2007 British Touring Car Championship Explained

The 2007 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 50th British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season. It was won by Fabrizio Giovanardi with 10 race wins and 17 podiums. Going into the final race, Fabrizio Giovanardi was one point behind Jason Plato but a second place for Giovanardi and a fourth place for Plato resulted in Giovanardi taking the championship by 3 points. The Teams' championship was won by SEAT Sport UK, the Manufacturers' championship was won by Vauxhall, the Independents' Trophy was won by Colin Turkington and the Independent Teams' championship was won by Team RAC.

Changes for 2007

Teams and drivers

After two unhappy seasons with the Astra Sport Hatch, the Triple 8-run works Vauxhall team switched to an all-new chassis based on the Vectra C built to the now-prevalent Super 2000 rules, retaining Italian veteran Fabrizio Giovanardi and young Englishman Tom Chilton as they sought to reassert their supremacy from the first half of the decade.

Reigning Manufacturers champions SEAT were again their only works opposition. Jason Plato remained on board as team leader and GT racer Darren Turner, who had shared the second Leon with James Thompson during 2006, stepped into the second seat full-time. With their Manufacturers title fight going down to the final rounds at Thruxton, both Vauxhall and SEAT added third cars to their line-ups for the closing meeting. Double champion Alain Menu, who had been racing for Vauxhall's sister marque Chevrolet in the World Touring Car Championship, returned to the British series for the first time since 2000 to drive the Vectra, while Dutchman Tom Coronel, fresh from claiming the WTCC Independents title at the wheel of a Leon, bolstered the SEAT charge.

After winning the Teams, Drivers and Independents titles for two straight years with their Integra, Team Dynamics (again under the Team Halfords banner) switched to another self-developed Honda chassis, this time built to Super 2000 specifications and based on the Civic. Reigning double champion Matt Neal stayed with his family team, with Gordon Shedden partnering him for a second year. The Dynamics cars were no longer eligible for Independents points due to their dominance of that championship in the previous two years.

Also changing machinery were West Surrey Racing (once again entered as Team RAC), who traded their venerable MGs for a pair of Super 2000-spec BMW 320si's acquired from BMW's works WTCC squads. Long-time collaborator Colin Turkington again headed the line-up, joined by reigning Renault Clio Cup champion Tom Onslow-Cole. Also running a 320si was former Production class race winner and reigning SEAT Cupra Cup champion Mat Jackson, making his debut in the top class of the BTCC with his family Jacksons M.Sport team.

Team Eurotech continued to run their ex-Dynamics Integra for team boss Mike Jordan for a second season, while Motorbase Performance abandoned their Integra and expanded to two ex-works Super 2000 SEAT Toledos, having run one in the closing rounds of 2006. Gareth Howell, who had raced a third Dynamics Integra in the latter stages of both 2005 and 2006, joined the team alongside former Clio Cup and British GT race-winner Matt Allison. Howell ran out of budget mid-season and was replaced first by Tom Ferrier, who had driven the car in 2006, and for the final round by ex-Vauxhall works driver Paul O'Neill.

WTCC Independent squad GR Asia also ran a Toledo for their expansion into the British championship, missing two rounds when their WTCC commitments left them unable to attend. The car was piloted by Adam Jones who had an impressive debut season in the BTCC aboard Xero Competition's Lexus the previous year. The team then added a Leon to their stable for the final three meetings. Former works Vauxhall driver Gavin Smith was behind the wheel for the first two, being replaced in the final round by the returning Rob Collard, who had abandoned his planned switch to the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain earlier in the season after a handful of races.

Quest Racing returned to the championship for a full campaign having joined the field in the second half of 2006, again fielding Irish youngster Eoin Murray in an ex-WTCC Alfa Romeo 156. The 156 was also the vehicle of choice for the brand-new A-Tech squad, with veteranDavid Pinkney joining the team from Motorbase alongside Richard Marsh, who had appeared in a Peugeot 307 for Team Griffin Racing the previous year.

Other returning independents included Kartworld Racing, who expanded a second ex-WSR MG ZS, with Fiona Leggate joining the team to partner team boss Jason Hughes after two years in a bio-ethanol powered Vauxhall Astra Coupe with Tech-Speed Motorsport, and BTC Racing, who took in a full season with their Lexus IS200s after debuting in the final two rounds of 2006. Chris Stockton remained from the previous year, and was joined by Nick Leason, who initially planned to run an Astra Coupe for Daniels Motorsport as he had done in the latter stages of 2006. Leason left the team after the first three meetings with the team cutting down to one car for Stockton.

Tech-Speed swapped the Astra Coupe for a newer Sport Hatch driven by former Turkish touring car champion Erkut Kizilirmak, who had trialed the car through two appearances for the works Vauxhall squad the previous year, while the list of returnees was completed by Geoff Steel Racing, who again ran Martyn Bell in their older-spec BMW 320i. A 320i was also purchased by former Dutch Supercar Challenge racer Jim Pocklington to race with his own J Team Motorsport squad in the first half of the year.

John George returned to the series for the first time since 2004 in an ex-Dynamics Integra run by former Production class entrant TH Motorsport, with club saloon driver Simon Blanckley also plumping for an Integra in his debut season in the category, running for his own Sibsport team with support from touring car preparation expert Graham Hathaway. Another Integra was entered for the final two rounds by Robertshaw Racing for Alan Taylor, with both team and driver stepping up from the Clio Cup.

The most ambitious of the year's new entries came from the tiny Team AFM Racing outfit, who fielded a self-built BMW 120d, the championship's first ever diesel-powered car, for team boss and long-time production BMW racer Rick Kerry.

With Encke Sport's entry failing to materialize, Nick Leason leaving Daniels Motorsport and Tech-Speed switching to the Astra Sport Hatch, 2007 was the first season since 2000 in which the Vauxhall Astra Coupe did not grace the grid.

Other changes

Entry list

The official entry list was published on 13 March 2007 following Media Day at Rockingham[2] [3]

TeamCarNo.DriverRounds
Works Entries
VX RacingVauxhall Vectra5nowrap Fabrizio GiovanardiAll
7 Tom ChiltonAll
88 Alain Menu10
SEAT Sport UKSEAT León11 Jason PlatoAll
12 Darren TurnerAll
22 Tom Coronel10
Constructor Entries
Team HalfordsHonda Civic1 Matt NealAll
52 Gordon SheddenAll
Independent S2000 Entries
Team RACBMW 320si3 Colin TurkingtonAll
33 Tom Onslow-ColeAll
GR AsiaSEAT León8 Gavin Smith8–9
18 Rob Collard10
Team Air CoolSEAT Toledo Cupra21 Adam Jonesnowrap1–2, 5–6, 8–10
Quest RacingAlfa Romeo 15614 Eoin Murray1–4, 6–8, 10
Team allaboutproperty.comBMW 320i15 Martyn BellAll
AFM RacingBMW 120d17 Rick Kerry1–3, 5, 7–8, 10
BTC RacingLexus IS20019 Nick Leason1–3
43 Chris StocktonAll
Motorbase PerformanceSEAT Toledo Cupra23 Matt Allison1–8, 10
24 Tom Ferrier6–8
25 Gareth Howell1–5
29 Paul O'Neill10
J-Team Motorsport with Tech TuningBMW 320i45 Jim Pocklington1–2, 4–5
Jacksons M.SportBMW 320si48 Mat JacksonAll
A-TechAlfa Romeo 15656 Dave Pinkney1–8, 10
59 Richard Marsh1–8
Independent BTC-T Entries
Kartworld RacingMG ZS28 Jason HughesAll
82 Fiona LeggateAll
Robertshaw RacingHonda Integra Type-R32 Alan Taylor9–10
TH Motorsport with JAG RacingHonda Integra Type-R55 John GeorgeAll
SibsportHonda Integra Type-R69 Simon Blanckley1–7
nowrap Team Eurotech Racing with John Guest SpeedfitHonda Integra Type-R77 Mike JordanAll
Arkas RacingnowrapVauxhall Astra Sport Hatch90 Erkut Kızılırmak1–8, 10

Race results

All races were held in the United Kingdom. The 2007 season again had ten race weekends with three BTCC rounds at each.[5] [6]

RoundCircuitDatePole PositionFastest LapWinning DriverWinning Teams
1R1Brands Hatch Indy, Kent1 April Colin Turkington Jason Plato Jason PlatoSEAT Sport UK
R2 Darren Turner Jason PlatoSEAT Sport UK
R3 Mat Jackson Matt NealTeam Halfords
2R4Rockingham Motor Speedway22 April Darren Turnernowrap Fabrizio Giovanardinowrap Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
R5 Darren Turner Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
R6 Jason Plato Jason PlatoSEAT Sport UK
3R7Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire6 Maynowrap Fabrizio Giovanardi Tom Chilton Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
R8 Fabrizio Giovanardi Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
R9 Gordon Shedden Jason PlatoSEAT Sport UK
4R10Croft Circuit, Yorkshire3 June Gordon Shedden Colin Turkington Colin TurkingtonTeam RAC
R11 Darren Turner Darren TurnerSEAT Sport UK
R12 Fabrizio Giovanardi Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
5R13Oulton Park Island, Cheshire24 June Colin Turkington Colin Turkington Gordon SheddenTeam Halfords
R14 Fabrizio Giovanardi Mike Jordan Colin TurkingtonTeam RAC
R15 Gordon Shedden Mat JacksonnowrapJacksons M.Sport
6R16Donington Park National15 July Gordon Shedden Matt Neal Gordon SheddenTeam Halfords
R17 Jason Plato Jason PlatoSEAT Sport UK
R18 Matt Neal Jason PlatoSEAT Sport UK
7R19Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit, Norfolk29 July Colin Turkington Tom Chilton Gordon SheddenTeam Halfords
R20 Matt Neal Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
R21 Gordon Shedden Tom Onslow-ColeTeam RAC
8R22Brands Hatch Indy, Kent19 August Colin Turkington Tom Onslow-Cole Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
R23 Colin Turkington Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
R24 Mike Jordan Colin TurkingtonTeam RAC
9R25Knockhill Racing Circuit, Fife2 September Darren Turner Gordon Shedden Darren TurnerSEAT Sport UK
R26 Gordon Shedden Darren TurnerSEAT Sport UK
R27 Gordon Shedden Gordon SheddenTeam Halfords
10R28Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire14 October Tom Chilton Tom Chilton Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
R29 Matt Neal Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
R30 Mike Jordan Mat JacksonJacksons M.Sport

Final championship standings

Points system
 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th Fastest LapLead a lap
151210865432111

Drivers' Championship

PosDriverBHIROCTHRCROOULDONSNEBHIKNOTHRvalign=middlePts
1 Fabrizio Giovanardi10721*1*51*1*4661*22Ret831151*31*1*46351*1*2300
2 Jason Plato1*1*4351*261*72*875251*1*834225353224297
3 Gordon Shedden8RetRet4Ret6Ret822Ret*41*Ret41*2*51*Ret*5Ret32Ret41*3Ret9200
4 Matt Neal351*5Ret7525313644Ret3421822RetDNSDNSRet62*535195
5 Colin Turkington22Ret7RetRet45*171*Ret*93*1*Ret796*DSQ964*91*2266411184
6 Darren TurnerRet4DSQRet633Ret641*5Ret7312696493Ret151*1*718116160
7 Mat JacksonDSQ831042RetRetDNS943561*9104457Ret43Ret109751*158
8 Mike Jordan4Ret86Ret810435310839473*7RetDNS1358*584*Ret8Ret131
9 Tom Chilton6372346388Ret7696151273886Ret9Ret11RetRet*93130
10 Tom Onslow-Cole515682Ret8710Ret72*913710118261*5Ret6DSQ13101010Ret109
11 Adam Jones765DNSDNSDNSRet8525Ret76Ret478912772
12 Matt Allison1291011797Ret11RetRetRetRet10868101210Ret9Ret12RetRetRet29
13 Gavin Smith877791117
14 Gareth Howell9119RetRetDNS11Ret7105Ret10RetDNS16
15 Alain Menu461213
16 Jason HughesRetRet12129Ret1299Ret81111RetDNSRetRet15101113Ret811Ret141214Ret1413
17 Tom Coronel87810
18 Eoin MurrayDNSDNSDNS9RetRet9RetDNSRetRetRet11RetRetRet710RetDNSRet12RetRet9
19 John George1916191410RetRetDNS12179Ret1511RetRetRet19131317RetNC10812Ret1613137
20 David Pinkney20Ret1313812151013*RetRet12RetRetDNS161614RetRetRetRetDNSDNSRetRet155
21 Martyn Bell1313111512DNS13Ret151412Ret131410Ret2020151216RetRet1491713Ret16Ret3
22 Tom FerrierRet14129Ret12RetDNSDNS2
23 Chris Stockton1110Ret17DNSDNSRetDNSRet1110RetRet12RetRet1316RetRet1411RetDNSDNSDNSDNSDNSDNSDNS2
24 Erkut Kizilirmak14121516DNS1117131413RetRet14Ret1114151311Ret111010Ret15RetRet2
25 Simon Blanckley161416RetRet1018111612RetDNS12RetDNSRet17Ret1614151
26 Alan Taylor1016Ret17Ret171
27 Rob Collard11Ret101
28 Rick Kerry171918NC1114NC14Ret171612DNSRetDNSRetDNS16Ret15190
29 Jim Pocklington1818RetRetRetRet1611141817Ret0
30 Richard MarshRet1717RetDNSDNS16RetRet18RetDNSRetDNSRet13181714RetDNS1211130
31 Fiona LeggateRetDNS14RetDNSRet1412Ret15Ret131615RetRet191817RetDNSRetDNSRetRet151419DNS180
32 Nick Leason15DNSDNS18Ret13RetDNSDNS0
33 Paul O'Neill1314160
PosDriverBHIROCTHRCROOULDONSNEBHIKNOTHRvalign=middlePts

Manufacturers Championship

PosManufacturerBHIROCTHRCROOULDONSNEBHIKNOTHRvalign=middlePts
1Vauxhall / VX Racing632114114661226837313114635112637
10772356388Ret769Ret1512115886Ret9Ret11Ret4612
2SEAT / SEAT Sport UK114351261415752511634225113224623
Ret4DSQRet633Ret6728Ret7312698493Ret15357876

Teams Championship

PosTeamBHIROCTHRCROOULDONSNEBHIKNOTHRvalign=middlePts
1SEAT Sport UK114351261415752511634225113224446
Ret4DSQRet633Ret6728Ret7312698493Ret15357876
2VX Racing632114114661226837313114635112421
10772356388Ret769Ret1512115886Ret9Ret11Ret463
3Team Halfords3514Ret65222134144122122Ret32Ret41335345***
8RetRet5Ret7Ret853Ret64RetRet34518Ret5RetDNSDNSRet625Ret9
4Team RAC22672Ret45101723177962614912266411277
515Ret8RetRet8717RetRet9913Ret10118DSQ965Ret6DSQ13101010Ret
5Jacksons MsportDSQ831042RetRetDNS9435619104457Ret43Ret109751155
6Team Eurotech Racing4Ret86Ret8104353108394737RetDNS1358584Ret8Ret125
7Team Air Cool765DNSDNSDNSRet8525Ret76Ret478912773
8Motorbase Performance99911797Ret7105Ret101086810910129Ret1213141647
121110RetRetDNS11Ret11RetRetRetRetRetDNSRet141212RetRetRetDNSDNSRetRetRet
9GR-Asia877791111Ret1019
10Kartworld RacingRetRet12129Ret1299158111115RetRet1915101113Ret811Ret141214Ret1413
RetDNS14RetDNSRet1412RetRetRet1316RetDNSRetRet1817RetDNSRetDNSRetRet151419DNS18
11align=left nowrapTH Motorsport/Racing with JAG1916191410RetRetDNS12179Ret1511RetRetRet19131317RetNC10812Ret1613137
12A-Tech2016131381215101318Ret12RetRetRet13161414RetRet121113RetRet154
RetRet17RetDNSDNS16RetRetRetRetDNSRetDNSDNS161817RetRetDNSRetDNSDNS
13Team AllaboutProperty.com1313111512DNS13Ret151412Ret131410Ret2020151216RetRet1491713Ret16Ret3
14Arkas Racing14121516DNS1117131413RetRet14Ret1114151311Ret111010Ret15RetRet2
15Robertshaw Racing1016Ret17Ret171
16Quest RacingDNSDNSDNS9RetRet9RetDNSRetRetRet11RetRetRet710RetDNSRet12RetRet0*
17Sibsport161416RetRet1018111612RetDNS12RetDNSRet17Ret1614150*
18J Team Motorsport1818RetRetRetRet1611141817Ret0
19Team AFM Racing171918NC1114NC14Ret171612DNSRetDNSRetDNS16Ret15190
20BTC Racing1110Ret17Ret13RetDNSRet1110RetRet12RetRet1316RetRet1411RetDNSDNSDNSDNSDNSDNSDNS0*
15DNSDNS18DNSDNSRetDNSDNS
PosTeamBHIROCTHRCROOULDONSNEBHIKNOTHRvalign=middlePts

Note – * denotes engine change penalty

Independents Trophy

PosDriverBHIROCTHRCROOULDONSNEBHIKNOTHRvalign=middlePts
1 Colin Turkington22Ret7RetRet45171Ret931Ret796DSQ964912266411285
2 Mat JacksonDSQ831042RetRetDNS9435619104457Ret43Ret109751270
3 Mike Jordan4Ret86Ret8104353108394737RetDNS1358584Ret8Ret260
4align=left nowrap Tom Onslow-Cole515682Ret8710Ret729137101182615Ret6DSQ13101010Ret226
5 Adam Jones765DNSDNSDNSRet8525Ret76Ret4789127164
6 Matt Allison1291011797Ret11RetRetRetRet10868101210Ret9Ret12RetRetRet119
7 Jason HughesRetRet12129Ret1299Ret81111RetDNSRetRet15101113Ret811Ret141214Ret1494
8 Gareth Howell9119RetRetDNS11Ret7105Ret10RetDNS58
9 Erkut Kizilirmak14121516DNS1117131413RetRet14Ret1114151311Ret111010Ret15RetRet58
10 John George1916191410RetRetDNS12179Ret1511RetRetRet19131317RetNC10812Ret16131356
11 Martyn Bell1313111512DNS13Ret151412Ret131410Ret2020151216RetRet1491713Ret16Ret55
12 Gavin Smith877791145
13 Eoin MurrayDNSDNSDNS9RetRet9RetDNSRetRetRetRet11RetRetRet710RetDNSRet12RetRet43
14 David Pinkney20Ret1313812151013RetRet12RetRetDNS161614RetRetRetRetDNSDNSRetRet1543
15 Chris Stockton1110Ret17DNSDNSRetDNSRet1110RetRet12RetRet1316RetRet1411RetDNSDNSDNSDNSDNSDNSDNS37
16 Simon Blanckley161416RetRet1018111612RetDNS12RetDNSRet17Ret16141529
17 Tom FerrierRet14129Ret12RetDNSDNS21
18 Fiona LeggateRetDNS14RetDNSRet1412Ret15Ret131615RetRet191817RetDNSRetDNSRetRet151419DNS1819
19 Rob Collard11Ret1016
20 Rick Kerry171918NC1114NC14Ret171612DNSRetDNSRetDNS16Ret151914
21 Richard MarshRet1717RetDNSDNS16RetRet18RetDNSRetDNSRet13181714RetDNS12111313
22 Paul O'Neill13141610
23 Jim Pocklington1818RetRetRetRet1611141817Ret7
24 Alan Taylor1016Ret17Ret177
25 Nick Leason15DNSDNS18Ret13RetDNSDNS5
PosDriverBHIROCTHRCROOULDONSNEBHIKNOTHRvalign=middlePts

Independent Teams Championship

PosTeamBHIROCTHRCROOULDONSNEBHIKNOTHRvalign=middlePts
1Team RAC22672Ret45101723177962614912266411363
2Jackson MsportDSQ831042RetRetDNS9435619104457Ret43Ret109751274
3Team Eurotech Racing4Ret86Ret8104353108394737RetDNS1358584Ret8Ret267
4Motorbase Performance99911797Ret7105Ret101086810910129Ret12131416186
5Team Air Cool765DNSDNSDNSRet8525Ret76Ret4789127170
6Kartworld RacingRetRet12129Ret1299158111115RetRet1915101113Ret811Ret141214Ret14116
7Arkas Racing14121516DNS1117131413RetRet14Ret1114151311Ret111010Ret15RetRet80
8Team AllaboutProperty.com1313111512DNS13Ret151412Ret131410Ret2020151216RetRet1491714Ret16Ret74
9A-Tech2017131381215101318Ret12RetRetRet13161414RetRet121113RetRet1573
10align=left nowrapTH Motorsport/Racing with JAG1916191410RetRetDNS12179Ret1511RetRetRet19131317RetNC10812Ret16131368
11GR-Asia877791111Ret1068
12Quest RacingDNSDNSDNS9RetRet9RetDNSRetRetRet11RetRetRet710RetDNSRet12RetRet41*
13BTC Racing1110Ret17Ret13RetDNSRet1110RetRet12RetRet1316RetRet1411RetDNSDNSDNSDNSDNSDNSDNS37*
14Sibsport161416RetRet1018111612RetDNS12RetDNSRet17Ret16141534*
15Team AFM Racing171918NC1114NC14Ret171612DNSRetDNSRetDNS16Ret151924
16J Team Motorsport1818RetRetRetRet1611141817Ret10
17Robertshaw Racing1016Ret17Ret1710
PosTeamBHIROCTHRCROOULDONSNEBHIKNOTHRvalign=middlePts

Note – * denotes engine change penalty

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ITV1 continues live coverage of BTCC . 2007-03-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716070427/http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=428 . 2011-07-16 . dead .
  2. http://btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=429&month=3&year=2007&form=browse&searchterm= Article regarding the release of the official entry list
  3. http://www.btccpages.com/entry-list/2007/ Entry List
  4. Team Halfords and its drivers are registered for neither the Independents' Cup nor the Manufacturers' Championship
  5. http://btcc.net/html/raceresults.php?season_id=50 Race Results
  6. http://www.btcc-racing.com/results/2007/default.asp Race Results