Eugene O'Brien (racing driver)
Encyclopedia
Eugene O'Brien is a British
auto racing
driver and coach.
Series in 1983, he was forced to take a break from racing due to lack of finance. He returned in 1987, competing in Formula First, where finished the year as runner-up. He switched to Formula Vauxhall Lotus in 1988, ending his second year in the championship as runner-up. He won his first title in 1990 with the British Sports 2000 Championship. His second title came in 1992, winning the Formula Forward series.
His success got him a drive in the British Touring Car Championship
, with the works Peugeot
team in 1993. He competed for two seasons in the series, but struggled with the underfunded Peugeot 405
finishing 16th in his first season, and 17th in 1994. Ater leaving the BTCC he competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
for Agusta Racing Team, finishing third in the GT2 Class.
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 and coach.
Career
He started his racing career in single-seaters, winning his first race in 1983 (FF1600). After finishing third in the Junior Formula FordFormula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....
Series in 1983, he was forced to take a break from racing due to lack of finance. He returned in 1987, competing in Formula First, where finished the year as runner-up. He switched to Formula Vauxhall Lotus in 1988, ending his second year in the championship as runner-up. He won his first title in 1990 with the British Sports 2000 Championship. His second title came in 1992, winning the Formula Forward series.
His success got him a drive in the British Touring Car Championship
British 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 the works Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
team in 1993. He competed for two seasons in the series, but struggled with the underfunded Peugeot 405
Peugeot 405
The Peugeot 405 is a large family car released by the French automaker Peugeot in July 1987 and which continues to be manufactured under licence outside France. It used TU/XU petrol and XUD diesel engines....
finishing 16th in his first season, and 17th in 1994. Ater leaving the BTCC he competed in the 24 Hours of 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...
for Agusta Racing Team, finishing third in the GT2 Class.