monorep and motorsport
Monorep first became involved in motorsport in the early 70’s assisting in the running of a BMW coupé driven by Yorkshire ace, Tony Lanfranchi. The enthusiasm for racing soon became Pete McKay, Monorep’s Chairman, new found hobby and his friendship with Lanfranchi saw 20 years competing in various Opel and Vauxhall saloon cars around the circuits of the UK. It’s probably fair to say the teams’ reputation for high jinks and rivalry in the bars after races, with the likes of Gerry Marshall and Barry Williams, was as notorious as their many wins over the seasons!
In 1976 Monorep prepared and ran Gerry Marshall’s own Marshall-Wingfield Opel Commodore GS/E for Tony Lanfranchi, and in the Tour of Britain that year for Formula 1 ace, Denny Hulme. In 1978 Monorep acquired an ex-demonstration Commodore GS/E directly from Opel. It was on this occasion they were offered the opportunity to become an Opel dealer. With sponsorship from Mayfair magazine and Lanfranchi at the wheel, they clocked up numerous wins in the two seasons the car raced.The 1980s saw the Monorep Opel Monza competing against John Cleland and Gerry Marshall. Also entering the Willhire 24 hour race at Snetterton in 1983, the car piloted by Tony Lanfranchi, John Cleland and Steve Soper, finishing second and narrowly being beaten by the more powerful A.F.N. Porsche 928. The late 80’s and early 90’s saw Monorep competing in Vauxhall Astra’s liveried in their striking harlequin design.
The team continued winning up until their final season in 1993 when Peter McKay was proudly elected an Associate member of the BRDC (British Racing Drivers Club), which is only offered to those persons who have made a significant contribution to the sport.
|
Denny Hulme on route to a class win in the 1976 Tour of Britain, co-driven by Pete Lyons |
|
1979 Commodore Opel GS/E |
|
Willhire 24 Hour Race 1983 |
|
Willhire 24 Hour Race 1983 (Left) Steve Soper, (Centre) John Cleland, Right Tony Lanfranchi |
|
Leading the pack in 1993 |
|
Astra beats Golf on a Sunday afternoon – Astra wins first time out at Silverstone |
 |
Things don’t always go right! Brands Hatch 1992 |
