1981 World Endurance Championship

{{Short description|Racing tournament}} {{Motorsport season | series = World Sportscar Championship | year = 1981 }} The '''1981 World Sportscar Championship season''' was the 29th season of [[FIA]] [[World Sportscar Championship]] motor racing. It featured the 1981 FIA World Endurance Championship which was contested over a fifteen race series which ran from 31 January to 27 September.<ref name=Autocourse>Results, World Endurance Championship of Drivers / World Endurance Championship of Makes, Autocourse, 1981/82, pages 247 & 248</ref> The former World Challenge for Endurance Drivers was renamed to the World Endurance Championship of Drivers for 1981 and the World Championship of Makes was renamed to the World Endurance Championship of Makes. [[Bob Garretson]] won the World Endurance Championship of Drivers and [[Lancia]] was awarded the World Endurance Championship of Makes.<ref name=Autocourse/>

Some races, such as the 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, and Riverside, also counted towards the IMSA championship. However, from the 1982 season onwards, there would no longer be races in the United States counting towards the World Sport Car Championship. In turn, some European races, such as the 24 Hours of Spa-Fancorchamps and the 1,000 Kilometers of Nurburgring, attracted only teams more focused on the touring car category, not strictly sports cars. Partly as a result of this, teams and drivers could not commit to competing in all 15 rounds of the championship.

For the Drivers Championship, this season displayed one of the most complex points scoring system ever devised by a FIA sanctioned championship.

862 drivers started at least one round of the 1981 World Endurance Championship.

==Schedule== [[File:Lancia Beta Montecarlo Goodwood.jpg|thumb|[[Lancia]] won the 1981 World Endurance Championship of Makes with its [[Lancia Montecarlo|Beta Montecarlo]]s]] World Endurance Championship of Drivers was contested over all fifteen races however only six of the races counted towards the World Endurance Championship of Makes.<ref name=Autocourse/>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" |- ! Drivers Rd. ! Makes Rd. ! Race ! Circuit ! Date |- ! 1 ! 1 | {{flagicon|USA}} [[24 Hours of Daytona|24 Hours]] [[Pepsi]] Challenge | [[Daytona International Speedway]] | 31 January 1 February |- ! 2 ! - | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Coca-Cola]] [[12 Hours of Sebring]] | [[Sebring International Raceway]] | 21 March |- ! 3 ! - | {{flagicon|ITA}} Mugello 6 Hours | [[Mugello Circuit]] | 12 April |- ! 4 ! 2 | {{flagicon|ITA}} [[1000km Monza]] | [[Autodromo Nazionale Monza]]

| 26 April |- ! 5 ! - | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Los Angeles Times]] [[Toyota]] [[Los Angeles Times Grand Prix|Grand Prix]] (6 Hours) | [[Riverside International Raceway]] | 26 April |- ! 6 ! 3 | {{flagicon|GBR}} [[6 Hours of Silverstone|Silverstone 6 Hours]] | [[Silverstone Circuit]] | 10 May |- ! 7 ! 4 | {{flagicon|DEU}} [[1000km Nürburgring]] | [[Nürburgring]] | 24 May |- ! 8 ! 5 | {{flagicon|FRA}} [[24 Hours of Le Mans]] | [[Circuit de la Sarthe]] | 13 June 14 June |- ! 9 ! - | {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Coppa Florio]] (6 Hours) | [[Autodromo di Pergusa]] | 28 June |- ! 10 ! - | {{flagicon|USA}} 6 Hours of Daytona Champion Spark Plug Challenge | [[Daytona International Speedway]] | 2 July |- ! 11 ! 6 | {{flagicon|USA}} [[6 Hours of Watkins Glen]] | [[Watkins Glen International]] | 12 July |- ! 12 ! - | {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Spa 24 Hours|24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps]] | [[Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps]] | 26 July 27 July |- ! 13 ! - | {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Grand Prix of Mosport|Molson 1000 Kilometres (6 Hours)]] | [[Mosport Park]] | 16 August |- ! 14 ! - | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Pabst Brewing Company|Pabst]] [[IMSA SportsCar Weekend|500 Miles]] | [[Road America]] | 23 August |- ! 15 ! - | {{flagicon|GBR}} [[1000 km Brands Hatch|Flying Tigers 1000 Kilometres]] | [[Brands Hatch]] | 27 September |}

==Season results== Although various classes of cars contested the championship races, only the overall race winners are listed in the table below.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" |- !rowspan=3| Rnd !rowspan=3| Circuit ! Overall Winning Team !rowspan=3| Results |- ! Overall Winning Drivers |- ! Overall Winning Car |- !rowspan=3| 1 |rowspan=3| [[Daytona International Speedway|Daytona]] | '''{{flagicon|USA}} #9 Garretson Racing''' |rowspan=3| [[1981 24 Hours of Daytona|Results]] |- | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Bob Garretson]] {{flagicon|USA}} [[Bobby Rahal]] {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Brian Redman]] |- | [[Porsche 935]] |- !rowspan=3| 2 |rowspan=3| [[Sebring International Raceway|Sebring]] | '''{{flagicon|USA}} #86 Bayside Disposal Racing''' |rowspan=3| [[1981 12 Hours of Sebring|Results]] |- | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Al Holbert]] {{flagicon|USA}} [[Hurley Haywood]] {{flagicon|USA}} Bruce Leven |- | [[Porsche 935]] |- !rowspan=3| 3 |rowspan=3| [[Mugello Circuit|Mugello]] | '''{{flagicon|ITA}} #14 [[Osella|Osella Squadra Corse]]''' |rowspan=3| [[1981 6 Hours of Mugello|Results]] |- | {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Giorgio Francia]] {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Lella Lombardi]] |- | [[Osella|Osella PA9]] [[BMW]] |- !rowspan=3| 4 |rowspan=3| [[Autodromo Nazionale Monza|Monza]] | '''{{flagicon|DEU}} #3 Weralit Racing Team''' |rowspan=3| [[1981 1000km of Monza|Results]] |- | {{flagicon|DEU}} Edgar Dören {{flagicon|DEU}} Jürgen Lässig {{flagicon|DEU}} Gerhard Holup |- | [[Porsche 935]] |- !rowspan=3| 5 |rowspan=3| [[Riverside International Raceway|Riverside]] | '''{{flagicon|GBR}} #1 John Fitzpatrick Racing''' |rowspan=3| [[1981 Los Angeles Times Grand Prix|Results]] |- | {{flagicon|GBR}} [[John Fitzpatrick (racing driver)|John Fitzpatrick]] {{flagicon|USA}} Jim Busby |- | [[Porsche 935 K3]] |- !rowspan=3| 6 |rowspan=3| [[Silverstone Circuit|Silverstone]] | '''{{flagicon|DEU}} #22 Vegla Racing Team''' |rowspan=3| [[1981 6 Hours of Silverstone|Results]] |- | {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Harald Grohs]] {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Walter Röhrl]] {{flagicon|DEU}} Dieter Schornstein |- | [[Porsche 935]] |- !rowspan=3| 7 |rowspan=3| [[Nürburgring]] | '''{{flagicon|DEU}} #12 GS Tuning''' |rowspan=3| [[1981 1000km of Nürburgring|Results]] |- | {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Hans-Joachim Stuck]] {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Nelson Piquet]] |- | [[BMW M1]] |-

!rowspan=3| 8 |rowspan=3| [[Circuit de la Sarthe|La Sarthe]] | '''{{flagicon|DEU}} #11 [[Porsche|Porsche System]]''' |rowspan=3| [[1981 24 Hours of Le Mans|Results]] |- | {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Jacky Ickx]] {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Derek Bell (racing driver)|Derek Bell]] |- | [[Porsche 936/81]] |- !rowspan=3| 9 |rowspan=3| [[Autodromo di Pergusa|Pergusa]] | '''{{flagicon|GBR}} #3 Grid [[Lola Racing Cars|Team Lola]]''' |rowspan=3| [[1981 6 Hours of Pergusa|Results]] |- | {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Guy Edwards]] {{flagicon|ESP|1977}} [[Emilio de Villota]] |- | [[Lola T600]] [[Ford Cosworth DFV]] |- !rowspan=3| 10 |rowspan=3| [[Daytona International Speedway|Daytona]] | '''{{flagicon|USA}} #38 Mandeville Racing''' |rowspan=3| [[1981 6 Hours of Daytona|Results]] |- | {{flagicon|USA}} Roger Mandeville {{flagicon|USA}} Amos Johnson |- | [[Mazda RX-7]] |- !rowspan=3| 11 |rowspan=3| [[Watkins Glen International|Watkins Glen]] | '''{{flagicon|ITA}} #1 [[Martini Racing]]''' |rowspan=3| [[1981 6 Hours of Watkins Glen|Results]] |- | {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Riccardo Patrese]] {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Michele Alboreto]] |- | [[Lancia Beta Montecarlo]] |- !rowspan=3| 12 |rowspan=3| [[Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps|Spa]] | '''{{flagicon|GBR}} #40 [[Tom Walkinshaw Racing]]''' |rowspan=3| [[1981 24 Hours of Spa|Results]] |- | {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Tom Walkinshaw]] {{flagicon|BEL}} Pierre Dieudonné |- | [[Mazda RX-7]] |- !rowspan=3| 13 |rowspan=3| [[Mosport]] | '''{{flagicon|DEU}} #3 Andial Meister Racing''' |rowspan=3| [[1981 6 Hours of Mosport|Results]] |- | {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Harald Grohs]] {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Rolf Stommelen]] |- | [[Porsche 935]] |- !rowspan=3| 14 |rowspan=3| [[Road America]] | '''{{flagicon|DEU}} #3 Andial Meister Racing''' |rowspan=3| [[1981 Road America 500|Results]] |- | {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Harald Grohs]] {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Rolf Stommelen]] |- | [[Porsche 935]] |- !rowspan=3| 15 |rowspan=3| [[Brands Hatch]] | '''{{flagicon|GBR}} #3 Banco Occidental Ultramar [[Lola Racing Cars|Lola]]''' |rowspan=3| [[1981 1000km of Brands Hatch|Results]] |- | {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Guy Edwards]] {{flagicon|ESP|1977}} [[Emilio de Villota]] |- | [[Lola T600]] [[Ford Cosworth DFL]] |}

* The 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Los Angeles Times Grand Prix and the Road America 500 were also rounds of the [[1981 IMSA GT Championship]]. * The 6 Hours of Daytona was restricted to Racing Stock class cars <ref>János L Wimpffen, Time and Two Seats, 1999, page 1325</ref> (i.e. IMSA RS).<ref name=Autosport/> * The 24 Hours of Spa was restricted to Belgian Touring Cars <ref>János L Wimpffen, Time and Two Seats, 1999, page 1330</ref> (i.e. Group 1).<ref name=Autosport/>

==World Endurance Championship of Drivers== The World Endurance Championship of Drivers was open to FIA [[Group 1 (racing)|Group 1]], [[Group 2 (racing)|Group 2]], [[Group 3 (racing)|Group 3]], [[Group 4 (racing)|Group 4]], [[Group 5 (racing)|Group 5]], [[Group 6 (racing)|Group 6]], [[Group C]] and GTP cars and to [[International Motor Sports Association|IMSA]] GTX, IMSA GTP, IMSA AAGT, IMSA GTO, IMSA GTU and IMSA RS cars.<ref name=Autosport>Endurance Racing Supplement, page 8, Autosport, December 1981</ref>

Drivers Championship points were awarded on a 20-19-18-17-16-15-14-13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis to the first twenty overall finishers at each round.<ref name=Autosport/> Bonus points were also awarded as follows:<ref name=Autosport/> * 0 points for Category 1 (Group 6 over 2 litres) * 1 point for Category 2 (Group 5 over 2 litres, GTP over 2 litres, Group C over 2 litres, IMSA GTX over 2 litres, IMSA GTP over 2 litres, IMSA AAGT) * 2 points for Category 3 (Group 6 under 2 litres, Group 5 under 2 litres, Group 4 under 2 litres, IMSA GTO, IMSA GTX under 2 litres) * 3 points for Category 4 (GTP under 2 litres, Group 2 over 2 litres, IMSA GTU, Group C under 2 litres) * 4 points for Category 5 (Group 4 under 2 litres, Group 1 over 2 litres) * 5 points for Category 6 (Group 2 under 2 litres, Group 1 under 2 litres, IMSA RS)

Only half points were awarded at the shortened [[Nürburgring]] round.<ref name=Autosport/> All points scored were retained towards the championship totals.<ref name=Autosport/>

===Results=== {| class="wikitable" <hiddentext>generated with [[:de:Wikipedia:Helferlein/VBA-Macro for EXCEL tableconversion]] V1.7<\hiddentext> |- style="font-weight:bold" | height="14" align="center" | Position <ref name=Wimpffen1342>János L Wimpffen, Time and Two Seats, 1999, page 1342</ref> | Driver <ref name=Wimpffen1342/> | Car <ref name=wspr>[http://www.classicscars.com/wspr/results/wscc/tablems.html World Championship - final positions and tables, www.classicscars.com] Retrieved on 27 January 2013</ref> | align="center" | Points <ref name=Wimpffen1342/>

|- | height="14" align="center" | 1 | [[Bob Garretson]] | [[Porsche 935 K3]] & 935 | align="center" | 127

|- | height="14" align="center" | 2 | Harald Grohs | [[Porsche 935]] & 935 K3 | align="center" | 116.5

|- | height="14" align="center" | 3 | [[Bobby Rahal]] | [[Porsche 935 K3]] & 935/78-81 | align="center" | 109

|- | height="14" align="center" | 4 | Edgar Dören | [[Porsche 935 K3]] & Porsche 935 | align="center" | 107.5

|- | height="14" align="center" | 8 | Bob Akin | [[Porsche 935 K3]] & 935 | align="center" | 84

|- | height="14" align="center" | 9 | Jim Busby | [[Porsche 935 K3]] & 935 | align="center" | 81

|- | height="14" align="center" | 10 | [[Brian Redman]] | [[Porsche 935 K3]] & [[Lola T600]] | align="center" | 80

|- | height="14" align="center" | 11 | John C Cooper | [[Porsche 935 K3]] & [[Chevrolet Camaro]] | align="center" | 73.5

|- | height="14" align="center" | 13 | Dudley Wood | [[Porsche 935 K3]] | align="center" | 67

|- | height="14" align="center" | 14 | Hurley Haywood | [[Porsche 935]] & [[Mazda RX-3]] | align="center" | 65

|- | height="14" align="center" | 15 | Lee Mueller | [[Mazda RX-7]] | align="center" | 63

|- | height="14" align="center" | 16 | [[Rolf Stommelen]] | [[Porsche 935 K3]] | align="center" | 60

|- | height="14" align="center" | = | Walt Bohren | [[Mazda RX-7]] | align="center" | 60

|- | height="14" align="center" | 18 | Jürgen Lässig | [[Porsche 935 K3]] & [[BMW M1]] | align="center" | 56.5

|- | height="14" align="center" | = | Dieter Schornstein | [[Porsche 935]] | align="center" | 56.5

|- | height="14" align="center" | 20 | Ralph Kent Cooke | [[Porsche 935 K3]] & 935 | align="center" | 54

|- | height="14" align="center" | 21 | Marion L Speer | [[Mazda RX-7]] & [[Porsche 914/6]] | align="center" | 53

|- | height="14" align="center" | = | Bill Whittington | [[Porsche 935 K3]] & 935 | align="center" | 53

|- | height="14" align="center" | 25 | Roger Mandeville | [[Mazda RX-7]], [[Mazda RX-3]] | align="center" | 52

|- | height="14" align="center" | = | Amos Johnson | [[Mazda RX-7]], [[Mazda RX-3]] | align="center" | 52

|- | height="14" align="center" | 27 | Jacques Guerin | [[Porsche 935]] & [[BMW 530i]] | align="center" | 50

|- | height="14" align="center" | 28 | Luigi Moreschi | [[Osella]] PA9 [[BMW]] | align="center" | 49

|- | height="14" align="center" | = | Gimax | [[Osella]] PA9 [[BMW]] | align="center" | 49

|- | height="14" align="center" | 30 | Jim Downing | [[Mazda RX-7]], [[Mazda RX-3]] | align="center" | 46

|- | height="14" align="center" | 31 | Richard Lloyd | [[Porsche 924 Carrera GTR]] | align="center" | 45

|- | height="14" align="center" | = | Frank Carney | [[Datsun ZX]] & [[Datsun 280ZX]] | align="center" | 45

|- | height="14" align="center" | = | Dick Davenport | [[Datsun ZX]] & [[Datsun 280ZX]] | align="center" | 45

|- | height="14" align="center" | 34 | Siegfried Brunn | [[Porsche 908/3]] & [[Porsche Carrera]] | align="center" | 44

|- | height="14" align="center" | = | Eddie Jordan | [[Porsche 908/3]] & [[BMW M1]] | align="center" | 44

|- | height="14" align="center" | 36 | Pete Smith | [[Porsche Carrera]] & [[BMW M1]] | align="center" | 43

|- | height="14" align="center" | = | Chuck Kendall | [[Porsche Carrera]] & [[BMW M1]] | align="center" | 43

|- | height="14" align="center" | 39 | Jean-Claude Andruet | [[Ferrari 512 BB/LM]] & [[BMW 530i]] | align="center" | 41

|- | height="14" align="center" | = | Gianpiero Moretti | [[Porsche 935/78-81]] | align="center" | 41

|- | height="14" align="center" | = | [[Tom Walkinshaw]] | [[Mazda RX-7]] | align="center" | 41

|- | height="14" align="center" | 42 | Ray Ratcliff | [[Porsche 914/6]] & [[Mazda RX-7]] | align="center" | 40.5

|- | height="14" align="center" | 43 | Tony Garcia | [[BMW M1]] & [[Porsche Carrera]] | align="center" | 40

|- | height="14" align="center" | = | Hiram Cruz | [[BMW M1]] & [[Porsche Carrera]] | align="center" | 40

|- | height="14" align="center" | = | Albert Naon | [[BMW M1]] & [[Porsche Carrera]] | align="center" | 40

|- | height="14" align="center" | 46 | Dirk Vermeersch | [[Mazda RX-7]] & [[BMW 530i]] | align="center" | 39

|- | height="14" align="center" | = | Eddy Joosen | [[Mazda RX-7]] & [[BMW 530i]] | align="center" | 39

|- | height="14" align="center" | 48 | Pierre Dieudonné | [[Mazda RX-7]] & [[Ferrari 512 BB/LM]] | align="center" | 38

|- | height="14" align="center" | = | Roy Woods | [[Porsche 935 K3]] & 935 | align="center" | 38

|- | height="14" align="center" | = | Bruce Leven | [[Porsche 935]] | align="center" | 38

A total of 371 drivers scored points in the 1981 World Endurance Championship of Drivers.<ref name=Wimpffen1342/>

==World Endurance Championship of Makes== The World Endurance Championship of Makes was open FIA [[Group 1 (racing)|Group 1]], [[Group 2 (racing)|Group 2]], [[Group 3 (racing)|Group 3]], [[Group 4 (racing)|Group 4]] and [[Group 5 (racing)|Group 5]] cars and to [[IMSA GTX]] cars.<ref name=Autosport/>

Cars from all eligible groups were combined, and then divided into two Divisions based on engine capacity.<ref name=Autosport/> Points were awarded on a 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 basis for the top ten places in each Division at each race.<ref name=Higham>Peter Higham, The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing, 1995, page 260</ref> Only the best placed car of each make in each division at each race was eligible to score points.<ref name=Autosport/> Cars from groups not included in the championship (e.g. FIA Group 6 cars) were disregarded when assessing divisional positions for championship purposes. Only half points were awarded for the shortened Nurburgring race.<ref name=Autosport/> The best five round results could be retained by each make.<ref name=Autosport/>

===Results=== The overall World Endurance Championship of Makes title was won by [[Lancia]].<ref name=Autocourse/> Although both Lancia and Porsche scored 100 points from their best five class results, Lancia was awarded the title based on its six divisional victories against the five scored by [[Porsche]] .<ref name=Autocourse/>

====Over 2000 cc==== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" |- ! Pos ! Manufacturer ! Rd 1 ! Rd 2 ! Rd 3 ! Rd 4 ! Rd 5 ! Rd 6 ! Total |- ! 1 | {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Porsche]] |align=center| 20 |align=center| 20 |align=center| 20 |align=center| (7.5) |align=center| 20 |align=center| 20 |align=center| '''100''' |- ! 2 | {{flagicon|DEU}} [[BMW]] |align=center| 8 |align=center| 15 |align=center| 15 |align=center| 10 |align=center| 4 | |align=center| '''52''' |- ! 3 | {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Ferrari]] | |align=center| 3 | | |align=center| 15 | |align=center| '''15''' |- ! 4 | {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Lancia]] | | | |align=center| 6 | | |align=center| '''6''' |- ! 5 | {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Morgan Motor Company|Morgan]] | | |align=center| 2 | | | |align=center| '''2''' |}

====Under 2000 cc==== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" |- ! Pos ! Manufacturer ! Rd 1 ! Rd 2 ! Rd 3 ! Rd 4 ! Rd 5 ! Rd 6 ! Total |- ! 1 | {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Lancia]] |align=center| 20 |align=center| 20 |align=center| 20 |align=center| (10) |align=center| 20 |align=center| 20 |align=center| '''100''' |- ! 2 | {{flagicon|DEU}} [[BMW]] | | |align=center| 15 |align=center| 7.5 | | |align=center| '''22.5''' |- ! 3 | {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Opel]] | | | |align=center| 5 | | |align=center| '''5''' |- ! 4 | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] | | | |align=center| 4 | | |align=center| '''4''' |- ! 5 | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Toyota]] | | | |align=center| 2 | | |align=center| '''2''' |- ! 6 | {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Alfa Romeo]] | | | |align=center| 0.5 | | |align=center| '''0.5''' |}

==References== <references/>

==Further reading== * {{cite book | title = Automobile Year, 1981/1982 | year = 1982}}

==External links== * [http://wspr-racing.com/wspr/results/wscc/ms1981.html 1981 World Endurance Championship Race Results] * [http://www.racingsportscars.com Racing Sports Cars]

{{DEFAULTSORT:1981 World Sportscar Championship Season}} [[Category:World Sportscar Championship seasons]] [[Category:1981 in motorsport|World Sportscar Championship]] [[Category:1981 in World Sportscar Championship| ]]