 points in a mildly competitive season.
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