Talk:John Watson (racing driver)

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Extra info[edit]

I have included information from a website as a comment appended to the end of this article for handy reference when I go to edit the page again. Please do not remove the information until I have finished verifying it and adding it to the article. Thanks. --Mal 19:11, 5 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Debut[edit]

Verified and corrected debut. John's first drive was actually for Hexagon in the British GP in 73 driving an old Brabham BT37. His second race that year seems to have been actually for the works Brabham team, in their third car, which probably explains the 'Ceramica ....' ref, which from memory was the name of the entrant for at least one of the works cars. His next season was with Hexagon, who bought an old BT42 from Brabham which they apparantly modified. Most of this (except the detail of what the Ceramica entrant was) comes from the book now ref'd in the first para. Hope this is helpful! 4u1e 11:08, 2 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

---Dave Cousin 1/4/2009---Verified and corrected debut further to include his appearance in the non championship formula one race: The World Championship Victory Race 1972. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.167.52.147 (talk) 14:04, 1 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

---Dave Cousin 1/4/2009--- Ceramica would have been 'Ceramica Pagnossin Team Surtees' from 1972 and maybe 1973 as well —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.167.52.147 (talk) 14:15, 1 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

According to Alan Henry in "Brabham The Grand Prix Cars" John Watson's debut at the British Grand Prix in 1973 was in the "rather drab chocolate brown livery" BT37 entered by Hexagon of Highgate which was owned by Paul Michaels. This is logical given that they had bought the BT37 previously used by Andrea de Adamich when Adamich "graduated" to a third BT42 entered by Ceramica Pagnossin. However as an example of where an "Official" list can be misleading (most likely as being "tentative" owing to lead time before going to print) a copy of the Entry list at

http://www.racingsportscars.com/covers/_Silverstone-1973-07-14e.jpg

shows Watson's Entrant and his car as being Motor Racing Developments and a white BT42 which is obviously incorrect. Dora Domino (talk) 00:58, 12 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

From the same website as linked above the Entry List for the 1973 US Grand Prix

http://www.racingsportscars.com/covers/_Watkins_Glen-1973-10-07e.jpg

does not list John Watson at all but does list Rolf Stommelen in the third BT42 entered by "Ceramica Pagnossin - Motor Racing Developments, Ltd., Eng.". Watson obviously took over this car as Stommelen did not take part in the 1973 US Grand Prix. Dora Domino (talk) 01:09, 12 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Page Rename (move)[edit]

Can I propose that to tie in with Wikipedia naming conventions that this page needs renaming to John Watson (Racing Driver) rather than carrying the rather obscure John Marshall Watson which I doubt even his mother used! M100 19:10, 11 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Agree. -- Ian Dalziel 22:00, 11 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Nationality[edit]

A couple of editors (or the same editor from a couple of IP addresses) have recently edited the F1 infobox to state that John Watson competed for Ireland in Formula One. The F1 infobox covers the drivers racing career and is not intended to cover wider political or national issues.

Although I appreciate that in some sports (Rugby?) players from Northern Ireland do compete for Ireland (In that case meaning the 'island of Ireland' I guess, rather than the Republic), F1 works differently. In F1 the FIA's rules state that a driver's nationality matches that of his passport. Being born in Northern Ireland Watson would hold a British passport. I know that he is also entitled to hold a Republic of Ireland passport, and may indeed do so, but he is always recorded in official results as having competed for the UK, so 'British' is the correct term for his sporting results. This is a longstanding convention for WP:F1, so changes to it should be discussed more widely than just here. Thanks. 4u1e 09:23, 13 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Le Mans[edit]

I may be wrong but didn't John Watson also drive a Jaguar XJR-5 in 1984 and a Jaguar XJ9R in the 24 Hour races at Le Mans in 1987 and 88, and also for Team Toyota in 1989? Oh and a Rothman's Porsche in 1985. Is this relevant info? If so, could someone who knows more about the procedure than I add it into an appropriate place? Thanks Andywebby (talk) 22:02, 6 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, it's relevant information to add to the article. I'll add it to my "to do" list (but I won't mind if someone else beats me to it). DH85868993 (talk) 07:38, 16 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion[edit]

The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion:

John Watson Zolder 1977 Brabham BT45 Alfa Romeo (21407917922).jpg

Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. —Community Tech bot (talk) 02:52, 25 July 2022 (UTC)[reply]