British Touring Car Championship

British Touring Car Championship	British Touring Car Championship
 	
Country 	England Scotland
Region 	Europe
Inaugural season 	1991
Manufacturers 	Ford Honda Nissan Renault Vauxhall VolvoNote: The constructors in bold are currently represented in the Manufacturers Championship.
Overall Drivers champion 	Lorenzo Turri
Manufacturer Drivers champion 	Lorenzo Turri
Manufacturer Teams champion 	Renault
Independent Drivers champion 	Sam Mumby
Independent Teams champion 	none
Current season 	1999
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom, currently organised and administered by British Touring Car Online (BTCO) It was established in 1991. The championship currently runs the FIA Super Touring regulations.
==History==
The introduction of a 2-litre, single-class touring car formula (devised in the UK and later adopted worldwide by the FIA as ‘SuperTouring’) – and with all cars running on unleaded fuel – attracted interest from major motor manufacturers, which led to unprecedented growth, unparalleled global interest and fierce rivalries. The BTCC quickly became the world’s premier touring car series and, as such, the best possible global shop window for car companies wishing to promote their mainstream showroom models. The one-class system was popular with manufacturers from the beginning with five manufacturer supported teams from BMW, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota and Vauxhall entered in the championship. During the first seasons, the cars were not fitted with aerodynamic aids such as a front splitter or a rear wing which were allowed from 1995.
===1991===
 The first ever STSR season was a year long battle between Nissan and Toyota, and towards the end of the season Mitsubishi, but Nissan eventually won as Roy Cop took the Overall and Manufacturer Drivers championship ahead of Toyota driver Michael Sneath. Mike Bell and Auto Trader Techspeed Team took the Independent honours. Notable moments during the season included Mike Bell taking the first win by an Independent driver in the first ever race meeting, the first ever BTCC night race at Donington Park and Toyota driver Vik Rune getting banned from the series due to unsportsmanlike conduct in the Birmingham Superprix round.
===1992===
 1992 was dominated by Lorenzo Turri of Vauxhall who took 19 wins out of a possible 26 and finished 103 points ahead of second placed (and defending champion) Toyota's Roy Cop who took three race wins. Mike Bell once again claimed the Independent title driving a for Park Lane Racing, also claiming an outright race win at Knockhill. During the season, there were also wins for Johannes Meles and Matthew Wheeler.
===1993===
 2 new manufacturer teams entered the series in 1993, Ford and Renault. Lorenzo Turri successfully defended his title driving for Ford, claiming 13 wins. His nearest championship rival, Mike Bell of Nissan took 6 victories. There were also wins for Cop (Ford, 5 wins) and Johannes Meles (Renault, 2 wins). Finland's Pekka Ylitalo took the Independent title driving a BMW for Team Dynamics. A notable event during the season was that at Round 6 at Pembrey, it was the first time during an STSR event that the podium was shared by drivers of the same nationality (Bell, Jaz Evered, Kris Simton).
===1994===
2 new teams (Alfa Romeo and Volvo), as well as the return of BMW and Mazda, ensured that the BTCC grid for 1994 would be much bigger than previous years. At Round 2 of the championship at Brands Hatch, a record 20 drivers took place in the race, a BTCO BTCC record. Lorenzo Turri made it 3 championships in a row in his Alfa Corse ran Alfa Romeo alongside former teammate, Kris Simton. Alfa Corse also won the teams championship. Throughout the season there were wins for Turri (17), Jake Black (4), Mike Bell (2) as well as single wins for Daniel Hurlock, Nathan Hammond and Johannes Meles. David Todaro won the Independent crown driving a Peugeot 405 for Woodkirk Peugeot who also won the Independent Teams championship.
===1995===
 Honda joined the grid as a manufacturer for 1995, though Mazda and Nissan left the series. The championship went down to the very last lap of the very last race - in the end, Daniel Hurlock prevailed, becoming the first driver other than Turri to win the title since Cop in 1991. Turri lost out on a potential fourth title by just 2 points - making 1995 the closest ever BTCO season to date. There were six different race winners in 1995, with Turri (10 wins), Hurlock (7 wins), Bell and Meles (4 wins each) all taking the top step of the podium at some point, as well as a new race winner in the form of Chris English (3 wins) - with Black (2 wins) also taking victory. Kris Simton, driving for Team Dynamics, took his first Independent Drivers' Championship - beating Michael Sneath by 42 points.
===1996===
 Audi arrived on the grid in 1996 and instantly became the team to beat with their 4-wheel-drive A4. Johannes Meles winning his first BTCC title, achieving 20 podium finishes, including 11 wins. Throughout the year, there were seven different race winners, from 6 different manufacturers; Meles had 11 wins and Black had 3 wins (both Audi), Hurlock with 4 victories (Renault), 3 wins each for Turri (Vauxhall) and Simton (Honda), 2 for Osborne (Peugeot) and a single victory for English (Ford). Henry Williams, driving for Mint Motorsport, took the Independent Drivers' Championship, driving a Vauxhall Cavalier.
===1997===
Nissan returned to the championship as a fully fledged works team for 1997. However, it was still Audi who remained the team to beat. Daniel Hurlock won his second BTCC title, achieving 18 wins throughout the season. Defending champion, and Hurlock's team mate at Audi, Johannes Meles, finished in second place with 9 wins. There were also wins for Jake Black (3), Chris Pimm, Kris Simton, Tom Gill, Henry Williams, Michael Sneath and Daniel Bower (1 each). Black would also take the Independent championship for Brookes Motorsport, driving a Peugeot 406.
===1998===
 Audi wouldn't remain as strong as previous years as their 4wd car was banned and didnt commit to a full BTCC program. Renault and Nissan would slug it out to be the quickest cars on the grid. Lorenzo Turri would claim his 4th BTCC title driving for Renault with 17 wins for the French marque. Chris Pimm achieved his best championship finish as he placed second which included 4 wins for Volvo. There were also wins for Nissan pair Henry Williams (3) and Tom Gill (1), Honda's Christian Tracey (1), Peugeot driver Jake Black (5) and David Osborne of Ford, Christopher Marnell of Renault and Daniel Hurlock of Audi who achielved 2 wins each. The independent championship was won by Sam Mumby driving for Team Dynamics.
===1999===
==Car regulations==
Super Touring cars were required to be a minimum of 4.20 metres (13.8 ft) in length, with four doors, effectively requiring a small family saloon car as a minimum. No more than 2 litres engine capacity, or six cylinders were permitted, and the engine was required to be normally aspirated. Only two wheels could be driven and steered. For homologation, initially at least 2500 units of the model used must have been produced. In 1995, in a bid to counter the increasing numbers of homologation specials, this was increased to at least 25,000 units.
==Circuits==
Being a national championship, the BTCC has visited circuits throughout the United Kingdom over its long history. Currently the series visits eight different tracks in the UK over the course of ten meetings. These tracks are: Thruxton Circuit, Brands Hatch, Silverstone Circuit, Snetterton Circuit, Oulton Park, Donington Park and the Knockhill Racing Circuit in Scotland. In the past, the BTCC has visited a street race around the city of Birmingham known as the Birmingham Superprix in 1991, Castle Combe Circuit in 1991-1992 and 1994 and the Pembrey Circuit in Wales in 1993.
==Race format==
* 19:30  - Practice
* 20:00 - BTCC Qualifying One shot qualifying
* 20:30 - BTCC Race 1
* 21:00 - BTCC Race 2 reversed grid from race 1 results
* 21:30 - BTCC Race 3 reversed grid from race 2 results
==Points system==
Current points system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen drivers in each race as follows:
Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system	Points system
 1st 	 2nd 	 3rd 	 4th 	 5th 	 6th 	 7th 	 8th 	 9th 	 10th 	 11th 	 12th 	 13th 	 14th 	 15th 	 16th 	 17th 	Pole Position	Lead a lap
20 	18 	16 	14 	13 	12 	11 	10 	9 	8 	7 	6 	5 	4 	3 	2 	1 	1 	1
1996 points system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen drivers in each race as follows:
Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system	Points system	Points system
 1st 	 2nd 	 3rd 	 4th 	 5th 	 6th 	 7th 	 8th 	 9th 	 10th 	 11th 	 12th 	 13th 	 14th 	 15th 	Pole Position	Lead a lap 	
18 	16 	14 	12 	11 	10 	9 	8 	7 	6 	5 	4 	3 	2 	1 	1 	1 	
1993-1995 points system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen drivers in each race as follows:
Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system	Points system	Points system
 1st 	 2nd 	 3rd 	 4th 	 5th 	 6th 	 7th 	 8th 	 9th 	 10th 	 11th 	 12th 	 13th 	 14th 	 15th 	Pole Position	 	
18 	16 	14 	12 	11 	10 	9 	8 	7 	6 	5 	4 	3 	2 	1 	1 	 	
1992 points system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen drivers in each race as follows:
Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system	Points system 	Points system
 1st 	 2nd 	 3rd 	 4th 	 5th 	 6th 	 7th 	 8th 	 9th 	 10th 	 11th 	 12th 	 13th 	 14th 	 15th 	Pole Position	Fastest LapOf Meeting	
18 	16 	14 	12 	11 	10 	9 	8 	7 	6 	5 	4 	3 	2 	1 	1 	1 	
1991 points system
Points are awarded to the top seventeen drivers in each race as follows:
Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system	Points system
 1st 	 2nd 	 3rd 	 4th 	 5th 	 6th 	 7th 	 8th 	 9th 	 10th 	 11th 	 12th 	 13th 	 14th 	 15th 	 16th 	 17th 	Pole Position	Fastest Lap
20 	18 	16 	14 	13 	12 	11 	10 	9 	8 	7 	6 	5 	4 	3 	2 	1 	1 	1
Current Independent points system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen drivers in each race as follows:
Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system
 1st 	 2nd 	 3rd 	 4th 	 5th 	 6th 	 7th 	 8th 	 9th 	 10th 	 11th 	 12th 	 13th 	 14th 	 15th 	 16th 	 17th 	
20 	18 	16 	14 	13 	12 	11 	10 	9 	8 	7 	6 	5 	4 	3 	2 	1 	
1993-1996 Independent points system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen drivers in each race as follows:
Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system	Points system	Points system
 1st 	 2nd 	 3rd 	 4th 	 5th 	 6th 	 7th 	 8th 	 9th 	 10th 	 11th 	 12th 	 13th 	 14th 	 15th 	 	 	
18 	16 	14 	12 	11 	10 	9 	8 	7 	6 	5 	4 	3 	2 	1 	 	 	
1992-93 Independent points system
Points are awarded to the top three drivers in each race as follows:
Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system
 1st 	 2nd 	 3rd 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
30 	20 	10 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
1991 Independent points system
Points are awarded to the top seven drivers in each race as follows:
Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system 	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system	Points system
 1st 	 2nd 	 3rd 	 4th 	 5th 	 6th 	 7th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
10 	8 	6 	4 	3 	2 	1 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Previous champions==
Season	Overall 	Overall 	Manufacturer 	Manufacturer 	Independent 	Independent 	Secondary 	Secondary
Season	Drivers' Champion 	Teams' Champion 	Drivers' Champion 	Teams' Champion 	Drivers' Champion 	Teams' Champion 	Drivers' Champion	Teams' Champion
1991 	Roy Cop 	Nissan Janspeed Racing 	Roy Cop 	Nissan Janspeed Racing 	Mike Bell 	Auto Trader Techspeed Team	 	
1992 	Lorenzo Turri 	Vauxhall Sport 	Lorenzo Turri 	Vauxhall Sport 	Mike Bell (2) 	Park Lane Racing 	 	
1993 	Lorenzo Turri (2) 	Nissan Castrol Racing (2) 	Lorenzo Turri (2) 	Nissan Castrol Racing (2) 	Pekka Ylitalo 	Team Dynamics 	 	
1994 	Lorenzo Turri (3) 	Alfa Corse 	Lorenzo Turri (3) 	Alfa Corse 	David Todaro 	Woodkirk Peugeot 	 	
1995 	Daniel Hurlock 	Williams Renault Dealer Team 	Daniel Hurlock 	Williams Renault Dealer Team 	Kris Simton 	none 	 	
1996 	Johannes Meles 	Audi Sport UK 	Johannes Meles 	Audi Sport UK 	Henry Williams 	none 	 	
1997 	Daniel Hurlock (2)	Audi Sport UK (2) 	Daniel Hurlock (2)	Audi Sport UK (2) 	Jake Black 	none 	 	
1998 	Lorenzo Turri (4) 	Williams Renault Dealer Team (2)	Lorenzo Turri (4) 	Williams Renault Dealer Team (2)	Sam Mumby 	none 	Production Class 	Production Class
1999 	Chris Pimm 	Team Honda Sport 	Chris Pimm 	Team Honda Sport 	Christopher Marnell	none 	Drivers' Champion	Teams' Champion
2000 	 	 	 	 	 	none 	 	
==Support races==
-
==Previous support races==
* VW Vento Cup - one make series that ran for a single year in 1992, won by Mike Bell.
* Yugo Challenge - one make series that ran for a single year in 1995, won by Jake Black.
* Subaru Cup - one make series that ran for a single year in 1998, won by Lorenzo Turri.
==See Also==
British Touring Car Championship recordsBritish Touring Car Online Register
Category:Touring Car Championships