Paul Warwick (racing driver)

Paul Jason Warwick (29 January 1969 – 21 July 1991) was a British racing driver.

Paul Warwick was born in Alresford, Hampshire, and was the younger brother of fellow racing driver Derek Warwick. Paul began his junior career in British stock car racing in 1981 in the Ministox formula, before progressing to Superstox for the 1984 season, aged just 15 (due to altering his age on his race licence) racing against many older and much more experienced racers, under the Spedeworth organisation at tracks such as his local Aldershot Stadium and Foxhall Stadium, Ipswich. His older brother Derek was the English and World Champion in the formula. Paul became National Champion in 1984 at Ipswich, East Anglian Champion and also British Champion in 1985 at Wisbech and instantly became a popular driver racing as Superstox number 221.

In his first season of Formula Ford 1600 in 1986, he won eight of the 12 Dunlop-AUTOSPORT Star of Tomorrow rounds on his way to the title and scored a fine championship double by claiming the Townsend Thoresen Junior FF1600 series.

In 1987, Paul moved up to Formula Ford 2000 and his speed and consistency made him Euroseries runner-up to current Dallara Grand Prix driver JJ Lehto

Warwick spent three seasons from 1988 to 1990 in British Formula 3. In 1988 he raced for Eddie Jordan Racing, 1989 Intersport Racing and in 1990 Superpower. Despite being a pre-season championship contender, Paul failed to make the impact on the British championship that he would have liked. Mid-season 1990 he quit Formula 3 and contested some Formula 3000 races in the Leyton House backed March Formula 3000 team. The car was poor and Warwick was unable to shine at the rounds he contested, however, he adapted to the power increase well with some competitive showings. The rounds he took part in were at Brands Hatch, Birmingham, Le Mans and Nogaro. In 1991 he signed with Nigel Mansell's Mansell Madgwick British Formula 2 racing team.

The 1991 season was perfect for Paul Warwick. He scored five pole positions five fastest laps four lap records and five wins from five races.

Complete International Formula 3000 results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Warwick was killed in an accident at the fifth event of the season at Oulton Park race circuit, Cheshire. The win was awarded posthumously as he was leading the race when the accident took place. Warwick had scored enough points in the races he had contested to allow him to win the British Formula 3000 championship. The car left the circuit at the Knickerbrook right hand corner and slammed almost head-on into the outer circuit Armco barrier at 140 miles per hour (230 km/h). The car disintegrated and Warwick was thrown from it. Investigations concluded that a front wishbone failure caused the crash.

In 1991 an award by Autosport magazine for the National Driver of the Year was renamed the Paul Warwick Memorial Trophy that was awarded to the season's best British young racing driver.

The main entrance bridge at Oulton Park is named in his memory. In addition, the Knickerbrook corner was slowed by the addition of a chicane.