Win Percy
Winston Percy | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 28, 1943 near Tolpuddle, Dorset, England |
| Occupation | Motor racing competitor (retired) |
| Years active | 1964–1997 (racing career) |
| Known for | Three-time British Touring Car Championship winner; founder of Holden Racing Team |
Winston Walter Frederick Percy (born 28 September 1943, near Tolpuddle, Dorset) is a retired British motor racing competitor. He claimed the British Touring Car Championship title three times and, upon retirement, held the record as the most accomplished non-Antipodean driver in Australia's premier motorsport event, the Bathurst 1000km. Joe Saward from Autosport once referred to him as "commonly regarded as the World's Leading Touring Car Driver".
Early years
Starting his journey in motorsport as a mechanic, Percy first raced his personal Ford Anglia 1200 in 1964, achieving victories against more powerful vehicles. What began as a pastime quickly evolved into a professional pursuit after he dominated the 1973 televised rallycross events at Cadwell Park. Turning professional in 1974, he secured the British Modified Sports Car Championship behind the wheel of Spike Anderson's Samuri Datsun 240Z.
British Touring Car Championship
Percy entered the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in 1975, where he would eventually establish dominance. His initial experience was with Toyota, where he crossed paths with Tom Walkinshaw. In 1983, he triumphed at the Willhire 24 Hour race driving a Porsche 928S. After four seasons with Toyota, Walkinshaw enlisted him to pilot the Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) Mazda RX-7 starting in 1980, leading to consecutive BTCC championships in 1980 and 1981. Returning to Toyota in 1982, Percy clinched another BTCC title driving a Toyota Corolla.
European and World Touring Car Championships
While racing for Toyota during the 1983 BTCC season, Percy maintained collaboration with TWR by competing in their V12 Jaguar XJS within Group A events. In 1984, TWR fielded three Jaguars in the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC), with Percy co-driving the lead car alongside Walkinshaw. This partnership secured both the ETCC championship and victory at the esteemed Spa 24 Hours race. In 1985, following Jaguar's shift toward sportscar racing, TWR campaigned Rover Vitesse V8s in the ETCC; Percy and Walkinshaw finished tied for third in the drivers' standings and won seven of nine 500 km races. That same year marked Percy's debut at Australia's Bathurst 1000, where he achieved a third-place finish.
In 1986, Percy ended second in the ETCC Drivers' Championship after a post-season revision awarded Roberto Ravaglia the title. That year also saw him compete in Jaguar’s Group C entry at the 24 Hours of Le Mans; however, a driveshaft failure forced retirement from second place after ten hours of racing. With TWR absent from the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) in 1987, Percy participated selectively for various teams but was unable to complete any of his five WTCC outings.
During 1988, Percy drove a factory-supported Nissan Skyline HR31 GTS-R in the ETCC and teamed up with Allan Grice at Bathurst behind the wheel of a Holden Commodore, finishing fifteenth due to electrical complications. He continued international competition through the late 1980s and notably secured victory at the 1989 Spa 24 Hours with Eggenberger Motorsport’s Ford Sierra RS500.
Australia
Percy co-drove alongside Allan Grice during Australasian rounds of the 1987 World Touring Car Championship in a Holden Commodore VL, returning again at the 1988 Bathurst 1000. In 1989, he participated in Australian endurance events with Perkins Engineering under the Holden Racing Team banner.
In 1990, encouraged by Holden Special Vehicles owner Tom Walkinshaw, Percy officially founded the factory-backed Holden Racing Team to compete in the Australian Touring Car Championship. Serving as both team manager and lead driver, he performed commendably against faster Ford Sierra RS500s and Nissan Skyline turbos, finishing eighth overall with a best finish of third at Lakeside, despite missing Round 6 due to a family bereavement.
Percy and Grice achieved an unexpected win at the 1990 Bathurst 1000 driving a Holden VL Commodore SS Group A SV and followed this with second place at the 1991 event in a newer Holden VN Commodore SS Group A SV. Percy described his most difficult decision as allowing Grice to handle the final stint of the 1990 Bathurst race due to his own shoulder injury. Although Walkinshaw initially opposed Grice’s selection as co-driver, Percy ultimately insisted on him. After two seasons leading HRT, Percy and his wife returned to England following the conclusion of the 1991 Australian Touring Car season.
Returning to Australia and HRT in 1992, Percy competed with Grice in the new 1993 specification Holden VP Commodore at both the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000, finishing fifth overall and winning Class C at Bathurst.
He continued racing Australian endurance events with HRT throughout 1993, then for Wayne Gardner Racing during 1994–95 and later for John Faulkner Racing in 1997.
On an international level after 1991, Percy remained active; he raced a Nissan Primera during the 1993 British Touring Car Championship season, managed Mazda’s entry for the 1994 BTCC, and served as chief tester before becoming team manager for Harrier between 1995 and 1997. Among his achievements was securing Jaguar XJ220’s maiden race victory.
By the late 1990s, Percy concentrated on historic racing events, frequently piloting his Jaguar D-type XKD 505. In 2002, he impressively won all four races at that year’s Le Mans Classic meeting with this vehicle.
Accident
During the summer of 2003, Percy experienced a severe gardening mishap that led to paralysis from the waist down, caused by a medical mistake at West Dorset General Hospital. He initiated legal action against the NHS Trust and reached a £1.55 million settlement out of court in April 2008. Although he could no longer participate in competitions, he continues to maintain an active role at British motor racing gatherings.
Career results
Data obtained from Driver Database.
| Season | Series | Position | Car | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | British Saloon Car Championship | 2nd | Toyota Celica GT | Samuri Racing with Toyota GB |
| 1976 | British Saloon Car Championship | 2nd | Toyota Celica GT | Samuri Racing with Toyota GB |
| 1979 | British Saloon Car Championship | 5th | Toyota Celica GT | Hughes of Beaconsfield |
| 1980 | British Saloon Car Championship | 1st | Mazda RX-7 | Tom Walkinshaw Racing |
| 1981 | World Championship for Drivers and Makes | 157th | Mazda RX-7 | Mazdaspeed |
| British Saloon Car Championship | 1st | Mazda RX-7 | Tom Walkinshaw Racing | |
| 1982 | British Saloon Car Championship | 1st | Toyota Celica GT | Toyota GB |
| 1983 | British Saloon Car Championship | 16th | Toyota Celica GT | Toyota GB |
| 1984 | European Touring Car Championship | 7th | Jaguar XJS | Tom Walkinshaw Racing |
| British Saloon Car Championship | 12th | Toyota Celica Supra | Toyota GB | |
| 1985 | European Touring Car Championship | 3rd | Rover Vitesse | Tom Walkinshaw Racing |
| Australian Endurance Championship | 23rd | Jaguar XJS | Tom Walkinshaw Racing (JRA Ltd) | |
| 1986 | Nissan Mobil 500 Series | 6th | Rover Vitesse | Tom Walkinshaw Racing |
| European Touring Car Championship | 2nd | Rover Vitesse | Tom Walkinshaw Racing | |
| 1987 | British Touring Car Championship | 22nd | Ford Sierra RS Cosworth / RS500 | Industrial Control Services Ltd. (Andy Rouse) |
| Nissan Mobil 500 Series | 4th | Jaguar XJS | Tom Walkinshaw Racing | |
| World Touring Car Championship | NC | Ford Sierra RS Cosworth / Holden VL Commodore SS Group A | Andy Rouse Engineering / Roadways Racing | |
| World Sportscar Championship | NC | "Jaguar XJR-8", Ecosse C286 Ford Cosworth DFL | "Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR), Silk Cut Jaguar, Ecurie Ecosse" | |
| 1988 | "European Touring Car Championship" | 40th | "Nissan Skyline HR31 GTS-R" | "Nissan Europe (NISMO)" |
| "British Touring Car Championship" | 45th | "Nissan Skyline HR31 GTS-R" | "Nissan Europe (NISMO)" | |
| "World Sportscar Championship" | NC | "Nissan R88C" | "Nissan Motorsports (NISMO)" | |
| "Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship" | NC | "Holden VL Commodore SS Group A SV" | "Roadways Racing" | |
| 1989 | "Nissan Mobil 500 Series" | 9th | "Nissan Skyline HR31 GTS-R" | "Gibson Motorsport (Nissan Motorsport Australia)" |
| 1990 | "Australian Touring Car Championship" | 8th | "Holden VL Commodore SS Group A SV" | "Holden Racing Team" |
| "Australian Endurance Championship" | 8th | "Holden VL Commodore SS Group A SV" | "Holden Racing Team" | |
| 1991 | "Australian Touring Car Championship" | 8th | "Holden VN Commodore SS Group A SV" | "Holden Racing Team" |
| "Australian Endurance Championship" | 8th | "Holden VN Commodore SS Group A SV" | "Holden Racing Team" | |
| 1993 | "British Touring Car Championship" | 12th | "Nissan Primera eGT" | "Janspeed (Nissan Castrol Racing)" |
| 1996 | "Eurocar V8 Championship" | 11th |
Complete British Saloon / Touring Car Championship results
(legend) (Bolded races denote pole positions – 1973–1990 by class) (Italicized races mark fastest laps – 1 point granted ?–1989 within class)
| Year | Team | Vehicle | Category | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | DC | Points | Class position | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Samuri Racing in partnership with Toyota GB |
Toyota Celica GT | D | MAL overall:6† class:1† |
BRH DNS |
OUL overall:3† class:1† |
THR overall:12 class:1 |
SIL overall:17 class:1 |
BRH overall:10† class:4† |
THR overall:? class:1 |
SIL overall:?† class:1† |
MAL overall:4† class:2† |
SNE Retired |
SIL overall:? class:1 |
ING overall:1† class:1† |
BRH overall:?† class:1† |
OUL Retired |
BRH overall:? class:1 |
2nd | 78 | 1st | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1976 | Samuri Racing in association with Toyota GB |
Toyota Celica GT | B | BRH overall:7 class:1 |
SIL overall:10 class:1 |
OUL overall:?† class:1† |
THR overall:7 class:1 |
THR overall:? class:1 |
SIL overall:? class:1 |
BRH Retired |
MAL overall:1† class:1† |
SNE overall:1† class:1† |
- ... [Table continues with a similar format and data for following seasons and teams, emphasizing key outcomes and rankings.] |
† Rounds featuring two separate races for distinct classes.
‡ Driver participating in endurance events.
- Points not allocated due to absence of homologation certification.
Full European Touring Car Championship Results
(legend) (Bolded races denote pole positions) (Italicized races signify fastest laps)
| nowrap | Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showallTeam Toyota GB | nowrap | Toyota Celica Supra | | | | | | | | | | style="background:#dfffdf;" | [[Silverstone Circuit |\ SIL]]\16 | | |
| Year | Team | Vehicle | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final Position | Points | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall The Akai Golf | Volkswagen Golf Mk1 | MNZ | VAL | MUG | BRA DNS |
JAR | ZEL | BRN | NUR | ZAN | SAL | PER | NC | 10 | |||||||
| Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Browne & Day | Ford Capri III 3.0S | SIL 6 |
ZOL | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1982 | Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Tom Walkinshaw Racing | Jaguar XJS | MNZ | VAL | DON | PER | MUG | BRN | SAL | NUR | SPA Ret |
NC | NA | |||||||||
| Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Patrick Motorsport | Rover Vitesse | SIL 15 |
ZOL | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1983 | Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Tom Walkinshaw Racing | Jaguar XJS | MNZ DNS |
VAL | DON | PER | MUG | BRN | ZEL | NUR | SAL | SPA Ret |
ZOL 8 |
NC | 'NA' | |||||||
| 1984 | \ Template:Country data \ GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Tom Walkinshaw Racing | \ Jaguar XJS | \ [[Autodromo Nazionale Monza |\ MNZ]] \Ret |
\ [[ACI Vallelunga Circuit |\ VAL]] \11 |
\ [[Donington Park |\ DON]] \1 |
\ [[Autodromo di Pergusa |\ PER]] \3 |
\ [[Masaryk Circuit |\ BRN]] \2 |
\ [[Red Bull Ring |\ ZEL]] \2 |
\ [[Salzburgring |\ SAL]] \1 |
\ [[Nürburgring |\ NUR]] Ret |
\ [[Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps |\ SPA]] \1 |
\ [[Silverstone Circuit |\ SIL]] \Ret |
\ [[Circuit Zolder |\ ZOL]] \4 |
\ [[Mugello Circuit |\ MUG]] \Ret |
7th | 145 | ||||||
| 1985 | \ Template:Country data \ GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Tom Walkinshaw Racing | \ Rover Vitesse | \ \ MNZ \1 |
\ \ VAL \1 |
\ \ DON \1 |
\ \ AND \Ret |
\ \ BRN \8 |
\ \ ZEL \Ret |
\ \ SAL \2 |
\ \ NUR \Ret |
\ \ SPA \Ret |
\ \ SIL \1 |
\ \ NOG \1 |
\ ZOL < br > > Ret | _ style = " background: # ef c f f f; " | > EST < br > > Ret | style = " background: #ffffbf; " | > JAR < br > >1 | style = " background: #ffdf9f; " | 3rd | style = " background: #ffdf9f; " | 198 |
| 1986 | \ Template:Country data \ GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Tom Walkinshaw Racing | \Rover Vitesse
style =" background : #ffffbf; "|>MNZ < br > >1 style =" background : #ffffbf; "|>DON < br > >1 style =" background : #dfffdf; "|>HOC < br > >4 style =" background : #ffdf9f; "|>MIS < br > >3 style =" background : #dfdfdf; "|>AND < br > >2 style =" background : #dfdfdf; "|>BRN < br > >2 style =" background : #ffffbf; "|>ZEL < br > >1 style =" background : #dfffdf; "|>NUR < br > >4 style =" background : #efcfff; "|>SPA < br > >Ret style =" background : #dfdfdf; "|>SIL < br > >2 style =" background : #dfffdf; "|>NOG < br />< small > 16 < / small > style =" background : #ffdf9f; "|>ZOL < br > >3 style =" background : #dfdfdf; "|>EST < br > >2 style =" background : #dfdfdf; "|>JAR < br > >2 |
style = " background: # df df df ; " | 2nd | style = " background: # df df df ; " | 203 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1988 | nowrap \ | Template:Flagicon \ Nissan Europe | nowrap \ | Nissan Skyline HR31 GTS-R
[ [ Autodromo Nazionale Monza \|| MNZ ] ]
style =" background: #EFCFFF ; " \|| Donington Park < br > { { small \|| Ret } }
[ [ Autódromo do Estoril \|| EST ] ]
[ [ Circuito del Jarama \|| JAR ] ]
style =" background: #EFCFFF ; " \|| Dijon-Prenois < br > { { small \|| Ret } }
[ [ Vallelunga Circuit \|| VAL ] ]
style =" background: #CFCFFF ; " \|| Nürburgring < br > { { small \||19} }
style =" background: #DFFFDF ; " \|| Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps < br > { { small \||6} }
style =" background: #EFCFFF ; " \|| Circuit Zolder < br />< small > Ret </ small >
style =" background: #EFCFFF ; " \|| Silverstone Circuit < br > { { small \|| Ret } }
style =" background: #DFFFDF ; " \|| Circuit Paul Armagnac < br > { { small \||11} }
|
40th | 45 |
Full World Touring Car Championship Results
(key) (Bolded races denote pole positions) (Italicized races indicate fastest laps)
| Year | Team | Vehicle | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Andy Rouse Engineering | Ford Sierra RS Cosworth | MNZ | JAR | DIJ | NUR | SPA Ret |
BNO | NC | 0 | |||||
| Ford Sierra RS500 | SIL Ret |
||||||||||||||
| Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall Roadways Racing | Holden VL Commodore SS Group A | BAT Ret |
CLD Ret |
WEL Ret |
FJI |
Full Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship Results
(key) (Bold indicates pole position) (Italics signify fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Vehicle | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall Roadways Racing | Holden VL Commodore SS Group A SV | BAT 15 |
WEL Ret |
PUK Ret |
FJI | NC | 0 |
Full Australian Touring Car Championship Results
(key) (Bold text marks pole positions) (Italic text highlights fastest laps)
