Aug. 06, 1973
TOYOTA CELICA WINS EUROPEAN, JAPAN RACING EVENTS IN JULY
Triumph in 2nd Division at Spa, Belgium; Lead 4th Division in German Event
Place 1st, 3rd and 4th in All-Japan Fuji 1000 km Race
TOKYO―Toyota cars and drivers achieved remarkable success in 3 major international races held in July. The wins in Belgium and West Germany took place against teams representing major European car manufacturers.
The "Spa Francorchamps 24-Hour Race"
On July 21st and 22nd at Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, a Toyota Celica 1600 GT, driven by Ove Andersson and F. Kottulinsky won the 2nd Division and placed 9th in Over-all ranking in Round 5 of the European Touring Car Championship (E.T.C.C.)
The thrilling "Spa Francorchamps 24-Hour Race"―one of the world's most famous events―was watched this year in heavy rain by approximately 100,000 spectators. The bad weather forced many drivers to drop out and only 27 of the 60 entrants completed the race.
The "Nűrburgring Touring Car Grand Prix"
Round 4 of the Europe Touring Car Championship held earlier in West Germany (July 8th) saw a Toyota Celica 1600 GT driven by the Andersson and Kottulinsky team win the 4th Division and place 6th in Over-all rankings.
The Toyota car set a new record of 9 minutes 29.5 seconds in the event, to top the previous record of 9 min. 33.5 seconds held by an Escort TC. Runner-up in the 4th Division was a BMW 1600.
The "NÜRBURGRING Touring Car Grand Prix," as Round 4 of the ETCC is popularly called, attracted 200,000 enthusiasts this year, who watched only 34 out of the total of 76 entries finish the course.
In the competition, Toyota faced some of Europe's most formidable factory teams―including those of Ford, BMW and Alfa Romeo.
The "Fuji 1000 km Race"
On July 29th, in Japan, a Toyota Celica LB Turbo won the Fuji 1000 km Race; a Toyota 1600 GT placed 3rd and another Toyota Celica Turbo ran 4th. The Fuji 1000 event was affected this year by rainfall, which resulted in shortening the course length to 808 km.
Ove Andersson, one of July's winning drivers and a "racing great," was invited to Japan by Toyota, and arrived in Japan on August (5th. One of Toyota's top-ranking contract drivers, Andersson won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1971. So far this year, he has again won the Monte Carlo Rally and placed 3rd in the Safari Rally.
- Spa Francorchamps (Belgium) 24-Hour Race
| Result | Name of Car | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over-all Ranking | Class Ranking | ||
| 1 | Div.I-1 |
BMW 3.0 CSL | 3,340 cc |
| 2 | 2 |
Ford Capri RS 2600 | 2,995 |
| 3 | 3 |
Opel Commodore | 2,800 |
| 4 | 4 |
BMW 3.0 CS | 2,990 |
| 5 | 5 |
Opel Commodore | 2,784 |
| 6 | 6 |
Opel Commodore GSE | 2,797 |
| 7 | 7 |
Opel Commodore | 2,784 |
| 8 | 8 |
Ford Capri GXL | 2,992 |
| 9 | Div.II-1 |
Toyota Celica 1600 GT | 1,588 |
| 10 | 2 |
Alfa Romeo GTV | 1,962 |
| 11 | Div.1-9 |
Chevrolet Camaro Z28 | 5,700 |
| 12 | Div.II-3 |
Audi 100S | 1,851 |
- Note
- Div. I (2,001 cc over)
Div. II (up to 2,000 cc)
- The Nűrburgring Touring Car Grand Prix
| Result | Name of Car | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over-all Ranking | Class Ranking | ||
| 1 | VII-1 |
BMW 30 CSL | 3,340 cc |
| 2 | VII-2 |
BMW 30 CSL | 3,340 |
| 3 | VII-3 |
BMW Alpina CSL | 3,340 |
| 4 | V-1 |
Alfa Romeo GTAM | 1,965 |
| 5 | VII-4 |
Ford Capri RS | 2,990 |
| 6 | IV-1 |
Toyota Celica 1600 GT | 1,588 |
| 7 | V-2 |
BMW (Schnitzer) 2002 | 1,990 |
| 8 | V-3 |
Alfa Romeo GTAM | 1,965 |
| 9 | IV-2 |
BMW 1600/2 | 1,573 |
| 10 | VII-5 |
Ford Capri RS | 2,990 |
- Note
-
- Class I
- (up to 1,000 cc)
- Class II
- (1,001-1,150)
- Class III
- (1,151-1,300)
- Class IV
- (1,301-1,600)
- Class V
- (1,601-2,000)
- Class VI
- (2,001-2,500)
- Class VII
- (2,501 and over)
- The Fuji 1000 km Race
| Result | Name of Car | |
|---|---|---|
| Over-all Ranking | Class Ranking | |
| 1 | R-1 |
Toyota Celica LB Turbo |
| 2 | TSIV-1 |
Mazda Savanna RX-3 |
| 3 | TSII-1 |
Toyota Celica 1600 GT |
| 4 | R-2 |
Toyota Celica Turbo |
| 5 | TSIII-1 |
Nissan Skyline HT 2000 GTR |
- Note
-
- Class R
- (racing car, sports car, GT)
- Class TS I
- (up to 1,300 cc)
- Class TS II
- (1,301- 1,600)
- Class TS III
- (1,601- 2,000)
- Class TS IV
- (2,001 and over)
Downloads (Images)
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- TOYOTA CELICA LB wins the victory of Fuji 1000 K.M. Race held at Fuji Speed Way in July,
Drivers : K.Misaki & H.Takahashi
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- TOYOTA CELICA 1600 GT wins Francorchamps 24-Hours Race in the class Division-II, soon after the victory of NÜRBURGRING 6-Hours touring car race held in the Federal Republic of Germany,
Drivers : Ove Anderson & F.Kottulinsky
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- TOYOTA CELICA 1600 GT wins Francorchamps 24-Hours Race in the class Division-II, soon after the victory of NÜRBURGRING 6-Hours touring car race held in the Federal Republic of Germany,
Drivers : Ove Anderson (Right) & F.Kottulinsky (Left)
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