1995 British Touring Car Championship Explained

The 1995 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship was won by John Cleland in a Vauxhall Cavalier. The Independents' title was won by Matt Neal in his Team Dynamics Ford Mondeo with fourteen class wins.

Season summary

All the race weekends were now double header meetings, with full points awarded at each race. The exception was the British Grand Prix support round.

Following the controversies over aerodynamic aids in 1994 first used by Alfa Romeo, TOCA announced wings and spoilers were eligible for all the cars in the new season.

After their domination in 1994, Alfa Corse went back to contesting the Italian Supertouring Championship, leaving Prodrive to run the works Alfa team. Derek Warwick was signed to drive alongside Giampiero Simoni with champion Gabriele Tarquini returning in a third car at Oulton Park. He replaced Simoni after the Silverstone Circuit GP support round but results continued to be disappointing and Alfa Romeo withdrew from the championship at the end of the year.

TWR Volvo replaced the 850 estate with the 850 saloon. The cars were instantly on the pace with Rickard Rydell winning round two and teammate Tim Harvey doubling up at the next round. Rydell remained in championship contention until the penultimate round, taking three more victories in the process whilst Harvey dropped back in the standings and at times was unconvincing compared to Rydell.

WilliamsF1 setup Williams Touring Car Engineering and took over development of Renault Laguna whilst Sodemo Moteurs supplied engines. 1994 runner up Alain Menu was retained and took more wins than any other driver during the season and he partnered by 1991 champion Will Hoy moving from Toyota. Towards the end of the year the Laguna was the class of the field, winning five of the last six races which helped Renault to take the manufacturers title for the first time.

Andy Rouse Engineering ran Ford's works effort for a third season with the V6 Mondeo. Double touring car world cup winner Paul Radisich was joined by British F3 championship winner Kelvin Burt. The car was competitive in the early part of the year but fell back in the development race. The powerful but heavy V6 contributed to major front tyre wear that saw the cars become mobile chicanes as races progressed.[1] Radisich in particular struggled, scoring just 2 points in the final 10 races.

Vauxhall announced that the Cavalier was to be replaced by the new Vectra at the end of the season, so 1995 was the last hurrah for the venerable car. John Cleland was joined by James Thompson who replaced Jeff Allam, and despite the Volvo and Renault giving strong competition, Cleland's consistency and the Cavalier's reliability took the driver's and teams championships. Thompson crashed heavily during testing for the Knockhill Circuit round and injuries sustained would see him miss the remaining rounds. Jeff Allam was brought in as a last minute replacement for Knockhill and then Michael Briggs, the 1995 South African Touring Car Championship winner, for the rest of the season.

Team Schnitzer were heavily involved in other touring car championships around the world in 1995, with 1994 BTCC drivers Joachim Winkelhock competing in the German Supertouring championship which he won, while Steve Soper raced in Japan and took the title there. BMW instead employed it's UK arm to take on the challenge, with factory drivers Johnny Cecotto and David Brabham. The season was a disaster by BMWs standard however with no wins or even a podium finish to their credit.

Toyota retained Julian Bailey and Tim Sugden with Toyota Team Europe engineering the Carina with the backing of a major new sponsor, Mobil 1.[2] Both drivers regularly ran near the higher end of the midfield and at Snetterton Circuit the team debuted a brand new right hand drive car, driven by Sugden, then Bailey for the remainder of the year. The new car was a significant step forward allowing Bailey to challenge the top 3 teams but it wasn't enough to stop Toyota pulling the plug at the end of the season.

Total Team Peugeot once again entered the Peugeot 405 Mi16, now in its final year. Patrick Watts remained with the team for a second season and he was joined by Simon Harrison the 1994 National Saloon Car Championship winner. Harrison struggled, scoring points on just 4 occasions. Watts was more competitive, finishing on the podium twice.

Honda joined the championship with Motor Sport Developments entering the Accord driven by David Leslie and double independents champion James Kaye. Results steadily improved as the season progressed and Leslie in particular was able to mix it at the front of the pack, scoring a podium at Oulton Park.

In the Independents Championship, Matt Neal dominated the season and easily won his second Independent title driving a 1994 Andy Rouse Engineering built Ford Mondeo[3] run by family outfit Team Dynamics. Mint Motorsport entered a 1993 Mondeo, also built by Andy Rouse engineering[4] for Richard Kaye, making his BTCC debut and finishing second in the independent standings. Finishing third Nigel Smith competing in his second season, once again racing his 1993 Ecurie Ecosse Vauxhall Cavalier.[5] Hamish Irvine finished fourth in his 1994 Peugeot 405.[6] 1990 champion Robb Gravett entered the opening rounds at Donington Park in a 1993 Vauxhall Cavalier[7] before returning at the Silverstone GP support race in an ex-STW Ford Mondeo.[8] At Snetterton he scored the first outright podium finish for an independent driver in the 2 litre era. Australian Charlie Cox (racing) also entered a Ford Mondeo.[9] A strategic tyre choice saw him take fifth overall at Brands Hatch in April. At the following round he was involved in a huge crash destroying the car and forcing him to miss a number of races. He returned at Brands Hatch in a rebuilt car,[10] the first hatchback Mondeo to race in the UK.

Teams and drivers

TeamCarNo.DriversRounds
Manufacturers
Alfa Romeo Old Spice RacingAlfa Romeo 155 TS1 Gabriele Tarquininowrap5, 9–13
5 Giampiero Simoni1–8
55 Derek WarwickAll
Williams Renault Dealer RacingRenault Laguna2 Alain MenuAll
22 Will HoyAll
Valvoline Team MondeoFord Mondeo Ghia3 Paul RadisichAll
33 Kelvin BurtAll
Vauxhall SportVauxhall Cavalier 16v4 John ClelandAll
10 Jeff Allam9
14nowrap James Thompson1–8
24 Mike Briggs10–13
Total Team PeugeotPeugeot 405 Mi168 Patrick WattsAll
18 Simon HarrisonAll
Volvo 850 RacingVolvo 850 20v9 Tim HarveyAll
15 Rickard RydellAll
Team Toyota GBToyota Carina E11 Julian BaileyAll
12 Tim SugdenAll
BMW Motorsport TeamBMW 320i16 Johnny CecottoAll
17 David BrabhamAll
Honda Team MSDHonda Accord20 David LeslieAll
21 James KayeAll
Independents
Thames Ford DealersFord Mondeo Ghia19 Charlie Cox1–3
Ford Mondeo10–13
Mint MotorsportFord Mondeo Ghia23 Richard KayeAll
HMSO BookshopsVauxhall Cavalier 16v25 Nigel SmithAll
SCB Vehicle DismantlersPeugeot 405 Mi1626 Hamish IrvineAll
FoesportFord Mondeo Ghia27 Robb Gravett8–13
Roy Kennedy RacingVauxhall Cavalier 16v301
Team MagicMazda 323F32 Slim BorguddDNS*
Team DynamicsFord Mondeo Ghia77 Matt NealAll

Race calendar and results

All races were held in the United Kingdom.

RoundCircuitDatePole PositionFastest LapWinning DriverWinning TeamnowrapWinning Independent
1R1Donington Park (Grand Prix), Leicestershire2 April Rickard Rydell John Cleland John ClelandVauxhall Sport Matt Neal
R2nowrap Rickard Rydellnowrap Rickard Rydellnowrap Rickard RydellVolvo 850 Racing Matt Neal
2R3Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent17 April Rickard Rydell Paul Radisich Tim HarveyVolvo 850 Racing Charlie Cox
R4 Rickard Rydell Kelvin Burt Tim HarveyVolvo 850 Racing Matt Neal
3R5Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire8 May Alain Menu Alain Menu Alain MenuWilliams Renault Dealer Racing Nigel Smith
R6nowrap James Thompsonnowrap James Thompsonnowrap James ThompsonVauxhall Sport Nigel Smith
4R7Silverstone Circuit (National), Northamptonshire14 May Rickard Rydell Paul Radisich Rickard RydellVolvo 850 Racing Matt Neal
R8 Rickard Rydell Paul Radisich Paul RadisichValvoline Team Mondeo Matt Neal
5R9Oulton Park (International), Cheshire29 May James Thompson Alain Menu Rickard RydellVolvo 850 Racing Nigel Smith
R10 Rickard Rydell Alain Menu Alain MenuWilliams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal
6R11Brands Hatch (Grand Prix), Kent11 June Alain Menu John Cleland Alain MenuWilliams Renault Dealer Racing Hamish Irvine
R12 Alain Menu Alain Menu John ClelandVauxhall Sport Richard Kaye
7R13Donington Park (Grand Prix), Leicestershire25 Junenowrap John Clelandnowrap John Clelandnowrap John ClelandVauxhall Sport Nigel Smith
R14 John Cleland John Cleland John ClelandVauxhall Sport Richard Kaye
8R15nowrapSilverstone Circuit (Grand Prix), Northamptonshire16 July John Cleland Julian Bailey John ClelandVauxhall Sport Robb Gravett
9R16Knockhill Circuit, Fife30 July Rickard Rydell Rickard Rydell Rickard RydellVolvo 850 Racing Matt Neal
R17 Rickard Rydell Tim Harvey Alain MenuWilliams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal
10R18Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent13 August Rickard Rydell Rickard Rydell Will HoyWilliams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal
R19 Rickard Rydell John Cleland John ClelandVauxhall Sport Matt Neal
11R20Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk28 August Rickard Rydell Johnny Cecotto Kelvin BurtValvoline Team Mondeo Robb Gravett
R21 Rickard Rydell Rickard Rydell Will HoyWilliams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal
12R22Oulton Park (Fosters), Cheshire10 September Alain Menu Alain Menu Alain MenuWilliams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal
R23 Alain Menu Alain Menu Alain MenuWilliams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal
13R24Silverstone Circuit (National), Northamptonshire24 September John Cleland Alain Menu Alain MenunowrapWilliams Renault Dealer Racing Richard Kaye
R25 Alain Menu Alain Menu Will HoyWilliams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal

Championship standings

Points tables for the various titles as follows:[12]

Points system
 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th 
24181210864321

Note: bold signifies pole position, italics signifies fastest lap.

Drivers Championship

Pos.DriverDONBRHTHRSILOULBRHDONSILKNOBRHSNEOULSILvalign=middlePts
1 John Cleland12RetRet2535232111156311333233348
2 Alain Menu247912Ret431133416Ret1418Ret101112305
3 Rickard Rydell411339412127DNS2617122314Ret5107Ret255
4 Will Hoy6597RetRet515Ret18441282RetRet121212Ret21195
5 Tim Harvey831115773815351012Ret2377Ret2Ret5107176
6 Paul Radisich362DNSRet621Ret5Ret7526RetRet14Ret9RetRet121812130
7 James Thompson77Ret2Ret14Ret64Ret2453124
8 Kelvin BurtRet1334Ret3Ret7DNS6Ret149353Ret13111121074Ret117
9 Julian BaileyRetRet6878RetDNS4966674699Ret116Ret4Ret594
10 Patrick Watts13118DNS3Ret610Ret135815Ret10DNS111162RetRetRet11861
11 David LeslieRetRet171781298DNSDNS12187912117171088635461
12 Johnny Cecotto58115Ret1111129Ret109RetRetDNS4Ret5Ret10RetRet6RetRet49
13 David Brabham1212465Ret811108Ret1011117DNS4RetRet161711Ret9Ret48
14 Tim Sugden9Ret14104RetRet6Ret11RetDNS813871012967RetRet13648
15 Michael Briggs65751286Ret35
16 Gabriele Tarquini11RetRet8Ret44Ret413Ret1533
17 Giampiero Simoni1091012610Ret957912RetRet1127
18 James Kaye1110191416131013141013191410RetRet51081897916925
19 Derek WarwickRetRet12Ret12Ret1617DNSDNS81113Ret9Ret16814Ret138Ret81015
20 Robb Gravett191513101419133Ret16DNS15Ret13
21 Matt Neal15141613Ret1513141314RetDNSRetRet1491315121541311171112
22 Simon Harrison1417151110912167121113RetRet15RetRetRetDNS19119RetRetDNS9
23 Charlie Cox18Ret51513DNS2115Ret16RetDNSRet148
24 Richard Kaye17Ret201914161418151715151714Ret13151817514151512138
25 Jeff Allam8123
26 Nigel Smith161618161114RetRet1216161716RetRet1218161617151414RetDNS0
27 Hamish IrvineRet18Ret18RetDNS15Ret16Ret1416181518141720RetRetDNS171614Ret0
Pos.DriverDONBRHTHRSILOULBRHDONSILKNOBRHSNEOULSILvalign=middlePts

Total Cup for Privateers

Pos.DriverDONBRHTHRSILOULBRHDONSILKNOBRHSNEOULSILvalign=middlePts
1 Matt Neal15141613Ret1513141314RetDNSRetRet14913151215413111711430
2 Richard Kaye17Ret201914161418151715151714Ret1315181751415151213342
3 Nigel Smith161618161114RetRet1216161716RetRet1218161617151414RetDNS298
4align=left nowrap Hamish IrvineRet18Ret18RetDNS15Ret16Ret1416181518141720RetRetDNS171614Ret188
5 Robb Gravett191513101419133Ret16DNS15Ret160
6 Charlie Cox18Ret51513DNS2115Ret16RetDNSRet14110
Pos.DriverDONBRHTHRSILOULBRHDONSILKNOBRHSNEOULSILvalign=middlePts

Manufacturers Championship

PosManufacturerDONBRHTHRSILOULBRHDONSILKNOBRHSNEOULSILvalign=middlePts
1Renault / Williams Renault Dealer Team247712543113342Ret1121211111419
2Vauxhall / Vauxhall Sport12Ret2213523211115631733233414
3Volvo / Volvo 850 Racing411194121235261712231425577359
4Ford / Valvoline Team Mondeo3624Ret321Ret5Ret75253Ret1311112107412236
5Toyota / Team Toyota GB9Ret6848Ret64966674699966Ret4135172
6BMW / BMW Motorsport Team58455118119810911117445Ret10171169Ret144
7Honda / Honda Team MSD1110171481298141012187912115108886354136
8align=left nowrapAlfa Romeo / Alfa Romeo Old Spice Racing10910126101695781113Ret9Ret884413413810132
9Peugeot / Total Team Peugeot1311811396107125815Ret10Ret111162119Ret118127
PosManufacturerDONBRHTHRSILOULBRHDONSILKNOBRHSNEOULSILvalign=middlePts

Teams Championship

PosTeamDONBRHTHRSILOULBRHDONSILKNOBRHSNEOULSILvalign=middlePts
1Vauxhall Sport12Ret2213523211115631733233510
77RetRetRet54Ret64Ret2453812651351286Ret
2Williams Renault Dealer Team247712543113342Ret1121211111500
6599RetRetRet15Ret184412816RetRet418Ret102Ret22
3Volvo 850 Racing411194121235261712231425577431
83133157738157DNS1012Ret2377RetRetRet1010Ret
4Valvoline Team Mondeo3624Ret321Ret5Ret75253Ret1311112107412247
Ret133DNSRet6Ret7DNS6Ret14936RetRet14Ret9RetRet1218Ret
5Team Toyota GB9Ret6848Ret64966674699966Ret4135142
RetRet14107RetRetDNSRet11RetDNS813871012Ret117RetRetRet6
6BMW Motorsport Team58455118119810911117445Ret10171169Ret97
1212116RetRet111210RetRet10RetRetDNSDNSRetRetRet16RetRetRetRetRet
7Honda Team MSD111017148129814101218791211510888635487
RetRet191716131013DNSDNS13191410RetRet7171018979169
8Alfa Romeo Old Spice Racing10910126101695781113Ret9Ret88441341381075
RetRet12Ret12RetRet1711Ret912RetRet11Ret12Ret14RetRet8RetRet15
9Total Team Peugeot1311811396107125815Ret10Ret111162119Ret11870
141715DNS10Ret1216Ret131113RetRet15DNSRetRetDNS19RetRetRetRetDNS
10Foesport13101419133Ret16DNS15Ret13
11Team Dynamics15141613Ret1513141314RetDNSRetRet1491315121541311171112
12Thames Ford Dealers18Ret51513DNS2115Ret16RetDNSRet148
13Mint Motorsport17Ret201914161418151715151714Ret13151817514151512138
14HMSO Bookshops161618161114RetRet1216161716RetRet1218161617151414RetDNS0
15SCB Vehicle DismantlersRet18Ret18RetDNS15Ret16Ret1416181518141720RetRetDNS171614Ret0
16Roy Kennedy Racing19150
PosTeamDONBRHTHRSILOULBRHDONSILKNOBRHSNEOULSILvalign=middlePts

Notes and References

  1. Book: Touring Car Year 95–96 . 1996 . Haymarket Specialist Motoring Publications Ltd . Teddington . 0-86024-925-5 . 122 .
  2. Web site: BTCC: Toyota announces 1995 challenge . 2017-12-07 . 2017-12-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171208003436/https://www.motorsport.com/btcc/news/btcc-toyota-announces-1995-challenge/ . dead .
  3. Web site: Ford Mondeo (94M 008).
  4. Web site: Ford Mondeo (ARE-M0293).
  5. Web site: Vauxhall Cavalier / Opel Vectra A (010).
  6. Web site: Peugeot 405.
  7. Web site: Vauxhall Cavalier / Opel Vectra A (020-93).
  8. Web site: Ford Mondeo.
  9. Web site: Ford Mondeo.
  10. Web site: Ford Mondeo.
  11. Web site: BTCC: 1995 entry list . 2016-10-19 . 2016-10-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161019154215/http://www.motorsport.com/btcc/news/btcc-1995-entry-list-2006-04-10/ . dead .
  12. Book: Touring Car Year 95–96 . 1996 . Haymarket Specialist Motoring Publications Ltd . Teddington . 0-86024-925-5 . 122 .