Palmer Clinches Clark Cup

Eighth place overall and the normally-aspirated class victory in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka ensured Jonathan Palmer of this year’s Jim Clark Cup for drivers of non-turbocharged cars.

Palmer, a former British Formula Three and European Formula Two champion, went to Adelaide with an unbeatable twelve-point lead over his Tyrrell-Cosworth team-mate Philippe Streiff.

Not surprisingly, as the only regular two-car entry in a category which has been contested by no more than six cars in any one race, Tyrrell sewed up the complementary Colin Chapman Cup for constructors several months ago.

The non-turbocharged teams have been very much in the Grand Prix racing shadows in 1987, but dices within the class have frequently been close, and the unreliability of turbo runners has allowed Tyrrell, Lola, March and AGS top-six overall finishes.