# 1981 British Saloon Car Championship

The 1981 RAC Tricentrol British Saloon Car Championship was the 24th season of the championship. Win Percy won his second consecutive drivers title in his Mazda RX-7.

## Teams and drivers

| Team | Car | No. | Drivers | Class | Rounds |
| Gordon Spice Racing | Ford Capri III 3.0S | 1 | Gordon Spice | D | 1–4, 6–11 |
| Gordon Spice Racing | Ford Capri III 3.0S | 2 | Stuart Graham | D | 1–2 |
| Gordon Spice Racing | Ford Capri III 3.0S | 2 | Phil Martin-Dye | D | 3–11 |
| Equipe Esso VMW Motors | Ford Capri III 3.0S | 3 | Vince Woodman | D | All |
| Equipe Esso VMW Motors | Ford Capri III 3.0S | 4 | Jonathan Buncombe | D | 2, 4, 6–7, 10 |
| CSH Racing with Esso and the Daily Mirror | Ford Capri III 3.0S | 5 | Charles Sawyer-Hoare | D | 1–4, 6–11 |
| CSH Racing with Esso and the Daily Mirror | Ford Capri III 3.0S | 6 | Andy Rouse | D | All |
| Patrick Motorsport | Rover 3500 S | 7 | Brian Muir | D | All |
| Patrick Motorsport | Rover 3500 S | 8 | Rex Greenslade | D | All |
| Patrick Motorsport | Rover 3500 S | 63 | Rad Dougall | D | 11 |
| TWR – Daily Express Mazda Motorsport/TWR Team BP | Rover 3500 S | 9 | Jeff Allam | D | All |
| TWR – Daily Express Mazda Motorsport/TWR Team BP | Rover 3500 S | 10 | Pete Lovett | D | 1, 5–11 |
| TWR – Daily Express Mazda Motorsport/TWR Team BP | Mazda RX-7 | 20 | Win Percy | C | 1–10 |
| TWR – Daily Express Mazda Motorsport/TWR Team BP | Mazda RX-7 | 25 | Barry Sheene | C | 1 |
| TWR – Daily Express Mazda Motorsport/TWR Team BP | Mazda RX-7 | 25 | Chuck Nicholson | C | 8–11 |
| TWR – Daily Express Mazda Motorsport/TWR Team BP | Audi 80 GLE | 42 | Martin Brundle | B | All |
| TWR – Daily Express Mazda Motorsport/TWR Team BP | Audi 80 GLE | 43 | Stirling Moss | B | All |
| Bestmoor Silencers | Ford Capri III 3.0S | 11 | Graham Goode | D | 1, 3–4, 6–8, 11 |
| Dennis Leech | Ford Capri III 3.0S | 13 | Dennis Leech | D | 2–5, 8–10 |
| Track Marshall | Ford Capri III 3.0S | 15 | Chuck Nicholson | D | 1–7 |
| Richard Grant Racing | Ford Capri III 3.0S | 16 | Mike Kimpton | D | 1, 3–8 |
| Richard Grant Racing | Ford Capri III 3.0S | 47 | Nick Whiting | D | 1–8, 10 |
| Carroll Shelby | Ford Capri III 3.0S | 19 | Wayne Wainwright | D | 2–5, 8 |
| Unknown | Ford Capri III 3.0S | 40 | Tony Sugden | D | 8 |
| Castrol Denmark | Ford Escort RS2000 | 96 | Erik Høyer | C | 5 |
| John Bishop | Triumph Dolomite Sprint | 79 | John Bishop | C | 5, 7, 10 |
| Mike Buckley | Ford Escort RS2000 | 66 | Mike Buckley | C | 1–7, 9–11 |
| James Burrows | Toyota Celica 2000 LB | 74 | James Burrows | C | 3–4, 6, 8–11 |
| Terry Nightingale | Triumph Dolomite Sprint | 92 | Terry Nightingale | C | 5–9 |
| Ian Stirling | Talbot Avenger | 23 | Ian Stirling | C | 8 |
| Hughes of Beaconsfield | Toyota Celica ST | 40 | Chris Hodgetts | B | All |
| Hughes of Beaconsfield | Toyota Corolla GT | 79 | Jonathan Buncombe | B | 8 |
| Hughes of Beaconsfield | Toyota Corolla GT | 79 | Gordon Mayers | B | 9 |
| Hughes of Beaconsfield | Toyota Corolla GT | 79 | Dave Brodie | B | 10–11 |
| Morris Vulcan Ltd. | Volkswagen Golf GTI | 44 | John Morris | B | All |
| Napolina Alfa Romeo Dealer Team | Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint | 51 | Rob Kirby | B | 2–9, 11 |
| Napolina Alfa Romeo Dealer Team | Alfa Romeo Alfasud Ti | 81 | Jon Dooley | A | All |
| Unknown | Mitsubishi Lancer GSR | 56 | Barrie Williams | B | All |
| Unknown | Mitsubishi Lancer GSR | 57 | Dave Morgan | B | All |
| Andy Driver | Volkswagen Golf GTI | 66 | Andy Driver | B | 1, 3–6, 9, 11 |
| Peter Buxtorf | Volkswagen Scirocco GTI | 69 | Peter Buxtorf | B | 1–8 |
| Demon Tweeks | Volkswagen Golf GTI | 54 | Alan Minshaw | B | 2, 5–8, 10 |
| Robin Carlisle | Toyota Celica LB | 76 | Robin Carlisle | B | 5, 8–9, 11 |
| Bill Postins | Volkswagen Scirocco GTI | 62 | Bill Postins | B | 8 |
| John Spiller | Talbot Sunbeam TI | 82 | John Spiller | B | 1–2, 4, 6, 8–9 |
| John Tait | Toyota Celica GT | 84 | John Tait | B | 1–2, 6, 8–9, 11 |
| Terry Watts | Talbot Sunbeam TI | 48 | Terry Watts | B | 8 |
| Team Datapost Racing with Hepolite and Esso | Austin Metro 1300 HLS | 70 | Alan Curnow | A | All |
| Team Datapost Racing with Hepolite and Esso | Austin Metro 1300 HLS | 77 | Richard Longman | A | All |
| Team Datapost Racing with Hepolite and Esso | Austin Metro 1300 HLS | 57 | Tim Goss | A | 10 |
| P.J. Green Racing | Mini 1275GT | 74 | Tim Goss | A | 1–8 |
| Julian May Racing | Ford Fiesta 1.3 | 80 | Terry Nightingale | A | 1–2, 4 |
| Julian May Racing | Ford Fiesta 1.3 | 80 | Alex Moss | A | 5 |
| Julian May Racing | Ford Fiesta 1.3 | 80 | Julian May | A | 8 |
| Haynes | Ford Fiesta 1.3 | 99 | David da Costa | A | 1–7, 9–11 |
| Everest Double Glazing | Austin Metro 1300 HLS | 74 | Neil McGrath | A | 5–9, 11 |
| Stuart Fowler | Ford Fiesta 1.3 | 85 | Stuart Fowler | A | 9 |
| David Grimshaw | Ford Fiesta 1.3 | 39 | David Grimshaw | A | 7–9 |
| François Hamon | Simca Rallye 3 | 76 | François Hamon | A | 8 |
| Colin Hawker | Ford Fiesta 1.3 | 42 | Colin Hawker | A | 2, 4–5 |
| Sigma | Austin Metro 1300 HLS | 87 | Roger Saunders | A | 2–10 |
| Icon | Class |
| A | Under 1300cc |
| B | 1301–1600cc |
| C | 1601–2500cc |
| D | 2501–3500cc |

## Calendar and winners

All races were held in the United Kingdom. Overall winners in bold.
| Round | Round | Circuit | Date | Class A Winner | Class B Winner | Class C Winner | Class D Winner |
| 1 | A | Mallory Park, Leicestershire | 22 March | Not contested. | Not contested. | Win Percy | Andy Rouse |
| 1 | B | Mallory Park, Leicestershire | 22 March | Jon Dooley | John Morris | Not contested. | Not contested. |
| 2 | 2 | Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire | 29 March | Alan Curnow | Martin Brundle | Mike Buckley | Andy Rouse |
| 3 | A | Oulton Park, Cheshire | 17 April | Not contested. | Not contested. | Win Percy | Gordon Spice |
| 3 | B | Oulton Park, Cheshire | 17 April | Jon Dooley | Chris Hodgetts | Not contested. | Not contested. |
| 4 | 4 | Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire | 20 April | Richard Longman | Chris Hodgetts | Win Percy | Vince Woodman |
| 5 | A | Brands Hatch, Kent | 25 May | Not contested. | Not contested. | Win Percy | Nick Whiting |
| 5 | B | Brands Hatch, Kent | 25 May | Neil McGrath | Barrie Williams | Not contested. | Not contested. |
| 6 | 6 | Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire | 21 June | Neil McGrath | Chris Hodgetts | Win Percy | Pete Lovett |
| 7 | 7 | Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire | 18 July | Jon Dooley | Chris Hodgetts | Win Percy | Pete Lovett |
| 8 | A | Donington Park, Leicestershire | 16 August | Not contested. | Not contested. | Win Percy | Pete Lovett |
| 8 | B | Donington Park, Leicestershire | 16 August | Richard Longman | Chris Hodgetts | Not contested. | Not contested. |
| 9 | 9 | Brands Hatch, Kent | 31 August | Richard Longman | Chris Hodgetts | Win Percy | Jeff Allam |
| 10 | 10 | Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire | 20 September | Richard Longman | Martin Brundle | Win Percy | Jeff Allam |
| 11 | 11 | Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire | 4 October | Jon Dooley | John Morris | Mike Buckley | Jeff Allam |

## Championship standings
### Drivers' Championship

Points were awarded on a 9, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis to the top six finishers in each class, with one bonus point for the fastest lap in each class. In races where a class had less than four starters, points would be awarded to the top two finishers (6 & 4 respectively) with one point for the fastest lap. A driver's best nine scores counted towards the championship, dropped scores are shown in brackets. Positions are shown as overall/class.
| Pos | Driver | Class | MAL | MAL | SIL | OUL | OUL | THR | BRA | BRA | SIL | SIL | DON | DON | BRA | THR | SIL | Pts |
| 1 | Win Percy | C | 2/1 | | (Ret) | 1/1 | | 4/1 | 2/1 | | 4/1 | 4/1 | 1/1 | | 2/1 | 2/1 | | 78 |
| 2 | Chris Hodgetts | B | | (Ret) | Ret | | 1/1 | 11/1 | | 8/4 | 12/1 | ?/1 | | 1/1 | 8/1 | ?/4 | 7/2 | 74 |
| 3 | Jon Dooley | A | | 4/1 | 13/2 | | 4/1 | ?/2 | | 6/3 | ?/2 | ?/1 | | (10/4) | (16/3) | ?/3 | 10/1 | 65 |
| 4 | John Morris | B | | 1/1 | 8/2 | | ?/? | ?/2 | | 5/3 | 13/2 | ?/2 | | 2/2 | 9/2 | (?/3) | 6/1 | 60 |
| 5 | Richard Longman | A | | Ret | 15/3 | | 13/5 | ?/1 | | 7/4 | ?/? | ?/2 | | 6/1 | 14/1 | ?/1 | 11/2 | 58 |
| 6 | Pete Lovett | D | 5/4 | | | | | | 4/3 | | 1/1 | 1/1 | 2/1 | | 3/2 | 3/2 | 2/2 | 52 |
| 7 | Jeff Allam | D | 8/7 | | 4/4 | Ret | | 5/4 | 3/2 | | Ret | 2/2 | Ret | | 1/1 | 1/1 | 1/1 | 50 |
| 8 | Andy Rouse | D | 1/1 | | 1/1 | 3/2 | | 3/3 | Ret | | 3/3 | 3/3 | 3/2 | | 5/4 | 5/4 | Ret | 49 |
| 9 | Alan Curnow | A | | Ret | 12/1 | | 6/2 | ?/3 | | ?/? | ?/4 | ?/6 | | 7/2 | 15/2 | ?/2 | 12/3 | 48 |
| 10 | Gordon Spice | D | 11/9 | | 2/2 | 2/1 | | 2/2 | | | 2/2 | Ret | 5/4 | | 4/3 | 7/6 | Ret | 38 |
| 11 | Vince Woodman | D | 3/2 | | 3/3 | 4/3 | | 1/1 | 7/6 | | 5/4 | Ret | Ret | | Ret | 4/3 | 4/4 | 35 |
| 12 | Neil McGrath | A | | | | | | | | 3/1 | 18/1 | ?/3 | | 8/3 | DNS | | 13/4 | 33 |
| 13 | Dave Morgan | B | | Ret | 24/? | | 9/6 | 18/4 | | 2/2 | 16/4 | ?/4 | | 3/3 | 12/3 | ?/2 | 9/4 | 33 |
| 14 | Mike Buckley | C | 10/2 | | ?/1 | Ret | | ?/? | 8/2 | | NC | Ret | | | 23/3 | ?/3 | 17/1 | 31 |
| 15 | Martin Brundle | B | | 2/2 | 6/1 | | 12/8 | ?/5 | | Ret | Ret | Ret | | 4/4 | DSQ | 10/1 | Ret | 30 |
| 16 | Barrie Williams | B | | Ret | Ret | | 3/3 | 14/3 | | 1/1 | Ret | ?/3 | | 5/5 | 13/4 | Ret | 8/3 | 30 |
| 17 | Nick Whiting | D | 4/3 | | Ret | 5/4 | | 6/5 | 1/1 | | 6/5 | 5/4 | 6/5 | | | 16/? | | 25 |
| 18 | David da Costa | A | | 5/2 | ?/4 | | ?/? | ?/4 | | 4/2 | ?/? | Ret | | | 17/4 | ?/6 | 16/5 | 24 |
| 19 | Stirling Moss | B | | 3/3 | 22/6 | | 2/2 | Ret | | Ret | 15/3 | 22/7 | | 9/6 | DNS | ?/5 | 14/5 | 20 |
| 20 | Roger Saunders | A | | | 26/? | | 10/4 | ?/6 | | 10/5 | ?/3 | ?/4 | | ?/5 | 19/5 | ?/5 | | 19 |
| 21 | Chuck Nicholson | C | | | | | | | | | | | 8/2 | | 6/2 | 8/2 | Ret | 18 |
| 22 | Tim Goss | A | | 7/4 | ?/6 | | 7/3 | ?/? | | 11/6 | ?/? | ?/5 | | ?/? | | ?/4 | | 14 |
| 23 | Rob Kirby | B | | | ?/3 | | 5/4 | ?/? | | 9/5 | ?/5 | ?/? | | ?/? | 18/5 | | 15/6 | 14 |
| 24 | Peter Buxtorf | B | | ?/4 | ?/4 | | 8/5 | ?/? | | ?/? | ?/? | ?/5 | | Ret | | | | 10 |
| 25 | James Burrows | C | | | | ?/2 | | ?/? | | | DNS | | Ret | | Ret | DNS | 21/2 | 9 |
| 26 | Terry Nightingale | A | | 6/3 | ?/5 | | | ?/5 | | | | | | | | | | 8 |
| 27 | Terry Nightingale | C | | | | | | | 14/4 | | ?/2 | NC | DNS | | Ret | | | 7 |
| 28 | Brian Muir | D | Ret | | Ret | 7/6 | | 9/8 | 11/8 | | Ret | ?/? | 4/3 | | Ret | Ret | Ret | 6 |
| 29 | Jonathan Buncombe | D | | | 5/5 | | | ?/? | | | Ret | 6/5 | | | | 6/5 | | 6 |
| 30 | Charles Sawyer-Hoare | D | 9/8 | | 7/6 | Ret | | 10/9 | | | 9/8 | 7/6 | 7/6 | | 11/7 | 9/7 | 5/5 | 5 |
| 31 | Alan Minshaw | B | | | 21/5 | | | | | 14/6 | ?/? | ?/6 | | ?/? | | ?/6 | | 5 |
| 32 | John Bishop | C | | | | | | | 9/3 | | | NC | | | | Ret | | 4 |
| 33 | Rad Dougall | D | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3/3 | 4 |
| 34 | Ian Stirling | C | | | | | | | | | | | 14/3 | | | | | 4 |
| 35 | Phil Martin-Dye | D | | | | 11/10 | | ?/? | 6/5 | | 10/9 | Ret | 10/8 | | 7/5 | ?/? | Ret | 4 |
| 36 | John Spiller | B | | ?/5 | DNS | | | ?/6 | | | ?/6 | | | ?/? | 21/7 | | | 4 |
| 37 | Chuck Nicholson | D | 6/5 | | ?/? | 9/8 | | 7/6 | 13/10 | | 7/6 | ?/? | | | | | | 4 |
| 38 | Mike Kimpton | D | ?/? | | | ?/? | | ?/? | 5/4 | | 14/10 | ?/? | Ret | | | | | 3 |
| 39 | Rex Greenslade | D | Ret | | 14/? | 6/5 | | ?/? | 10/7 | | 8/7 | ?/? | Ret | | Ret | Ret | Ret | 2 |
| 40 | Erik Høyer | C | | | | | | | 15/5 | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| 41 | Graham Goode | D | 7/6 | | | 10/9 | | 8/7 | | | ?/? | ?/? | 9/7 | | | | Ret | 1 |
| 42 | Robin Carlisle | B | | | | | | | | ?/? | | | | ?/? | 20/6 | | 18/7 | 1 |
| 43 | John Tait | B | | ?/6 | 25/? | | | | | | ?/? | | | ?/? | 24/8 | | 20/9 | 1 |
| 44 | Dennis Leech | D | | | ?/? | 12/11 | | ?/? | ?/? | | | | 13/11 | | 10/6 | Ret | | 1 |
| 45 | David Grimshaw | A | | | | | | | | | | Ret | | ?/? | 22/6 | | | 1 |
| 46 | François Hamon | A | | | | | | | | | | | | ?/6 | | | | 1 |
| 47 | Wayne Wainwright | D | | | DNS | 8/7 | | ?/? | 12/9 | | | | 12/10 | | | | | 0 |
| 48 | Andy Driver | B | | DSQ | | | 11/7 | ?/? | | DSQ | ?/? | | | | Ret | | 19/8 | 0 |
| 49 | Colin Hawker | A | | | DNS | | | ?/? | | 12/7 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| 50 | Alex Moss | A | | | | | | | | 13/8 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| 51 | Tony Sugden | D | | | | | | | | | | | 11/9 | | | | | 0 |
| 52 | Gordon Mayers | B | | | | | | | | | | | | | 25/9 | | | 0 |
| 53 | Stuart Graham | D | Ret | | ?/? | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| 54 | Dave Brodie | B | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ?/? | Ret | 0 |
| 55 | Jonathan Buncombe | B | | | | | | | | | | | | ?/? | | | | 0 |
| 56 | Bill Postins | B | | | | | | | | | | | | ?/? | | | | 0 |
| 57 | Terry Watts | B | | | | | | | | | | | | ?/? | | | | 0 |
| NC | Barry Sheene | C | Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| NC | Stuart Fowler | A | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ret | | | 0 |
| NC | Julian May | A | | | | | | | | | | | | DNS | | | | 0 |
| Pos | Driver | Class | MAL | MAL | SIL | OUL | OUL | THR | BRA | BRA | SIL | SIL | DON | DON | BRA | THR | SIL | Pts |
| Colour | Result |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | Second place |
| Bronze | Third place |
| Green | Points finish |
| Blue | Non-points finish |
| Blue | Non-classified finish (NC) |
| Purple | Retired (Ret) |
| Red | Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| Red | Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| White | Withdrew (WD) |
| White | Race cancelled (C) |
| Blank | Did not practice (DNP) |
| Blank | Did not arrive (DNA) |
| Blank | Excluded (EX) |
Notes:
    1.^ – Class A pole position for round 2 is unknown.
    2.^ – Class A & B pole positions for round 3 are unknown.