EMKA Racing

EMKA Racing was a British racing team founded in 1980 by

until 1985 when the team was broken up before returning again in 1991. The team was finally dissolved in early 2004 following O'Rourke's death. The team had won the drivers championship for O'Rourke and Tim Sugden in the British GT Championship in 1997 and 1998.

History

1980–1985

Following Steve O'Rourke's years of amateur

, he took a seventh-place finish before taking 23rd at Le Mans.

Now established, O'Rourke purchased a

, the team took a third-place finish although O'Rourke himself did not drive the car.

For 1982, Derek Bell was replaced on the team by

.

For 1983, EMKA's success was recognised by

and took 17th place at Le Mans in their debut year.

For 1985 the EMKA ASTON-MARTIN was modified by Michael Cane Racing with design work being done by Richard Owen and continued support from Aston Martin. O'Rourke and Needell took an eleventh-place finish at Le Mans which saw the entry briefly leading the race in the opening hours. The EMKA Aston Martin failed to finish any of the other races it appeared at that season. Steve O'Rourke decided to take a break from international motorsport.

1991–2003

O'Rourke would briefly return to racing in 1993, entering an old

. He also made his first return to Le Mans since 1985, although his car would last a mere 32 laps before retiring.

For 1997, EMKA Racing would return to the British GT Championship. O'Rourke and co-driver Tim Sugden would take a best finish of second at Donington Park en route to taking the GT2 class drivers championships by the end of the season. With this success, O'Rourke made the decision to move to the more powerful GT1 class for 1998, purchasing a used McLaren F1 GTR. The team managed two wins in British GT at Oulton Park and Spa-Francorchamps, again earning them the championship in their class. The duo would also be joined by Bill Auberlen for Le Mans, earning a fourth-place finish, O'Rourke's personal best.

The team continued to campaign the McLaren F1 GTR in British GT in 1999, winning the round at

and would finish fourth in the teams championship.

The co-operation with GTC Competition and EMKA continued to campaign their Porsche in the N-GT class in 2001, again scoring their best result at the A1-Ring with a fourth-place finish in class. Unfortunately in the teams championship they managed to tie for eighth place, down from the previous year. The team would return again to British GT for 2002, with two third-place finishes at Brands Hatch and Castle Combe Circuit.

Citing health concerns, O'Rourke would retire towards the end of the 2002 season, with Martin Short taking over O'Rourke driving position alongside Tim Sugden as the team went into 2003. The team once again switched back to the

, and eventually fourth place in the N-GT team championship.

Demise

Mere days after the end of the FIA GT season, Steven O'Rourke would pass away in the United States due to a stroke. The team, which had received strong support from Porsche for preparation for the 2004 season, was unable to survive without O'Rourke's leadership. The team would fold prior to the start of the 2004 season, with its assets being sold off, including O'Rourke's racing cars such as his McLaren F1 GTR and the EMKA-badged Group C cars. Tim Sugden would also move on to the GruppeM team.

See also

• EMKA Aston Martin

External links

• Aston Martin Picture Gallery – EMKA Aston Martin