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2004 British Touring Car Championship

The 2004 Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 47th British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season.

Changes for 2004 edit

Teams and drivers edit

With the admittance of Super 2000-spec cars into the championship, the BTCC welcomed with it a new manufacturer, with SEAT Sport's UK division entering a pair of Toledos identical to those used in the European Touring Car Championship, run by RML. At the wheel were Jason Plato, returning to the championship for the first time since his title victory in 2001, and youngster Rob Huff, who earned his drive through winning the inaugural SEAT Cupra UK Championship, for which Plato had acted as a driver coach.

They were joined by reigning champions of the last three seasons Vauxhall, with Triple 8 Engineering again running a trio of Astra Coupes. 2003 champion Yvan Muller remained along with runner-up and 2002 title winner James Thompson, with Luke Hines replacing Paul O'Neill in the third car on the back of claiming the Production class title in his debut season the previous year.

Honda cut its Arena Motorsport-run Civic Type-R campaign down to a single car for the returning Tom Chilton. A three-car entry was registered on the official entry list with Alan Morrison intended as one of the other drivers but only Chilton's entry would appear all season.

The Civic challenge was augmented by a pair of cars entered by Team Dynamics for Matt Neal, returning to his family team from the works Honda set-up, and Dan Eaves, who brought with him Halfords sponsorship after the withdrawal of Vic Lee Racing. A possible 3rd entry for Gareth Howell was mentioned but didn't come to fruition.

Proton completed the line-up of works teams, its two Impians now driven by two newcomers to British motorsport; the experienced South African Shaun Watson-Smith and the young Malaysian Farique Hairuman.

Financial trouble forced MG Rover to pull its works backing from West Surrey Racing's MG ZS assault, but the team cut down from three to two cars and returned as an independent with young gun Colin Turkington and veteran Anthony Reid staying on board.

Ex-works Vauxhall Astra Coupes were a popular choice amongst the other independents, with Michael Bentwood stepping up from the Production ranks in a 'VXR Junior' team prepared by Tech-Speed Motorsport and 2003 Independents champion Rob Collard continuing to campaign an Astra for his self-run team.

GA Motorsport (now under the 'Team Sureterm' banner) continued to run a pair of Astra Coupes for the returning Paul Wallace and Renault Clio Cup graduate Charlie Butler-Henderson, while a Super 2000-spec Alfa Romeo 156 was also entered for Carl Breeze. Wallace was soon replaced by experienced former Ford and Volvo factory driver Kelvin Burt, then later Irishman Gavin Smith and Stefan Hodgetts (son of ex-BTCC champion Chris), the latter then stepping in to replace Butler-Henderson when his funds ran out. Hodgetts then swapped cars with Breeze, who himself was replaced by Gavin Pyper for the final round.

Synchro Motorsport again returned with an ex-works Honda Civic Type R for former works driver James Kaye. Jason Hughes stepped up from the Production class, racing an ex-WSR MG ZS for his Kartworld Racing team, and John Batchelor's 'Team Varta' also switched classes, running Richard Marsh from the second round onwards in first a Super 2000 Civic Type-R, then later an ex-Vic Lee Racing Peugeot 307. Marsh was replaced by Jay Wheals for the final round, for which the team returned to the Civic.

Mardi Gras Motorsport had an abortive campaign, entering a Super 2000 Civic and later an ex-works Peugeot 406 Coupe, both LPG-powered, for businessman John George, and Edenbridge Racing briefly entered a Super 2000 BMW 320i for Justin Keen.

Carly Motors intended to enter a pair of BMW 320is for ex-Alfa Romeo driver Tom Ferrier and ex-Volvo ETCC driver James Hanson but this entry never materialised.

Other changes edit

  • The number of total races was increased from 20 to 30 by holding three races at each meeting instead of two
  • The grid for the second race of each meeting was decided by the results of the first but with the top ten reversed; the grid for the third race was simply the finishing order of the second race
  • Cars built to Super 2000 specification were allowed, with an equivalency formula designed to ensure that they would have similar performance to their BTC Spec counterparts
  • Points penalties for engine changes now apply only to the team, not the driver
  • The "production class" and its associated championship was abolished

Teams and drivers edit

Team Car No. Drivers Rounds
Works BTC-T Entries
VX Racing Vauxhall Astra Coupé 1   Yvan Muller All
2   James Thompson All
57   Luke Hines All
Team Honda Honda Civic Type-R 9   Tom Chilton All
Petronas Syntium Proton Proton Impian 15   Fariqe Hairuman All
20   Shaun Watson-Smith All
Works S2000 Entries
SEAT Sport UK SEAT Toledo Cupra 11   Jason Plato All
12   Rob Huff All
Independent BTC-T Entries
Computeach Racing with Halfords Honda Civic Type-R 3   Matt Neal All
4   Dan Eaves All
West Surrey Racing MG ZS 6   Anthony Reid All
8   Colin Turkington All
Collard Racing Vauxhall Astra Coupé 10   Rob Collard All
VXR Junior Vauxhall Astra Coupé 14   Michael Bentwood 1–6, 8–10
Synchro Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R 16   James Kaye All
Mardi Gras Motorsport Peugeot 406 Coupé 17   John George 6–10
Team Sureterm Vauxhall Astra Coupé 21   Paul Wallace 1–2
22   Charlie Butler-Henderson 1–4, 6
23   Carl Breeze 8–9
24   Kelvin Burt 3–4
25   Gavin Smith 5
26   Stefan Hodgetts 5–6
44   Gavin Pyper 10
Team Quest/Varta Peugeot 307 40   Richard Marsh 8–9
Kartworld Racing MG ZS 77   Jason Hughes All
Independent S2000 Entries
Mardi Gras Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R 17   John George 1–3
Team Sureterm Alfa Romeo 156 23   Carl Breeze 1–7
26   Stefan Hodgetts 8–10
Team Quest/Varta Honda Civic Type-R 40   Richard Marsh 2–7
41   Jay Wheals 10
Edenbridge Racing BMW 320i 46   Justin Keen 2–4

Season Calendar edit

All races were held in the United Kingdom (excepting Mondello Park round that held in Ireland).

Round Circuit Date Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Team
1 R1 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 11 April   James Thompson   James Thompson   James Thompson VX Racing
R2   Jason Plato   Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R3   Colin Turkington   Yvan Muller VX Racing
2 R4 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 25 April   Colin Turkington   Anthony Reid   Matt Neal Computeach Racing with Halfords
R5   Shaun Watson-Smith   Luke Hines VX Racing
R6   Matt Neal   James Thompson VX Racing
3 R7 Silverstone Circuit (International), Northamptonshire 9 May   Jason Plato   Yvan Muller   Matt Neal Computeach Racing with Halfords
R8   Colin Turkington   James Thompson VX Racing
R9   Anthony Reid   Tom Chilton Team Honda
4 R10 Oulton Park (Island), Cheshire 23 May   James Thompson   James Thompson   Yvan Muller VX Racing
R11   Dan Eaves   Dan Eaves Computeach Racing with Halfords
R12   James Thompson   Yvan Muller VX Racing
5 R13 Mondello Park 13 June   Yvan Muller   Colin Turkington   Yvan Muller VX Racing
R14   Anthony Reid   Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R15   Anthony Reid   Colin Turkington West Surrey Racing
6 R16 Croft Circuit, Yorkshire 25 July   Anthony Reid   Anthony Reid   Anthony Reid West Surrey Racing
R17   Anthony Reid   Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R18   Anthony Reid   Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
7 R19 Knockhill Circuit, Fife 8 August   Anthony Reid   Colin Turkington   Anthony Reid West Surrey Racing
R20   Dan Eaves   Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R21   Anthony Reid   Anthony Reid West Surrey Racing
8 R22 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 22 August   Matt Neal   Matt Neal   Matt Neal Computeach Racing with Halfords
R23   Jason Plato   Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R24   Robert Huff
  Shaun Watson-Smith 		  Robert Huff SEAT Sport UK
9 R25 Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk 5 September   James Thompson   James Thompson   James Thompson VX Racing
R26   Jason Plato   Luke Hines VX Racing
R27   James Thompson   Robert Huff SEAT Sport UK
10 R28 Donington Park (National), Leicestershire 26 September   Jason Plato   Jason Plato   Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R29   Yvan Muller   Tom Chilton Team Honda
R30   James Thompson   Yvan Muller VX Racing

Drivers Championship edit

Points system
 1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th  Fastest Lap Lead a lap
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.
  • Race 1 polesitter receives 1 point.

(key)

Pos Driver THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts
1   James Thompson 1* Ret 3 4 2 1* 4 1* 7* 2 5 3 5 2 4 4 4 4 3 Ret 4 3 4 12* 1* 7 3 2* 5 3 274
2   Yvan Muller 3 2 1* 5 3 3 2 2 Ret 1* 8 1* 1* 4 6 2 6 5 5 4 9 2 8 5 5 4 2 7 2 1* 273
3   Jason Plato 8 1* 4 Ret DNS Ret 3* 9 2 8 2 Ret* 9 1* Ret* 9 1* 1* 10 1* 7* 9 1* 2* 11 3 10 1* 6 2 224
4   Anthony Reid 4 6 2 Ret 4 2 6 3 4* 10 3 Ret 2 5 9 1* 8 6 1* 7 1* 12 Ret 6 8 2 5 5 4 8 213
5   Matt Neal 2 Ret 9 1* DNS 7 1* 8 8 3 4 2 4 10 Ret 3 5 Ret 9 2 8 1* 5 4 2 Ret 4 Ret Ret Ret 181
6   Colin Turkington 14 10 6 6 5 5 11 5 12 4 6 5 3 6 1* 6 7 3 4 Ret 3 10 2* 11* 4 5 7 3 7 6 173
7   Robert Huff 6 Ret Ret 2* 11 4 10 7* 3 7 Ret Ret 8 DSQ Ret 5 2 2* Ret 6 5 7 3 1* 12 8 1* 10 11 5 148
8   Dan Eaves 5 4* 12 8 8 8 5 6 6 9 1* 8 Ret Ret 3 7 3 12 6 3 2* Ret 9 Ret 6 11 6 8 3 4 148
9   Tom Chilton 10 Ret 10 3 6 6 18 10 1* 11 7 6 7 8 5 19 9 7 2 Ret Ret 6 13 8 3 10 12 9 1* 12 116
10   Luke Hines Ret 7 5 9 1* 10 8 14 11 Ret 9 11 6 3 2 8 14 8 15 5 6 5 10 7 10 1* 8 6 10 Ret 115
11   James Kaye 13 9 7 12 7 Ret 13 15 9 6 12 9 15 7 Ret Ret 12 13 13 9 11 4 6 Ret 9 6 13 11 9 9 49
12   Rob Collard 11 5 8 10 15 15 Ret 13 DNS 5 Ret 4 13 11 Ret 15 Ret 9 8 11 Ret 15 Ret 9 7 9 11 13 8 7 44
13   Michael Bentwood 7 3 Ret Ret DNS Ret Ret 12 10 13 11 7 10 12 Ret 14 11 11 11 7 3 Ret 14 14 4 Ret 13 42
14   Shaun Watson-Smith 9 8 Ret 7 Ret 9 12 11 14 Ret 14 10 12 Ret 10 13 10 10 7 8 10 8 Ret Ret DSQ 12 15 14 12 Ret 28
15   Carl Breeze Ret Ret 11 Ret DNS DNS 7 16 5 Ret 13 Ret 11 Ret 8 11 13 14 Ret Ret DNS 13 12 10 14 Ret Ret 14
16   Kelvin Burt 9 4* Ret 12 Ret Ret 11
17   Jason Hughes Ret 12 Ret 14 12 12 Ret 19 17 15 16 12 14 13 7 12 Ret Ret 11 10 12 14 11 Ret 13 13 16 Ret 13 11 5
18   Stefan Hodgetts Ret DNS Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNS 9 Ret Ret 10 4
19   Justin Keen 13 9 Ret 14 18 16 Ret 15 Ret 2
20   Gavin Smith Ret 9 Ret 2
21   Charlie Butler-Henderson 12 11 Ret 11 Ret 11 Ret Ret 13 Ret 10 Ret Ret 15 Ret 1
22   Paul Wallace Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 13 1
23   Fariqe Hairuman Ret DNS Ret Ret 13 14 15 17 15 14 17 13 16 Ret 11 16 Ret Ret Ret 12 Ret 17 14 Ret Ret 15 Ret NC Ret DNS 0
24   John George 15 13 Ret Ret DNS DNS 17 20 Ret 17 Ret 15 12 13 13 Ret Ret Ret 15 16 17 Ret DNS DNS 0
25   Gavin Pyper 12 Ret Ret 0
26   Richard Marsh 15 14 16 16 DNS DNS Ret DNS DNS 17 Ret DNS 18 16 16 14 14 14 16 Ret Ret NC 17 18 0
27   Jay Wheals 15 14 DNS 0
Pos Driver THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts
  • Note: bold signifies pole position (1 point given in first race only, driver who finishes 10th in first race gets pole for race 2 and race 3 pole is for race 2 winner), italics signifies fastest lap (1 point given all races) and * signifies at least one lap in the lead (1 point given all races).

Manufacturers Championship edit

Pos Manufacturer THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts
1 Vauxhall / VX Racing 1 2 1 4 1 1 2 1 7 1 5 1 1 2 2 2 4 4 3 4 4 2 4 5 1 1 2 2 2 1 732
3 7 3 5 2 3 4 2 11 2 8 3 5 3 4 4 6 5 5 5 6 3 8 7 5 4 3 6 5 3
Ret Ret 5 9 3 10 8 14 Ret Ret 9 11 6 4 6 8 14 8 15 Ret 9 5 10 12 10 7 8 7 10 Ret
2 Honda / Honda Racing &
Computeach Racing with Halfords 		2 4 9 1 6 6 1 6 1 3 1 2 4 8 3 3 3 7 2 2 2 1 5 4 2 10 4 8 1 4 548
5 Ret 10 3 8 7 5 8 6 9 4 6 7 10 5 7 5 12 6 3 8 6 9 8 3 11 6 9 3 12
10 Ret 12 8 DNS 8 18 10 8 11 7 8 Ret Ret Ret 19 9 Ret 9 Ret Ret Ret 13 Ret 6 Ret 12 Ret Ret Ret
3 SEAT / SEAT Sport UK 6 1 4 2 11 4 3 7 2 7 2 Ret 8 1 Ret 5 1 1 10 1 5 7 1 1 11 3 1 1 6 2 421
8 Ret Ret Ret DNS Ret 10 9 3 8 Ret Ret 9 DSQ Ret 9 2 2 Ret 6 7 9 3 2 12 8 10 10 11 5
4 Proton / Petronas Syntium Proton 9 8 Ret 7 13 9 12 11 14 14 14 10 12 Ret 10 13 10 10 7 8 10 8 14 Ret DSQ 12 15 14 12 Ret 96
Ret DNS Ret Ret Ret 14 15 17 15 Ret 17 13 16 Ret 11 16 Ret Ret Ret 12 Ret 17 Ret Ret Ret 15 Ret NC Ret DNS
Pos Manufacturer THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts

Teams Championship edit

Pos Team THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts
1 VX Racing 1 2 1 4 1 1 2 1 7 1 5 1 1 2 2 2 4 4 3 4 4 2 4 5 1 1 2 2 2 1 536
3 7 3 5 2 3 4 2 11 2 8 3 5 3 4 4 6 5 5 5 6 3 8 7 5 4 3 6 5 3
2 SEAT Sport UK 6 1 4 2 11 4 3 7 2 7 2 Ret 8 1 Ret 5 1 1 10 1 5 7 1 1 11 3 1 1 6 2 360
8 Ret Ret Ret DNS Ret 10 9 3 8 Ret Ret 9 DSQ Ret 9 2 2 Ret 6 7 9 3 2 12 8 10 10 11 5
3 West Surrey Racing 4 6 2 6 4 2 6 3 4 4 3 5 2 5 1 1 7 3 1 7 1 10 2 6 4 2 5 3 4 6 325
14 10 6 Ret 5 5 11 5 12 10 6 Ret 3 6 9 6 8 6 4 Ret 3 12 Ret 11 8 5 7 5 7 8
4 Computeach Racing with Halfords 2 4 9 1 8 7 1 6 6 3 1 2 4 10 3 3 3 12 6 2 2 1 5 4 2 11 4 8 3 4 303
5 Ret 12 8 DNS 8 5 8 8 9 4 8 Ret Ret Ret 7 5 Ret 9 3 8 Ret 9 Ret 6 Ret 6 Ret Ret Ret
5 Team Honda 10 Ret 10 3 6 6 18 10 1 11 7 6 7 8 5 19 9 7 2 Ret Ret 6 13 8 3 10 12 9 1 12 111
6 Synchro Motorsport 13 9 7 12 7 Ret 13 15 9 6 12 9 15 7 Ret Ret 12 13 13 9 11 4 6 Ret 9 6 13 11 9 9 54
7 Collard Racing 11 5 8 10 15 15 Ret 13 DNS 5 Ret 4 13 11 Ret 15 Ret 9 8 11 Ret 15 Ret 9 7 9 11 13 8 7 50
8 Team Sureterm 12 11 11 11 10 11 7 4 5 12 10 Ret 11 9 8 10 13 14 Ret Ret DNS 13 12 10 14 Ret 9 12 Ret 10 44
Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 13 9 16 13 Ret 13 Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 15 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNS Ret Ret Ret Ret
9 VXR Junior 7 3 Ret Ret DNS Ret Ret 12 10 13 11 7 10 12 Ret 14 11 11 11 7 3 Ret 14 14 4 Ret 13 26
10 Petronas Syntium Proton 9 8 Ret 7 13 9 12 11 14 14 14 10 12 Ret 10 13 10 10 7 8 10 8 14 Ret DSQ 12 15 14 12 Ret 11
Ret DNS Ret Ret Ret 14 15 17 15 Ret 17 13 16 Ret 11 16 Ret Ret Ret 12 Ret 17 Ret Ret Ret 15 Ret NC Ret DNS
11 Edenbridge Racing 13 9 Ret 14 18 16 Ret 15 Ret 3
12 Mardi Gras Motorsport 15 13 Ret Ret DNS DNS 17 20 Ret 17 Ret 15 12 13 13 Ret Ret Ret 15 16 17 Ret DNS DNS 0
13 Team Quest/Varta 15 14 16 16 DNS DNS Ret DNS DNS 17 Ret DNS 18 16 16 14 14 14 16 Ret Ret NC 17 18 15 14 DNS 0
14 Kartworld Racing Ret 12 Ret 14 12 12 Ret 19 17 15 16 12 14 13 7 12 Ret Ret 11 10 12 14 11 Ret 13 13 16 Ret 13 11 -3
Pos Team THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts

Independents Championship edit

Pos Driver THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts
1   Anthony Reid 4 6 2 Ret 4 2 6 3 4 10 3 Ret 2 5 9 1 8 6 1 7 1 12 Ret 6 8 2 5 5 4 8 312
2   Colin Turkington 14 10 6 6 5 5 11 5 12 4 6 5 3 6 1 6 7 3 4 Ret 3 10 2 11 4 5 7 3 7 6 300
3   Dan Eaves 5 4 12 8 8 8 5 6 6 9 1 8 Ret Ret 3 7 3 12 6 3 2 Ret 9 Ret 6 11 6 8 3 4 254
4   Matt Neal 2 Ret 9 1 DNS 7 1 8 8 3 4 2 4 10 Ret 3 5 Ret 9 2 8 1 5 4 2 Ret 4 Ret Ret Ret 253
5   James Kaye 13 9 7 12 7 Ret 13 15 9 6 12 9 15 7 Ret Ret 12 13 13 9 11 4 6 Ret 9 6 13 11 9 9 164
6   Rob Collard 11 5 8 10 15 15 Ret 13 DNS 5 Ret 4 13 11 Ret 15 Ret 9 8 11 Ret 15 Ret 9 7 9 11 13 8 7 152
7   Michael Bentwood 7 3 Ret Ret DNS Ret Ret 12 10 13 11 7 10 12 Ret 14 11 11 11 7 3 Ret 14 14 4 Ret 13 131
8   Jason Hughes Ret 12 Ret 14 12 12 Ret 19 17 15 16 12 14 13 7 12 Ret Ret 11 10 12 14 11 Ret 14 13 16 Ret 13 11 89
9   Carl Breeze Ret Ret 11 Ret DNS DNS 7 16 5 Ret 13 Ret 11 Ret 8 11 13 14 Ret Ret DNS 13 12 10 15 Ret Ret 75
10   Charlie Butler-Henderson 12 11 Ret 11 Ret 11 Ret Ret 13 Ret 10 Ret Ret 15 Ret 33
11   John George 15 13 Ret Ret DNS DNS 17 20 Ret 17 Ret 15 12 13 13 Ret Ret Ret 16 16 17 Ret DNS DNS 27
12   Richard Marsh 15 14 16 16 DNS DNS Ret DNS DNS 17 Ret DNS 18 16 16 14 14 14 16 Ret Ret NC 17 18 27
13   Kelvin Burt 9 4 Ret 12 Ret Ret 22
14   Justin Keen 13 9 Ret 14 18 16 Ret 15 Ret 18
15   Stefan Hodgetts Ret DNS Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNS 9 Ret Ret 10 17
16   Paul Wallace Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 13 9
17   Gavin Smith Ret 9 Ret 8
18   Jay Wheals 15 14 DNS 7
19   Gavin Pyper 12 Ret Ret 5
Pos. Driver THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts

External links edit

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