Gulf in Racing - Our rich motorsport history
Gulf has always had a keen interest in motorsport - it’s in our veins.
Over the years we have experienced so many monumental moments that will forever have a place in the hearts of motorsport fans all over the world.
Gulf has had a rich motorsport history for many years and our livery and brand colours adorning Gulf cars have become iconic amongst racing fans. For all of the racing enthusiasts out there, here’s a timeline of Gulf cars in motorsport over the years…
1936 - 1937 Gulf-backed Morman Meteor:
Gulf took its first tentative step into motorsport by backing the Morman Meteor, an advanced Dusenberg-based record-breaking racer using a 700bhp Curtis V12 aero engine.
The Gulf-sponsored Meteor broke an impressive number of records at the Bonneville Salts Flats in Utah. It took both the 24-hour record at a speed of 153.8 mph and the 48 hours record at an average of 148.6 mph. In 1937, the improved Morman Meteor II achieved a new record-breaking speed of 157.3 mph.
1965-75 - Gulf-JW Automotive:
It was during the late 60s and early 70s that the Gulf Oil brand came to international prominence through the highly successful financial and technical sponsorship of a number of major-team motor racing programs.
We achieved notable early global exposure when our Vice President, Grady Davis, linked the Gulf brand up with John Wyer (of JW Automotive Engineering) to mastermind Gulf’s participation in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
The Gulf-JW Automotive team became a legendary force between 1967 and 1975 with the Ford GT40, Porsche 917 and Mirage competition cars. Gulf achieved victory at the famous Le Mans 24 Hours race in 1968, 1969 and 1975, as well as taking World Championship Sportscar honors.
It was also during this period that the now iconic Gulf blue and orange racing colours made their first appearance. Gulf’s corporate livery of dark blue and orange was considered too muted for race team Gulf car colours, so powder blue and orange (the colours of the recently acquired Wilshire Oil Company) were chosen to reflect the vibrancy of the brand.
1968 - Gulf-JW Automotive Ford GT40 Le Mans Victory
Ahead of the famous 1968 Le Mans 24 Hour race and victory, the Gulf-JW Automotive team had already taken an impressive seven wins in that year’s Sportscar Championship.
The first of these was the Brands Hatch Six Hours in April, through to the Watkins Glen Six Hours in the USA, where the team took its first-ever one-two finish.
Held later in the year than its traditional mid-June slot, on 29 September 1968, Gulf car number 9, the Gulf-JW Automotive Ford GT40, wearing its distinctive Gulf livery, took Gulf’s first Le Mans victory.
