What Is 1968 British Sports Car Championship

Content on WhatAnswers is provided "as is" for informational purposes. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees. Content is AI-assisted and should not be used as professional advice.

Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1968 British Sports Car Championship was a single-season motorsport series held in the UK, featuring sports prototypes and GT cars, with Peter Gethin winning the title driving a Lola T142. It ran over six rounds from April to September 1968, marking a brief revival of sports car racing in Britain.

Key Facts

The 1968 British Sports Car Championship consisted of 6 rounds held between April and September 1968.
Peter Gethin won the championship driving a Lola T142 powered by a Chevrolet V8 engine.
The series featured sports prototypes and grand touring (GT) cars competing in mixed classes.
Rounds were held at circuits including Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, and Silverstone.
The championship was discontinued after 1968, making it a one-year revival of a previous series.

Overview

The 1968 British Sports Car Championship was a short-lived but significant revival of sports car racing in the United Kingdom, organized as a national series for high-performance prototypes and GT vehicles. It aimed to fill a gap left by the decline of domestic endurance racing and attracted top drivers and teams from the British motorsport scene.

Running from April to September 1968, the championship featured six rounds across iconic UK circuits. Though it lasted only one season, it showcased cutting-edge technology and fierce competition, with Peter Gethin emerging as champion in a powerful Lola T142.

Championship duration: The series spanned 6 rounds from April 14 to September 7, 1968, making it a compact but intense season.
Champion driver:Peter Gethin, later known for Formula 1, won the title driving a Lola-Chevrolet T142 with consistent podium finishes.
Winning car: The Lola T142 was a 3.0-liter sports prototype powered by a Chevrolet V8, offering superior speed and handling on British tracks.
Key circuits: Rounds were held at Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Silverstone, Snetterton, Croft, and Oulton Park (double-header), showcasing diverse track layouts.
Car classifications: The series included Group 6 sports prototypes and Group 4 GT cars, allowing varied entries from factory-backed to private teams.

How It Works

The 1968 British Sports Car Championship operated under FIA-inspired regulations, emphasizing performance parity between prototype and GT machinery. Races were typically 50–70 miles long, designed for sprint-style competition rather than endurance.

Format: Each round was a sprint race lasting approximately 30–45 minutes, with points awarded based on finishing position.
Scoring system: The championship used a 9-6-4-3-2-1 points structure for the top six finishers, encouraging consistent performance.
Eligible vehicles: Only FIA Group 6 sports prototypes and Group 4 GT cars homologated by the RAC were permitted to compete.
Engine regulations: Prototypes like the Lola T142 used 3.0-liter V8 engines, while GTs were limited to production-based modifications.
Team participation: Entries included Works-supported teams like Team Lola and privateers such as John Coombs Racing.
Championship oversight: The series was sanctioned by the RAC Motor Sports Association, ensuring compliance with safety and technical standards.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 1968 British Sports Car Championship with similar series of the era, highlighting its unique position in motorsport history.

Series	Years Active	Car Types	Chassis Examples	Champion (1968)
British Sports Car Championship	1967–1968 (revival)	Prototypes, GTs	Lola T142, Porsche 907	Peter Gethin
European Sports Car Championship	1966–1969	Group 6 Prototypes	Porsche 908, Alfa Romeo T33	Jo Siffert
Can-Am Series	1966–1974	Unlimited sports prototypes	McLaren M6B, Lola T70	Bruce McLaren
British Saloon Car Championship	1958–present	Production-based sedans	Mini Cooper, Ford Anglia	Jim Clark (1965)
Formula 5000	1968–1982	Open-wheel single-seaters	Elva Mk8, Chevron B19	Brian Redman

This table illustrates how the 1968 British Sports Car Championship differed from contemporaneous series by blending GT and prototype classes in a national format. Unlike the Can-Am’s unlimited power or Formula 5000’s single-seater focus, it emphasized balanced competition on home circuits, making it a unique hybrid of international regulations and local appeal.

Why It Matters

The 1968 British Sports Car Championship holds historical significance as a transitional series that bridged the gap between amateur endurance racing and professional motorsport in post-1960s Britain. Though short-lived, it influenced future national series and provided a platform for emerging talent.

Career launchpad: The series helped Peter Gethin gain recognition, leading to his Formula 1 debut in 1970 with McLaren.
Technical innovation: Cars like the Lola T142 showcased advanced aerodynamics and chassis design later adopted in prototype racing.
Domestic focus: It emphasized UK-based circuits and teams, strengthening national motorsport identity during a period of international dominance.
Influence on regulations: The blend of prototype and GT classes informed later Group C and GT1 rule frameworks in the 1980s.
Legacy in revival: The 1968 season inspired later historic racing events, including Goodwood Revival appearances by original cars.
Historical rarity: As a one-year championship, it remains a unique artifact of British motorsport’s experimental era.

Despite its brief existence, the 1968 British Sports Car Championship remains a notable chapter in motorsport history, remembered for its competitive spirit and engineering excellence.