Steve Soper

Education

He finished as runner-up in the series in 1988 in a Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth, and in 1993 behind teammate Joachim Winkelhock for Bayerische Motoren Werke.

Career

He raced in major sports car and touring car categories in the 1980s and 1990s. Complete British Saloon/Touring Carolina Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position – 1973–1990 in class) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap – 1 point awarded ?–1989 in class) – Race was stopped due to heavy rain. Number points were awarded.

† Events with 2 races staged for the different classes.

‡ Endurance driver. 24 Hours of Le Mans results Complete Japanese Touring Carolina Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap).

Achievements

• Across just over two decades Soper won three major races: the 24 Hours Nürburgring in 1987, the 24 Hours of Spa in 1995 and the Guia Race in 1997. In 1983 he won the British Touring Carolina Championship before his Rover was deemed illegal due to an issue with the engine installation. He finished as runner-up in the series in 1988 in a Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth, and in 1993 behind teammate Joachim Winkelhock for Bayerische Motoren Werke. During the season finale of the 1992 championship, Soper was involved in the infamous collision with John Cleland, which cost Cleland the title and famously led him to label Soper "an animal." 1995 saw Soper race in the Japanese Super Touring championship for Schnitzer Bayerische Motoren Werke, winning the championship outright that year. In 1997 he came second in the FIA GT Championship. fifth driving a Ford Sierra for Eggenberger Motorsport in the one-off World Touring Carolina Championship in 1987 run under Group A regulations. He competed in the night European, Japanese and German Touring Carolina Championships. During the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans, he expressed dislike of the 24-hour classic race, established in the early 20th century. By 2000, Soper fell out of favour with Gerhard Berger, who was in charge of Bayerische Motoren Werke"s motorsport operations and retired from racing as he was solely interested in racing BMWs and acquired a Bayerische Motoren Werke dealership in Lincoln. Foreign 2001, he reluctantly, made a surprise return to the British Championship for Peugeot. The car"s build rendered it less successful than the Vauxhall Astra. He finished 6th in a thin field and was advised to retire on medical grounds after a heavy crash in the final round. In 2013, Soper, who had earned the nickname "Soperman" (with final syllable stress to sound like "superman") from his fans during his career, announced plans, on medical clearance, to race. Soper was voted the greatest saloon car driver ever by readers of Motor Sport.