BTCC Wiki
Mike Parkes
Driver Details
Nationality {{{{{natflag}}}}} British United Kingdom
Date of Birth 24/9/1931[1]
Date of Death 28/8/1977[1]
Début Farningham Trophy 1960
Championships 0 (2nd 1961)
2015 Position Unknown
First Win Unknown
Previous Teams Sunbeam Talbot Ltd.
Equipe Endeavour
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

MIchael Johnson Parkes (better known as Mike Parkes) was a former British Saloon Car Championship driver and class winner, having won the Class D championship in 1961.[2] Parkes also finished as runner up in the championship in 1961.

Background[]

Parkes' career began in 1952, driving an MG TD in sports car races.[3] Parkes continued to race in sports cars beyond the start of his BSCC career, while also making a limited number of appearences in Formula One.[4] The first of these came in 1959, when Parkes entered the British Grand Prix, although he failed to qualify, Parkes would continue to pursue a career in F1 into the late 1960s.[1]

BTCC History[]

Parkes' first BSCC race came during the 1960 season, where he would retire his Sunbeam Rapier (running under the Sunbeam Talbot Ltd. banner) during the Farningham Trophy meeting.[5] Parkes decided to enter the championship full time, obtaining a drive from the Tommy Sopwith run Equipe Endeavour team.[2] Using a Jaguar Mk II, Parkes competed against the likes of Graham Hill and Roy Salvadori for race wins, taking four that year.[2] Parkes claimed second in the championship (unable to match the more dominant performance in Class A by John Whitmore) and won the Class D championship, placing him into the BSCC record books.[2]

In 1962, Parkes continued to show his form, however his other commitments meant his focus was drawn else where.[6] Two further wins, alongwith more duels with the other Jaguars saw Parkes clinch fifth in the final standings, as well as third in Class D.[6] From 1963, Parkes decided to focus his attention on endurance racing and getting back to Formula One, meaning he would not return to the BSCC.

BTCC Record[]

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

British Touring Car Championship Record
Year Class Rounds Pts. Pos.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1960 1600+ BHI SNTI MALP OTNP SNTII BHKT BHFT BHIV
Ret
1961 D SNLT GWMT ANTR SSIT CPLT SSET BHRT OPGC SNET 44 2nd
Ret 1 4 2 Ret 1 1 Ret 1
1962 D SNLT GWMT ANTR SSBT CRYP ABGP BHMT OPGC 32 5th
1 Ret 5 2 2 1 3

References[]