A reflection on Duckhams oils’ role within motorsports
PMF has conducted a report, delving into the excitement of motorsport and its integration with the automotive aftermarket – how do brands leverage motorsport’s influence to enhance awareness and achieve business success? To kick things off, here is Duckhams.
Engine oils and motorsports have enjoyed a winning partnership for decades and Duckhams has broken records and backed winners on the track for almost 100 years.
Ninety years ago, W. G. Everitt broke the world record (H class) for the standing start kilometre and mile, driving a Duckhams-lubricated MG at Brooklands. Fourteen years later, Lieutenant-Colonel A. T. ‘Goldie’ Gardner set a new international car speed record in Belgium, using Duckhams oils.
It was in 1966 that Duckhams’ business association with motorsport began in earnest. Duckhams were introduced to Chevron Cars and Brian Redman, a young up-and-coming driver already running on Duckhams oils. Duckhams also got to know Brian Hart, a driver and engine tuner, and they showed him that BDA engines were better protected by Duckhams 20-50 than they were by the castor oils then considered de rigueur for racing. By switching to Duckhams, Hart solved the problem of excessive engine bucket tappet wear.
In 1971, Formula Atlantic became, practically, the Duckhams formula, as almost every finisher used Duckhams Q20- 50. The same year, Duckhams first entered Formula 5000 and began discussions with Team Surtees, which posed the $64,000 question: could a Ford Cosworth DFV F1 engine run successfully on totally standard Duckhams Q20-50?
After a successful bench test, the oil was tested under race conditions at Silverstone. Alan Rollinson drove the full Grand Prix distance in the Surtees F1 car using off-the-shelf Q20-50, setting a time that would have secured fourth place in that year’s British Grand Prix. After the race, the engine was stripped and found to be in excellent condition, and the go-ahead was given for the 1972 season.
The successful collaboration between Duckhams and motorsport continued in a victory-laden 1974 season. Jacky Ickx won the Formula 1 Race of Champions. There was further Formula 1 success, with Ronnie Peterson winning the Monaco, French and Italian Grand Prix, and James Hunt winning the International Trophy at Silverstone. At that time, virtually half the Formula 1 field was running on Duckhams oil. The majority of winners in Formula 5000, Formula Atlantic and Formula Ford were all lubricated by Duckhams Q.
In the 1980s, Duckhams’ successful relationship with motorsport moved into rallying, with Ari Vatanen winning the 1981 Drivers’ World Championship. The following year, Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz drive their Audi Sport UK Quattro to individual victories in the British Rally Championship. Duckhams supported Team Toyota Europe and the Van Diemen Works Formula Ford Team, with championship wins in European Formula 3000 and European Formula Ford in 1985.
British driver Karl Jones competed in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in 1988 and 1989 in his Duckhams-backed Class A Ford Sierra RS500. Jones said: “When I was racing the RS500 in the BTCC there was only one choice of oil when it came to coping with the incredibly high temperatures of the car’s turbo. The engine’s choice was always Duckhams QXR, of course.”
Nigel Mansell, Ayrton Senna and David Coulthard all received business backing from Duckhams in the early days of their careers. In the 1990s, Duckhams-lubricated cars competed in the BTCC. Ian Simpson secured the HEAT British Cuspercup Superbikes title in 1994, and Karl Muggeridge rode his Duckhams- Seeley Honda in the 1998 British Supersport 600 Championships. After a few years’ break, 2021 saw Duckhams storm back to motor racing success, with Duckhams-sponsored Dan Cammish winning the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain. Duckhams also sponsored Rookie Champion, Harry Foster, who said: “My dad and grandad have fond memories of Duckhams racing back in the days when they were involved in touring cars.”
Last year, after decades of motorsport success, Duckhams continued its winning formula, with victory in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and the Thailand Bric Superbike Championship.
As Duckhams celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2024, hopes are pinned on Adam Smalley emulating his success in British GT, driving a McLaren 720S GT3 Evo for renowned British racing outfit Garage 59.
