Paul Warwick
Encyclopedia
Paul Jason Warwick (29 January 1969 in Alresford
, Hampshire, England – 21 July 1991 at Oulton Park race circuit
, Cheshire) from Alresford
, Hampshire, England was an English racing
driver.
in 1981 in the Ministox formula, before progressing to Superstox
for the 1984 season, aged just 15 (due to altering his age on his race licence) racing against many older and much more experienced racers, under the Spedeworth organisation at tracks such as his local Aldershot Stadium
and Foxhall Stadium, Ipswich. His older brother Derek
was the English and World Champion in the formula. Paul became National Champion in 1984 at Ipswich, East Anglian Champion and also British Champion in 1985 at Wisbech and instantly became a popular driver racing as Superstox number 221.
In his first season of Formula Ford 1600 in 1986, he won eight of the 12 Dunlop-AUTOSPORT Star of Tomorrow rounds on his way to the title and scored a fine championship double by claiming the Townsend Thoresen Junior FF1600 series.
In 1987, Paul moved up to Formula Ford 2000 and his speed and consistency made him Euroseries runner-up to current Dallara Grand Prix driver JJ Lehto
Warwick spent three seasons from 1988 to 1990 in British Formula 3. In 1988 he raced for Eddie Jordan Racing
, 1989 Intersport Racing and in 1990 Superpower. Despite being a pre-season championship contender, Paul failed to make the impact on the British championship that he would have liked. Mid-season 1990 he quit Formula 3 and contested some Formula 3000 races in the Leyton House backed March Formula 3000 team. The car was poor and Warwick was unable to shine at the rounds he contested, however, he adapted to the power increase well with some competitive showings. The rounds he took part in were at Brands Hatch
, Birmingham
, Le Mans
and Nogaro
. In 1991 he signed with Nigel Mansell's
Mansell Madgwick British Formula 2 racing team.
The 1991 season was perfect for Paul Warwick. He scored five pole positions and five wins from five races.
. The win was awarded posthumously as he was leading the race when the accident took place. Paul scored enough points in the races he had contested to allow him to win the British Formula 3000 championship. The car left the circuit at the notorious Knickerbrook right hand corner and slammed almost perpendicular into the outer circuit armco barrier unabated at 140 miles per hour (approximately 224 km/h). The car disintegrated and Paul was ejected from the car in the accident. Investigations concluded a front wishbone
failure caused the crash.
by Autosport
magazine for the National Driver of the Year was renamed the Paul Warwick Memorial Trophy that was awarded to the season's best British young racing driver.
The main entrance bridge at Oulton Park is named in his memory. In addition, the Knickerbrook corner was slowed by the addition of a chicane.
Paul Warwick was the younger brother of Derek Warwick
.
New Alresford
New Alresford or simply Alresford is a small town and civil parish in the City of Winchester district of Hampshire, England. It is situated some 12 km north-east of the city of Winchester and 20 km south-west of the town of Alton...
, Hampshire, England – 21 July 1991 at Oulton Park race circuit
Oulton Park
Oulton Park Circuit is a motor racing track in the small village of Little Budworth, Cheshire, England. It is about from Winsford, from Chester city centre, from Northwich and from Warrington with a nearby rail connection along the Mid-Cheshire Line. It occupies much of the area which was...
, Cheshire) from Alresford
New Alresford
New Alresford or simply Alresford is a small town and civil parish in the City of Winchester district of Hampshire, England. It is situated some 12 km north-east of the city of Winchester and 20 km south-west of the town of Alton...
, Hampshire, England was an English racing
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
driver.
Career
Paul Warwick began his junior career in British stock car racingBritish stock car racing
British stock car racing has many different formulas. Currently, the three main branches of the sport are 'hot rods', 'stock cars' and 'bangers'. Within each of these three branches there are many variants.-Hot Rods:...
in 1981 in the Ministox formula, before progressing to Superstox
Superstox
Superstox is a type of single seat formula racing, similar to Sprint car racing developed in the 1960s in the United Kingdom.Its original routes come from the mid-1950's where it derived from BriSCA Formula One Stock Car Racing, where a smaller junior forumula was crated and raced at the Southern...
for the 1984 season, aged just 15 (due to altering his age on his race licence) racing against many older and much more experienced racers, under the Spedeworth organisation at tracks such as his local Aldershot Stadium
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
and Foxhall Stadium, Ipswich. His older brother Derek
Derek Warwick
Derek Stanley Arthur Warwick is a British former racing driver from England. He raced for many years in Formula One, but never won a Grand Prix. During the early 1980s he was thought more likely to achieve World Championship success than his contemporary Nigel Mansell, but a series of wrong...
was the English and World Champion in the formula. Paul became National Champion in 1984 at Ipswich, East Anglian Champion and also British Champion in 1985 at Wisbech and instantly became a popular driver racing as Superstox number 221.
In his first season of Formula Ford 1600 in 1986, he won eight of the 12 Dunlop-AUTOSPORT Star of Tomorrow rounds on his way to the title and scored a fine championship double by claiming the Townsend Thoresen Junior FF1600 series.
In 1987, Paul moved up to Formula Ford 2000 and his speed and consistency made him Euroseries runner-up to current Dallara Grand Prix driver JJ Lehto
Warwick spent three seasons from 1988 to 1990 in British Formula 3. In 1988 he raced for Eddie Jordan Racing
Jordan Grand Prix
Jordan Grand Prix was a Formula One constructor that competed from 1991 to 2005. The team is named after Irish businessman and founder Eddie Jordan...
, 1989 Intersport Racing and in 1990 Superpower. Despite being a pre-season championship contender, Paul failed to make the impact on the British championship that he would have liked. Mid-season 1990 he quit Formula 3 and contested some Formula 3000 races in the Leyton House backed March Formula 3000 team. The car was poor and Warwick was unable to shine at the rounds he contested, however, he adapted to the power increase well with some competitive showings. The rounds he took part in were at Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
, Birmingham
Birmingham Superprix
The Halfords Birmingham Superprix was a motor racing meeting held on a street circuit at the heart of Birmingham, England, from 1986 to 1990. Until 1990 the principal event was a round of the European Formula 3000 Championship, but support races included BTCC and Formula Ford 1600 rounds, as well...
, Le Mans
Le Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
and Nogaro
Circuit Paul Armagnac
Circuit Paul Armagnac is a motorsport race track near Nogaro in southwestern France. The track was built in 1960. The venue hosted the French round of the Grand Prix motorcycle road racing world championship in 1978 and 1982, as well as the 2003 round of the FIA Sportscar Championship. It also...
. In 1991 he signed with Nigel Mansell's
Nigel Mansell
Nigel Ernest James Mansell OBE is a British racing driver who won both the Formula One World Championship and the CART Indy Car World Series...
Mansell Madgwick British Formula 2 racing team.
The 1991 season was perfect for Paul Warwick. He scored five pole positions and five wins from five races.
Death
Paul Warwick perished at the fifth event of the season at Oulton ParkOulton Park
Oulton Park Circuit is a motor racing track in the small village of Little Budworth, Cheshire, England. It is about from Winsford, from Chester city centre, from Northwich and from Warrington with a nearby rail connection along the Mid-Cheshire Line. It occupies much of the area which was...
. The win was awarded posthumously as he was leading the race when the accident took place. Paul scored enough points in the races he had contested to allow him to win the British Formula 3000 championship. The car left the circuit at the notorious Knickerbrook right hand corner and slammed almost perpendicular into the outer circuit armco barrier unabated at 140 miles per hour (approximately 224 km/h). The car disintegrated and Paul was ejected from the car in the accident. Investigations concluded a front wishbone
Control arm
thumb|right|300px|Double Wishbone SuspensionIn automotive suspension, an automobile's control arm or wishbone is a nearly flat and roughly triangular suspension member , that pivots in two places. The broad end of the triangle attaches at the frame and pivots on a bushing...
failure caused the crash.
Awards and Tributes
In 1991 an awardAutosport Awards
The Autosport Awards are a series of awards given out by motor racing magazine Autosport to drivers that have impressed throughout the previous season. These awards are also influenced by the general public, as they can vote for the driver that has excelled to them throughout the year, before the...
by Autosport
Autosport
Autosport is a weekly magazine covering motorsport, published in the United Kingdom every Thursday by Haymarket Consumer Media. It was first published on 25 August 1950 by Gregor Grant, immediately prior to the Silverstone International Trophy meeting of that year...
magazine for the National Driver of the Year was renamed the Paul Warwick Memorial Trophy that was awarded to the season's best British young racing driver.
The main entrance bridge at Oulton Park is named in his memory. In addition, the Knickerbrook corner was slowed by the addition of a chicane.
Paul Warwick was the younger brother of Derek Warwick
Derek Warwick
Derek Stanley Arthur Warwick is a British former racing driver from England. He raced for many years in Formula One, but never won a Grand Prix. During the early 1980s he was thought more likely to achieve World Championship success than his contemporary Nigel Mansell, but a series of wrong...
.