Sharing this Porsche 935 K3/80 with Brian Redman and car owner Dick Barbour at the rainy 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1980, Fitzpatrick helped the team score a fine 5th overall behind four prototypes while claiming a five-lap victory over JLP Racing’s 935 in the IMSA category. Photo: Fitzpatrick Collection
Racecar Interviews

Interview: John Fitzpatrick

Starting his career in the early ’60s behind the wheel of a Mini, John Fitzpatrick quickly worked his way to the top echelons of the endurance racing world. From winning the British Saloon Car Championship, Fitzpatrick went on to factory rides with Ford and BMW, as well as notching up European GT Championships in 1972 and 1974 at the wheel of Kremer Porsche RSRs. After winning the Daytona 24 Hours in 1976 and the IMSA championship in 1980, Fitzpatrick then fielded his own successful team for much of the early ’80s. Recently, Editor Casey Annis spoke with Fitzpatrick about the genesis and longevity of his remarkable career.

John FitzpatrickPhoto: Mike Jiggle
John Fitzpatrick
Photo: Mike Jiggle

Can you talk about how you got started, am I correct that it was in 1964 driving a Mini Cooper?

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Casey M. Annis is the Founder and Editor of Vintage Road & Racecar magazine, as well as Editor of Alfa Owner, The Oily Rag and BMW Ultimate Classic magazines. He founded Parabolica Publishing in 1997 after a career in neurobiology. Along with his passion for automobiles, Casey is a long distance open-ocean paddleboard racer who’s competed over 10 times in the 32-mile Catalina to Manhattan Beach race and the 32-mile Molokai to Oahu race. Casey still contributes and writes about the world of vintage road and racecars and edits and curates the content for this website.
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