2008 British Touring Car Championship Explained

The 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 51st British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season. It was also the first that the championship was sponsored by HiQ. Fabrizio Giovanardi won his second consecutive title.

Changes for 2008

Teams and drivers

After capturing the Drivers and Manufacturers titles in their first season with the Vectra, the Triple 8-run works Vauxhall squad expanded to three cars for 2008. Reigning champion Fabrizio Giovanardi remained on board, being joined by Matt Neal, returning to Vauxhall for the first time since 2002 after leaving his family-run Team Dynamics squad, with whom he won back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006. The third car was piloted by Tom Onslow-Cole, who impressed at the wheel of a WSR BMW in his debut BTCC campaign in 2007.

SEAT were once again the only other full-works operation, and fitted their Leons with the rapid yet often unreliable turbo diesel engines being used by the marque's World Touring Car Championship operation. Jason Plato, who came extremely close to securing a second BTCC title the previous year, remained on board, as did GT convert Darren Turner.

Tom Chilton, moving the opposite direction after two years with Vauxhall, replaced the outgoing Neal at Team Dynamics (again running as Team Halfords), with Gordon Shedden remaining on board in the other of their self-developed Honda Civics. As with the previous year, in spite of not being a factory-backed operation, the cars were not eligible for Independents points due to their dominance of the category with the Integra in 2005 and 2006.

West Surrey Racing (again running as Team RAC) campaigned the BMW 320is for a second year, with reigning Independents champion Colin Turkington again heading the team and single-seater convert Stephen Jelley replacing the Vauxhall-bound Onslow-Cole. Mat Jackson returned in his 320is after a successful debut season in 2007, with his small family-run operation now enjoying BMW Dealer Team UK backing.

Motorbase Performance also joined the BMW brigade after ditching their SEAT Toledos, with former Independents champion Rob Collard returned to the series full-time with the team after spending most of 2007 away. He was partnered by Steven Kane, who had been a front-runner for the team in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain after making the switch from single-seaters. Also leaving the Toledo behind for 2008 were GR Asia (again running under the Team Air Cool banner), who switched to a newer Leon (which ran with its original petrol engine unlike the works cars) for the returning Adam Jones.

Team Eurotech continued with the ex-Team Dynamics Honda Integra for a third year, expanding to two cars with team boss Mike Jordan now joined by his 18-year-old son Andrew, who had impressed in rallycross before making his road racing debut in the Renault Clio Cup in 2007. John George also campaigned his Integra for a second year with TH Motorsport.

Alan Taylor returned for a full season in his Integra with Robertshaw Racing, having debuted in the closing meetings of 2007. The team also added a pair of ex-WTCC Chevrolet Lacettis to their line-up driven by Matt Allison, switching from Motorbase, and SEAT Cupra Championship graduate Harry Vaulkhard, the first Chevrolets to compete in the series since 1975. Allison left the team due to budgetary reasons after the first three meetings and was not replaced.

Among the other returnees were Kartworld Racing (entered as Team KWR), who continued to run the venerable MG ZS, cutting back to a single example for team boss Jason Hughes. Tech-Speed Motorsport, again running under the Arkas Racing banner, expanded to two cars for its second year with the Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch, Turkey's Erkut Kizilirmak being joined by Martin Bell, who had piloted a Geoff Steel Racing BMW in the previous two years.

BTC Racing began the year running their temperamental Lexus IS200s from the previous two seasons, before switching to a pair of SEAT Toledos acquired from Motorbase from the second round onwards. Team stalwart Chris Stockton remained alongside multiple truck racing champion Stuart Oliver, who was making his first steps into cars. Gareth Howell, who appeared in a Toledo for Motorbase in 2007, was recruited to replace Oliver at meetings that clashed with his truck racing commitments, making two such appearances before Oliver left the championship and the second car was dropped.

The only all-new entry to the championship came in the shape of young Scotsman Michael Doyle, who had been a race winner in the Clio Cup the previous year. He ran a BTCC-spec Honda Civic Type-R, originally built and run by the works Arena operation between 2002 and 2005, with his family-run In-Tune Racing team.

Team 48 Motorsport registered a two-car entry with Darrelle Wilson and Jamaican Matthew Gore as the drivers. The team intended to run the Alfa Romeos run by A-Tech in 2007 but after repeatedly delaying their debut, the team ultimately never raced.

Other changes

Entry list

On 12 March 2008 the BTCC Organisers released the official MSA HiQ British Touring Car Championship entry list for the 2008 season.

TeamCarNo.DriversRounds
Works Entries
VX RacingVauxhall Vectra1nowrap Fabrizio GiovanardiAll
4 Matt NealAll
10 Tom Onslow-ColeAll
SEAT Sport UKSEAT León TDI11 Jason PlatoAll
12 Darren TurnerAll
Constructor Entries
Team HalfordsHonda Civic9 Tom ChiltonAll
52 Gordon SheddenAll
Independent S2000 Entries
Team RACBMW 320si5 Colin TurkingtonAll
50 Stephen JelleyAll
BMW Dealer Team UKBMW 320si7 Mat JacksonAll
Robertshaw RacingChevrolet Lacetti16 Harry VaulkhardAll
26 Matt Allison1–3
Team 48 Motorsport Alfa Romeo 15619 Darelle Wilson None
48 Matthew GoreNone
Team Air CoolSEAT León21 Adam JonesAll
Motorbase PerformanceBMW 320si24 Steven KaneAll
25 Rob CollardAll
BTC RacingLexus IS20042 Stuart Oliver1–2
43 Chris Stockton1–2
SEAT Toledo Cupra3–5, 7–10
42 Stuart Oliver3, 5
44 Gareth Howell4, 7
Independent BTC-T Entries
Arkas Racing with sunshine.co.ukVauxhall Astra Sport Hatch15 Martyn BellAll
90 Erkut Kızılırmaknowrap1–6, 9–10
Team KWRMG ZS28 Jason HughesAll
Robertshaw RacingHonda Integra Type-R32 Alan TaylorAll
In-Tune RacingHonda Civic Type-R33 Michael DoyleAll
nowrap TH Motorsport with JAG RacingHonda Integra Type-R55 John GeorgeAll
John Guest RacingHonda Integra Type-R77 Mike JordanAll
78 Andrew JordanAll

(https://www.eurosport.com/motorsports/blissett-unveils-team-48_sto1508367/story.shtml)

Calendar

All races were held in the United Kingdom. The 2008 season once again had ten race weekends with three BTCC rounds at each. A provisional calendar had been announced by series organisers.[1]

RoundCircuitDatePole PositionFastest Lap Winning DriverWinning Team
1R1Brands Hatch (Indy)30 March Mat Jackson Colin Turkington Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
R2 Darren Turner Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
R3 Mat Jackson Colin TurkingtonTeam RAC
2R4Rockingham Motor Speedway13 April Gordon Shedden Tom Onslow-Cole Gordon SheddenTeam Halfords
R5 Fabrizio Giovanardi Mat JacksonBMW Dealer Team UK
R6 Matt Neal Matt NealVX Racing
3R7Donington Park (National)4 Maynowrap Tom Onslow-Cole Jason Plato Jason PlatoSEAT Sport UK
R8 Fabrizio Giovanardi Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
R9 Tom Onslow-Cole Darren TurnerSEAT Sport UK
4R10Thruxton Circuit18 May Tom Onslow-Cole Tom Onslow-Cole Tom Onslow-ColeVX Racing
R11 Fabrizio Giovanardi Tom Onslow-ColeVX Racing
R12 Jason Plato Jason PlatoSEAT Sport UK
5R13Croft Circuit1 June Darren Turner Gordon Shedden Colin TurkingtonTeam RAC
R14 Steven Kane Colin TurkingtonTeam RAC
R15 Fabrizio Giovanardi Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
6R16Snetterton Circuit13 July Jason Plato Darren Turner Jason PlatoSEAT Sport UK
R17 Fabrizio Giovanardi Jason PlatoSEAT Sport UK
R18 Fabrizio Giovanardi Mat JacksonBMW Dealer Team UK
7R19Oulton Park (Island)27 July Jason Plato Jason Plato Jason PlatoSEAT Sport UK
R20 Colin Turkington Colin TurkingtonTeam RAC
R21 Jason Plato Gordon SheddenTeam Halfords
8R22Knockhill Circuit17 August Darren Turner Jason Plato Jason PlatoSEAT Sport UK
R23 Darren Turner Jason PlatoSEAT Sport UK
R24 Darren Turner Darren TurnerSEAT Sport UK
9R25Silverstone Circuit (National)31 August Jason Plato Mat Jackson Jason PlatoSEAT Sport UK
R26nowrap Fabrizio Giovanardinowrap Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
R27 Jason Plato Mat JacksonnowrapBMW Dealer Team UK
10R28Brands Hatch (Indy)21 September Stephen Jelley Steven Kane Mat JacksonBMW Dealer Team UK
R29 Mat Jackson Mat JacksonBMW Dealer Team UK
R30 Fabrizio Giovanardi Tom ChiltonTeam Halfords

Championship standings

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

Drivers Championship

PosDriverBHIROCDONTHRCROSNEOULKNOSILBHIvalign=middlePts
1align=left nowrap Fabrizio Giovanardi1*1*652*581*4310*3451*73332622551*314DNS11262
2 Mat Jackson2*4261*RetRet11855218*251571*1254654213*1*1*1*4226
3 Jason Plato3359961*2*3DSQ71*128121*1*Ret1*NC*91*1*Ret1*7*5*5Ret13223
4 Colin Turkington2081*1667*9*131222*61*1*852641*75715424435212
5 Matt Neal5733111*2Ret643423310541575161076415628185
6 Tom Onslow-Cole76Ret75Ret3*321*1*7191176145531133121166*983170
7 Gordon Shedden62Ret1*4449*1013*817*3*Ret648Ret781*448138111399144
8 Darren Turner45Ret23*Ret1941*6416159Ret219*166Ret16Ret81*3Ret197Ret12133
9 Adam Jones1010184837778658621310DSQ862812108321111Ret119
10 Tom Chilton9Ret7872Ret55712RetRet1443157211Ret1011612Ret9861*107
11 Steven Kane8RetDNS10101361216121397RetRet86294Ret12149Ret51225286
12 Rob Collard12Ret1113128RetDNSRet14141154Ret*94910Ret8762169734684
13 Andrew Jordan15149RetRetRet56Ret109Ret10Ret10RetRetRet1393*9939Ret20107756
14 Mike Jordan1394RetRet910Ret9915867Ret119RetRetDNSDNS111311Ret10Ret12101034
15 Stephen Jelley141110111511RetRet131111RetRet109121181110151315137Ret10Ret12Ret14
16 Michael DoyleNC181520RetRet15RetDNS15RetDNS9RetDNSRet131116Ret13RetRetRet15Ret815RetDNS5
17 Matt Allison1112812RetDNSRetDNSDNS3
18 Chris StocktonRetDNSDNSDNSDNSDNS138Ret19RetRet1118RetRet14RetRet1717RetDNSDNSRetDNSDNS3
19 Harry Vaulkhard181514Ret1314121411Ret1610131311141715141212Ret16141012131613142
20 Jason Hughes1613131414151110141618131412DNS161212Ret1510RetRet161411RetRet14152
21 John George1719121516RetRetDNSDNS20NC121717Ret17161017RetRet142019191514Ret15Ret1
22 Erkut Kızılırmak19161717181016RetDNS22191416151318Ret1318DNS171817Ret1
23 Martyn BellRet171618171214RetRet17Ret152016RetRet1814181314Ret18181714181716Ret0
24 Alan Taylor2120Ret2119DNS18RetDNS21RetRetRetDNSDNSRetRetRetNCRetRet151920RetDNS1619DNS160
25 Stuart OliverRetRetDNS19RetRet17Ret1521RetDNS0
26 Gareth Howell1817RetRetDNSDNS0
PosDriverBHIROCDONTHRCROSNEOULKNOSILBHIvalign=middlePts

Manufacturers Championship

PosManufacturerBHIROCDONTHRCROSNEOULKNOSILBHIvalign=middlePts
1Vauxhall / VX Racing113321214113231633325225646623697
56651153Ret6310745375415761610711615988
2SEAT / SEAT Sport UK3352361216411281211161NC91111755Ret12545
45Ret99Ret1943DSQ716159Ret219Ret6Ret16Ret8Ret3Ret197Ret13

Teams Championship

PosTeamBHIROCDONTHRCROSNEOULKNOSILBHIvalign=middlePts
1VX Racing113321212113231633325225513623537
566555334334453754536337646988
2SEAT Sport UK3352361216411281211161NC91111755Ret12328
45Ret99Ret1943DSQ716159Ret219Ret6Ret16Ret8Ret3Ret197Ret13
3Team Halfords626142455781731443872814461289861231***
9RetRet874Ret9101312RetRetRet6415Ret711Ret1011813Ret111399
4Team RAC14811167913122261185264175713424435227
201110161511RetRet131111RetRet109121181110151315157Ret10Ret12Ret
5align=left nowrapBMW Dealer Team UK24261RetRet1185521825157112546542131114217
6Motorbase Performance8Ret1110108612161213954Ret8429487621657242173
12RetDNS131213RetDNSRet1414117RetRet96910RetRet12149Ret912356
7Team Air Cool1010184837778658621310DSQ862812108321111Ret103***
8Team Eurotech1394RetRet95699986710119Ret139399391020107789**
15149RetRetRet10RetRet1015Ret10RetRetRetRetRetRetDNSDNS111311RetRetRet121010
9Robertshaw Racing111281213141214112116101313111417151412121516141012131613149
1815142119DNS18RetDNSRetRetRetRetDNSDNSRetRetRetNCRetRetRet1920RetDNS1619DNS16
10In-Tune RacingNC181520RetRet15RetDNS15RetDNS9RetDNSRet131116Ret13RetRetRet15Ret815RetDNS6
11Team KWR1613131414151110141618131412DNS161212Ret1510RetRet161411RetRet14154
12TH Motorsport1719121516RetRetDNSDNS20NC121717Ret17161017RetRet142019191514Ret15Ret2
13Arkas Racing19161617171014RetRet171914161513181813181314Ret18181714131716Ret1
Ret171718181216RetDNS22Ret152016RetRetRet1418DNS181817Ret
14BTC RacingRetRetDNS19RetRet138151817Ret1118RetRet14RetRet1717RetDNSDNSRetDNSDNS0*
RetDNSDNSDNSDNSDNS17RetRet19RetDNS21RetDNSRetDNSDNS
PosTeamBHIROCDONTHRCROSNEOULKNOSILBHIvalign=middlePts

* – BTC Racing lose all points for three changes of engine.
** – Team Eurotech lose 10 points for three changes of engine.
*** – Team Air Cool and Team Halfords lose 20 points for four changes of engine.

Independents Trophy

PosDriverBHIROCDONTHRCROSNEOULKNOSILBHIvalign=middlePts
1align=left nowrap Colin Turkington20811667913122261185264175715424435323
2 Mat Jackson24261RetRet1185521825157112546542131114313
3 Adam Jones1010184837778658621310DSQ862812108321111Ret262
4 Steven Kane8RetDNS10101361216121397RetRet86294Ret12149Ret512252196
5 Rob Collard12Ret1113128RetDNSRet14141154Ret94910Ret87621697346189
6 Andrew Jordan15149RetRetRet56Ret109Ret10Ret10RetRetRet13939939Ret201077138
7 Mike Jordan1394RetRet910Ret9915867Ret119RetRetDNSDNS111311Ret10Ret121010133
8 Stephen Jelley141110111511RetRet131111RetRet109121181110151315137Ret10Ret12Ret118
9 Harry Vaulkhard181514Ret1314121411Ret1610131311141715141212Ret161410121316131482
10 Jason Hughes1613131414151110141618131412DNS161212Ret1510RetRet161411RetRet141570
11 Michael DoyleNC181520RetRet15RetDNS15RetDNS9RetDNSRet131116Ret13RetRetRet15Ret815RetDNS31
12 Matt Allison1112812RetDNSRetDNSDNS27
13 John George1719121516RetRetDNSDNS20NC121717Ret17161017RetRet142019191514Ret15Ret25
14 Chris StocktonRetDNSDNSDNSDNSDNS138Ret19RetRet1118RetRet14RetRet1717RetDNSDNSRetDNSDNS19
15 Martyn BellRet171618171214RetRet17Ret152016RetRet1814181314Ret18181714181716Ret18
16 Erkut Kızılırmak19161717181016RetDNS22191416151318Ret1318DNS171817Ret17
17 Alan Taylor2120Ret2119DNS18RetDNS21RetRetRetDNSDNSRetRetRetNCRetRet151920RetDNS1619DNS164
18 Stuart OliverRetRetDNS19RetRet17Ret1521RetDNS3
19 Gareth Howell1817RetRetDNSDNS1
PosDriverBHIROCDONTHRCROSNEOULKNOSILBHIvalign=middlePts

Independent Teams Trophy

PosTeamBHIROCDONTHRCROSNEOULKNOSILBHIvalign=middlePts
1Team RAC14811167913122261185264175713424435340
2BMW Dealer Team UK24261RetRet1185521825157112546542131114321
3align=left nowrapMotorbase Performance8Ret1110108612161213954Ret8429487621657242265
4Team Air Cool1010184837778658621310DSQ862812108321111Ret256**
5Team Eurotech1394RetRet95699986710119Ret1393993910201077222*
6Robertshaw Racing11128121314121411211610131311141715141212151614101213161314149
7Team KWR1613131414151110141618131412DNS161212Ret1510RetRet161411RetRet1415109
8Arkas Racing19161617171014RetRet171914161513181813181314Ret18181714171716Ret73
9TH Motorsport1719121516RetRetDNSDNS20NC121717Ret17161017RetRet142019191514Ret15Ret62
10In-Tune RacingNC181520RetRet15RetDNS15RetDNS9RetDNSRet131116Ret13RetRetRet15Ret815RetDNS52
11BTC RacingRetRetDNS19RetRet138151817Ret1118RetRet14RetRet1717RetDNSDNSRetDNSDNS32*
PosTeamBHIROCDONTHRCROSNEOULKNOSILBHIvalign=middlePts

* – BTC Racing & Team Eurotech lose 10 points for three changes of engine.
** – Team Air Cool lose 20 points for four changes of engine.

Notes and References

  1. http://btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=734