John Handley

John Handley
Driver Details
Nationality	{{{{{natflag}}}}} British
Date of Birth	Unknown
Date of Death	Unknown
Début	Oulton Park 1963
Championships	0 (6th 1967)
2015 Position	Unknown
First Win	Unknown
Previous Teams	Team Broadspeed Cooper Car Co. British Vita Racing BL MC RCD Dealer Opel Team
Career Statistics
Total Entries	0 (0 Starts)
Pole Positions	0
Fastest Laps	0
Wins	0 (0 in Class)
Total Points	0
Current Season
Team	Unknown
Car	Unknown
Number	Standings	Points
'	–	0

John Handley is a former British Saloon Car Championship driver, who won several races between 1963 and 1969, before returning to the championship between 1974 and 1975.

BackgroundEdit

Handley had limited experience before he entered the BSCC, competing almost exclusively in club events. Handley's only major race entry was at the Coupe de Paris sports car race of 1963.^[1]

BTCC HistoryEdit

Handley made his debut for Broadspeed Engineering at Oulton Park in 1963, taking fourth after a race long battle with Timmy Mayer in Class A.^[2] Broadspeed offered Handley a drive in 1964 (in both the BSCC and sports car events), with Handley starting the season with a seventh place finish.^[3][1] It would be at the Small Car Trophy race at Crystal Palace, however, that Handley announced himself, taking a shock win from former Broadspeed driver John Fitzpatrick.^[3] Fourteenth place overall would result from Handley's exploits, with Broadspeed employing him for a third year in 1965.^[3]

After missing the first two rounds of the year, Handley suffered a retirement after trying to go toe-to-toe with John Rhodes and Tony Lanfranchi at Snetterton.^[4] Handley's luck would change at the following round, when Rhodes was given a penalty that promoted Handley to first in Class B.^[4] A further podium gave Handley a total of fourteen points, although he would lose his drive with Broadspeed in 1966.^[4]

Factory RacerEdit

The Cooper Car Company signed Handley for the 1966 season, with Handley running an Austin Mini Cooper S in support of Rhodes (the team's number one driver).^[5] The season only saw two visits to the Class B podium for Handley, although his work did help Rhodes to challenge for the title, as Handley often battled with Rhodes' rivals in class, helping him to finish as high as possible.^[5] Handley was rewarded with a drive in 1967 as well, which would result in him finishing sixth overall (and third in class).^[6] Three wins through the year demonstrated Handley's ability, as he was limited to supporting Rhodes once more.^[6]

After three appearences in 1968, driving for British Vita Racing (resulting in two second places), Handley gained a drive with the British Layland Motor Company team, driving a factory built BMC Mini Cooper S 970.^[7][8] Two third places resulted from the year, with Handley moving away from the championship to focus on the European Touring Car Challenge.^[8]

Racing ReturnEdit

Handley would not be seen in the paddock again until 1974, when he debuted the Triumph Dolomite Sprint for RCD.^[9] Taking third in class at the end of the year (and twelfth overall), Handley's efforts saw him take six podiums during the year.^[9] His efforts (along with those of Andy Rouse and Tony Dron) helped British Layland take the manufacturer's title, although Handley's seat would be lost at the end of the season.^[9]

The Dealer Opel Team would ask Handley to drive for them at several races in 1975, taking third at his first race in the car.^[10] He would go on to take the three victories in his Opel Commodore GS/E, the first of which, at Silverstone, was the first for the Commodore.^[10] Handley left the championship at the end of the season, continuing in the ETCC and sports cars.^[1]

BTCC RecordEdit

A table containing John Handley's best results in the BTCC. The figures after the information about the car used indicate John Handley's best finish at that meeting.

ReferencesEdit

Images

References