Vern Schuppan

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Vern Schuppan
Nationality  Flag of Australia Australian
Formula One World Championship career
Active years 1972,1974-1975, 1977
Teams BRM, Ensign, Hill, Surtees
Races 13 (9 starts)
Championships 0
Wins 0
Podium finishes    0
Career points 0
Pole positions 0
Fastest laps 0
First race 1972 Belgian Grand Prix
Last race 1977 Dutch Grand Prix

Vernon "Vern" Schuppan (born March 19, 1943) is a racing driver from Whyalla, South Australia. He drove in many categories, but his greatest fame was as a sports car driver and was heavily associated with Porsche till the end of his career.

He won the 1974 and 1976 Macau Grand Prix races (a prestigious non-championship event) - in 1974 by a remarkable four laps.

He participated in 13 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, mostly for Ensign and Surtees, debuting on May 12, 1974. He scored no championship points.

He competed in three Indianapolis 500 races (1976, 1979, 1981), with a best result of third in 1981 driving a McLaren-Ford.

He was the 1983 Japanese Sports-Prototype Champion, and followed his 1976 5th place finish and 1977 & 1982 2nd place finishes of the 24 hours of Le Mans by winning in 1983 driving a Porsche 956 with Al Holbert and Hurley Haywood.

With Japanese backing, he also produced a road going evolution of the Porsche 962 called the Schuppan 962CR. At the then price of 195 million yen (1.5 million USD) only six were built.

Payment failed to arrive for two of the vehicles after they were shipped to Japan. This, coupled with the high cost of the car's construction and the worldwide recession, forced Schuppan to declare bankruptcy. Schuppan then also co-owned an Indy Lights team with Stefan Johansson.

In May 2006, Schuppan was elected into the Club International des Anciens Pilotes de Grand Prix F1, an eminent organisation based in Monaco.[1]

[edit] Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 WDC Points
1972 Marlboro BRM BRM P153B BRM V12 ARG
RSA
ESP
MON
BEL
DNS
FRA
GBR
GER
AUT
ITA
CAN
USA
- 0
1974 Team Ensign Ensign N174 Cosworth V8 ARG
BRA
RSA
ESP
BEL
15
MON
Ret
SWE
DSQ
NED
DSQ
FRA
DNQ
GBR
DNQ
GER
Ret
AUT
ITA
CAN
USA
- 0
1975 Embassy / Graham Hill Hill GH1 Cosworth V8 ARG
BRA
RSA
ESP
MON
BEL
SWE
Ret
NED
FRA
GBR
GER
AUT
ITA
USA
- 0
1977 Team Surtees Surtees TS19 Cosworth V8 ARG
BRA
RSA
USW
ESP
MON
BEL
SWE
FRA
GBR
12
GER
7
AUT
16
NED
DNQ
ITA
USA
CAN
JPN
- 0

[edit] Indy 500 results

Year Chassis Engine Start Finish
1976 Eagle Offy 17th 18th
1977 Wildcat Offy Failed to Qualify
1979 Wildcat DGS 22nd 21st
1981 McLaren Cosworth 18th 3rd
1982 Penske Cosworth Failed to Qualify
Sporting positions
Preceded by
John MacDonald
Macau GP winner
1974
Succeeded by
John MacDonald
Preceded by
John MacDonald
Macau GP winner
1976
Succeeded by
Riccardo Patrese
Preceded by
Jacky Ickx
Derek Bell
Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1983
Vern Schuppan
Al Holbert
Hurley Haywood
Succeeded by
Klaus Ludwig
Henri Pescarolo

[edit] References