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Ford Escort Sports
Engine: 1600cc Ford
Configuration: front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Driver: John Hammersley
Class: Debenham's Ford Escort Challenge
Date taken: April 1979, Silverstone (top)
Date taken: 2004, Pembrey (middle)
Date taken: 2006, Silverstone (bottom)
Image Copyright: John Hammersley
Information: John Hammersley
Debenham's Escort challenge had grown out of earlier escort only championships such as the Escort Mexico Challenge. It catered for the later MkII Escort 1300cc GT & 1600cc Sports models which complied with the strict production car rules of the time. John’s car was one of a pair raced by father and son, Basil & Wayne Wainwright in 1977. Wayne’s ’77 championship-winning car went to David Grimshaw and John raced Basil’s old car. Apart from safety equipment such as rollcage, harnesses & fire extinguishers, the only permitted change was to the suspension which could use uprated springs & dampers. Intermediate racing tyres were also allowed. John’s engine was a James Prochowski prepared Formula Ford unit, which produced around 100 bhp. 1978 was John’s first season in racing and he was sixth overall in the championship, going one better in 1979. One of John’s fondest memories was beating the great Russell Brookes and Hannu Mikkola at Mallory Park in 1978. During 1980, he raced a privateer V.W. Sirocco to I podium finish in the British Saloon Car Championship. From 1981-83 he raced in the Renault 5 Challenge, finishing fourth in ‘83. During the 1984-87 seasons he campaigned the Uniroyal & Monroe Production Saloon Car Championship in a 2.8 Capri, Vauxhall Nova & Suzuki Swift being runner up in 1986. He then went on to race an XR2 over the next three years, being runner up in ’89 and class champion in ’90. From 1991-1996 he raced a modified production Vauxhall Astra GTE gaining the class championship in ’92 & ’93 and being runner up in ’91 & ‘94. Also in 1993 he won his class in the Willhire 24-hour race. 1997 - runner up in the Handygas Saloon Car Championship in a Honda Civic.1998 - Runner up in the Falken Tyres Modified Production Saloon Car Championship. 1999-2002 Raced an XR2 & Peugeot 205 in the Hot Hatch Championship, coming second overall in 2001. 2003-04 Britcar Series winning class 4 in an MG ZR and the championship in '04. 2005 – missed 9 races in LMA Eurosaloons Championship but still managed second in class with 5 class wins, 4 class poles and 5 class lap records. 2006 – drove the ex- John Cleland 1994 Cavalier Super Tourer to a class championship and second overall in the LMA Eurosaloon Championship.
Career wins to date: 62 overall wins and 218 Class wins.
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