DOB: 27th August 1954
Nationality: Great Britain
GP Starts: 162
Podium Finishes: 4
Points Scored: 30
Derek Warwick is commonly regarded as one of F1’s unsung heroes. While achieving an incredible career spanning over 5 decades, he never quite achieved the success that an F1 driver of his talent deserved.
Starting out in Karts in 1966, he graduated to Formula Ford after turning his hand to Stock Car racing in the late 1960’s, winning more than 300 out of 500 races. During his second season in Formula Ford he won a staggering 33 out of 62 races, taking home the championship with ease.
He moved to Formula 3, then Formula 2 and finished 2nd in the European F2 Championship in 1980. It was from here that he graduated to F1. His first season with Toleman was marred however by an uncompetitive car, which qualified only once at Las Vegas. His second season with the team was the complete opposite: in 1982 Warwick and his Toleman car qualified for every race. Things improved further in 1983, he received his first F1 points for finishing 4th at the Dutch Grand Prix.
1984 saw Warwick join Renault, achieving impressive results including 2nd places in Belgium, Britain and South Africa. He chose to stay with Renault for the 1985 season, a decision which in hindsight may have cost him his illusive grand prix win. He was offered drives with both Williams and Lotus in 1985, but declined. As it transpired the ’85 Renault did not live up to expectations, with the departure of the team’s chief designer and team manager.
He was nearly rescued by Lotus in 1986 until their offer of a drive was withdrawn at the insistence of Ayrton Senna. But after the tragic death of Elio de Angelis in 1986, Warwick drove the last 10 rounds of the championship for Brabham.
The next 3 seasons were spent at Arrows, the most successful being 1988 when Warwick finished 7th overall in the championship. Warwick’s next foray in F1 was with Lotus in 1990. His F1 career during this period was combined with appearances for both Jaguar's and Peugeot's Sportscar Teams.
He drove for the Footwork Mugen-Honda team in 1993 and Alfa Romeo in the BTCC in 1995. In 1997 he formed a new race team called Triple Eight Engineering, running Vauxhall's in the RAC Car Championship programme until 1999. In 2002 he sold the race team to Ian Harrison.
Warwick currently owns John Briggs motor sport in Australia, running two cars in the Australian Super Car championship. His permanent home is on the Channel Island of Jersey.
Career History:
1966: Began racing career competing for a season in the Southern England Area Go-Kart Championship.
1969: Began stock car racing - short track oval racing in the U.K with Spedeworth.
1970-1974: Competed in Super-Stox - which is similar to Midget racing in the U.S.A. Won the English Championship in 1972, British Championship in 1973 and World Championship in 1973. Competed in over 500 races, winning 300+.
1975: First season in Formula Ford.
1976: Second season in Formula Ford - won 33 races from 62 starts. Won the European FF Championship and placed second in both major British FF Championships & FF Festival.
1977: First season in Formula 3. Seven-second place finishes.
1978: Second season in Formula 3. Won 12 races. Won the Vandervell F3 Championship (Nelson Piquet second) and placed second in the B.P. F3 Championship (Piquet first).
1979: First season of Formula 2. Ran with Theodore Racing but the car was uncompetitive and the team was short of finance.
1980: Second season with Formula 2. Joined Toleman F2 team as teammate to Brian Henton. Finished second in European F2 Championship.
1981: First season of Formula 1. Graduated to F1 with Toleman team, completely new car, engine and tyres. Qualified only once - Las Vagas, as the car was completely uncompetitive. Teammate Henton also only qualified once.
1982: Stayed with Toleman for second season in F1 and qualified for every race.
1983: Third season F1 with Toleman and first points finish (4th Dutch Grand Prix). The only driver to score points in each of the last four G.P.'s of 1983.
1984: Joined Renault F1 team. Led first G.P. for Renault (Brazil) until forced to retire with suspension failure. Placed second in Belgian, British and South African G.P.'s. Elected to stay with Renault for 1985 after having received offers from Williams and Lotus.
1985: Disastrous season with Renault following the departure of Chief Designer and Team Manager at the start of the year. Offered a seat with Lotus for 1986 season but the offer was withdrawn at the insistence of - Ayrton Senna.
1986: In the absence of a competitive F1 drive, signed for Jaguar World Sportscar Championship team – placed second in the World Sportscar Championship - one point behind Bell and Stuck. Drove for Brabham F1 team for the last ten rounds of the F1 Championship after the untimely death of Elio de Angelis. The Brabham BMW was very powerful but unreliable.
1987: Signed for Arrows F1 team Eddie Cheever. Many mechanical problems and best finish was fifth at British G.P.
1988: Second season with Arrows. Finished seventh in the World Championship with 15 points from 10 races finishes including four fourth places. The last race of the season in Australia was also 100th G.P. start.
1989: Third season with Arrows. Finished tenth in World Championship after finishing eight races. Car was initially quick but was unreliable and lacked development. Led Canadian G.P. before engine blew up.
1990: Joined Lotus F1 as team leader. Two points finishes - Canada and Hungary. Big mechanical and chassis problems culminating in huge first lap accident at Monza due to suspension failure.
1991: Again in the absence of a competitive F1 drive, signed for Jaguar Sportscar team as number one driver. Won at Monza, Silverstone and Nurburgring, but had the Silverstone win taken away due to a technical infringement of the driver change rules by the team. Placed second in the World Sportscar Championship but would have won easily with the Silverstone points.
1992: Joined Peugeot World Sportscar Championship Team as team leader. Won races at Silverstone and Suzuka and Le Mans on his way to becoming world champion.
1993: Signed for Footwork Mugen-Honda for 1993 Formula One World Championship.
1994: Possibility of two F1 drives which for various reasons did not happen. Rather than do a few drives, Warwick decided on putting a full programme together for 1995. Had an offer to race in America but, with business commitments in mind, declined.
1995: Signed for Alfa Romeo - run by Prodrive for 1995 BTCC as team leader.
1996: For various reasons was unable to confirm a top drive in BTCC so decided to take a year out to concentrate again on business commitments. Raced at Le Mans for Courage Competition with Mario Andretti and Jan Lammers.
1997: Formed a new race team - Triple Eight Race Engineering Ltd along with Team Director Ian Harrison formerly with Williams Renault, Technical Director John Gentry formerly with TWR and successful businessman and friend Roland Dane. Signed a three year contract with Vauxhall to run its Auto Trader RAC Car Championship Programme until the end of 1999. Also signed a years contract to drive for Vauxhall in the BTCC along with John Cleland.
1998: Second year with Vauxhall, winning one race and finishing 9th in the Championship.
2002: Sold Triple Eight race team to Ian Harrison.
2003: Sold UK group which consisted of five garages, all in the South Coast, employing 200 people to Honda UK & Alan Day, releasing him from all UK commitments.
2003: Bought John Briggs Motorsport in Australia to run two cars in the V8 Australian Super Car championship.
