Tom Percival

Thomas Colin Percival (28 March 1943 – 20 August 1984) was a British powerboat racer.

Tom Percival
Percival (in boat 10) in 1975.
NationalityBritish
BornThomas Colin Percival
(1943-03-28)28 March 1943
North Walsham, Norfolk, England
Died20 August 1984(1984-08-20) (aged 41)
Liège, Belgium
JPS F1 Powerboat World Championship
Years active1981-1984
Best finish3rd in 1982, 1983
Championship titles
1978
1976, 1977
F1 World Championship
Paris six-hour Enduro

Career

Percival was educated at Gresham's School. He began his powerboat racing career in 1964, and won the Formula 1 (OZ) championship in 1978. He was also a twice winner of the Paris Six Hour Enduro.[1] He was twice the Canon European Series champion, in 1976 and 1978.[2]

During his career, he won over two hundred trophies. As of 2022, he was still the holder of the lap record for Oulton Broad.[3]

Death

Percival died in an accident during the 7th round of the 1984 F1 Powerboat World Championship in Liège, Belgium. After he collided with another boat, Percival, who had received severe head injuries was taken to Liège Hospital, but then lapsed into a coma and died some hours later on Monday morning.[1]

Personal life

Percival's career outside sport was as a boat dealer, based in Norfolk. He was married to Gilly, and they had a son, Guy, and a daughter, Katie, aged 16 and 14 respectively at the time of his death.[1]

References

  1. "Tom Percival". Fast on Water.
  2. Tom Percival, motorsportmemorial.org, accessed 6 August 2022
  3. Donna-Louise Bishop, Legacy of Norfolk powerboat racer to be immortalised at new museum, Eastern Daily Press, 16 January 2022, accessed 6 August 2022
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