Saab Turbo Mobil Challenge
| Company type | Racing series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motorsport |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Defunct | 1988 |
Area served | United Kingdom |
Key people | Charles Tippet (1988 champion) |
| Products | Single-make racing events |
| Owner | British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) |
Template:Refimprove The Saab Turbo Mobil Challenge was a single-make racing series organized by the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) in the UK during 1987 and 1988. Competitors drove Saab 900 turbocharged models in races spanning 10 to 12 laps. The championship received sponsorship from both Mobil and Saab (Great Britain) Ltd.
The vehicles
These cars reached speeds up to 140 mph (225 km/h) and were maintained close to production standards, allowing only the use of genuine Saab performance components for modifications. Racing Pirelli slick tires were fitted on the wheels.
Important technical criteria for the race cars included: no alterations to the chassis; front and rear spoilers retained as per factory specification, with permitted material removal for engine cooling; minimum ground clearance of 440 mm (17.3 in) at the front and 400 mm (15.7 in) at the rear; sump guards were not allowed; engines had to comply with the Saab-Scania H-series Turbo standard from the 1986 model year; oil and water coolers remained standard; wastegate control was unrestricted; air filter box, filter element, and throttle housing were stock parts; exhaust manifolds were standard, while exhaust systems beyond the manifold were open to modification; the APC system could be removed; fuel injection systems were standard but allowed some adjustments; Saab roadholding and anti-roll bar kits were installed; modifications to front and rear wheel alignment were permitted; clutches were upgraded to AP Racing units; gearboxes remained as per 1986 models; only Saab-supplied wheels were authorized; specified brake upgrades were allowed; handbrakes could be eliminated; fuel tanks remained standard; power steering was retained as originally fitted.
The competitors
Participants competed within two divisions: Professional and Amateur. Points allocation awarded 10 points for first place, 9 for second, descending by one point down to 1 point for tenth position. Additionally, a bonus point was granted for securing either pole position or the fastest lap during a race.
The final standings for 1988 included:
- Professional – Lionel Abbott (31), Adrian Cottrell (10), Andy Dawson (60), Tony Dron (28), Mark Hales (7), Robert Koistenen (9), John Llewellyn (46), Gerry Marshall (15), and Charles Tippet (99).
- Amateur – Mike Bennion (13), Simon Butler (76), Jonathan Collett-Jobey (2), Simon Fenning (30), David Field (6), James Latham (72), John Myerscough (73), Folke Sarnmark (15), Mick Tester (64), James Tucker (47), Kari Uusitupa (4), and Richard Wardle (34).
Race calendar
The 1988 season featured twelve rounds held at the following venues:
- Thruxton – 4 April
- Silverstone – 17 April
- Donington – 24 April
- Brands Hatch – 22 May
- Thruxton – 30 May
- Oulton Park – 11 June
- Donington – 3 July
- Snetterton – 31 July
- Brands Hatch – 4 September
- Snetterton – 18 September
- Oulton Park – 8 October
- Thruxton – 16 October
Champion overview
The overall title in 1988 was claimed by Charles Tippet,[1] who competed for Saab Haymill, a team based in Farnham Common, UK. Throughout the season, he achieved four victories along with three lap records. His vehicle bore number 28, featuring a red paint scheme accented with yellow stripes. This car remains the sole surviving participant from the series and is preserved in Oxfordshire, England.
The racing livery displayed sponsorship logos including those of Scania, Scantruck, Saab Haymill, Pirelli, and Mobil. The names of both the driver and his support crew adorned the car and continue to be visible on the preserved vehicle. Some minor body damage remains evident from racing incidents. Notably, during a dramatic episode at Donington on July 3rd, car No. 28 was repeatedly hit by John Llewellyn’s vehicle before being forced off track.
In the Amateur category for 1988, David Field (car number 6) emerged as champion driving a blue and yellow McNaughton Ross-sponsored vehicle. He secured the title following a season-long contest with Simon Butler of Kentish Saab, clinching victory by a single point thanks to recording the fastest lap in the final race at Thruxton.
Other participants
After the conclusion of the series, Lionel Abbott and his brother Ed founded Abbott Racing. This family-run enterprise, located in Essex, focuses on enhancing and preparing various late-model Saabs for competition, with a particular emphasis on turbocharged versions produced from the 1980s onward.
References
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