Steve Soper

Steve Soper in the McLaren F1 GTR, 1997 at Donington Park

Steve Soper (born September 27, 1952 in Greenford ) is a retired British automobile driver who competed in touring car and sports car races.

Career

In 1983 he was at the top of the BTCC overall ranking with 5 wins at the end of the season , but the factory-fitted Rover Vitesse was considered illegal and excluded from the ranking at the end of the season. In 1988 and 1993 he was runner-up, in 1988 in a Ford Sierra and in 1993 in a BMW M3 behind his team-mate Joachim Winkelhock . In the first World Touring Car Championship in 1987 he was fifth overall and in 1997 second in the FIA GT Championship .

He also competed in the European , Japanese and German touring car championships. He won the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in 1987, the 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps in 1992 and 1995 and the touring car race in Macau in 1997.

In 2001 he returned to the BTCC with Peugeot . However, the vehicle was inferior to the Vauxhall Astra . Soper took sixth place overall. After a serious accident in the last race, he ended his racing career on medical advice.

Personal

Soper is married to Louise. The two have two daughters together. Soper's first marriage has a son.

Career overview

Victory vehicle 1987 at the Nürburgring: Ludwig , Niedzwiedz and Soper in a Sierra RS Cosworth

• 1977 Mini Cooper Cup
• 1980 1st place British Ford Fiesta Cup
• 1981 1st place British MG Metro Cup
• 1982 Tourist Trophy in a Rover Vitesse
• 1983 BTCC (Rover)
• 1984–1985 European Touring Car Championship with Tom Walkinshaw Racing
• 1986 European Touring Car Championship (Ford)
• 1987 Winner of the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
• 1988 runner-up in the European Touring Car Championship (6 victories)
• 1988–1989 German Touring Car Championship
• 1991 German Touring Car Championship in a BMW M3
• 1991 BTCC in a BMW M3 (3 wins)
• 1992 BTCC on BMW M3
• 1992 German Touring Car Championship in a BMW M3 (2 wins)
• 1992 Spa 24 Hours winner
• 1993 BTCC in a BMW M3 (3 wins)
• 1994 BTCC in a BMW M3 (1 win)
• 1995 Japanese Touring Car Championship
• 1995 Spa 24 Hours winner
• 1996 Super Touring Car Cup (second overall)
• 1997 Macau Touring Car Race winner
• 1997 FIA GT Championship (second overall)
• 1999 5th place in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
• 2001 BTCC on Peugeot

statistics

Le Mans results

year	team	vehicle	Teammate	Teammate	placement	Failure reason
1983	Mazdaspeed	Mazda 717C	Jeff Allam	James Weaver	Rank 18
1996	Team Bigazzi SRL	McLaren F1 GTR	Jacques Laffite	Marc Duez	Rank 11
1997	BMW Schnitzer Motorsport	McLaren F1 GTR	Nelson Piquet	JJ Lehto	failure	accident
1998	Team BMW Motorsport	BMW V12 LM	Hans-Joachim Stuck	Tom Kristensen	failure	Wheel bearing damage
1999	David Price Racing	BMW V12 LM	Thomas Bscher	Bill Auberlen	Rank 5

Sebring results

year	team	vehicle	Teammate	Teammate	placement	Failure reason
1999	Price & Bscher	BMW V12 LM	Bill Auberlen	Thomas Bscher	failure	accident
2000	BMW Motorsport	BMW V12 LMR	Bill Auberlen	Jean-Marc Gounon	Rank 4

Web links

Commons : Steve Soper  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Steve Soper at Racing Sports Cars