Wikipedia

1998 British Touring Car Championship

The 1998 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship featured 26 races across 13 rounds, it commenced at Thruxton on 13 April and ended at Silverstone on 20 September.[1]

Rickard Rydell won the driver's championship in a Volvo S40.

The championship was won by Rickard Rydell in a Volvo S40, the runner-up was Anthony Reid in a Nissan Primera and James Thompson finished in third driving a Honda Accord. The Autosport Cup for Independents, a championship for privateer entries was won by Tommy Rustad in a Renault Laguna.

The video game TOCA 2 Touring Cars is based on this championship season.

Background edit

There were three major rule changes to the championship prior to the start of the 1998 season. Race weekends were changed notably with two different types of races now elected: a shorter "sprint" race and a "feature" race, 25% longer than previous races featuring a mandatory two-tyre stop to be taken between 15 and 75% distance.[2] Qualifying for the sprint race involved drivers holding a "shoot-out" style session where each driver was sent out one of a time and were given a single timed lap to determine their starting position with the slowest driver from feature qualifying going first and fastest going last.[2] Qualifying for the feature race remained the same as the previous season.

Four wheel drive systems were also banned for 1998, a system used notably by 1996 champions Audi.

The independents trophy previously known as the 'Total Cup for Independents' became the 'Autosport Cup for Independents'. The £250,000 prize fund, introduced in 1997, remained in place however at the request of the independent competitors, prize money now will be awarded on the results of each individual round rather than as a lump sum to the top three overall finishers at the end of the season. In 1998, the first independent finisher in each of the 26 rounds will receive £2,500, while second and third past the chequered flag will receive £1,250 and £500 respectively.[2]

Team and driver changes edit

Eight manufacturer backed teams contested the championship with no changes to the manufacturer - team line up.

I think last year on some tracks we were not the quickest car but we ended up winning the championship because we made less mistakes than the other guys. So hopefully this year will be the same.

Alain Menu

1997 champions Williams Renault, now in their fourth year of partnership in the BTCC, retained their driver line up of Alain Menu and Jason Plato once again driving the Laguna.[3] The familiar yellow and blue livery was replaced by the dark green of new title sponsor Nescafe Blend 37. The team entered a third car for the final round at Silverstone for independents cup winner Tommy Rustad.

Audi were forced to abandon their four-wheel-drive A4 which helped them to the 1996 title for a more conventional front-wheel drive car. 1995 French touring car champion Yvan Muller joined the team after helping German manufacturer develop the new FWD car in the Super Tourenwagen Cup in 1997. He was joined by John Bintcliffe now in his third season with Audi with Frank Biela moving back in to Super Tourenwagen Cup.

Nissan were another team to retain their driver line-up with the experience Scots David Leslie and Anthony Reid racing a pair of RML prepared Primeras. The team entered a third car at Brands Hatch in August for former driver and then Top Gear presenter Tiff Needell. This appeared as a feature on the popular motoring show.

Following a very promising winter test program[4] Prodrive run Honda retained Yorkshire's James Thompson with ex BMW driver Peter Kox replacing 1994 champion Gabriele Tarquini, who moved to STW to spearhead Honda's assault on the 1998 Super Tourenwagen Cup.

TWR Volvo had also changed their lineup with former Ferrari, Footwork and Sauber F1 driver Gianni Morbidelli replacing Kelvin Burt, who switched to JTCC, to partner Swede Rickard Rydell who remained with the team for a fifth season.

Vauxhall engineered and run by Triple Eight continued with Derek Warwick and 1995 champion John Cleland racing the Vectra. Following the disaster with aerodynamics in 1997 Triple Eight developed the aero themselves for 1998.[5]

One of the biggest stories going into the season was that Ford had signed 1992 Formula One champion Nigel Mansell to compete in three rounds of the championship.[6] For all other rounds New Zealander Craig Baird, a former works BMW driver in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, will race alongside 1991 champion Will Hoy, now in his eleventh season of BTCC competition.

Switching from Ford Paul Radisich joined Tim Harvey at Peugeot whose 406's were again run by Motor Sport Developments (MSD).

Alfa Romeo announced that they would make a comeback to the BTCC by entering later rounds of the season. Fabrizio Giovanardi and Nicola Larini were scheduled to drive[7] the new 156 but Alfa's plans fell through, and the team never appeared.

Reigning independents champion Robb Gravett again entered his 1996 Honda Accord[8] now run by Brookes Motorsport. A second car was entered at Oulton Park in September for Lee Brookes but didn't start either race.

Matt Neal raced a 1997 Nissan Primera[9] run by family outfit Team Dynamics.

D.C.Cook Motorsport entered the 1997 championship winning Renault Laguna for Norwegian Tommy Rustad and for the final two meetings they also entered a Honda Accord[10] for Paula Cook.

Mardi Gras Motorsport entered a Honda Accord for Norwegian Roger Moen until team and driver went their separate ways after the Croft rounds. The team took over the running of Mark Lemmer's Vauxhall Vectra[11] for three meetings in the second half of the season after he split with Mint Motorsport who had run the car until Croft.

Season Review edit

Menu and Renault’s title defence would not be a happy one. The champion would only win three races all year, and combined with a string of retirements restricted him to only fourth in the standings. The Swiss driver would depart the team at the end of the season. Plato would have a steady season, taking a single victory and finishing directly behind his teammate in the standings.

Menu’s struggles would open the door for Volvo’s Rickard Rydell. A combination of speed and the best consistency of any driver would allow the Swede to claim the drivers title. TWR Volvo would miss out on both the teams and manufacturers championships however, partly due to the lacklustre performances of Morbidelli. The Italian was unable to match his teammate’s pace, in what would turn out to be his only season in Britain.

Nissan would have a breakthrough season. David Leslie would pick up two victories, including the first for the car at Silverstone in April. But the star of the season would be Anthony Reid, picking up eleven pole positions and seven victories, the most of any driver, and allowing Nissan to claim both the manufacturers and teams championships ahead of Volvo and Renault.

Honda’s year would be one of mixed fortunes. James Thompson would have a strong season, winning multiple races for the first time and finishing third in the standings, but teammate Peter Kox was hampered by a string of bad luck and would endure a tough first season in Britain.

Audi’s campaign with their front-wheel-drive car was poor. New team leader Bintcliffe was virtually non-existent all season, whilst British championship rookie Yvan Muller showed glimpses of pace throughout the year, although it was only enough for a handful of podium finishes. The German marque would not return to the series for 1999.

The season would see a mini-renaissance for Vauxhall following a difficult 1997. Both drivers would claim race victories; Cleland would claim two, both at Donington Park, whilst Warwick would claim his in a wet race at Knockhill, before hanging up his driving gloves at the end of the year. Cleland was forced to miss a round due to injury, and was replaced by Brazilian Vectra challenge driver Flavio Figueiredo.

Ford were another team to have a year filled with ups and downs. The car seemed to be at its best in the wet, veteran Will Hoy demonstrating that with a victory at Silverstone. Kiwi Craig Baird was largely disappointing, whilst Nigel Mansell thrilled the crowds by nearly winning in the pouring rain at Donington Park, but would also voice his frustrations regarding the series’ driving standards following an incident-filled round at Brands Hatch.

Despite all the promise surrounding the team, with a strong driver line-up and the car’s success in the German championship, Peugeot would again fail to deliver. Radisich and Harvey could not keep the team off bottom place in the manufacturers race, and the French marque would be another to withdraw from the series come the end of the year.

Entry list edit

 
Volvo placed second in the Manufacturers Championship with its S40s
Team Car No. Drivers Rounds
Manufacturers
  Blend 37 Williams Renault Renault Laguna 1   Alain Menu All
3   Jason Plato All
21   Tommy Rustad 13
  Volvo S40 Racing Volvo S40 4   Rickard Rydell All
14   Gianni Morbidelli All
  Team Honda Sport Honda Accord 5   James Thompson All
50   Peter Kox All
  Audi Sport UK Audi A4 7   John Bintcliffe All
12   Yvan Muller All
  Vodafone Nissan Racing Nissan Primera GT 8   David Leslie All
23   Anthony Reid All
24   Tiff Needell 11
  Esso Ultron Team Peugeot Peugeot 406 9   Tim Harvey All
11   Paul Radisich All
  Ford Mondeo Racing with Reynard Ford Mondeo 32   Will Hoy All
33   Craig Baird 1–5, 7–10
55   Nigel Mansell 6, 11, 13
  Alfa Romeo[1] Alfa Romeo 156 56   Nicola Larini None
57   Fabrizio Giovanardi None
  Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Vectra 88   Derek Warwick All
98   John Cleland 1–8, 10–13
99   Flavio Figueiredo 9
Independents
  Mint Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 16   Mark Lemmer 1–7
  Mardi Gras Motorsport 9, 11, 13
Honda Accord 17   Roger Möen 1–7
  DC Cook Motorsport Renault Laguna 21   Tommy Rustad 1–12
Honda Accord 22   Paula Cook 12–13
  Brookes Motorsport Honda Accord 28   Lee Brookes 12
29   Robb Gravett All
  Team Dynamics Max Power Nissan Primera GT 77   Matt Neal All
  • ^1 Despite being on the entry list, the Alfa Romeo team did not contest any races.

Calendar edit

All races were held in the United Kingdom.

Round Circuit Date Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Team Winning Independent
1 R1 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 13 April   Rickard Rydell   Rickard Rydell   Rickard Rydell Volvo S40 Racing   Mark Lemmer
R2   Rickard Rydell   Alain Menu   Alain Menu Blend 37 Williams Renault   Matt Neal
2 R3 Silverstone Circuit (International), Northamptonshire 26 April   James Thompson   David Leslie   David Leslie Vodafone Nissan Racing   Robb Gravett
R4   Jason Plato   James Thompson   Will Hoy Ford Mondeo Racing   Robb Gravett
3 R5 Donington Park (National), Leicestershire 4 May   Rickard Rydell   David Leslie   John Cleland Vauxhall Sport   Matt Neal
R6   David Leslie   David Leslie   David Leslie Vodafone Nissan Racing   Matt Neal
4 R7 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 17 May   Rickard Rydell   Anthony Reid   Rickard Rydell Volvo S40 Racing   Tommy Rustad
R8   Rickard Rydell   Anthony Reid   Rickard Rydell Volvo S40 Racing   Matt Neal
5 R9 Oulton Park (Fosters), Cheshire 25 May   Alain Menu   Alain Menu   Alain Menu Blend 37 Williams Renault   Tommy Rustad
R10   Anthony Reid   Anthony Reid   Jason Plato Blend 37 Williams Renault   Tommy Rustad
6 R11 Donington Park (National), Leicestershire 14 June   Anthony Reid   Rickard Rydell   Anthony Reid Vodafone Nissan Racing   Robb Gravett
R12   Anthony Reid   Anthony Reid   John Cleland Vauxhall Sport   Matt Neal
7 R13 Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire 28 June   James Thompson   James Thompson   James Thompson Team Honda Sport   Matt Neal
R14   David Leslie   David Leslie   Rickard Rydell Volvo S40 Racing   Robb Gravett
8 R15 Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk 26 July   Anthony Reid   Matt Neal   Anthony Reid Vodafone Nissan Racing   Robb Gravett
R16   Anthony Reid   Anthony Reid   James Thompson Team Honda Sport   Robb Gravett
9 R17 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 2 August   Rickard Rydell   Anthony Reid   Anthony Reid Vodafone Nissan Racing   Matt Neal
R18   Anthony Reid   Anthony Reid   Alain Menu Blend 37 Williams Renault   Mark Lemmer
10 R19 Knockhill Circuit, Fife 16 August   Anthony Reid   David Leslie   Anthony Reid Vodafone Nissan Racing   Matt Neal
R20   Anthony Reid   Yvan Muller   Derek Warwick Vauxhall Sport   Tommy Rustad
11 R21 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 31 August   Anthony Reid   Anthony Reid   Anthony Reid Vodafone Nissan Racing   Matt Neal
R22   Rickard Rydell   Anthony Reid   Rickard Rydell Volvo S40 Racing   Matt Neal
12 R23 Oulton Park (Fosters), Cheshire 13 September   Anthony Reid   Anthony Reid   James Thompson Team Honda Sport   Tommy Rustad
R24   Anthony Reid   James Thompson   Anthony Reid Vodafone Nissan Racing   Matt Neal
13 R25 Silverstone Circuit (International), Northamptonshire 20 September   Rickard Rydell   Anthony Reid   James Thompson Team Honda Sport   Mark Lemmer
R26   David Leslie   Rickard Rydell   Anthony Reid Vodafone Nissan Racing   Paula Cook

Drivers Championship edit

Points system
 1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th  Pole Position Lead a lap
in feature race
15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1
  • No driver may collect more than one "Lead a Lap" point per race no matter how many laps they lead.
Pos. Driver THR SIL DON BRH OUL DON CRO SNE THR KNO BRH OUL SIL Pts
1   Rickard Rydell 1 2* 5 Ret 3 7* 1 1* 2 2 2 Ret 4 1* 5 2* 3 3* Ret 3 3 1* 11 4 2 3 254
2   Anthony Reid 8 13 7 3 Ret 6 2 3 5 3* 1 (Ret*) 2 3 1 (NC) 1 6 1 7* 1 2* 2 1* 5 1* 239
3   James Thompson 3 3 2 9* 2 4 9 2 Ret 5 Ret Ret 1 5 4 1* 4 5* 2 Ret 2 9* 1 Ret 1 4* 203
4   Alain Menu 5 1* Ret Ret 4 2 3 4 1 4* Ret Ret 3 4 3 Ret 2 1* 3 4* 5 3 3 Ret 9 Ret 187
5   Jason Plato 2 4 3 2* Ret 5 4 Ret 4 1* 9 Ret 8 6 2 3 Ret Ret Ret 5 7 4* 6 2 4 6 163
6   David Leslie 7 12 1 Ret Ret 1* Ret 6 3 Ret Ret 2* Ret 2* 6 4 5 2* 5 9 4 Ret 4 Ret 13 2* 148
7   Yvan Muller 9 Ret 10 8 6 10 5 15 10 10 7 4* 5 10 15 5* 6 10 4 2* 11 6 5 3 3 5 110
8   John Cleland 4 6 6 7 1 3* 6 9* 7 6* 5 1* 6 8 9 Ret 13 Ret 8 Ret 9 11 8 Ret 106
9   Derek Warwick 12 5 4 6* 13 8 11 13 11 Ret DSQ 3 9 12 10 Ret 7 Ret 9 1* Ret 14 10 5* 7 10 70
10   Will Hoy Ret 15 9 1* 8 16 7 Ret 8 7 3 Ret 13 9* 8 8 10 12 6 Ret Ret Ret 8 6 10 8 69
11   Gianni Morbidelli 6 11 8 5 12 Ret 13 10 6 9* 6 7 10 7* 7 11 8 4* 11 Ret Ret Ret Ret 9 17 Ret 56
12   Peter Kox 10 7 Ret 11 7 Ret 14 7 Ret Ret 4 Ret 7 Ret 16 Ret 13 7 7 14 6 7* 7 Ret Ret 7* 52
13   Matt Neal Ret 10 Ret 16 5 9 Ret 5 Ret 14 Ret 6 12 15 NC 13 12 Ret 8 Ret 9 5 13 7 Ret Ret 35
14   Paul Radisich Ret 8 12 4 11 Ret 8 12 12 13 10 Ret 11 Ret 18 10 9 Ret 10 6 10 10 Ret Ret 6 14 31
15   John Bintcliffe 11 9 14 17 10 14 10 8 9 8* Ret 9 Ret 11 14 7 11 8 Ret 10 13 11 NC Ret 12 Ret 23
16   Tommy Rustad 16 Ret 15 13 17 12 12 14* 13 12 12 8 15 Ret 17 12 14 Ret 14 8 15 13 12 8 11 9 12
17   Tim Harvey 13 Ret 11 18 9 11 Ret 11 Ret Ret Ret Ret 16 18 12 Ret 15 9* 15 11 14 8* 14 10 Ret Ret 10
18   Nigel Mansell Ret 5* Ret Ret 14 11 7
19   Robb Gravett 17 16 13 12* 15 Ret 16 17 15 16 8 Ret Ret 14 13 9 16 Ret Ret 12 16 12* 15 12 Ret DNS 7
20   Craig Baird 15 14 Ret 10 14 13 15 Ret 14 11 14 13 11 6 Ret DNS 12 13* 6
21   Roger Möen 18 17 16 15 Ret 15 18 16 16 15 11 10 Ret 16 1
22   Flavio Figueiredo 17 11 0
23   Tiff Needell 12 15 0
24   Paula Cook 16 13 16 12 0
25   Mark Lemmer 14 Ret Ret 14 16 Ret 17 Ret Ret DNS Ret Ret 17 17 18 13 Ret 16 15 13 0
 –   Lee Brookes DNS DNS 0
Pos. Driver THR SIL DON BRH OUL DON CRO SNE THR KNO BRH OUL SIL Pts
  • Note: bold signifies pole position (1 point awarded all races), italics signifies fastest lap

* signifies that driver lead feature race for at least one lap (1 point given). Note: All bonus leading points may not be added due to them being added after seeing Season Review footage and some race reports.

Note: No points were awarded for leading in the feature race at Knockhill.

Autosport Cup for Independents edit

  • Points were only awarded to the top three class finishers in each race.
Pos. Driver THR SIL DON BRH OUL DON CRO SNE THR KNO BRH OUL SIL Pts
1   Tommy Rustad 16 Ret 15 13 17 12 12 14 13 12 12 8 15 Ret 17 12 14 Ret 13 8 15 13 12 8 251
2   Robb Gravett 17 16 13 12 15 Ret 16 17 15 16 8 Ret Ret 14 13 9 16 Ret Ret 12 16 12 15 12 Ret DNS 212
3   Matt Neal Ret 10 Ret 16 5 9 Ret 5 Ret 14 Ret 6 12 15 NC 13 12 Ret 8 Ret 9 5 13 7 Ret Ret 211
4   Mark Lemmer 14 Ret Ret 14 16 Ret 17 Ret Ret DNS Ret Ret 17 17 18 13 Ret 16 15 13 95
5   Roger Möen 18 17 16 15 Ret 15 18 16 16 15 11 10 Ret 16 92
6   Paula Cook 16 13 16 12 27
 –   Lee Brookes DNS DNS 0
Pos. Driver THR SIL DON BRH OUL DON CRO SNE THR KNO BRH OUL SIL Pts

Manufacturers Championship edit

Pos Manufacturer THR SIL DON BRH OUL DON CRO SNE THR KNO BRH OUL SIL Pts
1 Nissan / Vodafone Nissan Racing 7 12 1 3 Ret 1 2 3 3 3 1 2 2 2 1 4 1 2 1 7 1 2 2 1 5 1 273
2 Volvo / Volvo S40 Racing 1 2 5 5 3 7 1 1 2 2 2 7 4 1 5 2 3 3 11 3 3 1 11 4 2 3 245
3 Renault / Blend 37 Williams Renault 2 1 3 2 4 2 3 4 1 1 9 Ret 3 4 2 3 2 1 3 4 5 3 3 2 4 6 244
4 Honda / Team Honda Sport 3 3 2 9 2 4 9 2 Ret 5 4 Ret 1 5 4 1 4 5 2 14 2 7 1 Ret 1 4 222
5 Vauxhall / Vauxhall Sport 4 5 4 6 1 3 6 9 7 6 5 1 6 8 9 Ret 7 11 9 1 8 14 9 5 7 10 162
6 Audi / Audi Sport UK 9 9 10 8 6 10 5 8 9 8 7 4 5 10 14 5 6 8 4 2 11 6 5 3 3 5 150
7 Ford / Ford Mondeo Racing 15 14 9 1 8 13 7 Ret 8 7 3 5 13 9 8 6 10 12 6 13 Ret Ret 8 6 10 8 117
8 Peugeot / Esso Ultron Team Peugeot 13 8 11 4 9 11 8 11 12 13 10 Ret 11 18 12 10 9 9 10 6 10 8 14 10 6 14 96
Pos Manufacturer THR SIL DON BRH OUL DON CRO SNE THR KNO BRH OUL SIL Pts

Teams Championship edit

Pos Team THR SIL DON BRH OUL DON CRO SNE THR KNO BRH OUL SIL Pts
1 Vodafone Nissan Racing 12 3 1 3 3 2 2 4 2 7 2 1 1 168
13 Ret 6 6 Ret Ret 3 NC 6 9 Ret Ret 2
2 Blend 37 Williams Renault 1 2 2 4 1 Ret 4 3 1 4 3 2 6 159
4 Ret 5 Ret 4 Ret 6 Ret Ret 5 4 Ret Ret
3 Volvo S40 Racing 2 5 7 1 2 7 1 2 3 3 1 4 3 140
11 Ret Ret 10 9 Ret 7 11 4 Ret Ret 9 Ret
4 Team Honda Sport 3 9 4 2 5 Ret 5 1 5 14 7 Ret 4 95
7 11 Ret 7 Ret Ret Ret Ret 7 Ret 9 Ret 7
5 Vauxhall Sport 5 6 3 9 6 1 8 Ret 11 1 14 5 10 75
6 7 8 13 Ret 3 12 Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 Ret
6 Audi Sport UK 9 8 10 8 8 4 10 5 8 2 6 3 5 59
Ret 17 14 15 10 9 11 7 10 10 11 Ret Ret
7 Ford Mondeo Racing 14 1 13 Ret 7 5 9 6 12 13 Ret 6 8 44
15 10 16 Ret 11 Ret 13 8 DNS Ret Ret 11
8 Team Dynamics Max Power 10 16 9 5 14 6 15 13 Ret Ret 5 7 Ret 24
9 Esso Ultron Team Peugeot 8 4 11 11 13 Ret 18 10 9 6 8 10 14 19
Ret 18 Ret 12 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 10 Ret Ret
10 DC Cook Motorsport Ret 13 12 14 12 8 Ret 12 Ret 8 13 8 12 9
13
11 Brookes Motorsport 16 12 Ret 17 16 Ret 14 9 Ret 12 12 12 DNS 2
DNS
12 Mardi Gras Motorsport 17 15 15 16 15 10 16 13 16 13 1
13 Mint Motorsport Ret 14 Ret Ret DNS Ret 17 0
Pos Team THR SIL DON BRH OUL DON CRO SNE THR KNO BRH OUL SIL Pts

References edit

  1. ^ "BTCC: 1998 calendar announced". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  2. ^ a b c "BTCC: 1998 rule revisions". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  3. ^ "The Birth of Williams Touring Car Engineering - The Williams Grand Prix Database". The Williams Grand Prix Database. 2012-12-16. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  4. ^ "BTCC: Oulton Park testing March 11". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  5. ^ "Heritage | Triple Eight Racing BTCC". www.tripleeight.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  6. ^ "BTCC: Nigel Mansell returns". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  7. ^ "BTCC: 1998 entry list". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  8. ^ "Honda Accord (HR018)". Super Touring Register. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  9. ^ "Nissan Primera (31)". Super Touring Register. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  10. ^ "Honda Accord (PRO-ST/H-9806)". Super Touring Register. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  11. ^ "Vauxhall / Opel Vectra B (V96B-001)". Super Touring Register. Retrieved 2017-12-07.

External links edit

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