Tommy Sopwith (racing driver)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Sopwith, Jr. is a British
businessman and former auto racing
driver. He is the son of Sir Thomas Sopwith
, inventor of the Sopwith Camel
.
His success as a racing driver saw him win the first ever round of the British Saloon Car Championship
in 1958
. That year he narrowly lost out on the drivers title to Jack Sears
after a ten lap shoot-out at the end of the season after both drivers finished on equal points. In 1961 he switched from car to powerboat racing
.
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...
businessman and former 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. He is the son of Sir Thomas Sopwith
Thomas Sopwith
Sir Thomas Octave Murdoch Sopwith, CBE, Hon FRAeS was an English aviation pioneer and yachtsman.-Early life:...
, inventor of the Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
.
His success as a racing driver saw him win the first ever round of 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...
in 1958
1958 British Saloon Car Championship season
The 1958 BRSCC British Saloon Car Championship was the inaugural season of the championship. The series was open to four separate classes, up to 1200cc, 1201-1600cc, 1601-2700cc and 2701cc and above. Equal championship points were to be scored in each class, meaning any car could win the...
. That year he narrowly lost out on the drivers title to Jack Sears
Jack Sears
Jack Sears is a British former race and rally driver, and was one of the principal organisers of the 1968 London-Sydney Marathon. He was popularly known as "Gentleman Jack". His son David is also involved in motorsport....
after a ten lap shoot-out at the end of the season after both drivers finished on equal points. In 1961 he switched from car to powerboat racing
Offshore powerboat racing
Offshore powerboat racing is racing by large, specially designed ocean-going powerboats, typically point-to-point racing.Probably one of the largest, most dangerous, and most powerful racing machines of all, the extreme expense of the boats and the fuel required to participate make it an expensive...
.