BTCC-Racing.com is sad to report the death of former BTCC favourite and national racing legend Gerry Marshall, aged 63. He died after falling ill during a test session yesterday (Thursday) at Silverstone.

Marshall will forever be remembered as a Vauxhall dealer team driver in the UK, most noticeably for his spectacular driving style at the wheel of the mighty ‘Big Bertha' saloon.
He enjoyed considerable success in the BTCC in the Seventies and in 1976 became a class champion driving a Vauxhall Magnum.

His touring car activities also ventured overseas and in 1977 he was runner-up in the Spa 24 Hours, again in a Magnum that he shared with Australian saloon car legend Peter Brock.

A huge accident in a Triumph Dolomite in the BTCC’s 1979 British Grand Prix support race at Silverstone left him with back injuries that remained with him for the rest of his life.

But that did not stop Marshall levering his huge frame into a variety of cars and entertaining the crowds with his sideways style. He let his driving continue to do the talking and in 2000 he achieved his 600th race victory.

In recent years, he had also kept the packed out Goodwood Festival of Speed spellbound with his car control behind the wheel of powerful machinery.

In 2002 Marshall was awarded with the British Automobile Club’s Gold Medal for his outstanding contribution to British motor sport.