2010 British Touring Car Championship Explained

The 2010 Dunlop[1] MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 53rd British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season. It began at Thruxton Circuit on 4 April and finished after 30 races over ten events at Brands Hatch on 10 October.

RML Chevrolet driver Jason Plato claimed the championship with a win in the penultimate race of the season leading home season long rival, Honda Racing Team's Matt Neal. On his way to his second BTCC crown, Plato claimed seven victories through the course of the season (equalling Andy Rouse's all-time record of 60) compared to Neal's five wins. The final victory margin was 31 points. Neal's teammate Gordon Shedden also had a shot at the title heading into the final round but a broken driveshaft immediately prior to the start of Race 2 at Brands Hatch left him too far adrift and he finished the title 42 points behind Plato.

Despite finishing fourth in the outright points chase Arena Motorsport Ford driver Tom Onslow-Cole lost the Independents' Trophy to team mate Tom Chilton. Chilton ended up eight points clear of Onslow-Cole with Motorbase Performance BMW driver Steven Kane finishing just two points behind Chilton.

The combined performances of Neal and Shedden won for the Honda Racing Team the Teams' title. It was the third title for Team Dynamics and the first time they had won the manufacturers crown for long-time partners Honda. The combined performances of Chilton and Onslow-Cole allowed Arena Motorsport to claim the Independent Teams' trophy, breaking a three-year stranglehold on that trophy by West Surrey Racing.

Changes for 2010

The loss of RAC sponsorship after four seasons meant WSR were forced to release both reigning Champion Colin Turkington and Stephen Jelley. Rob Collard returned to the team he'd previously driven for in 2005 and 2006 while Andy Neate embarked on his first full season after a couple of one-off appearances and having missed on out on a WSR seat in 2008. Motorbase Performance continued to compete as Airwaves BMW with Mat Jackson replacing Collard and Steven Kane returning in place of Jonathan Adam. A third entry for former ASCAR Champion Ben Collins appeared at the final meeting of the season on the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit. Forster Motorsport also entered a pair of BMWs for Martin Depper and Arthur Forster.

After their impressive performance with Independently-run Lacettis in 2009, the RML-run Racing Silverline team received works support from Chevrolet and upgraded to a pair of Cruzes for Jason Plato and Clio Cup graduate Alex MacDowall.

With Vauxhall pulling out at the end of 2009, Triple 8 became an Independent team and entered a pair of Vectras with Fabrizio Giovanardi set to continue as lead driver and reigning Clio Cup Champion Phil Glew as his team-mate. However, the team's new sponsor Uniq pulled out after the season-opener at Thruxton, forcing them to release both drivers. For the remainder of the season, the team ran James Nash in one car with the second car making three further appearances, each time in the hands of a newcomer (Daniel Lloyd at Croft, Jeff Smith at Knockhill and Sam Tordoff at Brands Hatch Indy). Andrew Jordan returned to his father Mike's team, now competing as Pirtek Racing and David Pinkney returned with his own team, both of whom also driving Vectras but running the new NGTC engines. Boulevard Team Racing continued to run Martin Johnson in what was to be the Vauxhall Astra Coupe's BTCC swansong.

Team Dynamics received support from Honda, becoming the first Honda works team since 2004. Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden returned to the team while their old Integras were still represented by Tech-Speed. Paul O'Neill was now partnered by John George in place of Martyn Bell with a third Integra entered by Lea Wood from the Brands Hatch GP meeting onwards (although the team sat out Knockhill as did Forster Motorsport). Former Independent's and Production Class Champions Barwell Motorsport and James Kaye returned with a 4th Integra for the final two meetings. TH Motorsport ran Matt Hamilton in a Civic Type-R for the first four meetings before pulling out.

Team Aon continued to run their Ford Focuses with Tom Onslow-Cole now partnering Tom Chilton full-time. The Focuses were converted to run on Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) before the season started.

Tom Boardman and his family-run team returned under the Special Tuning UK banner, driving a SEAT Leon. The team ran Phil Glew in a second Leon with an NGTC engine at Silverstone with Boardman running the NGTC engine at Knockhill.

For the first time since 1989, a Volkswagen was entered in the BTCC with AMD Racing running Shaun Hollamby in a Super 2000 Golf.

Teams and drivers

The official entry list was announced at the series' Media Day at Brands Hatch on 23 March 2010.[2] [3]

TeamCarNo.DriversRounds
Constructor S2000 Entries
Silverline ChevroletChevrolet Cruze2 Jason PlatoAll
20 Alex MacDowallAll
Honda Racing TeamHonda Civic4 Matt NealAll
52 Gordon SheddenAll
Independent Constructor S2000 Entries (LPG Turbo Engine)
Team AonFord Focus ST LPG21 Tom Onslow-ColeAll
23 Tom ChiltonAll
Independent S2000 Entries (NGTC Engine)
Special Tuning UKSEAT León22 Tom Boardman8
88 Phil Glew7
Pinkney MotorsportVauxhall Vectra55 David PinkneyAll
Pirtek RacingVauxhall Vectra77 Andrew JordanAll
Independent S2000 Entries
Airwaves BMWBMW 320si5 Mat JacksonAll
11 Steven KaneAll
12 Ben Collins10
WSRBMW 320si6 Rob CollardAll
44 Andy NeateAll
Uniq Racing with Triple EightVauxhall Vectra14 James Nash2–10
15 Jeff Smith8
16 Sam Tordoff10
25 Daniel Lloyd5
88 Phil Glew1
888nowrap Fabrizio Giovanardi1
Special Tuning UKSEAT León22 Tom Boardmannowrap1–7, 9–10
Forster MotorsportBMW 320si30 Martin Depper3–7, 9–10
37 Arthur Forster2–7, 9–10
AmD Milltek Racing.comVolkswagen Golf99 Shaun HollambyAll
Independent BTC-T Entries
Boulevard Team RacingVauxhall Astra Coupé27 Martin Johnson1–7, 9–10
sunshine.co.uk with
Tech-Speed Motorsport
Honda Integra Type-R28 John GeorgeAll
29 Paul O'NeillAll
Central Group RacingHonda Integra Type-R43 Lea Wood3–7, 9–10
nowrapWRC Developments with BarwellnowrapHonda Integra Type-R46 James Kaye9–10
TH MotorsportHonda Civic Type-R98 Matt Hamilton1–4

Team and driver changes

Team changes

Driver changes

Changed teams

Entering/re-entering BTCC

Leaving BTCC

Mid-season changes

Calendar

All races were held in the United Kingdom. The calendar was announced by the championship organisers on 7 October 2009, with no major changes from 2009.[11]

RoundCircuitDatePole PositionFastest LapWinning driverWinning team
1R1Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire4 April Gordon Shedden Gordon Shedden Fabrizio GiovanardinowrapUniq Racing with Triple Eight
R2 Jason Platonowrap Fabrizio GiovanardiUniq Racing with Triple Eight
R3 Rob Collard Steven KaneAirwaves BMW
2R4Rockingham Motor Speedway, Northamptonshire25 April Tom Chilton Rob Collard Matt NealHonda Racing Team
R5 Jason Plato Jason PlatoSilverline Chevrolet
R6 Matt Neal Matt NealHonda Racing Team
3R7Brands Hatch (GP), Kent2 May Tom Chilton Tom Chilton Tom ChiltonTeam Aon
R8 Matt Neal Tom Onslow-ColeTeam Aon
R9 Matt Neal Mat JacksonAirwaves BMW
4R10Oulton Park, Cheshire6 June Tom Onslow-Cole Gordon Shedden Tom Onslow-ColeTeam Aon
R11 Jason Plato Jason PlatoSilverline Chevrolet
R12 Gordon Shedden Matt NealHonda Racing Team
5R13Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire20 June Tom Chilton Gordon Shedden Gordon SheddenHonda Racing Team
R14 Paul O'Neill Gordon SheddenHonda Racing Team
R15 Jason Plato Andrew JordanPirtek Racing
6R16Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit, Norfolk8 August Alex MacDowall Jason Plato Jason PlatoSilverline Chevrolet
R17 Jason Plato Jason PlatoSilverline Chevrolet
R18 Tom Onslow-Cole Gordon SheddenHonda Racing Team
7R19Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire22 Augustnowrap Tom Onslow-Colenowrap Tom Onslow-Cole Tom ChiltonTeam Aon
R20 Tom Onslow-Cole Tom ChiltonTeam Aon
R21 Tom Onslow-Colenowrap Tom Onslow-ColeTeam Aon
8R22Knockhill Racing Circuit, Fife5 September Alex MacDowall Alex MacDowall Gordon SheddenHonda Racing Team
R23 Tom Chilton Matt NealHonda Racing Team
R24 Paul O'Neill Jason PlatoSilverline Chevrolet
9R25Donington Park, Leicestershire19 September Tom Chilton Tom Chilton Gordon SheddenHonda Racing Team
R26 Jason Plato Tom Onslow-ColeTeam Aon
R27 Jason Plato Matt NealHonda Racing Team
10R2810 October Jason Plato Jason Plato Jason PlatoSilverline Chevrolet
R29 Rob Collard Jason PlatoSilverline Chevrolet
R30 Mat Jackson Andrew JordanPirtek Racing

Championship standings

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

Drivers Championship

(key)

PosDriverTHRROCBHGPOULCROSNESILKNODONBHIvalign=middlePts
1 Jason Plato24331*58RetRet101*633161*1*5349631*Ret331*1*9260
2 Matt Neal122Ret1*91*5Ret2821*42*RetRet9385441*3581*32Ret229
3 Gordon SheddenRet*114213Ret22*92Ret101*1*9481*10751*2*91*2*62NC8218
4 Tom Onslow-Cole1312787731*101*3*585263162*3*1*772*8*1*9RetRetRet200
5 Tom ChiltonRetRet8116Ret1*DSQ6564181143241*1*65410245753191
6 Steven KaneNC81*533117365211Ret374698735Ret6641162169
7 Mat Jackson352134Ret10111*4479Ret72571310310653581384155
8 Rob CollardRet9Ret*102641243158281710726212RetRet61672536144
9 Paul O'Neill43668264RetRetRet954511Ret8762*8104Ret12Ret645136
10 Andrew Jordan141514754Ret55Ret16Ret1071*96Ret517Ret988Ret97*971*101
11 Alex MacDowall7691212Ret73Ret79Ret*13910NCRet134910297411Ret4Ret1183
12 James NashRet108Ret10797361311510Ret*11118Ret111117101089752
13 Tom Boardman516134Ret10968*Ret8Ret*12668Ret111212RetRet14Ret713Ret1013Ret48
14align=left nowrap Fabrizio Giovanardi1*1*538
15 David Pinkney810101816RetRet8RetRet1011RetDNSRetRet119RetRet1111RetRet101813DNSDNSDNS12
16 Phil Glew67Ret1413139
17 Daniel Lloyd71487
18 Andy Neate101411Ret11914Ret131117DSQ1710Ret13131015Ret141212131515Ret1210126
19 Martin Johnson1119Ret91511RetRetDNS15NC141615RetRet12DNS18161511RetDNS18DNS152
20 John George917Ret16Ret15RetDNSRet12RetDNS15Ret1212Ret121714RetRet13121216121914142
21 Matt HamiltonRet131215141212912Ret12132
22 James Kaye914Ret16RetRet2
23 Sam Tordoff1711101
24 Lea Wood13Ret11131112Ret17131414Ret16RetRet1317111515Ret0
25 Martin Depper15Ret141414Ret1412Ret1516Ret2015RetDNSDNSDNSRetRet130
26 Ben Collins1412Ret0
27 Arthur Forster171713RetRet15161315NCRet1517Ret1419Ret161820142016Ret0
28 Shaun HollambyRet18Ret14Ret14RetRetDNSNCRetRetRet1614161515DNSDNSDNS1316151419Ret2117Ret0
29 Jeff Smith1415140
PosDriverTHRROCBHGPOULCROSNESILKNODONBHIvalign=middlePts

Manufacturers/Constructors Championship

PosManufacturer/ConstructorTHRROCBHGPOULCROSNESILKNODONBHIvalign=middlePts
1Honda / Honda Racing Team1224191222221119481854113121228546
Ret11Ret213Ret5Ret98Ret1042RetRet9310754295863NCRet
2Ford / Team Aon13127867116134852324111542215753522
RetRet8117Ret3DSQ105651811463162367710849RetRetRet
3Chevrolet / Silverline Chevrolet24331573Ret7163310115349231433119466
7691212Ret8RetRet109Ret13916NCRet134910697Ret11Ret4Ret11
PosManufacturer/ConstructorTHRROCBHGPOULCROSNESILKNODONBHIvalign=middlePts

Teams Championship

PosTeamTHRROCBHGPOULCROSNESILKNODONBHIvalign=middlePts
1Honda Racing Team1224191222221119481854113121228424
Ret11Ret213Ret5Ret98Ret1042RetRet9310754295863NCRet
2Team Aon13127867116134852324111542215753366
RetRet8117Ret3DSQ105651811463162367710849RetRetRet
3Silverline Chevrolet24331573Ret7163310115349231433119322
7691212Ret8RetRet109Ret13916NCRet134910697Ret11Ret4Ret11
4Airwaves BMW35153310714429Ret32469833553541162321
NC82134Ret1111365711Ret775713107106Ret6681384
5WSR10911102641243158281710726212121261572536146
Ret14RetRet11914Ret131117DSQ1510Ret13131015Ret14RetRet131615Ret121012
6sunshine.co.uk
with Tech-Speed Motorsport
43668264Ret12Ret954511Ret87628104121212645135
917Ret16Ret15RetDNSRetRetRetDNS15Ret1212Ret121714RetRet1312Ret16Ret191414
7Uniq Racing with Triple Eight115Ret108Ret1079736138510Ret11118141111171010897104
67Ret71411Ret1514171110
8Pirtek Racing141514754Ret55Ret16Ret107196Ret518Ret988Ret9797198
9align=left rowspan=2Special Tuning UK516134Ret10968Ret8Ret12668Ret11121213Ret14Ret713Ret1013Ret46
1413Ret
10Pinkney Motorsport810101816RetRet8RetRet1011RetDNSRetRet119RetRet1111RetRet101813DNSDNSDNS12
11Boulevard Team Racing1119Ret91511RetRetDNS15NC141615RetRet12DNS18161511RetDNS18DNS152
12TH MotorsportRet131215141212912Ret12132
13align=left nowrapWRC Developments with Barwell914Ret16RetRet2
14Central Group Racing13Ret11131112Ret17131414Ret16RetRet1317111515Ret0
15align=left rowspan=2Forster Motorsport17171315Ret141413151412151516141915161820142016130
RetRet151614RetNCRetRet17RetRet20RetRetDNSDNSDNSRetRetRet
16AmD Milltek Racing.comRet18Ret14Ret14RetRetDNSNCRetRetRet1614161515DNSDNSDNS1316151419Ret2117Ret0
PosTeamTHRROCBHGPOULCROSNESILKNODONBHIvalign=middlePts

Independents Trophy

PosDriverTHRROCBHGPOULCROSNESILKNODONBHIvalign=middlePts
1 Tom ChiltonRetRet8116Ret1DSQ6564181143241165410245753249
2 Steven KaneNC81533117365211Ret374698735Ret6641162247
3 Tom Onslow-Cole1312787731101358526316231772819RetRetRet241
4 Mat Jackson352134Ret101114479Ret72571310310653581384221
5 Paul O'Neill43668264RetRetRet954511Ret87628104Ret12Ret645208
6 Rob CollardRet9Ret102641243158281710726212RetRet61672536201
7 Andrew Jordan141514754Ret55Ret16Ret107196Ret518Ret988Ret97971149
8 James NashRet108Ret10797361311510Ret11118Ret1111171010897112
9 Tom Boardman516134Ret10968Ret8Ret12668Ret111212RetRet14Ret713Ret1013Ret97
10 David Pinkney810101816RetRet8RetRet1011RetDNSRetRet119RetRet1111RetRet101813DNSDNSDNS46
11 Andy Neate101411Ret11914Ret131117DSQ1710Ret13131015Ret141212131515Ret12101245
12align=left nowrap Fabrizio Giovanardi11540
13 John George917Ret16Ret15RetDNSRet12RetDNS15Ret1212Ret121714RetRet131212161219141421
14 Phil Glew67Ret14131319
15 Matt HamiltonRet131215141212912Ret121317
16 Lea Wood13Ret11131112Ret17131414Ret16RetRet1317111515Ret15
17 Martin Johnson1119Ret91511RetRetDNS15NC141615RetRet12DNS18161511RetDNS18DNS1514
18 Daniel Lloyd714812
19 James Kaye914Ret16RetRet6
20 Martin Depper15Ret141414Ret1412Ret1516Ret2015RetDNSDNSDNSRetRet136
21 Sam Tordoff1711105
22 Shaun HollambyRet18Ret14Ret14RetRetDNSNCRetRetRet1614161515DNSDNSDNS1316151419Ret2117Ret3
23 Ben Collins1412Ret2
24 Arthur Forster171713RetRet15161315NCRet1517Ret1419Ret161820142016Ret2
25 Jeff Smith1415142
PosDriverTHRROCBHGPOULCROSNESILKNODONBHIvalign=middlePts

Independent Teams Trophy

PosTeamTHRROCBHGPOULCROSNESILKNODONBHIvalign=middlePts
1Team Aon13127867116134852324111542215753342
2Airwaves BMW35153310714429Ret32469833553541162311
3WSR10911102641243158281710726212121261572536250
4align=left nowrapsunshine.co.uk with Tech-Speed Motorsport43668264Ret12Ret954511Ret87628104121212645249
5Uniq Racing with Triple Eight115Ret108Ret1079736138510Ret11118141111171010897189
6Pirtek Racing141514754Ret55Ret16Ret107196Ret518Ret988Ret97971181
7Special Tuning UK516134Ret10968Ret8Ret12668Ret11121213Ret14Ret713Ret1013Ret134
8Pinkney Motorsport810101816RetRet8RetRet1011RetDNSRetRet119RetRet1111RetRet101813DNSDNSDNS69
9Central Group Racing13Ret11131112Ret17131414Ret16RetRet1317111515Ret52
10Forster Motorsport17171315Ret1414131514121515161419151618201420161348
11Boulevard Team Racing1119Ret91511RetRetDNS15NC141615RetRet12DNS18161511RetDNS18DNS1546
12TH MotorsportRet131215141212912Ret121335
13AmD Milltek Racing.comRet18Ret14Ret14RetRetDNSNCRetRetRet1614161515DNSDNSDNS1316151419Ret2117Ret29
14align=left nowrapWRC Developments with Barwell914Ret16RetRet13
PosTeamTHRROCBHGPOULCROSNESILKNODONBHIvalign=middlePts

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Dunlop returns as title sponsor in 2010. British Touring Car Championship. btcc.net. 2009-11-27. 2009-11-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20120304002553/http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=1771. 2012-03-04. dead.
  2. News: BTCC unveils 23-car field for 2010. Jamie. O'Leary. Haymarket Publications. autosport.com. 2010-03-23. 2010-03-23.
  3. News: Increased 23-car entry for 2010. British Touring Car Championship. btcc.net. 2010-03-23. 2010-03-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20110719090716/http://btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=1849&month=0&year=2010&form=&searchterm=. 2011-07-19. dead.
  4. News: Vauxhall to quit BTCC. autocar.com. Haymarket Publications. 2009-10-07. 2009-10-10.
  5. News: O'Leary. Jamie. Hip injury forces Bell out for 2010. Haymarket Publications. autosport.com. 2010-01-25. 2010-01-27.
  6. News: Glew returns in NGTC Leon. British Touring Car Championship. btcc.net. 2010-08-12. 2010-08-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20110719091133/http://btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=2057&month=0&year=2010&form=&searchterm=. 2011-07-19. dead.
  7. News: Hamilton to sit out Croft. British Touring Car Championship. btcc.net. 2010-06-14. 2010-06-22. https://archive.today/20120729180559/http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=1988&month=0&year=2010&form=&searchterm=. 2012-07-29. dead.
  8. News: 'Veteran' Kaye in shock return. btcc.net. British Touring Car Championship. 2010-09-10. 2010-09-10. https://archive.today/20120730034152/http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=2115. 2012-07-30. dead.
  9. News: Tordoff to make Finals Day debut. Crash Media Group. crash.net. 2010-09-23. 2010-09-23.
  10. News: Collins in third Airwaves BMW. btcc.net. British Touring Car Championship. 2010-09-28. 2010-09-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20110719091228/http://btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=2143. 2011-07-19. dead.
  11. News: BTCC announces 2010 dates. British Touring Car Championship. btcc.net. 2009-10-07. 2009-10-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20120304002415/http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=1730. 2012-03-04. dead.