Tom Percival

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Short description|British powerboat racer (1943–1984)}}

{{Infobox racing driver

| name = Tom Percival

| image = Speedboatraces drie uren van Amsterdam no 10 Tom Percival, Bestanddeelnr 928-1635.jpg

| imagesize = 200px

| caption = Percival (in boat 10) in 1975.

| nationality = British

| birth_name = Thomas Colin Percival

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1943|3|28}}

| birth_place = North Walsham, Norfolk, England

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1984|8|20|1943|3|28}}

| death_place = Liège, Belgium

| related to =

| current series =

| last series = JPS F1 Powerboat World Championship

| years active = 1981-1984

| current team =

| former teams =

| starts =

| wins =

| poles =

| fastest laps =

| best finish = 3rd

| year = 1982, 1983

| prev series =

| prev series °years =

| titles = F1 World Championship
Paris six-hour Enduro

| title years = 1978
1976, 1977

}}

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

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.{{cite news|title=Tom Percival|url=http://www.fastonwater.co.uk/tom_percival.html|work=Fast on Water}}

He was twice the Canon European Series champion, in 1976 and 1978.[http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=b&n=5008 Tom Percival], motorsportmemorial.org, accessed 6 August 2022

During his career, he won over two hundred trophies. As of 2022, he was still the holder of the lap record for Oulton Broad.Donna-Louise Bishop, [https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/powerboat-racer-tom-percival-legacy-into-museum-8624876 Legacy of Norfolk powerboat racer to be immortalised at new museum], Eastern Daily Press, 16 January 2022, accessed 6 August 2022

=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.

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.

References