Elliott Forbes-Robinson
Encyclopedia
Elliott Forbes-Robinson (born October 31, 1943 in La Crescenta, California) is a road racing racecar driver. He is known for his race wins and championships in many different series, including the American Le Mans Series
(ALMS), Super Vee, Trans-Am Series
, CanAm
, IMSA
GTU, and the World Challenge. He is known in NASCAR
circles as a road course ringer
. He is also a founder of the Legends Cars of 600 Racing and he designed their original car.
Forbes-Robinson co-won the 1987 Grand Prix of Miami
with Geoff Brabham
. In 1988, he took over the driver's seat from car owner Rick Hendrick
during the final NASCAR race at Riverside International Raceway
.
In the mid 1990s he competed in SCCA, IMSA’s GTU, the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb
, and the World Sportscar Championship
.
In 1997 he won the overall win at the 24 Hours of Daytona
.
In 1999 he repeated as the overall winner at the 24 Hours of Daytona. He won the inaugural ALMS championship with teammate Butch Leitzinger
for Dyson Racing
.
He won the SR Class at the 2000 24 Hours of Daytona, and finished fifth in the class’ points standings.
He finished seventh the 2001 SRP class points, with a second place finish in eight starts.
He had three SRP starts in 2002. He finished third in his only SRP II start.
He was the 2003 Rolex Vintage Enduro Car champion.
He raced in The Rolex Series in 2004, and had eight Top-5 finishes in eleven races. He co-drove with Leitzinger. He raced in the No. 4 Pontiac-Crawford Daytopna Prototype car for Howard-Boss Motorsports
.
He continued his relationship with Boss Motorsports co-driving with Leitzinger in 2005. The duo won at Mid-Ohio
, and had second place finishes at the 24 Hours of Daytona
, Homestead
, and Laguna Seca
in seven races. They finished fifth in the final series points.
at the 2004 Porsche 250 at Barber Motorsports Park
gave him victories in 5 consecutive decades.
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
(ALMS), Super Vee, Trans-Am Series
Trans-Am Series
The Trans-Am Series is an automobile racing series which was created in 1966 by Sports Car Club of America President John Bishop. Originally known as the Trans-American Sedan Championship it has evolved over time from its original format as a manufacturers championship for modified racing sedans...
, CanAm
CanAm
The Canadian-American Challenge Cup or Can-Am, was an SCCA/CASC sports car racing series from 1966 to 1986.-History:Can-Am started out as a race series for Group 7 sports racers with two races in Canada and four races in the United States of America . The series was initially sponsored by Johnson...
, IMSA
International Motor Sports Association
The International Motor Sports Association is an American sports car auto racing sanctioning body based in Braselton, Georgia. It was started by John Bishop, a former employee of SCCA , and his wife Peggy in 1969 with help from Bill France, Sr...
GTU, and the World Challenge. He is known in NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
circles as a road course ringer
Road course ringer
Road course ringer, also known as Road course specialist, Road course expert, or Road runner, is a term used to describe a non-NASCAR driver who is hired by a NASCAR team to race, specifically, on road courses...
. He is also a founder of the Legends Cars of 600 Racing and he designed their original car.
Racing career
He was the 1982 champion of the Trans-Am Series.Forbes-Robinson co-won the 1987 Grand Prix of Miami
Grand Prix of Miami
Grand Prix of Miami may refer to several auto races in the Miami-South Florida metropolitan area:*Grand Prix of Miami *Miami Indy Challenge *Firestone Indy 300...
with Geoff Brabham
Geoff Brabham
Geoff Brabham is an Australian racing driver. He is the son of three-time Formula One World Champion Jack Brabham. Brabham spent the majority of his racing career in the United States. He raced successfully in CART early in his career. In ten appearances in the Indianapolis 500, with a best result...
. In 1988, he took over the driver's seat from car owner Rick Hendrick
Rick Hendrick
Joseph Riddick Hendrick III , better known as Rick Hendrick, is the current owner of the American NASCAR team, Hendrick Motorsports and founder of the Hendrick Automotive Group and Hendrick Marrow Program. He attended Park View High School in South Hill, Virginia, and began his career in auto...
during the final NASCAR race at Riverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway was a race track or road course in Riverside, California. The track was in operation from September 22, 1957, to July 2, 1989...
.
In the mid 1990s he competed in SCCA, IMSA’s GTU, the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb
Pikes Peak International Hillclimb
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb , also known as The Race to the Clouds, is an annual automobile and motorcycle hillclimb to the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado, a distance of over 156 turns, climbing from the start at Mile 7 on Pikes Peak Highway at on grades averaging 7% over...
, and the World Sportscar Championship
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992.The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid,...
.
In 1997 he won the overall win at the 24 Hours of Daytona
24 Hours of Daytona
The 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the Rolex 24 Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is run on a combined road course, utilizing portions of the NASCAR tri-oval and an infield...
.
In 1999 he repeated as the overall winner at the 24 Hours of Daytona. He won the inaugural ALMS championship with teammate Butch Leitzinger
Butch Leitzinger
Robert Franklin "Butch" Leitzinger is a professional racecar driver. He is best known as an ALMS driver with Dyson Racing, but he has also driven for a variety of other teams and race series....
for Dyson Racing
Dyson Racing
Dyson Racing is a professional sports car racing team based in Poughkeepsie, New York in the United States. Founded by Rob Dyson in 1974, the team is one of the longest-running and most successful privateer racing organizations. Over the years, it has competed in IMSA GTO and GTP, SCCA Trans-Am,...
.
He won the SR Class at the 2000 24 Hours of Daytona, and finished fifth in the class’ points standings.
He finished seventh the 2001 SRP class points, with a second place finish in eight starts.
He had three SRP starts in 2002. He finished third in his only SRP II start.
He was the 2003 Rolex Vintage Enduro Car champion.
He raced in The Rolex Series in 2004, and had eight Top-5 finishes in eleven races. He co-drove with Leitzinger. He raced in the No. 4 Pontiac-Crawford Daytopna Prototype car for Howard-Boss Motorsports
Howard-Boss Motorsports
Childress-Howard Motorsports is a professional sports car racing team competing in the Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class.-Howard Motorsports :...
.
He continued his relationship with Boss Motorsports co-driving with Leitzinger in 2005. The duo won at Mid-Ohio
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a road course auto racing facility located in Troy Township, Morrow County, Ohio, United States, just outside of the village of Lexington...
, and had second place finishes at the 24 Hours of Daytona
24 Hours of Daytona
The 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the Rolex 24 Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is run on a combined road course, utilizing portions of the NASCAR tri-oval and an infield...
, Homestead
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a race track in Homestead, Florida southwest of Miami.Since 2002 Homestead has hosted the final races of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series...
, and Laguna Seca
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a paved road racing track used for both auto racing and motorcycle racing, originally constructed in 1957 near both Salinas and Monterey, California, USA....
in seven races. They finished fifth in the final series points.
Road racing career totals
He has had 51 major victories in his 30 year career. His victory co-driving with Butch LeitzingerButch Leitzinger
Robert Franklin "Butch" Leitzinger is a professional racecar driver. He is best known as an ALMS driver with Dyson Racing, but he has also driven for a variety of other teams and race series....
at the 2004 Porsche 250 at Barber Motorsports Park
Barber Motorsports Park
The Barber Motorsports Park is a multi-purpose racing facility located on the eastern fringes of Birmingham, Alabama, USA near Leeds. The facility was the vision of George Barber, and includes the Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum. In July 2009 officials announced that Barber will be the site of...
gave him victories in 5 consecutive decades.