Mike Crabtree

Mike Crabtree
Driver Details
Nationality	{{{{{natflag}}}}} British
Date of Birth	Unknown
Date of Death	Unknown
Début	Croft 1968
Championships	0 (4th 1969)
2015 Position	Unknown
First Win	Unknown
Previous Teams	John Willment Automobiles
Career Statistics
Total Entries	0 (0 Starts)
Pole Positions	0
Fastest Laps	0
Wins	0 (0 in Class)
Total Points	0
Current Season
Team	Unknown
Car	Unknown
Number	Standings	Points
'	–	0

Mike Crabtree is a former British Touring Car Championship driver, who competed between 1968 and 1972.

Background

Crabtree began entering sports car races in 1965, although he did enter (but did not compete) a race in 1958. He continued to enter sports car races throughout his career, although he would stop for a time to compete in the BSCC after 1968. Before his final BSCC race, Crabtree would also enter the European Touring Car Championship, using the same car he used in the BSCC. 

BTCC History

Crabtree obtained a drive with John Willment Automobiles at the XVII Gold Cup meeting at Oulton Park late on in the year. Using a Ford Escort TC, Crabtree battled at the front of his class, claiming fourth on his debut. He followed this with a third place at the subsequent race, having duelled with Brian Robinson for much of the race for second. A sixth place finish completed the season, with John Willment offering him a drive for the following season.

1969 saw Crabtree battle for the title, although the ultra-competitive field in Class C (composed of Escorts and Porsche 911s) prevented any realistic chance of winning. Despite this, Crabtree took an impressive victory at the start of the year, a feat he would repeat at four other races that season. In constant battle at the front of his class (and come the end of the year, battling for overall victories), Crabtree claimed the Class C title at the final meeting, his one and only title of his BSCC career.

For 1970, Crabtree stayed with JWA, again using the Escort TC. Sadly for Crabtree, the season started slowly, only managing to take three podium places in the first three quarters of the season. However, Crabtree rediscovered his former form, claiming two of the final three victories on offer at the end of the season. He followed this with a disjoined 1971 season, missing four rounds and retiring from two (he was also not classified in one race). Crabtree failed to take a victory, and swapped to racing a Ford Escort RS 1600 mid-season, which did improve his results.

In 1972, Crabtree started competing in the ETCC, meaning his time was split between the two championships. After three retirements and a fourth place, Crabtree took his final victory in the championship by swinging to the flag at Crystal Palace. Two further podiums gave Crabtree nineteen points, before he moved on to compete fully in the ETCC.

BTCC Record

A table containing Mike Crabtree's best results in the BTCC. The figures after the information about the car used indicate Mike Crabtree's finish in each race at that meeting (in their class).

Mike Crabtree's BTCC Record
Year	Team	Pos	Pts	Car	Class	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
1968	John Willment		6	Ford Escort TC	bgcolor="#008000" rowspan="2" style="border-radius:5px; color:white;"|C	N								4	3	6	-	-
1969		4th	54			1	1	2	bgcolor="black" style="color:white; font-size:90%; border-radius:5px;"|DSQ	5	1	R	4	R	1	1	2	-
1970			38			R	2	4	R	2	2	5	4	R	1	1	N	-
1971			32			2	N	3	bgcolor="Purple" style="color:white; border-radius:7px;"|NC	N		R	2*	2	2	3	N	R
1972			19	Ford Escort RS 1600		R	4	R		1	3	R	N	3	R	-	-	-

* Crabtree switched to running a Ford Escort RS 1600 after this meeting.