Willhire 24 Hour

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The Willhire 24 Hour was an endurance race for production cars held at Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit in Norfolk, England between 1980 and 1994. Over the years, the race included both sports cars and saloon cars. Latterly, it was contested by competitors running in the FIA Group N specification National Saloon Car Cup. The race has throughout its history has been run by the British Racing & Sports Car Club (BRSCC), which was also responsible for the aforementioned series.

The race was sponsored by Willhire Vehicles Rentals (now Anglian Willhire, part of Northgate PLC), a local car rental company, after its owner Roger Williams was approached to sponsor a motor racing event at the circuit. Roger talked about sponsoring a 6- or 24-hour event, initially as a joke, but the offer was accepted and the United Kingdom's first 24-hour race was founded. The 1989 event was 25 hours long to mark the 25th anniversary of the Willhire company.

The final event was held in 1994. Its experience in hosting an 24 hour race was proven to be beneficial when subsequently, Snetterton became a host of some British Touring Car Championship night races from 1999, but full 24-hour racing did not return until 2003, with the introduction of the Snetterton 24-Hour 2CV Race. However, national 24 hour endurance racing would not return until the introduction of the Britcar 24 Hours in 2005, taking place at Silverstone Circuit. The 2005 Britcar event is sometimes referred to as the Britcar Willhire 24 Hour Race.

Winners

The Willhire 24 Hour was won by a number of drivers who went on to have success in other forms of racing. In 1986, the winning car was co-driven by then BBC Radio 1 disc jockey Mike Smith. The full list of winners is given below. Other notable drivers who competed in the past other than those listed below include Kieth O'dor, Tiff Needell, Steve Soper, John Cleland, James Thompson and Gerry Marshall.

Year Drivers Car Laps
1980 Pete Hall
Phil Dowsett
Martin Carroll
Syd Fox
Hamish Irvine
Andrew Jeffrey
Opel Commodore GS/E 2.8 955
1981 Martin Carroll
Pete Hall
Andy Rouse
Syd Fox
Phil Dowsett
Opel Commodore GS/E 990
1982 Robb Wells
Chris Alford
Malcolm Paul
Morgan Plus 8 3.5 970
1983 Tony Dron
Win Percy
Andy Rouse
Phil Dowsett
Porsche 928S 4.6 995
1984 Bill Taylor
Paul Edwards
Barry Robinson
John Lock
Porsche Carrera RS 952
1985 Roy Eaton
David Oates
John Clarke
Ford Capri 2.8i 970
1986 Mike Smith
Lionel Abbott
Ford Escort RS Turbo 965
1987 Robb Gravett
Graham Hathaway
Phil Bullman
Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 984
1988 Lionel Abbott
Graham Scarborough
Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 1,025
1989
(25 hours)
Mark Hales
Slim Borgudd
Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth 1,025
1990 Matt Neal
Dave Wallis
Stuart McCrudden
BMW M3 896
1991 Kurt Luby
Will Hoy
Ray Bellm
BMW M3 909
1992 Mike Jordan
Steve Griffin
Graham Coomes
BMW M3 928
1993 Mike Jordan
Mike Burtt
Charlie Cox
John Morrison
BMW M3 935
1994 Nickie Torregiani
Del Delaronde
Andrew Jeffrey
James Prochowski
Ford Escort RS Cosworth 939



24-hour automobile endurance races
24 Hours of Le Mans · 24 Hours Nürburgring · Rolex 24 at Daytona · Spa 24 Hours · 24 Hours of Zolder · Tokachi 24 hour · Britcar 24hr Race · Willhire 24 Hour · Bathurst 24 Hour