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Equipe Endeavour
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Team Information
Nationality British United Kingdom
First Season 1958
Founder Tommy Sopwith
Team Principle Unknown
Key People Unknown
Driver(s) Gawaine Baillie
Graham Hill
Michael Parkes
Jack Sears
Car Jaguar Mk II
Sponsor(s) Unknown
Team Stats
Previous Season Standings Unknown
Races Entered 54
Total Number of Wins 23
First Win Brands Hatch 1958
Total Number of Podiums Unknown
Total Fastest Laps Unknown
Number of Championships Unknown

 Equipe Endeavour was a British Saloon Car Championship team, which was founded by Tommy Sopwith. The team was noted for its use of Jaguar cars, particularly the Jaguar Mk II.

History[]

Originally founded by Tommy Sopwith to race in sports cars, Equipe Endeavour entered cars in the very first year of the BSCC in 1958.[1] Running two Jaguar 3.4 litres for Sopwith and Gawaine Baillie, the team created history by taking victory in the first ever BSCC race, with Sopwith and Baillie taking victory in every race (in their class) throughout the year.[1] Sopwith only lost the title after a head-to-head duel with Jack Sears.[1]

The team only entered one car in 1959, with Ivor Bueb as the driver.[2] Sadly, after taking three victories at the start of the season, Bueb was killed in a Formula Two race in France in August that year, although his tally was enough to see him runner up in Class D.[2] In 1960, with cars with engine capacities over 1.0 litres banned (from taking points), Equipe Endeavour only entered one car in races in which larger engined cars were allowed.[3] Jack Sears took two wins in the 1600+ class for Equipe Endeavour that season.[3]

The rules were modified once more in 1961, with Class D re-established to allow the use of larger capacity engines once more.[4] Entering two cars throughout the year, and with drivers Graham Hill, Michael Parkes and Sears, Equipe Endeavour took numerous victories.[4] Hill finishing sixth overall (having raced at half the season's races, with Sears running the car in those he missed) and Parkes second overall, the team took its second class title, using the newly released Jaguar Mk II.[4]

Sears and Parkes stayed with the team into 1962, a season which saw a herd of Jaguars head the field.[5] In constant battle with the John Coombs cars, the Equipe Endeavour drivers claimed third (Sears) and fifth (Parkes) overall, also taking first and third in Class D.[5] Equipe Endeavour left the championship after the end of the season, focusing on sports cars and boat racing.[6]

Honours[]

Equipe Endeavour took numerous titles during their time in the championship, although as their were no team championships, these were limited to class honours.

  • 1958
    • Driver's Championship Runner-up (Tommy Sopwith)
    • Class D Championship Champion (Tommy Sopwith)
  • 1959
  • 1961
    • Driver's Championship Runner-up (Michael Parkes)
    • Class D Championship Champion (Michael Parkes)
  • 1962

Driver List[]

Below is a list of all the drivers that have raced for Equipe Endeavour.

Equipe Endeavour Driver List
Year Nationality Name No. Rounds Final Standings
1958 United Kingdom Gawaine Baillie 1-7 bgcolor="Purple" style="color:white; border-radius:7px;"|NC
United Kingdom Tommy Sopwith All 2nd
1959 United Kingdom Ivor Bueb 1-3 7th
1960 United Kingdom Jack Sears 5-7 bgcolor="Purple" style="color:white; border-radius:7px;"|NC
1961 United Kingdom Graham Hill 2, 4, 6, 8 6th
United Kingdom Michael Parkes All 2nd
United Kingdom Jack Sears 1, 3, 5, 7-8 bgcolor="Purple" style="color:white; border-radius:7px;"|NC
1962 United Kingdom Michael Parkes 1-4, 6-8 5th
United Kingdom Jack Sears All 3rd

References[]

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