Graeme Wight Jr
Encyclopedia
Graeme Wight, Jr. is a Scottish
racing
driver, best known for his success in hillclimbing
, where he has won two British championships
.
Wight began competing in hillclimbs at an early age, but in September 1992, still only 21, he was badly injured in a road accident when the brakes failed on his Hillman Imp
. It was feared that he might be paralysed
, and he remained in hospital for more than two months, but by 1993 he was not only out of hospital, but competing in - and winning his class in - hillclimbs once again.
In 1995, Graeme married. Two years later, after a time in a Vision sports car, Wight won the Scottish Hillclimb Championship outright driving a Pilbeam
. 1998 saw his first year of competition in the British Championship, at first in the two-litre class but then in the unlimited-capacity division. In 2000, now driving a Gould
, he broke the hill record at Doune
by 1.49 seconds, an astonishing margin in hillclimbing and indeed the biggest improvement in an outright record in BHCC history. After finishing fourth in the Championship that year, he finally reached the top in 2001 and 2002, winning the title in both years. Graeme became the first driver to complete the course at Shelsley Walsh
in under 25 seconds when he recorded a time of 24.85 seconds on Sunday 2 June 2002, in the presence of Sir Stirling Moss
. In that same year, he became the first reigning British Hill Climb Champion to be invited to drive at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
.
He was runner-up to Adam Fleetwood
in 2003, but after that things started to go wrong for Graeme. He was Fleetwood's main rival in the first part of the 2004 season, but delays in the appearance of his new car meant that he barely competed after mid-June and could manage only eighth place in the championship. Continued development problems in 2005 meant that he was never in the running in that season's championship and only rarely qualified for the run-offs. He was also absent from the 2006 championship, but still hopes to return to competition.
This new car, christened the "GWR Predator" and of an entirely new bespoke design, is the product of a huge amount of effort. The concept of the car was to employ an ex-Arrows
F1 Cosworth
V10 as the powerplant, using the engine's inherent light-weight and power to allow even further increases of power-to-weight ratio. In October 2006, however, Wight announced that the V10 engine was to be sold as he had grown frustrated of being unable to compete due to continual engine problems. He decided instead to power the car with the Ex-DTM
2.6 V6 Opel
Cosworth, previously used in his Gould GR51, though in the event the V10 was used in 2007 after all.
The Predator represents a huge leap the level of technology employed at what is ostensibly an amateur sport, with its combination of its ultra light weight, innovation and all-round complexity. Wight had a frustrating 2007, but late in 2008 the Predator finally came on song, and at the final round of the season, at Doune
, he won the first run-off and came second in the other. Wight was thrilled with his victory, saying that "the car has never been that good before" and that it had been "amazing" through the Esses.
His father, also Graeme Wight and sometimes known as Graeme Wight, Sr. to distinguish him from his son, also competed in hillclimbs, often sharing a car with his son.
For 2009, Wight has stated his intention to compete with an electrically powered machine, designed in partnership with ex-F1 designer Martin Ogilivie and Cambridge University. The car is part of the Bee 4 Motorsport project. http://www.beeautomobiles.co.uk
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...
racing
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
driver, best known for his success in hillclimbing
Hillclimbing
Hillclimbing is a branch of motorsport in which drivers compete against the clock to complete an uphill course....
, where he has won two British championships
British Hill Climb Championship
The British Hill Climb Championship is the most prestigious Hillclimbing championship in Great Britain. Hillclimbing in the British Isles has a rich history and this event has been held every year since 1947.All British Champions have been British...
.
Wight began competing in hillclimbs at an early age, but in September 1992, still only 21, he was badly injured in a road accident when the brakes failed on his Hillman Imp
Hillman Imp
The Hillman Imp is a compact, rear-engined saloon car that was manufactured under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group from 1963 to 1976...
. It was feared that he might be paralysed
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
, and he remained in hospital for more than two months, but by 1993 he was not only out of hospital, but competing in - and winning his class in - hillclimbs once again.
In 1995, Graeme married. Two years later, after a time in a Vision sports car, Wight won the Scottish Hillclimb Championship outright driving a Pilbeam
Pilbeam Racing Designs
Pilbeam Racing Designs is a British company which designs and constructs racing cars, based in the Lincolnshire town of Bourne. The company was founded in 1975 by Mike Pilbeam.-Early career:...
. 1998 saw his first year of competition in the British Championship, at first in the two-litre class but then in the unlimited-capacity division. In 2000, now driving a Gould
Gould Racing
Gould Racing is a British motorsport company, specialising in racing car manufacture and engineering. The company is run by David Gould, and is based in Newbury, Berkshire, England....
, he broke the hill record at Doune
Doune Hillclimb
Doune Hillclimb, Carse of Cambus, near Doune in the district of Stirling, Scotland, is the home of the only round of the British Hill Climb Championship to be held in Scotland,...
by 1.49 seconds, an astonishing margin in hillclimbing and indeed the biggest improvement in an outright record in BHCC history. After finishing fourth in the Championship that year, he finally reached the top in 2001 and 2002, winning the title in both years. Graeme became the first driver to complete the course at Shelsley Walsh
Shelsley Walsh
Shelsley Walsh is a small village in Worcestershire, England at the top of a the western valley side of the River Teme.Its population at the time of the 2001 Census was just 31, but the village's name is widely known among motorsport enthusiasts because of its association with the Shelsley Walsh...
in under 25 seconds when he recorded a time of 24.85 seconds on Sunday 2 June 2002, in the presence of Sir Stirling Moss
Stirling Moss
Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss, OBE FIE is a former racing driver from England...
. In that same year, he became the first reigning British Hill Climb Champion to be invited to drive at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
Goodwood Festival of Speed
The Goodwood Festival of Speed, commonly abbreviated as FoS and referred within the United Kingdom as simply the Festival of Speed, is an annual hill climb featuring historic motor racing vehicles that is held in the grounds of Goodwood House, West Sussex, England.Typically held in late June or...
.
He was runner-up to Adam Fleetwood
Adam Fleetwood
Adam Fleetwood is a British racing driver. He won the British Hillclimb Championship in both 2003 and 2004 driving a Gould, and in the latter year won an unprecedented 28 of the 34 rounds of the series. In the process he broke many outright hill records, and became the first driver to complete the...
in 2003, but after that things started to go wrong for Graeme. He was Fleetwood's main rival in the first part of the 2004 season, but delays in the appearance of his new car meant that he barely competed after mid-June and could manage only eighth place in the championship. Continued development problems in 2005 meant that he was never in the running in that season's championship and only rarely qualified for the run-offs. He was also absent from the 2006 championship, but still hopes to return to competition.
This new car, christened the "GWR Predator" and of an entirely new bespoke design, is the product of a huge amount of effort. The concept of the car was to employ an ex-Arrows
Arrows
Arrows Grand Prix International was a British Formula One team active from to . For a period of time, it was also known as Footwork.-Origins :...
F1 Cosworth
Cosworth
Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries...
V10 as the powerplant, using the engine's inherent light-weight and power to allow even further increases of power-to-weight ratio. In October 2006, however, Wight announced that the V10 engine was to be sold as he had grown frustrated of being unable to compete due to continual engine problems. He decided instead to power the car with the Ex-DTM
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters is a touring car racing series based in Germany, but also with rounds elsewhere in Europe....
2.6 V6 Opel
Opel
Adam Opel AG, generally shortened to Opel, is a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel has been building automobiles since 1899, and became an Aktiengesellschaft in 1929...
Cosworth, previously used in his Gould GR51, though in the event the V10 was used in 2007 after all.
The Predator represents a huge leap the level of technology employed at what is ostensibly an amateur sport, with its combination of its ultra light weight, innovation and all-round complexity. Wight had a frustrating 2007, but late in 2008 the Predator finally came on song, and at the final round of the season, at Doune
Doune Hillclimb
Doune Hillclimb, Carse of Cambus, near Doune in the district of Stirling, Scotland, is the home of the only round of the British Hill Climb Championship to be held in Scotland,...
, he won the first run-off and came second in the other. Wight was thrilled with his victory, saying that "the car has never been that good before" and that it had been "amazing" through the Esses.
His father, also Graeme Wight and sometimes known as Graeme Wight, Sr. to distinguish him from his son, also competed in hillclimbs, often sharing a car with his son.
For 2009, Wight has stated his intention to compete with an electrically powered machine, designed in partnership with ex-F1 designer Martin Ogilivie and Cambridge University. The car is part of the Bee 4 Motorsport project. http://www.beeautomobiles.co.uk