John Cleland (racing driver) explained

John Cleland
Nationality: British
Birth Date:15 July 1952
Birth Place:Wishaw, Scotland
Record Template1:
Embed:yes
Team:Vauxhall
Championships:2
Wins:17 outright, plus 15 more in class
Podiums:98
Poles:19
Fastest Laps:11
First Year:1989
First Win:1991 (outright), 1989 (class)
Best Position:1st (1989, 1995)
Last Season:1999
Last Position:13th

John Cunningham Cleland (born 15 July 1952) is a retired British auto racing driver, best known for winning the British Touring Car Championship in 1989 and 1995.

Born in Wishaw, Cleland raced autocross and hillclimb in the 1970s, and won his class in the Scottish Rally Championship in 1976 driving a Mitsubishi Colt.[1] He switched to circuit racing, achieving success in British Production Car and Thundersaloon championships in the 1980s, before joining Vauxhall for the 1989 British Touring Car Championship. He was most recently a co-commentator alongside Martin Haven on the English world feed of the World Touring Car Championship.

Racing career

Pre-BTCC

In the mid-1980s, Cleland's father Bill purchased the 1984 Bathurst 1000 2nd place Holden VK Commodore (an Australian car) from Peter Brock's Holden Dealer Team for his son to race in Thundersaloons.[2] During this time the Commodore ran as a Vauxhall Senator.

BTCC

Cleland adapted quickly to touring car racing and won the BTCC at his first attempt, in the days when the championship consisted of four separate classes, each in their own races but scoring points for the same title. Cleland won 11 of his 13 races in class C for 1.5l cars. The 2-litre Cavalier was introduced the next year, in readiness for the single 2-litre format in 1991. Cleland finished 2nd in class to his rival Frank Sytner in 1990 after a fierce season long battle, and 5th overall. The following year he won three races and finished second in the championship to Will Hoy, taking Vauxhall's first ever overall BTCC win.[3] In 1992 Cleland battled with Hoy and Tim Harvey for the title, but was denied at the last round by a controversial collision with Steve Soper, the teammate of eventual champion Harvey. In 1993 and 1994 the championship was dominated by BMW and Alfa Romeo respectively, and Cleland had to make do with fourth overall in both years.[4]

1995 proved to be the breakthrough year for the Cavalier, ironically in its last year of competition. Despite the Volvo 850 and Renault Laguna often having the edge in speed, in the hands of Rickard Rydell and Alain Menu respectively, Cleland's consistent run of points finishes allied to a four-race winning streak in the mid-season allowed him to beat both drivers to the title.[5]

For 1996, the Cavalier was replaced by the new Vectra, which turned out to be a problematic package. Cleland finished 8th in the title chase. 1997 proved to be even worse, with Cleland slipping to 12th in the standings and Vauxhall finishing bottom of the Constructors' title. 1998 was better, and Cleland took two victories, both at Donington Park - a traditional happy hunting ground for the Scotsman - before a heavy crash at Snetterton interrupted his season. In 1999 Cleland was outpaced by team newcomer Yvan Muller and decided by mid-season to retire. He finished his last race at a wet Silverstone in tenth place, after being given a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pits, which provoked a typically belligerent reaction from Cleland over a live radio link to his car that had been set up by the BBC.[6]

In a 2005 poll by Motorsport Magazine, Cleland was voted the 10th greatest touring car driver of all time.[7]

Post BTCC

Aside running his long running car dealership, he has done several guest drives since retiring from the BTCC, including a season in a Dodge Viper in the British GT Championship in 2000, co driving with Dave Clark for the CSi Brookspeed team.[8] He later drove in an ASCAR race at Rockingham, twelve Bathurst 1000s between 1993 and 2005 for Advantage Racing, Pinnacle Motorsport, Gibson Motorsport, Triple Eight, Greenfield Mowers Racing and Brad Jones Racing with a best finish of 2nd in the 2001 event, co driving with Brad Jones, and the BTCC Masters race in 2004.[9] He now runs a Volvo dealership in Galashiels Scotland.[10] His son Jamie has started a racing career. Cleland is also a co-commentator for Eurosport on their WTCC coverage. He replaced fellow Scot David Leslie after his death in 2008.

Cleland purchased his old Vauxhall Vectra super tourer, and now races in the Historic Super Touring championship,[11] alongside his contemporaries Patrick Watts and Tim Harvey.[12]

Racing record

Complete European Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamCar1234567891011121314DCPts
1980 Dealer Opel TeamOpel Monza 3.0EMNZVALBRHSALBRNPERNURSIL
17
ZOLNC0
1981 Dealer Opel TeamOpel Monza 3.0EMNZVALDONSALBRNPERSIL
Ret
ZOLNC0
1982 Monorep Ltd. Vauxhall Opel DealersOpel Monza 3.0EMNZVALDONPERMUGBRNSALNURSPASIL
24
ZOLNC0
1983 GM Dealer SportOpel Monza 3.0EMNZVALDONPERMUGBRNZELNURSALSPASIL
13
ZOLNC0
1986 GM Dealer SportHolden VK Commodore SS Group AMNZDONHOCMISANDBRNZELNÃœRSPASIL
Ret
NOGZOLJARESTNC0

Complete British Touring Car Championship results

(key) Races in bold indicate pole position (1 point awarded all races 1996 onwards, 1989–1990 in class) Races in italics indicate fastest lap (1 point awarded all races - 1989–1990 in class) * signifies that driver lead feature race for at least one lap (1 point awarded - 1998 onwards)

YearTeamCarClass1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526Overall
pos
PtsClass
pos
1989Vauxhall MotorsportVauxhall Astra GTE 16vOUL
SIL
THR
DON
THR
SIL
SIL
BRH
SNE
BRH
BIR
DON
SIL
1st1101st
1990Vauxhall MotorsportVauxhall CavalierOUL
DON
THR
SIL
OUL
SIL
BRH
SNE
BRH
BIR
DON
THR
SIL
5th1282nd
1991Vauxhall SportVauxhall CavalierSIL
SNE
DON
THR
SIL
BRH
SIL
DON
1

DON
2

OUL
BRH
1

BRH
2

DON
THR
SIL
2nd132
1992Vauxhall SportVauxhall CavalierSIL
THR
OUL
SNE
BRH
DON
1

DON
2

SIL
KNO
1

KNO
2

PEM
BRH
1

BRH
2

DON
SIL
3rd145
1993Vauxhall SportVauxhall CavalierSIL
DON
SNE
DON
OUL
BRH
1

BRH
2

PEM
SIL
KNO
1

KNO
2

OUL
BRH
THR
DON
1

DON
2

SIL
4th102
1994Vauxhall SportVauxhall Cavalier 16vTHR
BRH
1

BRH
2

SNE
SIL
1

SIL
2

OUL
DON
1

DON
2

BRH
1

BRH
2

SIL
KNO
1

KNO
2

OUL
BRH
1

BRH
2

SIL
1

SIL
2

DON
1

DON
2

4th177
1995Vauxhall SportVauxhall Cavalier 16vDON
1

DON
2

BRH
1

BRH
2

THR
1

THR
2

SIL
1

SIL
2

OUL
1

OUL
2

BRH
1

BRH
2

DON
1

DON
2

SIL
KNO
1

KNO
2

BRH
1

BRH
2

SNE
1

SNE
2

OUL
1

OUL
2

SIL
1

SIL
2

1st348
1996Vauxhall SportVauxhall VectraDON
1

DON
2

BRH
1

BRH
2

THR
1

THR
2

SIL
1

SIL
2

OUL
1

OUL
2

SNE
1

SNE
2

BRH
1

BRH
2

SIL
1

SIL
2

KNO
1

KNO
2

OUL
1

OUL
2

THR
1

THR
2

DON
1

DON
2

BRH
1

BRH
2

8th97
1997Vauxhall SportVauxhall VectraDON
1

DON
2

SIL
1

SIL
2

THR
1

THR
2

BRH
1

BRH
2

OUL
1

OUL
2

DON
1

DON
2

CRO
1

CRO
2

KNO
1

KNO
2

SNE
1

SNE
2

THR
1

THR
2

BRH
1

BRH
2

SIL
1

SIL
2

12th44
1998Vauxhall SportVauxhall VectraTHR
1

THR
2

SIL
1

SIL
2

DON
1

DON
2

BRH
1

BRH
2

OUL
1

OUL
2

DON
1

DON
2

CRO
1

CRO
2

SNE
1

SNE
2

THR
1

THR
2

KNO
1

KNO
2

BRH
1

BRH
2

OUL
1

OUL
2

SIL
1

SIL
2

8th106
1999Vauxhall MotorsportVauxhall VectraDON
1

DON
2

SIL
1

SIL
2

THR
1

THR
2

BRH
1

BRH
2

OUL
1

OUL
2

DON
1

DON
2

CRO
1

CRO
2

SNE
1

SNE
2

THR
1

THR
2

KNO
1

KNO
2

BRH
1

BRH
2

OUL
1

OUL
2

SIL
1

SIL
2

13th51
  1. – Race was stopped due to heavy rain. No points were awarded.

Complete V8 Supercar Championship results

Supercars results
YearTeamCar123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233PositionPoints
1999Greenfield Mowers RacingFord Falcon ELEAS
R1
EAS
R2
EAS
R3
ADE
R4
BAR
R5
BAR
R6
BAR
R7
PHI
R8
PHI
R9
PHI
R10
HID
R11
HID
R12
HID
R13
SAN
R14
SAN
R15
SAN
R16
CAL
R21
CAL
R22
SYM
R23
SYM
R24
SYM
R25
WIN
R26
WIN
R27
WIN
R28
ORA
R29
ORA
R30
ORA
R31
QLD
R32
BAT
R33

NC0
2000Gibson Motor SportHolden Commodore VTPHI
R1
PHI
R2
BAR
R3
BAR
R4
BAR
R5
ADE
R6
ADE
R7
EAS
R8
EAS
R9
EAS
R10
HID
R11
HID
R12
HID
R13
CAN
R14
CAN
R15
CAN
R16
QLD
R18
QLD
R19
WIN
R21
WIN
R22
ORA
R23
ORA
R24
ORA
R25
CAL
R26
CAL
R27
CAL
R28
QLD
R29

SAN
R30
SAN
R31
SAN
R32
BAT
R33

51st48
2001Brad Jones RacingFord Falcon AUPHI
R1
PHI
R2
ADE
R3
ADE
R4
EAS
R5
EAS
R6
HID
R7
HID
R8
HID
R9
CAN
R10
CAN
R11
CAN
R12
BAR
R13
BAR
R14
BAR
R15
CAL
R16
CAL
R18
QLD
R21

WIN
R22
WIN
R23
BAT
R24

PUK
R25
PUK
R26
PUK
R27
SAN
R28
SAN
R29
SAN
R30
37th520
2002Brad Jones RacingFord Falcon AUADE
R1
ADE
R2
PHI
R3
PHI
R4
EAS
R5
EAS
R6
EAS
R7
HDV
R8
HDV
R9
HDV
R10
CAN
R11
CAN
R12
CAN
R13
BAR
R14
BAR
R15
BAR
R16
ORA
R17
ORA
R18
WIN
R19
WIN
R20
QLD
R21

BAT
R22

SUR
R23
SUR
R24
PUK
R25
PUK
R26
PUK
R27
SAN
R28
SAN
R29
51st60
2003Brad Jones RacingFord Falcon BAADE
R1
ADE
R1
PHI
R3
EAS
R4
WIN
R5
BAR
R6
BAR
R7
BAR
R8
HDV
R9
HDV
R10
HDV
R11
QLD
R12
ORA
R13
SAN
R14

BAT
R15

SUR
R16
SUR
R17
PUK
R18
PUK
R19
PUK
R20
EAS
R21
EAS
R22
41st160
2004Brad Jones RacingFord Falcon BAADE
R1
ADE
R2
EAS
R3
PUK
R4
PUK
R5
PUK
R6
HDV
R7
HDV
R8
HDV
R9
BAR
R10
BAR
R11
BAR
R12
QLD
R13
WIN
R14
ORA
R15
ORA
R16
SAN
R17

BAT
R18

SUR
R19
SUR
R20
SYM
R21
SYM
R22
SYM
R23
EAS
R24
EAS
R25
EAS
R26
NC0
2005Brad Jones RacingFord Falcon BAADE
R1
ADE
R2
PUK
R3
PUK
R4
PUK
R5
BAR
R6
BAR
R7
BAR
R8
EAS
R9
EAS
R10
SHA
R11
SHA
R12
SHA
R13
HDV
R14
HDV
R15
HDV
R16
QLD
R17
ORA
R18
ORA
R19
SAN
R20

BAT
R21

SUR
R22
SUR
R23
SUR
R24
SYM
R25
SYM
R26
SYM
R27
PHI
R28
PHI
R29
PHI
R30
42nd168

Complete Bathurst 1000 results

YearTeamCo-driverCarClassLaps
1993 Mobil 1 Racing Peter BrockHolden Commodore VPA14217th17th
1995 Pinnacle Motorsport Tony ScottHolden Commodore VR1586th6th
1996 Gibson Team Sega Mark SkaifeHolden Commodore VR1597th7th
1997 Vauxhall Sport James KayeVauxhall Vectra32DNFDNF
1998 Vauxhall Sport Derek WarwickVauxhall VectraST1575th5th
1999 Greenfield Mowers Racing Cameron McLeanFord Falcon EL138DNFDNF
2000 Gibson Motorsport Rodney ForbesHolden Commodore VT78DNFDNF
2001 OzEmail Racing Team Brad JonesFord Falcon AU1612nd2nd
2002 OzEmail Racing Team Tim LeaheyFord Falcon AU15719th19th
2003 OzEmail Racing Team Andrew JonesFord Falcon BA1609th9th
2004 OzEmail Racing Team Andrew JonesFord Falcon BA29DNFDNF
2005 Team BOC Dale BredeFord Falcon BA1597th7th

* Super Touring race

Complete British GT Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamCarClass123456789101112PosPoints
2000CSi Brookspeed RacingChrysler Viper GTS-RGTTHR
1

CRO
1

OUL
1

DON
1

SIL
1

BRH
1

DON
1

CRO
1

SIL
1

SNE
1

SPA
1

SIL
1

21st28
Cirtek MotorsportPorsche 996 GT3-RGTOTHR
1

CRO
1

OUL
1

DON
1

SIL
1

BRH
1

DON
1

CRO
1

SIL
1

SNE
1

SPA
1

SIL
1

25th12

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: In the hot seat - John Cleland.
  2. Web site: Goodwood Festival of Speed 2005 Big Banger HDT VK Commodore. YouTube.
  3. News: Podium finish for Shedden after surviving 100mph crash. Jim. McGill. Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Press Digital Publishing. 2006-09-04. 2009-12-16.
  4. Web site: Vauxhall in the BTCC: The Drivers - INSIDE BTCC . www.insidebtcc.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150424234429/http://www.insidebtcc.com/vauxhall-btcc-drivers/ . 2015-04-24.
  5. Web site: A Brief History of Cavaliers in BTCC - Mk3 Cavalier Owners Club | Vauxhall Cavalier Dot Com.
  6. Web site: Gallery: 25 years of Vauxhall in the BTCC. 29 July 2014.
  7. Web site: Top 20 tin-top drivers.
  8. Web site: John Cleland quits British GT's - TenTenths Motorsport Forum.
  9. News: Six more star names for BTCC Masters grid. seatsportuk.co.uk. SEAT Sport. 2004-08-16. 2009-12-16. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20040910100339/http://www.seatsportuk.co.uk/btcc/btccnews.asp?ID=16125527. 10 September 2004.
  10. Web site: Clelands. Clelands Motors. Cleland of the Borders. 2017-02-04.
  11. Web site: Home . supertcc.com.
  12. Web site: A Decade of the BTCC Relived with Super Tourers.