Tommy Byrne (Formula One)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Byrne is a former racing driver from Ireland
. He participated in five Formula One
Grands Prix in with the backmarker Theodore team, debuting on 8 August. He scored no championship points.
After performing well in Formula Ford
in 1981, Byrne won the 1982 British Formula Three Championship
even though he was forced to miss some races while he competed in Formula One. At that time he also tested a McLaren Formula One car in October 1982 against Marlboro-backed Spirit Racing's European F2
drivers like Stefan Johansson
and Thierry Boutsen
. After a brief return to Formula Three
in 1983, Byrne moved to the United States
and began racing in the American Racing Series in 1986
where he won ten races in 55 starts, both second place in the series record books. He also was the championship runner up in 1988
and 1989
. He raced in the series until 1992
and then retired. Despite his extended career in the States, Byrne never made a Champ Car
start. He currently lives in Florida, but teaches Honda Teen/Adult Defensive Driving, Advanced Defensive Driving, Acura High Performance and Acura Advanced Performance Driving during the race season at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. He is also a driver coach for Indy Lights team Brian Stewart Racing.
He has a book co-authored with Mark Hughes
and released in England on 8 August 2008, Crashed and Byrned: The Greatest Racing Driver You Never Saw. This book then went on to win the William Hill Irish Sports Book Of the Year Award for 2009.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He participated in five Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
Grands Prix in with the backmarker Theodore team, debuting on 8 August. He scored no championship points.
After performing well in Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....
in 1981, Byrne won the 1982 British Formula Three Championship
British Formula Three Championship
The British Formula Three Championship is an international motor racing series that takes place primarily in the United Kingdom with a small number of events in mainland Europe. It is a junior-level feeder formula that uses small single seater Formula Three chassis. Its current official title is...
even though he was forced to miss some races while he competed in Formula One. At that time he also tested a McLaren Formula One car in October 1982 against Marlboro-backed Spirit Racing's European F2
1982 European Formula Two season
The 1982 European Formula Two season was contested over 11 rounds. 22 different teams, 53 different drivers, 7 different chassis and 5 different engines competed.-Calendar:Note:Race 8 originally scheduled over 30 laps, but abandoned due to heavy rain....
drivers like Stefan Johansson
Stefan Johansson
Stefan Nils Edwin Johansson is a former Formula One driver from who drove for among others both Ferrari and McLaren during his Grand Prix career. Since leaving Formula One he has raced in a number of categories, including CART, various kinds of Sports car racing, and Grand Prix Masters...
and Thierry Boutsen
Thierry Boutsen
Thierry Marc Boutsen is a former racing driver who raced for the Arrows, Benetton, Williams, Ligier and Jordan teams in Formula One.-Career:thumb|left|Boutsen driving for [[Arrows]] at the [[1984 Dallas Grand Prix]]....
. After a brief return to Formula Three
Formula Three
Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers...
in 1983, Byrne moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and began racing in the American Racing Series in 1986
1986 in Indy Lights
The 1986 American Racing Series Championship consisted of 10 races and was the inaugural season for the series. Fabrizio Barbazza won five races on his way to the championship.-Calendar:-Phoenix race 1:...
where he won ten races in 55 starts, both second place in the series record books. He also was the championship runner up in 1988
1988 in Indy Lights
The 1988 HFC American Racing Series Championship consisted of 12 races. Jon Beekhuis edged out Tommy Byrne for the championship by a mere 3 points, the closest margin in the series' 16 years.-Calendar:Note:...
and 1989
1989 in Indy Lights
The 1989 HFC American Racing Series Championship consisted of 12 races. Mike Groff and Tommy Byrne each won 4 races and Groff edged out Byrne by 10 points for the championship.-Calendar:-Phoenix race:Held April 8 at Phoenix International Raceway...
. He raced in the series until 1992
1992 in Indy Lights
The 1992 Firestone Indy Lights Championship consisted of 12 races. American Robbie Buhl captured a single victory on his way to the championship. This was the last season where all chassis were supplied by March.-Calendar:-Phoenix race:...
and then retired. Despite his extended career in the States, Byrne never made a Champ Car
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
start. He currently lives in Florida, but teaches Honda Teen/Adult Defensive Driving, Advanced Defensive Driving, Acura High Performance and Acura Advanced Performance Driving during the race season at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. He is also a driver coach for Indy Lights team Brian Stewart Racing.
He has a book co-authored with Mark Hughes
Mark Hughes (journalist)
Mark P. Hughes is the Grand Prix editor for Autosport magazine, a position he has held since 2003. He is also an F1 correspondent for The Sunday Times and technical editor for the renowned motor racing annual, Autocourse...
and released in England on 8 August 2008, Crashed and Byrned: The Greatest Racing Driver You Never Saw. This book then went on to win the William Hill Irish Sports Book Of the Year Award for 2009.
Complete Formula One results
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 1982 Formula One season The 1982 Formula One season was the 33rd FIA Formula One World Championship season. It commenced on January 23, 1982, and ended on September 25 after sixteen races. The World Drivers' Championship was won by Williams driver Keke Rosberg. Rosberg was the first driver since Mike Hawthorn in the 1958... |
Theodore Racing Team Theodore Racing Theodore Racing was a Formula One constructor from Hong Kong founded by real estate magnate and millionaire Teddy Yip. They participated in 51 grands prix, entering a total of 64 cars. They scored 2 championship points.-History:... |
Theodore Theodore Racing Theodore Racing was a Formula One constructor from Hong Kong founded by real estate magnate and millionaire Teddy Yip. They participated in 51 grands prix, entering a total of 64 cars. They scored 2 championship points.-History:... TY02 |
Cosworth Cosworth Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries... V8 |
RSA 1982 South African Grand Prix The 1982 South African Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Kyalami on 23 January 1982. Turbo-charged cars took the first six positions on the grid... |
BRA 1982 Brazilian Grand Prix The 1982 Brazilian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Jacarepaguá on March 21, 1982. It was the second round of the 1982 Formula One season.... |
USW 1982 United States Grand Prix West The 1982 United States Grand Prix West was a Formula One race held on April 4, 1982 at the temporary street circuit at Long Beach, California.__FORCETOC__-Summary:... |
SMR 1982 San Marino Grand Prix The 1982 San Marino Grand Prix was the fourth race of the 1982 Formula One World Championship. It was held on the weekend of April 23–25, 1982 at the Autodromo Dino Ferrari, Imola... |
BEL 1982 Belgian Grand Prix The 1982 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Zolder on May 9, 1982. It was the fifth round of the 1982 Formula One season.-Qualifying:... |
MON 1982 Monaco Grand Prix The 1982 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monaco on May 23, 1982.This was the first race following the death of Gilles Villeneuve at the Belgian Grand Prix; consequently Ferrari entered only one driver, Didier Pironi.... |
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CAN 1982 Canadian Grand Prix The 1982 Canadian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 13, 1982. Riccardo Paletti was killed at the start of the race, when his car ran into the back of the stationary Ferrari of Didier Pironi who had stalled on the grid... |
NED 1982 Dutch Grand Prix The 1982 Dutch Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Circuit Zandvoort on July 3, 1982.Ferrari entered Patrick Tambay to replace Gilles Villeneuve, who had been killed during qualifying a few race weekends prior, at the Belgian Grand Prix.... |
GBR 1982 British Grand Prix The 1982 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Brands Hatch on July 18, 1982.- Classification :-Standings after the race:Drivers' Championship standingsConstructors' Championship standings... |
FRA 1982 French Grand Prix The 1982 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Paul Ricard on July 25, 1982. Six turbo-charged cars completed the first 6 grid positions, and 4 turbo-charged cars driven by 4 French drivers finished in the top 4 places, and the French Renault team finished 1-2 with René Arnoux... |
GER 1982 German Grand Prix The 1982 German Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Hockenheimring on 8 August 1982. It was won by Patrick Tambay for Scuderia Ferrari.-Race report:... DNQ |
AUT 1982 Austrian Grand Prix The 1982 Austrian Grand Prix was a Formula One World Championship race held on 15 August 1982 at the Österreichring in Spielberg, Styria, Austria. The race was won by Lotus' Elio de Angelis, who held off Keke Rosberg's Williams to win by just 0.050 seconds, or less than half a car length.- Report... Ret |
SUI 1982 Swiss Grand Prix The 1982 Swiss Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Dijon-Prenois in France on August 29, 1982. This was the only win of the season for eventual World Champion Keke Rosberg.- Classification :-Standings after the race:... DNQ |
ITA 1982 Italian Grand Prix The 1982 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monza on 12 September 1982.- Classification :-Standings after the race:Drivers' Championship standingsConstructors' Championship standings... DNQ |
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