2002 British Touring Car Championship Explained

The 2002 Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 45th British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season which began at Brands Hatch on 1 April and concluded at Donington Park on 22 September.

Changes for 2002

Teams and drivers

Touring Class

The second season of BTC-T rules in the top class saw two new manufacturer backed teams enter, with Honda returning[1] and Proton entering for the first time.

Reigning champions Vauxhall again entered four Triple 8-run Vauxhall Astra Coupes. With reigning champion Jason Plato not returning,[2] 2001 runner-up Yvan Muller was partnered by James Thompson in the Vauxhall Motorsport entries while Thompson's place in the Egg Sport entry was taken by Matt Neal, fresh from a season in the European Touring Car Championship, alongside Production class graduate Paul O'Neill.

MG, who had trialled their West Surrey Racing-prepared ZS in the closing stages of 2001 retained experienced touring car hand Anthony Reid and Warren Hughes at the wheel.

After a year absence Honda returned with a pair Honda Civic Type-R's prepared by Arena Motorsport, who had previously entered as an independent in 1999. Guernseyman Andy Priaulx, who crossed over from Formula 3 after impressing on a one off BTCC outing for Vauxhall in 2001, was signed alongside Northern Irishman Alan Morrison, the 2000 Production (then Class B) champion.

In late 2001 it was announced that Proton would enter a pair of manufacturer backed cars[3] backed by Petronas and run under the Petronas Syntium Proton - Team [PSP] banner. Jason Plato was initially linked with the drive before Scottish veteran David Leslie and Phil Bennett, who had been dropped by Vauxhall, were officially announced.

With Peugeot withdrawing their factory backing, Vic Lee Racing now headed the independents class, which was reinstated after a 1-year hiatus, with their pair of 406 Coupes, and acquired sponsorship from the motoring retailer Halfords. Dan Eaves remained and was joined by 1992 champion Tim Harvey, moving across from JSM. The pair were joined later in the year by Formula Renault championship winner Carl Breeze in a third car.

The works MG squad was supported from second meeting onwards by a WSR-run satellite team carrying the name of the girl band Atomic Kitten as part of a sponsorship deal. This team ran the young pairing of Fiesta racer Colin Turkington and Production graduate Gareth Howell.

Barwell Motorsport stepped up from the Production class to complete the Touring grid with a pair of ex-works Vauxhall Astra Coupes driven by New Zealand superbike racer Aaron Slight, who switched to car racing after a successful guest appearance for Peugeot in 2001, and 17-year-old rookie Tom Chilton.

Total Motorsport planned to continue running the Lexus IS200 they had run the previous year with a two-car entry for Steve Sutcliffe and Richard Dean (https://www.crash.net/btcc/news/7090/1/two-lexus-for-2002-btcc) and GR Motorsport planned to graduate from the Production Class with Gordon Shedden driving an ex-JS Motorsport Alfa Romeo 147 (http://www.touringcarregister.com/register/492/) but neither of these entries came to fruition.

Production Class

In the Production class Synchro Motorsport gained the upper hand by stepping up from the Honda Accord to the brand new Civic Type R, recruiting former Honda factory driver James Kaye from Barwell alongside the returning Dave Allan.

The Accords were still campaigned by new squad Beacon Motorsport with Lotus Elise championship graduates Mark Thomas and Spencer Marsh, and John Batchelor's team swapped from Integras to a pair of Accords for Jim Edwards Jnr and Batchelor (again under the name of John B-and-Q), who was injured in a crash during the second meeting at Oulton Park and replaced by Peter Cate and later Hyla Breese.

Tech-Speed Motorsport continued their Peugeot 306 campaign, with Lotus Elise champion Mark Fullalove replacing Vauxhall-bound Paul O'Neill alongside Annie Templeton, and GA Motorsport also returned with their Alfa Romeo 156s, this time campaigned by series newcomers Graham Saunders and Alan Blencowe, accompanied by 2001 driver Gavin Pyper at circuits with enough grid space to accommodate a third car. Pyper received a race ban following an incident at Thruxton and his car was driven by former Ford and Volvo driver Kelvin Burt.

Rob Collard also returned in his self-entered Renault Clio but did not contest a full programme.

The big new arrival to the class was Edenbridge Racing's pair of BMW 320is, driven by teenager Tom Boardman in his second year in the class, and experienced German production saloon racer Norman Simon who had raced in the European Super Production championship in 2001.

TH Motorsport also appeared at selected rounds with a Mitsubishi Carisma for Steve Wood.

Other changes

Trivia

Teams and drivers

TeamCarNo.DriversRounds
Works Entries
Vauxhall MotorsportVauxhall Astra Coupé2 Yvan MullerAll
3 James ThompsonAll
egg:sport0 Matt NealAll
29 Paul O'NeillAll
MG Sport & RacingMG ZS11 Anthony ReidAll
12 Warren HughesAll
Petronas Syntium ProtonProton Impian15 David LeslieAll
20 Phil BennettAll
Honda RacingHonda Civic Type-R27 Alan MorrisonAll
28 Andy PriaulxAll
Independent Entries
Team HalfordsPeugeot 406 Coupé5 Dan EavesAll
8 Tim HarveyAll
23 Carl Breeze4–10
Team Atomic KittenMG ZS21 Gareth Howell2–10
22 Colin Turkington2–10
Barwell MotorsportVauxhall Astra Coupé17 Tom ChiltonAll
111 Aaron SlightAll
Production Entries
Collard RacingRenault Clio 17251 Rob Collard1–4, 6
Synchro MotorsportHonda Civic Type-R52 James KayeAll
53 Dave Allan3–10
Gary Ayles MotorsportAlfa Romeo 15655nowrap Graham SaundersAll
56 Alan BlencoweAll
57 Gavin Pyper2–3, 5–10
58 Kelvin Burt4
Tech-Speed MotorsportPeugeot 306 GTi59 Annie TempletonAll
60 Mark FullaloveAll
Beacon MotorsportHonda Accord62 Spencer MarshAll
63 Mark ThomasAll
Edenbridge RacingBMW 320i77 Tom BoardmanAll
78 Norman SimonAll
Team B&Q Jet York CityHonda Accord79 Hyla Breese6–10
88 John B&Q1–2
89 Peter Cate3–5
99 Jim Edwards Jr.All
TH MotorsportMitsubishi Carisma81 Steve Wood1–4, 10
Not eligible for points.

Race calendar and winners

All races were held in the United Kingdom (except Mondello Park which was held in Ireland).

RoundCircuitDatePole PositionFastest LapWinning DriverWinning TeamnowrapProduction Class winner
1R1Brands Hatch (Grand Prix), Kent1 April Yvan Muller Yvan Muller Matt Nealegg:sport Norman Simon
R2 Yvan Muller Yvan Muller James ThompsonVauxhall Motorsport Rob Collard
2R3Oulton Park (Island), Cheshire21 April Matt Neal Matt Neal Yvan MullerVauxhall Motorsport James Kaye
R4 Matt Neal Matt Neal Paul O'Neillegg:sport Spencer Marsh
3R5Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire6 May Yvan Muller James Thompson James ThompsonVauxhall Motorsport James Kaye
R6 Yvan Muller Yvan Muller Yvan MullerVauxhall Motorsport James Kaye
4R7Silverstone Circuit (International), Northamptonshire3 June Matt Neal James Thompson Warren HughesMG Sport & Racing Norman Simon
R8 Anthony Reid James Thompson James ThompsonVauxhall Motorsport James Kaye
5R9Mondello Park23 June Yvan Muller Yvan Muller Matt Nealegg:sport Gavin Pyper
R10 James Thompson Yvan Muller Yvan MullerVauxhall Motorsportnowrap Spencer Marsh
6R11Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire14 July
R12 James Thompson Yvan Muller Yvan MullernowrapVauxhall Motorsportnowrap Norman Simon
7R13Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk28 July Matt Neal Matt Neal James ThompsonVauxhall Motorsport Gavin Pyper
R14 James Thompson Matt Neal Yvan MullerVauxhall Motorsport James Kaye
8R15Knockhill Circuit, Fife11 August Andy Priaulx Matt Neal Matt Nealegg:sport Gavin Pyper
R16 Andy Priaulx Yvan Muller Andy PriaulxHonda Racing Gavin Pyper
9R17Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent26 August Anthony Reid Anthony Reid Anthony ReidMG Sport & Racing Norman Simon
R18 Warren Hughes Andy Priaulx Warren HughesMG Sport & Racing Norman Simon
10R19Donington Park (Grand Prix), Leicestershire22 Septembernowrap James Thompsonnowrap James Thompsonnowrap James ThompsonVauxhall Motorsport Gavin Pyper
R20 Andy Priaulx Alan Morrison Alan MorrisonHonda Racing Norman Simon

Championship results tables

Points system
 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th Pole PositionFastest LapLead a lap
in feature race
1512108654321111

Touring Class (BTC-T)

Pos.DriverBRHOULTHRSILMONCROSNEKNOBRHDONvalign=middlePts
Touring Class (BTC-T)
1 James ThompsonRet1*37*1281*221Ret1233NCRet13
2 Yvan Muller52*110*Ret1*910Ret1*Ret1*21*42365Ret
3 Matt Neal144Ret*23*63*13RetRetRetRet*14483Ret
4 Anthony Reid435Ret3Ret*DSQ2*54*Ret341026*15*48136
5 Andy Priaulx1257Ret45466Ret42*3Ret71*117*24*
6 Warren HughesRet8*22111011110751173RetRet21*72*
7 David LeslieRetRet839939311275Ret98*9Ret6679
8 Paul O'NeillRetRetRet1*8724*45*Ret6*111665*104Ret5
9 Alan MorrisonRetRet1051285Ret*Ret66Ret*6Ret51082101*
10 Dan Eaves21320Ret66127RetRet9413712RetRet219Ret43
11 Tim HarveyRet7*Ret654*Ret57DSQRetRetRetDNS11963RetRet*
12 Gareth Howell941011Ret8Ret10Ret9105Ret13*5Ret*RetRet32
13 Aaron Slight912687DNS10RetDNS8710129Ret12Ret9RetRet32
14 Colin Turkington19RetRetRetRet12DNSDNS35948RetRet1611Ret29
15 Tom Chilton3Ret11913Ret11Ret9RetRetRetRet8*107121012Ret
16 Phil Bennett116RetDNS14Ret71389128818RetDNS71289
17 Carl BreezeDNS16Ret18812*146Ret14RetDNS137
Production Class (BTC-P)
1 James KayeRetNC12Ret1512161517Ret11141711161714131611210
2 Norman Simon6Ret1513RetDNS13RetRetRet101316Ret141513111510180
3 Spencer Marsh8Ret161117Ret2017Ret12Ret1522Ret15Ret17151913122
4 Gavin PyperRetRetRet2015RetRetDNS1512131115141412
5 Jim Edwards Jr.10Ret1712211417Ret1813171624RetDSQ2022172014101
6 Tom BoardmanRet10DNSDNS1617Ret22161518Ret1913202216Ret171598
7 Alan BlencoweRetRet14RetRet132118191713RetRet2018211918RetRet76
8 Mark FullaloveRetRet131418Ret18RetRetRet16RetRet19Ret16182018Ret69
9 Dave AllanRet182619201615Ret18151719Ret19Ret1761
10 Mark ThomasRetRet1815191619RetRet19Ret172117192321Ret211661
11 Graham SaundersRet11DNSDNS22152221RetRet14Ret2014211820RetRetDNS60
12 Rob Collard79DNSDNSDNSDNS14RetDNSDNS
13 Annie Templeton13RetRet17241925RetDNSDNS191825Ret2224232222Ret26
14 Peter Cate20212420Ret1423
15 Steve WoodDNSDNSRet1623Ret232323Ret12
 – John B&QDNSDNSRetDNS0
 – Hyla BreeseDNSDNS2321DNSDNSRetDNSDNSDNS
guest drivers ineligible for points
 – Kelvin Burt15140
Pos.DriverBRHOULTHRSILMONCROSNEKNOBRHDONvalign=middlePts

Not eligible for points.

Independent's Championship

Pos.DriverBRHOULTHRSILMONCROSNEKNOBRHDONvalign=middlePts
1 Dan Eaves21320Ret66127RetRet9413712RetRet219Ret145
2 Aaron Slight912687DNS10RetDNS8710129Ret12Ret9RetRet142
3 Tim HarveyRet7Ret654Ret57DSQRetRetRetDNS11963RetRet
4 Gareth Howell941011Ret8Ret10Ret9105Ret135RetRetRet126
5 Tom Chilton3Ret11913Ret11Ret9RetRetRetRet8107121012Ret
6 Colin Turkington19RetRetRetRet12DNSDNS35948RetRet1611Ret108
7 Carl BreezeDNS16Ret18812146Ret14RetDNS137
Pos.DriverBRHOULTHRSILMONCROSNEKNOBRHDONvalign=middlePts

Manufacturers Championship

PosManufacturerBRHOULTHRSILMONCROSNEKNOBRHDONvalign=middlePts
1Vauxhall / Vauxhall Motorsport/egg:sport11171161111111123613
52310228322RetRet2233483Ret
Ret44RetRet3910Ret3RetRetRetRet44NCRet5Ret
2MG / MG Sport & Racing432231012545343261142
Ret85Ret11RetDSQ11107Ret11710RetRet2578
3Honda / Honda Racing12575454666423Ret518221
RetRet10Ret1285RetRetRet6Ret6Ret710117104
4Proton / Petronas Syntium Proton11683993939275189871266
RetRetRetDNS14Ret7138111288RetRetDNS9Ret89
PosManufacturerBRHOULTHRSILMONCROSNEKNOBRHDONvalign=middlePts

Touring Teams Championship

PosTeamBRHOULTHRSILMONCROSNEKNOBRHDONvalign=middlePts
1Vauxhall Motorsport1711111263
2102102Ret23RetRet
2MG Sport & Racing32102433612
8RetRet1171110Ret58
3egg:sport41333616445
RetRet745RetRet58Ret
4Honda Racing555662Ret121
RetRet8RetRetRetRet1074
5Team Halfords7645Ret4793Ret
13Ret67DSQRetDNSRet21Ret
6Team Atomic Kitten411810541316Ret34
RetRet12DNS95RetRetRet
7Team Petronas639997188126
RetDNSRet13118RetDNSRet9
8Barwell Motorsport128RetRet810879Ret
Ret9DNSRetRetRet91210Ret
PosTeamBRHOULTHRSILMONCROSNEKNOBRHDONvalign=middlePts

Production Teams Championship

PosTeamBRHOULTHRSILMONCROSNEKNOBRHDONvalign=middlePts
1Synchro MotorsportNCRet1215161411171311127
1819RetRet15191917
2Edenbridge Racing10131722151313151110115
RetDNSDNSRetRetRetRet22Ret15
3Beacon MotorsportRet111617121517231513103
Ret15RetRet1917RetRetRet16
4Gary Ayles Motorsport11Ret131817Ret12111412
RetRet1521RetRet141818Ret
5Team B&Q Jet York CityRet121420131621201714
DNSDNS21Ret14DNSRetDNSDNSDNS
6Tech-Speed MotorsportRet1419RetRet18191620Ret43
Ret17RetRetDNSRetRet2422Ret
7Collard Racing9DNSDNSRetDNS
8TH MotorsportDNS16Ret23Ret8
PosTeamBHGPOULTHRSILMONCROSNEKNOBHIDONvalign=middlePts

Notes and References

  1. News: Honda Civics for 2002 BTCC.. 2001-10-18. Crash. 2017-12-13.
  2. News: Plato leaves Vauxhall. 2001-12-03. 2017-12-13. en-GB.
  3. News: Proton enters 2002 championship.. 2001-11-01. Crash. 2017-12-25.
  4. News: BTCC switches to ITV for 2002 - BTCC - Autosport. Autosport.com. 2017-12-13. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20171214071730/https://www.autosport.com/btcc/news/17400/btcc-switches-to-itv-for-2002. 2017-12-14. dead.
  5. Web site: BTCC news: BTCC signs up new sponsor for 2002. staff. AUTOSPORT.com. AUTOSPORT.com. 2017-12-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20191105160108/http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/18301. 2019-11-05. dead.