2009 British Touring Car Championship Explained

The 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 52nd British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season. It began at Brands Hatch on the Indy layout on 5 April and finished after 30 races over 10 events on the Grand Prix layout at Brands Hatch on 4 October. Colin Turkington won the championship for the first time, ahead of Jason Plato and Fabrizio Giovanardi.

The season also saw Airwaves BMW score their first win in the series when Rob Collard won the second race of the day at the opening meeting at Brands Hatch. The team seemed to have added a second win in race three as Jonathan Adam crossed the line first but he was demoted to second after making contact with Jason Plato handing Plato the win.

Andrew Jordan became the youngest driver to qualify on pole at Donington after team-mate Fabrizio Giovanardi was excluded for failing technical checks.

Also, Stephen Jelley took his first win in the series at the first race at Rockingham. He followed this up with another victory in race 3, a race that saw Tom Chilton become the first driver to score a podium position in a Ford Focus following a collision between Plato, Turkington and Plato's team mate James Nash.

At the final meeting at Brands Hatch, Chilton took pole position becoming the first Ford driver to do so since 2000. All three races were won by Jason Plato, becoming only the second driver to do so following Dan Eaves' hat-trick at Thruxton in 2005; but this was not enough to win the title. Colin Turkington became British Touring Car Champion for the first time, coincidentally becoming the first Northern Irishman to do so.

Former British Grand Prix winner Johnny Herbert contested the final three meetings in a Team Dynamics Honda Civic.

Changes for 2009

Triple 8 continued to run Vauxhall Vectras under the VX Racing banner, retaining the reigning double Champion Fabrizio Giovanardi and Matt Neal but replacing Tom Onslow-Cole with Andrew Jordan. The Vauxhall Astra Coupe made a return after a two-year absence with Renault Clio Cup graduates Boulevard Team Racing with Martin Johnson driving an Astra previously run by Erkut Kizilirmak in the Turkish Touring Car Championship.

After SEAT withdrew at the end of 2008, Jason Plato made a last minute switch to an RML Group-run Chevrolet Lacetti under the Racing Silverline banner. As the season progressed, the team expanded to include 2008 Runner-up Mat Jackson and newcomer James Nash. Tempus Sport also entered a Lacetti for Harry Vaulkhard, a second entry was registered but never materialised and the team pulled out mid-season with Vaulkhard's entry taken over by Bamboo Engineering for the remainder of the season.

WSR retained Colin Turkington and Stephen Jelley and expanded to three cars with Anthony Reid returning for the last three meetings to help Turkington's title challenge. Motorbase Performance entered as Airwaves BMW with Rob Collard as lead driver but Steven Kane was replaced by double SEAT Cupra Champion Jonathan Adam. After sitting out the 2008 season, Team AFM Racing returned with their diesel-powered BMW 1 Series, this time with Nick Leason driving but the team pulled out after three meetings.

After a three-year absence, Arena Motorsport returned under the Team Aon banner, bringing Ford back to the BTCC for the first time since 2000. The team ran a pair of Ford Focuses for Tom Chilton and former Production Class Champion Alan Morrison but Morrison left after the first four meetings and was replaced by Tom Onslow-Cole.

Having previously tried and failed to enter bio-ethanol powered Chevrolets in 2007, Team Clyde Valley Racing finally made their debut under the Cartridge World Carbon Zero Racing banner, running bio-ethanol powered SEAT Leons. Former Independent's Champion Dan Eaves was the team's lead driver, Indian driver Phiroze Bilimoria was originally signed to partner Eaves, but before the season started, Bilimoria was replaced by Adam Jones. Eaves stood down mid-season and was replaced by Gordon Shedden but the team only lasted a couple more meetings before pulling out completely. Shedden returned for the last two meetings with his SEAT now run by GR Asia under the Club SEAT banner. Newcomers Maxtreme entered Liam McMillan in one of the SEAT Toledos that BTC Racing ran in 2008 but pulled out after just three meetings. BTC Racing initially planned to upgrade to a pair of SEAT Leons but shelved these plans before the season started.

Team Dynamics once again ran a pair of Super 2000 Honda Civics, initially retaining Gordon Shedden and replacing Tom Chilton with the returning David Pinkney. Shedden was replaced by returning former double Champion James Thompson after the first meeting. Thompson lasted six meetings before being replaced by ex-F1 driver Johnny Herbert for the remainder of the season. After two seasons of running the Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch, Tech-Speed switched to a pair of ex-Team Dynamics Honda Integras with Martyn Bell entering his second season with the team and Paul O'Neill joining for what would be his first full season since 2003. TH Motorsport continued to run a Honda Integra for John George and entered a Civic Type-R for Matt Hamilton in the final two meetings. A possible late-season return for Michael Doyle and his In-Tune Racing Civic was hinted at but never eventuated.

Jason Hughes intended to continue running his MG ZS but was forced to sit out the first four meetings and ultimately never raced. Other notable failed entries included Paul Luti in a Dreadnought-run MG and Ian Court in a self-run Alfa Romeo 156.

Entry list

TeamCarNoDriversRounds
Constructor Entries
VX RacingVauxhall Vectra1nowrap Fabrizio GiovanardiAll
5 Matt NealAll
77 Andrew JordanAll
Independent Constructor Entries
Team AonFord Focus ST6 Tom Onslow-Cole5, 8–10
10 Tom ChiltonAll
20 Alan Morrison1–4
Team DynamicsHonda Civic35 James Thompson2–7
45 Johnny Herbert8–10
52 Gordon Shedden1
55 David PinkneyAll
Independent S2000 Entries
Racing SilverlineChevrolet Lacetti2 Mat Jackson3–10
3 Jason Plato2–10
RML1
2 Mat Jackson2
23 James Nash4–6, 8–9
Team RACBMW 320si4 Colin TurkingtonAll
14 Anthony Reid8–10
44 Stephen JelleyAll
Cartridge World
Carbon Zero Racing
SEAT León9 Adam Jones1–6
85 Dan Eaves1–5
52 Gordon Shedden6–7
Club SEAT9–10
Airwaves BMWBMW 320si11 Rob CollardAll
12 Jonathan AdamAll
Team AFM RacingBMW 120d16 Nick Leason1–3
Tempus SportChevrolet Lacetti17 Harry Vaulkhard1–5
bamboo engineering6–10
MaxtremeSEAT Toledo Cupra27 Liam McMillan1–3
Independent BTC-T Entries
Sunshine.co.uk with Tech-Speed MotorsportHonda Integra Type-R15 Martyn Bell1–5, 8, 10
29 Paul O'Neill2–10
Team KWRMG ZS28 Jason HughesNone
TH Motorsport Racing with JAGHonda Integra Type-R50 John GeorgeAll
TH Motorsport Racing with IntenHonda Civic Type-R98 Matt Hamilton9–10
Boulevard Team RacingVauxhall Astra Coupé63 Martin JohnsonAll

Driver changes

Changed teams

Entering/re-entering BTCC

Leaving BTCC

Pre-season changes

Mid-season changes

Calendar

All races were held in the United Kingdom. The 2009 season had ten race weekends with three BTCC rounds at each. Provisional dates were announced by series organisers on 11 July 2008.[1] The calendar was finalised on 17 March 2009, when all race timetables were announced.[2]

RoundCircuitDatePole PositionFastest LapWinning DriverWinning Team
1R1Brands Hatch Indy, Kent5 April Matt Neal Rob Collard Matt NealVX Racing
R2 Matt Neal Rob CollardAirwaves BMW
R3 Jonathan Adam Jason PlatoRML
2R4Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire26 Aprilnowrap Fabrizio Giovanardinowrap Fabrizio Giovanardinowrap Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
R5 Fabrizio Giovanardi Colin TurkingtonTeam RAC
R6 Mat Jackson Mat JacksonRML
3R7Donington Park, Leicestershire17 May Andrew Jordan Mat Jackson James ThompsonTeam Dynamics
R8 Fabrizio Giovanardi James ThompsonTeam Dynamics
R9 Paul O'Neill Rob CollardAirwaves BMW
4R10Oulton Park, Cheshire31 May Jason Plato Mat Jackson Colin TurkingtonTeam RAC
R11 Colin Turkington Colin TurkingtonTeam RAC
R12 Rob Collard James ThompsonTeam Dynamics
5R13Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire14 June Colin Turkington Colin Turkington Colin TurkingtonTeam RAC
R14 Colin Turkington Colin TurkingtonTeam RAC
R15 Andrew Jordan Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
6R16Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit, Norfolk2 August Jason Plato Fabrizio Giovanardi Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
R17 Jason Plato Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
R18 Jason Plato Colin TurkingtonTeam RAC
7R19Knockhill Racing Circuit, Fife16 August Jason Plato Jason Plato Jason PlatonowrapRacing Silverline
R20 Fabrizio Giovanardi Fabrizio GiovanardiVX Racing
R21 Jason Plato Mat JacksonRacing Silverline
8R22Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire30 August Mat Jackson James Nash Mat JacksonRacing Silverline
R23 Jason Plato Jason PlatoRacing Silverline
R24 Mat Jackson Mat JacksonRacing Silverline
9R25Rockingham Motor Speedway, Northamptonshire20 September Jason Plato Jason Plato Stephen JelleyTeam RAC
R26 Jason Plato Jason PlatoRacing Silverline
R27 Stephen Jelley Stephen JelleyTeam RAC
10R28Brands Hatch GP, Kent4 October Tom Chilton Jason Plato Jason PlatoRacing Silverline
R29 Matt Neal Jason PlatoRacing Silverline
R30 Gordon Shedden Jason PlatoRacing Silverline

Championship standings

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

Drivers Championship

PosDriverBHITHRDONOULCROSNEKNOSILROCBHGPvalign=middlePts
1 Colin Turkington3*2*441*9Ret521*1*111*1*65214354431044832*275
2 Jason Plato6101*1064743235335Ret3131*Ret221*721*121*1*1*270
3align=left nowrap Fabrizio Giovanardi216Ret1*2*8835426551*1*1*261*35256311324266
4 Matt Neal1*332373287436689143Ret4410Ret13RetNCRet585*170
5 Mat Jackson891*106419Ret8RetDNSDNS2NCDNS321*1*3*1*32*5121211165
6 Rob Collard4*1*81755491*9Ret4447Ret7Ret*Ret12Ret6*92*4RetRet64Ret145
7 Stephen Jelley74Ret746RetDNSDNS514Ret223613Ret881071241*6*1*14116137
8 Jonathan AdamRet92*121112671335137Ret946857Ret8765*56758116
9 James Thompson11731*1*6871*1192*Ret45Ret66*114
10 Andrew JordanRet5Ret318162Ret11106287412*124710712615782*416Ret114
11 Adam Jones57768298Ret687168Ret711762
12 Paul O'Neill510RetRet11161299910Ret*35695991099RetRet97Ret60
13 Tom Chilton1114111517Ret121791312RetRetDNS1011RetRet11118115Ret1893*2*6*355
14 Gordon SheddenRet65Ret101229*Ret12Ret8Ret10934
15 James Nash11Ret171315RetNC8DSQ3Ret887Ret24
16 Harry Vaulkhard8119912115107Ret1512RetDNSDNS109Ret10Ret111411111311Ret1113Ret22
17 Dan Eaves986RetRetRetDNSDNSDNS161314RetDNSDNS10
18 David Pinkney1513Ret1413101412101511Ret1011Ret8Ret9RetRet12Ret16101513Ret15141010
19 Johnny Herbert138RetRet107RetRet148
20 Anthony ReidRet14121112Ret10Ret75
21 Tom Onslow-ColeRetNCRetRet131414Ret9139124
22 Martin Johnson12Ret131616141116121816Ret1212Ret141510121313RetDNS16161410RetDNSDNS2
23 Martyn Bell10121013141315151917171515131115151817RetRet2
24 Alan Morrison131512RetRetRet1613151410102
25 John GeorgeRetRet141815Ret171417RetDNS1614141213161113141416171717Ret131615Ret0
26 Liam McMillan14RetRetRet19Ret13Ret140
27 Matt HamiltonRetRet14RetRet130
28 Nick LeasonRet1715NC2015RetRet180
PosDriverBHITHRDONOULCROSNEKNOSILROCBHGPvalign=middlePts

Manufacturers/Constructors Championship

PosManufacturer / ConstructorBHITHRDONOULCROSNEKNOSILROCBHGPvalign=middlePts
1Vauxhall / VX Racing133 12 7325 42 35 51 11 2613 5256311 32 4658*
2 16Ret 23 88 38 74 66 64 912 3Ret44 10Ret 13Ret NCRet 416Ret
2Honda / Team Dynamics15 65 117 31 16 87 110 92 84 5Ret66 128 1015 107 1514 10429
Ret13Ret 1413 1014 1210 1511 Ret11 11Ret RetRet 9RetRet12 Ret16 RetRet 13Ret RetRet 14
3Ford / Team Aon11 1411 1517 Ret12 139 1310 10Ret NC10 11Ret Ret11118 115 141493 26 3341
13 1512RetRet Ret16 1715 1412 RetRet DNSRet Ret13 Ret18 Ret913912
PosManufacturer / ConstructorBHITHRDONOULCROSNEKNOSILROCBHGPvalign=middlePts

Teams Championship

PosTeamBHITHRDONOULCROSNEKNOSILROCBHGPvalign=middlePts
1VX Racing133127225422551112613525632324466*
25Ret2383387436649123744106137811485
2Team RAC324416Ret521111113521435443141832404
74Ret749RetDNSDNS514Ret226613Ret88107124106410116
3align=left rowspan=2Racing Silverline10647432353352313121111215111358*
106419Ret8RetDNSDNSRetNCDNS3Ret22373212121211
4Airwaves BMW412125547135444746857Ret672456648255
Ret9817111269139Ret137Ret9Ret7RetRet12Ret8965RetRet75Ret
5Team Dynamics156511731168711092845Ret661381015107151410149
Ret13Ret1413101412101511Ret1111RetRetRet9RetRet12Ret16RetRet13RetRetRet14
6Clyde Valley Racing57668298Ret687168Ret710729Ret93
987RetRetRetDNSDNSDNS161314RetDNSDNSRet1112
7Tech-Speed Motorsport1012105101315111612999101135695991099RetRet97Ret70
1314RetRet15191717151513Ret15151817RetRet
8RML610189111Ret171315RetNC8DSQ3Ret887Ret66
9Team Aon1114111517Ret12139131010RetNC1011RetRet1111811514149326362
131512RetRetRet1617151412RetRetDNSRetRet13Ret18Ret913912
10Tempus Sport8119912115107Ret1512RetDNSDNS9*
11Club SEAT12Ret8Ret1097
12bamboo engineering109Ret10Ret111411111311Ret1113Ret6
13align=left nowrapBoulevard Team Racing12Ret131616141116121816Ret1212Ret141510121313RetDNS16161410RetDNSDNS4
14TH Motorsport w/ JAGRetRet141815Ret171417RetDNS1614141213161113141416171717Ret131615Ret1
15Maxtreme14RetRetRet19Ret13Ret140
16TH Motorsport w/ IntenRetRet14RetRet130
17AFM RacingRet1715NC2015RetRet180
PosTeamBHITHRDONOULCROSNEKNOSILROCBHGPvalign=middlePts

Independents Trophy

PosDriverBHITHRDONOULCROSNEKNOSILROCBHGPvalign=middlePts
1324419Ret5211111165214354431044832313
2 Jason Plato61011064743235335Ret3131Ret22172112111283
3 Mat Jackson891106419Ret8RetDNSDNS2NCDNS321131325121211183
4 Rob Collard41817554919Ret4447Ret7RetRet12Ret6924RetRet64Ret173
5 Stephen Jelley74Ret746RetDNSDNS514Ret223613Ret8810712416114116165
6 Jonathan AdamRet92121112671335137Ret946857Ret876556758159
7align=left nowrap James Thompson11731168711192Ret45Ret66144
8 Paul O'Neill510RetRet11161299910Ret35695991099RetRet97Ret110
9 Adam Jones57768298Ret687168Ret711798
10 Tom Chilton1114111517Ret121791312RetRetDNS1011RetRet11118115Ret189326383
11 Harry Vaulkhard8119912115107Ret1512RetDNSDNS109Ret10Ret111411111311Ret1113Ret58
12 Gordon SheddenRet65Ret101229Ret12Ret8Ret10948
13 David Pinkney1513Ret1413101412101511Ret1011Ret8Ret9RetRet12Ret16101513Ret15141033
14 James Nash11Ret171315RetNC8DSQ3Ret887Ret32
15 Martin Johnson12Ret131616141116121816Ret1212Ret141510121313RetDNS16161410RetDNSDNS19
16 Dan Eaves986RetRetRetDNSDNSDNS161314RetDNSDNS16
17 Johnny Herbert138RetRet107RetRet1414
18 Anthony ReidRet14121112Ret10Ret713
19 Martyn Bell10121013141315151917171515131115151817RetRet11
20RetNCRetRet131414Ret9139129
21 Alan Morrison131512RetRetRet1613151410108
22 John GeorgeRetRet141815Ret171417RetDNS1614141213161113141416171717Ret131615Ret6
23 Liam McMillan14RetRetRet19Ret13Ret141
24 Matt HamiltonRetRet14RetRet130
25 Nick LeasonRet1715NC2015RetRet180
PosDriverBHITHRDONOULCROSNEKNOSILROCBHGPvalign=middlePts

Independent Teams Trophy

PosTeamBHITHRDONOULCROSNEKNOSILROCBHGPvalign=middlePts
1Team RAC324316Ret521111113521435443141832348
2Racing Silverline10647432353352313121111215111313*
3Airwaves BMW412125547135444746857Ret672456648275
4Team Dynamics156511731168711092845Ret661381015107151410220
5Tech-Speed Motorsport1012105101315111612999101135695991099RetRet97Ret159
6Team Aon1114111517Ret12139131010RetNC1011RetRet11118115141493263130
7Clyde Valley Racing57668298Ret687168Ret710729Ret124
8RML610189111Ret171315RetNC8DSQ3Ret887Ret110
9align=left nowrapBoulevard Team Racing12Ret131616141116121816Ret1212Ret141510121313RetDNS16161410RetDNSDNS61
10TH Motorsport w/ JAGRetRet141815Ret171417RetDNS1614141213161113141416171717Ret131615Ret47
11Tempus Sport8119912115107Ret1512RetDNSDNS46*
12bamboo engineering109Ret10Ret111411111311Ret1113Ret46
13Club SEAT12Ret8Ret10921
14Maxtreme14RetRetRet19Ret13Ret148
15TH Motorsport w/ IntenRetRet14RetRet136
16AFM RacingRet1715NC2015RetRet183
PosTeamBHITHRDONOULCROSNEKNOSILROCBHGPvalign=middlePts

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: BTCC announces 2009 race dates. British Touring Car Championship. 2008-07-11. 2009-03-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20110929105027/http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=1056&month=0&year=2009&form=&searchterm=. 2011-09-29. dead.
  2. News: Race timetables released. British Touring Car Championship. 2009-03-17. 2009-03-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20110929105046/http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=1297&month=0&year=2009&form=&searchterm=. 2011-09-29. dead.