1966 RAC Tourist Trophy

The 1966 RAC Tourist Trophy saw the world’s oldest motor race, organised by the Royal Automobile Club, return to Oulton Park on 29 April, for the 31st running of the RAC International Tourist Trophy Race sponsored by Daily Express. The TT, was the second round of the British Sports Car Championship.[1][2]

## Report

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### Entry

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Despite the race being dropped from the World Sportscar Championship, the event still attracted a total of 30 sports cars, across two classes. However, just 21 took part in qualifying.[2]

### Qualifying

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The Formula One (F1) regular, and winner of the previous year’s TT, Denny Hulme took pole position for the Sidney Taylor team, in their Lola-Chevrolet T70 Mk.2, averaging a speed of 102.012 mph (164.172 km/h), around the 2.761 mi (4.443 km) circuit.[2] Dick Protheroe lost his life at the wheel of a Ferrari 330P-64 following an accident during a practice session.[3]

### Race

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The race was held over 140 laps of the circuit, split into two heats of 70 laps. Hulme took overall victory, winning with an aggregated time of 4hrs 06:11.200mins., averaging a speed of 94.760 mph (152.501 km/h). Second place went to Tony Dean, in his Brabham-Climax BT8. The podium was completed by Peter Sutcliffe, in his Ford GT40. As Sutcliffe was also the Group 6 class winner, he was awarded The Oulton Trophy. For Hulme, this victory was his second Tourist Trophy, he would go on and win a further two, the last being in 1986.[1][2]

## Classification

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### Aggregate Results

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Pos.  | No.  | Group  | Driver(s)  | Entrant  | Car - Engine  | Time, Laps  | Reason Out

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1st | 4 | Gr. 7 |  Denny Hulme | Sidney Taylor | Lola-Chevrolet T70 Mk.2 | 4hrs 06:11.200
140 laps |
2nd  | 14  | Gr. 7  |  Tony Dean | Race Proved by Willment  | Brabham-Climax BT8  | 135  |
3rd | 48 | Gr. 6 |  Peter Sutcliffe | Peter Sutcliffe | Ford GT40 | 134 |
4th  | 58  | Gr. 7  |  Geoff Breakell | G.H. Breakell | Brabham-Climax BT8  | 132  |
5th  | 18  | Gr.7  |  Tommy Weber | Vegantune Engineering  | Lotus-BRM 23 | 131  |
6th  | 36  | Gr.6  |  Peter de Klerk | Porsche Cars (GB) Ltd.  | Porsche 906 | 131  |
7th  | 26  | Gr. 7  |  John Coundley | John O. Coundley  | McLaren Elva M1A Oldsmobile | 126  |
8th  | 24  | Gr. 7  |  Peter Gethin
Derek Bennett | Robert Ashcroft Racing Ltd.  | Crosslé-BMW 9S  | 125  |
9th  | 38  | Gr. 6  |  David Piper | David Piper | Ferrari 365 P2 | 123  |
10th  | 56  | Gr. 7  |  Peter Sadler | Peter Sadler | Lotus-Ford 30 | 122  |
11th  | 50  | Gr. 6  |  Alan Rees | Maranello Concessionaires Ltd.  | Ferrari 250 LM | 119  |
12th  | 20  | Gr. 7  |  Mike Garton | Vegantune Engineering  | Lotus-Ford 23 | 114  |
13th  | 28  | Gr. 7  |  Brian Redman | Red Rose Racing Team  | Lola-Chevrolet T70 Mk.2 | 111  | 2: Final drive
DNF  | 54  | Gr. 7  |  Malcolm Wayne | Malcolm Wayne  | Elva-BRM |  | DNF
DNF  | 6  | Gr.7  |  Hugh Dibley | Racing Partnership (Jersey) Ltd.  | Lola-Chevrolet T70 Mk.2 |  | 2: Oil pressure
DNF  | 30  | Gr. 7  |  Keith St. John | Radio London Racing  | McLaren Elva-Ford Mk II  |  | DNF
DNF  | 16  | Gr.7  |  Mac Daghorn | Felday Engineering Ltd.  | Felday-BRM 4  |  | Mechanical
DNF  | 8  | Gr.7  |  Frank Gardner | Alan Brown | McLaren Elva-Ford Mk I  |  | DNF
DNF  | 2  | Gr.7  |  Jack Brabham | Brabham Racing Organisation Ltd. | Brabham-Repco BT17  |  | 2: Oil Leak
DNF  | 32  | Gr.7  |  David Prophet | David Prophet | McLaren Elva-Chevrolet |  | DNF
DNF  | 42  | Gr.6  |  Mike Parkes | Maranello Concessionaires Ltd.  | Ferrari Dino 206 S |  | 1: Ring & pinion
DNS  | 44  | Gr.6  |  Dick Protheroe | Dick Protheroe | Ferrari 330 P-64 |  | Fatal accident in practice
DNS  | 46  | Gr.6  |  Richard Bond | Nick Cussons | Ford GT40 |  |
Source:[1][4]

* Fastest lap: Denny Hulme, 1:37.400secs. (102.646 mph) [2]

## References

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1. ^ a b c "World Sports Racing Prototypes - British Sports Car Championship 1966". Wsrp.ic.cz. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
2. ^ a b c d e "Tourist Trophy 1966". Racing Sports Cars. 29 April 1966. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
3. ^ Geoff Protheroe. "Dick Protheroe Raceing History". Myitshere.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
4. ^ "Le Mans 24 Hours 1923 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars".