GPWC Archive (1985-2009)

[jakesanson]

This forum will show GPWC competitors the history of the World Championship, with opportunities for people to express "fond memories" of their team's or drivers' time in the sport since 1985.

As already explained, the series was only ever intended to be a one-off charity race, held at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, in order to raise money for Live Aid.

But the duel between USA's Grant Callaway and Great Britain's Patrick Crawford, fired up the crowd so much, that they decided to run a series for 1986, over 16 races in places that either used to or had never held Formula 1 races, with 7 teams running four cars each in a deal that would last 5 years.

CAESAR'S PALACE SHIELD, 1985
1. Grant Callaway (Fenstermacher)
2. Patrick Crawford (Fenstermacher)
3. Sam Babanough (Sharp)
4. Tommy Hewitt (Sandstorm)
5. Phil Gerstenmeyr (JTF)
6. Frank Chasson (D Barton)
PP: Callaway
FL: Crawford

What we didn't know then, was that this would be the first and last time that the Fenstermacher team won a race, and also the first and last time Callaway would win a Grand Prix.

[jakesanson]

1986

The seven teams for 1986 were:

Delta, Scapini, Danielli, Arundel, Scorese, Camilla and Fenstermacher.

With four drivers each, the teams arrived in Buenos Aires in January 1986, not really sure what was going to happen:

ARGENTINA
With pole and fastest lap, it was expected that Jean-Claude Dupres (Danielli) would run away with the race, but after an engine failure he handed the race on a plate to Britain's Max Gregson.

1. Max Gregson (GBR) Delta-Fiat
2. Marcel Aral (FRA) Scorese-Fiat
3. Maurizio Praiano (ITA) Danielli-Fiat
4. Michael Barret (GBR) Arundel-Ford
5. Allan Proffit (FRA) Scorese-Fiat
6. Hugo Amarti (ITA) Delta-Fiat
PP: Jean-Claude Dupres (FRA) Danielli-Fiat
FL: Dupres

ITALY
Round 2 at Enna-Pergusa, saw drama at the start as Praiano spun out in fornt of the field, but a great recovery drive saw him take 4th. But once again Dupres was robbed of certain victory by mechanical failure. It was Gregson who collected another win.

1. Max Gregson (GBR) Delta-Fiat
2. Lucien Faenza (ITA) Scapini-Lamborghini
3. Alessandro Cavelli (ITA) Scapini-Lamborghini
4. Maurizio Praiano (FRA) Danielli-Fiat
5. Michael Barret (GBR) Arundel-Ford
6. Ian Norcross (GBR) Camilla-Hart
PP: Jean-Claude Dupres (FRA) Danielli-Fiat
FL: Gregson

SPAIN
The Jarama circuit saw a bit of a procession, but Dupres finally beat the Fiat gremlins in his Danielli, to win his first Grand Prix. South Africa's Wilson Syfret challenged him all the way in brilliant style.

1. Jean-Claude Dupres (FRA) Danielli-Fiat
2. Wilson Syfret (ZAF) Camilla-Hart
3. Lucien Faenza (ITA) Scapini-Lamborghini
4. Max Gregson (GBR) Delta-Fiat
5. Mario Rodriguez (ARG) Delta-Fiat
6. Alessandro Cavelli (ITA) Scapini-Lamborghini
PP: Terri Dacco (ITA) Scapini-Lamborghini
FL: Dupres

EUROPE
Everyone was excited about a Grand Prix around the streets of Pau. and the race lived up to it's hype. A masterclass drive from Dupres saw that he was never challenged. Gregson came home second, ahead of Syfret.

1. Jean-Claude Dupres (FRA) Danielli-Fiat
2. Max Gregson (GBR) Delta-Fiat
3. Wilson Syfret (ZAF) Camilla-Hart
4. Terri Dacco (ITA) Scapini-Lamborghini
5. Marcel Aral (FRA) Scorese-Fiat
6. Alessandro Cavelli (ITA) Scapini-Lamborghini
PP: Dupres
FL: Dupres

CANADA
Both the main title rivals retired at Mont Tremblant in dramatic circumstances, leaving a new driver to take the win: Forrest Evers from Great Britain. Dacco and Praiano followed him home.

1. Forrest Evers (GBR) Arundel-Ford
2. Terri Dacco (ITA) Scapini-Lamborghini
3. Maurizio Praiano (FRA) Danielli-Fiat
4. Michel Fabrot (FRA) Arundel-Ford
5. Wilson Syfret (ZAF) Camilla-Hart
6. Alberto Prugno (POR) Camilla-Hart
PP: Jean-Claude Dupres (FRA) Danielli-Fiat
FL: Dacco

USA
Back to the championship's spiritual home, one last time. Caesar's Palace once again provided great racing, the eventual winner being a new one: Rodriguez, who at 23 was the youngest at the time.

1. Mario Rodriguez (ARG) Delta-Fiat
2. Jean-Claude Dupres (FRA) Danielli-Fiat
3. Lucien Faenza (ITA) Scapini-Lamborghini
4. Marcel Aral (FRA) Scorese-Fiat
5. Michel Fabrot (FRA) Arundel-Ford
6. Phillippe Cartablanca (FRA) Scorese-Fiat
PP: Dupres
FL: Dupres

FRANCE
When the field showed up at Le Mans, everyone wanted to know if Dupres would win both French races. With the pressure on him, he duly delivered a sensational race win. With Gregson retiring, Dupres had taken the lead in the championship with this win.

1. Jean-Claude Dupres (FRA) Danielli-Fiat
2. Lucien Faenza (ITA) Scapini-Lamborghini
3. Terri Dacco (ITA) Scapini-Lamborghini
4. Alessandro Cavelli (ITA) Scapini-Lamborghini
5. Michel Fabrot (FRA) Arundel-Ford
6. Maurizio Praiano (FRA) Danielli-Fiat
PP: Dupres
FL: Dupres

BRITAIN
A championship attack emerged at Donington Park, when Gregson failed to deliver at home. His retirement, a spin at half distance gave the win to Dupres, many thinking at that stage that this was a metaphorical surrender of the 1986 championship.

1. Jean-Claude Dupres (FRA) Danielli-Fiat
2. Terri Dacco (ITA) Scapini-Lamborghini
3. Phillippe Cartablanca (FRA) Scorese-Fiat
4. Michael Barret (GBR) Arundel-Ford
5. Alberto Prugno (POR) Camilla-Hart
6. Ian Norcross (GBR) Camilla-Hart
PP: Dupres
FL: Dupres

The rest of the season to follow.....