Steve Soper
Encyclopedia
Steve Soper is a retired racing driver from Surrey
, England
, born in 1951. He raced in sports cars
and touring cars
at the top level for over 20 years. In 1983 he almost won the British Touring Car Championship
before his Rover
was deemed illegal. He finished as runner-up in the series in 1988 in a Ford Sierra, and in 1993 behind team-mate Joachim Winkelhock
for BMW
. In 1997 he came second in the FIA GT Championship
and was fifth driving a Ford Sierra for Rudi Eggenberger in the one-off World Touring Car Championship
in 1987 run under Group A
regulations.
He has also competed in the European
, Japanese
and German Touring Car Championships
. He won the 24 Hours Nürburgring
in 1987, the 24 Hours of Spa in 1995, and the Guia Race
in 1997, many of these was through his long association with BMW
, During the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans
, he was known to express his dislike of the 24 hour classic.
By 2000, Soper fell out of favour with Gerhard Berger
, who was in charge of BMW's motorsport operations and retired from racing as he was solely interested in racing BMW's and acquired a BMW dealership in Lincoln. For 2001, he reluctantly, made a surprise return to the British Touring Car Championship for Peugeot
. The car was nowhere near as competitive as the Vauxhall Astra
, but Steve still finished 6th in a thin field, however he was advised to retire on medical grounds after a heavy crash in the final round.
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, born in 1951. He raced in sports cars
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
and touring cars
Touring car racing
Touring car racing is a general term for a number of distinct auto racing competitions in heavily-modified street cars. It is notably popular in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Scandinavia and Britain.-Characteristics of a touring car:...
at the top level for over 20 years. In 1983 he almost won the British Touring Car Championship
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
before his Rover
Rover
-Leyland companies:* Rover Company , a British motorcycle and car manufacturing company, absorbed into Leyland Motor Corporation in 1967* Austin Rover Group , a mass-market car manufacturing subsidiary of Leyland...
was deemed illegal. He finished as runner-up in the series in 1988 in a Ford Sierra, and in 1993 behind team-mate Joachim Winkelhock
Joachim Winkelhock
Joachim Winkelhock , is a German motor racing driver.The younger brother of the late Manfred Winkelhock, Winkelhock was born in Waiblingen, near Stuttgart...
for BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
. In 1997 he came second in the FIA GT Championship
FIA GT Championship
The FIA GT Championship was a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation at the behest of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The championship was mostly concentrated in Europe, but throughout the years has visited other continents including Asia and South...
and was fifth driving a Ford Sierra for Rudi Eggenberger in the one-off World Touring Car Championship
World Touring Car Championship
For the video game, known as World Touring Car Championship in Japan, see TOCA World Touring CarsThe FIA World Touring Car Championship is an international Touring Car championship sanctioned by the FIA.-History:...
in 1987 run under Group A
Group A
In relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group A referred to a set of regulations providing production-derived vehicles for outright competition. In contrast to the short-lived Group B and Group C, the Group A referred to production-derived vehicles limited in terms of power, weight, allowed...
regulations.
European Touring Car Championship
The European Touring Car Championship was an international touring car racing series organised by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second between 2000 and 2004...
, Japanese
Japanese Touring Car Championship
The Japanese Touring Car Championship , is a former touring car racing series held in Japan...
and German Touring Car Championships
Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft
The Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft was a touring car racing series held from 1984 to 1996. Originally based in Germany, it held additional rounds elsewhere in Europe and later worldwide....
. He won the 24 Hours Nürburgring
24 Hours Nürburgring
The 24 Hours Nürburgring is a touring car and GT endurance racing event on the Nürburgring Nordschleife . With a lap length of over , it allows the participation of more than 200 cars, and over 700 drivers.-Overview:...
in 1987, the 24 Hours of Spa in 1995, and the Guia Race
Guia Race
The Guia Race of Macau is an international touring car race, and currently a round of the World Touring Car Championship. It is held on the temporary Guia Circuit on the steets of Macau, the Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China as part of the Macau Grand Prix weekend...
in 1997, many of these was through his long association with BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
, During the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans
1999 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 67th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 12 and 13, 1999.-Pre-race:1999 saw another increase in manufacturers involvement. Although Porsche did not send a team to contest, Toyota retained their three updated GT-Ones, now moved to the LMGTP class due...
, he was known to express his dislike of the 24 hour classic.
By 2000, Soper fell out of favour with Gerhard Berger
Gerhard Berger
Gerhard Berger, is an Austrian former Formula One racing driver, who previously owned 50% of the Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula One team until he sold his share back to energy drink owner Dietrich Mateschitz in November 2008....
, who was in charge of BMW's motorsport operations and retired from racing as he was solely interested in racing BMW's and acquired a BMW dealership in Lincoln. For 2001, he reluctantly, made a surprise return to the British Touring Car Championship for Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
. The car was nowhere near as competitive as the Vauxhall Astra
Vauxhall Astra
Astra is a model name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979. Astras are technically essentially identical with similar vehicles offered by GM's German subsidiary Opel in most other European countries...
, but Steve still finished 6th in a thin field, however he was advised to retire on medical grounds after a heavy crash in the final round.