Roger Nathan

17/7/1943

Record updated 17-Jul-07

Roger Nathan is both a racer and a tuner. He made a name for himself in the early sixties racing Lotus Elites and other sports cars. He built his own sports prototypes and was also the leading Hillman Imp conversion and race specialist.

Roger Nathan
Roger Nathan's first event was a sprint meeting at Brands Hatch, March 1961. He finished 2nd in an Austin Healey 3000. He then purchased a Lotus Elite and an Elva Formula Junior from Bernie Ecclestone.

1963 was Roger's first full season and from there on he had a very successful career. Below are detailed some highlights from his career:

1963: Driving a Lotus Elite gained many outright wins and several lap records. Became the youngest driver, at 20, to win the National Autosport Championship.
 
1964: Driving a Brabham BT8 2ltr sports car he scored 13 outright wins including the Martini International Trophy, Aintree trophy, Daily Mirror Trophy and the Onyx Trophy. He also set five lap records.

1965: Fitted a 4.5ltr Oldsmobile to the Brabham and won the Oulton Gold Cup and set a new outright lap record. At Mallory Park came third to Graham Hill and Dickie Attwood in spite of the engine giving him trouble. Prepared and raced a Hillman Imp and scored numerous wins and lap records. Competed at Le Mans 24hrs in Costin-Nathan GT. Retired with mechanical and electrical problems after 4 hrs.

1966: Built the first Nathan Sports Prototype. Won first five races and set up five new lap records. In the October he won the Coupe de Vitesse, defeating even the works Fiat Abarths.

1967: The Nathan GT set up six new lap records.

1968: Won the Motoring News and Total National GT Championships outright. Held 14 lap records by the end of the season.
 
1969: Displayed his new car, named an Astra Climax, at the racing car show at Olympia. This car won its first two races, gained 3rd at the Nurburgring 1000km and 2nd in the GP de Paris. In August the Astra RNR1 was fitted with the Ford Cosworth FVA engine. It won 7 times and came 2nd twice after 9 starts. It also notched up a further five lap records.
 
1970: The Astra RNRII made seven appearances in the early start of the season and won the International Martini Trophy, Alcoa Aluminium Trophy and the Automotive Products Trophy. Gained two second places and set up another lap record. Roger Nathan held more lap records than any other British Driver.

In addition to these achievments Roger was the leading Hillman Imp conversion and race specialist.



BRDC

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