Anthony Reid
Encyclopedia
Anthony Reid is a British
auto racing
driver, born on 17 May 1957 in Glasgow
, Scotland
. Although Scottish he now lives in England.
and other junior single-seater championships, winning the Japanese Formula Three Championship in 1992 and winning Japan
ese GT championship races, but his success has mostly been with a roof over his head, firstly in sportscars and later in Touring car racing
.
He actually passed a test drive with Jordan F1 Team in 1992 and would have competed in the following season but he couldn't raise sufficient sponsorship money, he still keeps the letter of acceptance in a frame on his wall.
In the 1990 24 Hours of Le Mans
, Anthony competed for Porsche
, driving the Alpha Racing 962C in Group C1. He came third overall and won in the nonworks car. Again in 1991 he drove the 962C but with Konrad motorsport.
Later in his career, he drove the Lister Storm (1996). Racing in the MG Lola in 2001 and 2002, the team achieved pole position in their class however the car was retired due to gearbox problems. In 2005, Reid drove the Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari. In Qualifying Anthony completed three laps with a best time of 4:13.237 which became the team's best time. The car eventually retired at the hands of Anthony's team mate due to a delaminated tyre, leaving the car stranded on the circuit.
, with Nissan, having raced for them in Germany the previous year. The speed he showed in this season was translated into consistent results in 1998, when he fought for the title up to the final round, losing out to Sweden
's Rickard Rydell
. In 1999 he joined Ford to help develop their Mondeo, again struggling in his first season before challenging for the championship in 2000, finishing second to team-mate Alain Menu
.
For 2001 he joined West Surrey Racing
(WSR) as they developed an MG ZS
, not racing until the end of the season but still finding time to win the final race of the season, although the team was not eligible for points. He drove for the team for the next 3 seasons, although for 2004 MG pulled out and WSR ran the car privately, only finding the funds to run Reid (whose contract was owned by MG rather than WSR) alongside the better-funded Colin Turkington
a few days before the season opened. Against all odds this season was the closest he came to winning the title in this car, also winning the Independent's cup ahead of Matt Neal
. For 2005 WSR was unable to find the funds for him to race, and his planned racing with MG in Germany was scrapped when the company folded.
Reid later turned to the Argentinian TC2000 series, helping Honda
Petrobras
to develop their Honda Civic
for competition as well as racing it. He won the 200 km de Buenos Aires
in 2008 racing with José María 'Pechito' López
.
Reid returned to the BTCC for the final three rounds of the 2009 season
for WSR, entered under the Team RAC banner. He was entered in a third car alongside regular drivers Turkington and Stephen Jelley
in an attempt to bolster Turkington's championship chances.
.
In series 12 episode 5 he raced a single tier bus against other touring car drivers - winning it. As a result, he questionably proved that the single tier bus is most suited to the urban environment.
Reid was involved in an attempt to speed up airport transport on Top Gear, driving a catering truck against other various Touring Car colleagues. The race culminated with Reid being the only racing driver left against Hammond, however the vehicle became unbalanced (after Reid ejected his crockery to lose some weight). The truck listed to one side and eventually fell over, allowing Hammond to win.
His brother John is the head roboteer for Robot Wars
favourite Terrorhurtz.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
auto racing
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
driver, born on 17 May 1957 in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Although Scottish he now lives in England.
Formula cars
He spent many years in Formula ThreeFormula Three
Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers...
and other junior single-seater championships, winning the Japanese Formula Three Championship in 1992 and winning Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese GT championship races, but his success has mostly been with a roof over his head, firstly in sportscars and later in Touring car racing
Touring car racing
Touring car racing is a general term for a number of distinct auto racing competitions in heavily-modified street cars. It is notably popular in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Scandinavia and Britain.-Characteristics of a touring car:...
.
He actually passed a test drive with Jordan F1 Team in 1992 and would have competed in the following season but he couldn't raise sufficient sponsorship money, he still keeps the letter of acceptance in a frame on his wall.
Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
, Anthony competed for Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
, driving the Alpha Racing 962C in Group C1. He came third overall and won in the nonworks car. Again in 1991 he drove the 962C but with Konrad motorsport.
Later in his career, he drove the Lister Storm (1996). Racing in the MG Lola in 2001 and 2002, the team achieved pole position in their class however the car was retired due to gearbox problems. In 2005, Reid drove the Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari. In Qualifying Anthony completed three laps with a best time of 4:13.237 which became the team's best time. The car eventually retired at the hands of Anthony's team mate due to a delaminated tyre, leaving the car stranded on the circuit.
Touring Cars
In 1997 he first raced in the British Touring Car ChampionshipBritish Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
, with Nissan, having raced for them in Germany the previous year. The speed he showed in this season was translated into consistent results in 1998, when he fought for the title up to the final round, losing out to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
's Rickard Rydell
Rickard Rydell
Rickard Rydell is a Swedish racing driver. He won the 1998 British Touring Car Championship, the 2011 Scandinavian Touring Car Championship, and has also been a frontrunner in the European/World Touring Car Championship.-Early career:In the early 1990s, Rydell raced in various Formula Three series...
. In 1999 he joined Ford to help develop their Mondeo, again struggling in his first season before challenging for the championship in 2000, finishing second to team-mate Alain Menu
Alain Menu
Alain Menu is a Swiss racing driver. He was one of the most successful touring car drivers of the 1990s, winning the prestigious British Touring Car Championship twice . He currently races for Chevrolet in the World Touring Car Championship.- BTCC :He is the son of a farmer...
.
For 2001 he joined West Surrey Racing
West Surrey Racing
Founded in 1981, 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...
(WSR) as they developed an MG ZS
MG ZS
The MG ZS is a sports family car. The ZS is essentially a badge engineered Rover 45 . The 45 in turn is a facelifted version of the Rover 400 which was launched in hatchback form in 1995 and saloon form in 1996. The Rover 400 had much in common with the Honda Civic of 1995-1999...
, not racing until the end of the season but still finding time to win the final race of the season, although the team was not eligible for points. He drove for the team for the next 3 seasons, although for 2004 MG pulled out and WSR ran the car privately, only finding the funds to run Reid (whose contract was owned by MG rather than WSR) alongside the better-funded Colin Turkington
Colin Turkington
Colin Henry Turkington is a Northern Irish auto racing driver. His most notable success to date was becoming 2009 British Touring Car Champion driving for Team RAC. Most recently he has competed in the 2010 World Touring Car Championship driving a BMW 320si for West Surrey Racing...
a few days before the season opened. Against all odds this season was the closest he came to winning the title in this car, also winning the Independent's cup ahead of Matt Neal
Matt Neal
Matthew Neal is a British motor racing driver. He won the British Touring Car Championship in 2005, 2006 and 2011. He has also won a European Touring Car Championship race. He is 6' 6" tall, making him almost entirely unable to race single-seaters...
. For 2005 WSR was unable to find the funds for him to race, and his planned racing with MG in Germany was scrapped when the company folded.
Reid later turned to the Argentinian TC2000 series, helping Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
Petrobras
Petrobras
Petróleo Brasileiro or Petrobras is a semi-public Brazilian multinational energy corporation headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the largest company in Latin America by market capitalization and revenue, and the largest company headquartered in the Southern Hemisphere by market...
to develop their Honda Civic
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
for competition as well as racing it. He won the 200 km de Buenos Aires
200 km de Buenos Aires
The 200 km de Buenos Aires is a 200-kilometre touring car race held annually at Autódromo Juan y Óscar Gálvez in Buenos Aires, Argentina.The race was traditionally run on the last Sunday in October, but is now held on the first Sunday in November....
in 2008 racing with José María 'Pechito' López
José María López
José María "Pechito" López is a race car driver. He raced in the 2006 GP2 Series for the Super Nova team, and previously for the DAMS team, and the CMS team in Formula 3000. He was also at Renault F1 as a test driver...
.
Reid returned to the BTCC for the final three rounds of the 2009 season
2009 British Touring Car Championship season
The 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 52nd British Touring Car Championship season. It began at Brands Hatch on the Indy layout on April 5 and finished after 30 races over 10 events on the Grand Prix layout at Brands Hatch on October 4...
for WSR, entered under the Team RAC banner. He was entered in a third car alongside regular drivers Turkington and Stephen Jelley
Stephen Jelley
Stephen Jelley is a British auto racing driver.-Single Seaters:Jelley moved up from Formula Ford to the National Class of the British Formula Three Championship for 2004, taking three class wins. In 2006 and 2007 he drove for Räikkönen Robertson Racing in British F3...
in an attempt to bolster Turkington's championship chances.
Top Gear appearances
He had appeared in Top Gear series 10 episode 6 driving a nimble Toyota motorhomeToyota Liteace
The Toyota Liteace is a line of motor vehicles produced by the Japanese manufacturer Toyota. Launched in 1970, the Liteace is a medium-sized van which was most commonly exported to Asia, Australia and Africa....
.
In series 12 episode 5 he raced a single tier bus against other touring car drivers - winning it. As a result, he questionably proved that the single tier bus is most suited to the urban environment.
Reid was involved in an attempt to speed up airport transport on Top Gear, driving a catering truck against other various Touring Car colleagues. The race culminated with Reid being the only racing driver left against Hammond, however the vehicle became unbalanced (after Reid ejected his crockery to lose some weight). The truck listed to one side and eventually fell over, allowing Hammond to win.
His brother John is the head roboteer for Robot Wars
Robot Wars (TV series)
Robot Wars is a British game show modelled on a US-based competition of the same name. It was broadcast on BBC Two from 1998 until 2003, with its final series broadcast on Five in 2003 and 2004. Additional series were filmed for specific sectors of the global market, including two series of Robot...
favourite Terrorhurtz.