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Richard Lloyd (racing driver)
Encyclopedia
Richard Lloyd was a British
racing car driver
and founder of multiple sports car
and touring car
teams. He drove in multiple championships himself, including the British Saloon Car Championship
and the World Endurance Championship
.
Initially Lloyd worked for Decca Records
from 1964 to 1970, during which time he became interested in racing after competing in a Triumph TR4A
during 1967. He later formed his own public relations
business, Motor Race Relations, in 1971, while continuing his own driving duties, during which time he won multiple events in the British Saloon Car Championship. He went on to form GTi Engineering in 1978, running Volkswagen Golf
GTIs and Audi 80
s. This team eventually became Richard Lloyd Racing
in 1985 as Lloyd moved into the World Sportscar Championship
with Porsche 956
s and 962s
.
Following the demise of the team in 1990, Richard Lloyd returned to racing, driving, and winning, in the Porsche 924 Championship. In 1995, he established Audi
Sport UK to once again compete in the British Touring Car Championship
, with support from the Audi factory. Lloyd re-entered sports car racing in 1999 with the Audi R8C
program at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
, before being chosen by Audi's fellow Volkswagen Group
subsidiary, Bentley
, to run the EXP Speed 8 program in 2001.
Audi Sport UK was renamed Apex Motorsport during their Bentley tenure, and are currently Jaguar's development team for the XKR
in the FIA GT3 European Championship
. Lloyd stopped racing professionally in the 1990s, but continued to run in historic racing events up until his death.
into a house in Farnborough
, shortly after take-off from Biggin Hill Airport. It is reported that just before the crash the plane suffered severe engine problems. All five occupants were killed upon impact, which included an Apex Motorsport Data Engineer, Christopher Allarton, and former British Touring Car Championship
driver David Leslie
. Both were en route with Lloyd to the Nogaro Circuit
in France
to prepare Apex Motorsport's Jaguar for the upcoming FIA GT3 season.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
racing car driver
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:...
and founder of multiple sports car
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
and touring car
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:...
teams. He drove in multiple championships himself, including the British Saloon 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...
and the World Endurance 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,...
.
Life and career
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
from 1964 to 1970, during which time he became interested in racing after competing in a Triumph TR4A
Triumph TR4A
The Triumph TR4A was built between 1965 and 1968 by the Triumph Motor Company in the United Kingdom.The TR4A was an evolution of the TR4, updated with a new chassis. It was hoped the new, but more complex independent rear suspension would address the buying publics' desire for more comfortable...
during 1967. He later formed his own public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
business, Motor Race Relations, in 1971, while continuing his own driving duties, during which time he won multiple events in the British Saloon Car Championship. He went on to form GTi Engineering in 1978, running Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is a small family car manufactured by Volkswagen since 1974 and marketed worldwide across six generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates – as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada , and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico .The...
GTIs and Audi 80
Audi 80
The Audi 80 is a compact executive car produced by the German car manufacturer Audi, from 1966 to 1996. It shared its platform with the Volkswagen Passat from 1973 to 1986 and was available as a saloon car/sedan, and an Avant...
s. This team eventually became Richard Lloyd Racing
Richard Lloyd Racing
Richard Lloyd Racing , originally named GTi Engineering, was a British auto racing team created in 1977 by driver Richard Lloyd. Originally named for the Volkswagen Golf GTIs that Lloyd raced in the British Saloon Car Championship , they went on to become a successful Porsche privateer in the...
in 1985 as Lloyd moved into 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,...
with Porsche 956
Porsche 956
The Porsche 956 was a Group C sports-prototype racing car designed by Norbert Singer and built by Porsche in 1982 for the FIA World Sportscar Championship...
s and 962s
Porsche 962
The Porsche 962 was a sports-prototype racing car built by Porsche as a replacement for the 956 and designed mainly to comply with IMSA's GTP regulations, although it would later compete in the European Group C formula as the 956 had...
.
Following the demise of the team in 1990, Richard Lloyd returned to racing, driving, and winning, in the Porsche 924 Championship. In 1995, he established Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
Sport UK to once again compete 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 support from the Audi factory. Lloyd re-entered sports car racing in 1999 with the Audi R8C
Audi R8C
The Audi R8C was a Le Mans Prototype automobile built by Audi for the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans designed by Peter Elleray. It was developed alongside the open Audi R8R spyder, prior to being replaced by the all-new Audi R8 in 2000.-Development:...
program at 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...
, before being chosen by Audi's fellow Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....
subsidiary, Bentley
Bentley
Bentley Motors Limited is a British manufacturer of automobiles founded on 18 January 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley known as W.O. Bentley or just "W O". Bentley had been previously known for his range of rotary aero-engines in World War I, the most famous being the Bentley BR1 as used in later...
, to run the EXP Speed 8 program in 2001.
Audi Sport UK was renamed Apex Motorsport during their Bentley tenure, and are currently Jaguar's development team for the XKR
Jaguar XK
The Jaguar XK series is a series of grand tourer cars produced by British car maker Jaguar since 1996. The series was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show on 5 March 1996. The first generation of the series, the XK8, replaced the XJS, and was available as a coupé and convertible...
in the FIA GT3 European Championship
FIA GT3 European Championship
The FIA GT3 European Championship is a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation and regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It is a championship derived from the international FIA GT1 World Championship, but meant to provide competition for more...
. Lloyd stopped racing professionally in the 1990s, but continued to run in historic racing events up until his death.
Death
Lloyd died on 30 March 2008 after a private jet on which he was travelling crashed2008 Farnborough plane crash
At 14:38 on 30 March 2008, a Cessna Citation 501 with five people on board crashed into a house at Farnborough in the London Borough of Bromley, shortly after take off from Biggin Hill. There were no survivors among the five people on board...
into a house in Farnborough
Farnborough, London
Farnborough is a settlement in the London Borough of Bromley. It is a suburban development located 13.4 miles southeast of Charing Cross.-History:...
, shortly after take-off from Biggin Hill Airport. It is reported that just before the crash the plane suffered severe engine problems. All five occupants were killed upon impact, which included an Apex Motorsport Data Engineer, Christopher Allarton, and former 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...
driver David Leslie
David Leslie (racing driver)
David Leslie was a racing driver. He was most associated with the British Touring Car Championship, in which he was runner-up in 1999. He was particularly noted for his development skill, helping both Honda and Nissan become BTCC race winners...
. Both were en route with Lloyd to the Nogaro Circuit
Circuit Paul Armagnac
Circuit Paul Armagnac is a motorsport race track near Nogaro in southwestern France. The track was built in 1960. The venue hosted the French round of the Grand Prix motorcycle road racing world championship in 1978 and 1982, as well as the 2003 round of the FIA Sportscar Championship. It also...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to prepare Apex Motorsport's Jaguar for the upcoming FIA GT3 season.
External links
- British Racing Drivers' Club - Richard Lloyd
- Apex Motorsport