2002 British Touring Car Championship

The 2002 Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 45th British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season which began at Brands Hatch on 1 April and concluded at Donington Park on 22 September.

James Thompson won his first BTCC title.
Yvan Muller finished runner up.

Changes for 2002

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Teams and drivers

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Touring Class

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The second season of BTC-T rules in the top class saw two new manufacturer backed teams enter, with Honda returning[1] and Proton entering for the first time.

Reigning champions Vauxhall again entered four Triple 8-run Vauxhall Astra Coupes. With reigning champion Jason Plato not returning,[2] 2001 runner-up Yvan Muller was partnered by James Thompson in the Vauxhall Motorsport entries while Thompson's place in the Egg Sport entry was taken by Matt Neal, fresh from a season in the European Touring Car Championship, alongside Production class graduate Paul O'Neill.

MG, who had trialled their West Surrey Racing-prepared ZS in the closing stages of 2001 retained experienced touring car hand Anthony Reid and Warren Hughes at the wheel.

After a year absence Honda returned with a pair Honda Civic Type-R's prepared by Arena Motorsport, who had previously entered as an independent in 1999. Guernseyman Andy Priaulx, who crossed over from Formula 3 after impressing on a one off BTCC outing for Vauxhall in 2001, was signed alongside Northern Irishman Alan Morrison, the 2000 Production (then Class B) champion.

In late 2001 it was announced that Proton would enter a pair of manufacturer backed cars[3] backed by Petronas and run under the Petronas Syntium Proton - Team [PSP] banner. Jason Plato was initially linked with the drive before Scottish veteran David Leslie and Phil Bennett, who had been dropped by Vauxhall, were officially announced.

With Peugeot withdrawing their factory backing, Vic Lee Racing now headed the independents class, which was reinstated after a 1-year hiatus, with their pair of 406 Coupes, and acquired sponsorship from the motoring retailer Halfords. Dan Eaves remained and was joined by 1992 champion Tim Harvey, moving across from JSM. The pair were joined later in the year by Formula Renault championship winner Carl Breeze in a third car.

The works MG squad was supported from second meeting onwards by a WSR-run satellite team carrying the name of the girl band Atomic Kitten as part of a sponsorship deal. This team ran the young pairing of Fiesta racer Colin Turkington and Production graduate Gareth Howell.

Barwell Motorsport stepped up from the Production class to complete the Touring grid with a pair of ex-works Vauxhall Astra Coupes driven by New Zealand superbike racer Aaron Slight, who switched to car racing after a successful guest appearance for Peugeot in 2001, and 17-year-old rookie Tom Chilton.

Total Motorsport planned to continue running the Lexus IS200 they had run the previous year with a two-car entry for Steve Sutcliffe and Richard Dean (https://www.crash.net/btcc/news/7090/1/two-lexus-for-2002-btcc) and GR Motorsport planned to graduate from the Production Class with Gordon Shedden driving an ex-JS Motorsport Alfa Romeo 147 (http://www.touringcarregister.com/register/492/) but neither of these entries came to fruition.

Production Class

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In the Production class Synchro Motorsport gained the upper hand by stepping up from the Honda Accord to the brand new Civic Type R, recruiting former Honda factory driver James Kaye from Barwell alongside the returning Dave Allan.

The Accords were still campaigned by new squad Beacon Motorsport with Lotus Elise championship graduates Mark Thomas and Spencer Marsh, and John Batchelor's team swapped from Integras to a pair of Accords for Jim Edwards Jnr and Batchelor (again under the name of John B-and-Q), who was injured in a crash during the second meeting at Oulton Park and replaced by Peter Cate and later Hyla Breese.

Tech-Speed Motorsport continued their Peugeot 306 campaign, with Lotus Elise champion Mark Fullalove replacing Vauxhall-bound Paul O'Neill alongside Annie Templeton, and GA Motorsport also returned with their Alfa Romeo 156s, this time campaigned by series newcomers Graham Saunders and Alan Blencowe, accompanied by 2001 driver Gavin Pyper at circuits with enough grid space to accommodate a third car. Pyper received a race ban following an incident at Thruxton and his car was driven by former Ford and Volvo driver Kelvin Burt.

Rob Collard also returned in his self-entered Renault Clio but did not contest a full programme.

The big new arrival to the class was Edenbridge Racing's pair of BMW 320is, driven by teenager Tom Boardman in his second year in the class, and experienced German production saloon racer Norman Simon who had raced in the European Super Production championship in 2001.

TH Motorsport also appeared at selected rounds with a Mitsubishi Carisma for Steve Wood.

Other changes

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  • Number of race weekends reduced from 13 to 10
  • ITV took over terrestrial broadcasting rights from the BBC[4]
  • Greenflag took over as title sponsor from AA.[5]

Trivia

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  • Hyla Breese became the first driver since Dave Brodie in 1989 to end the season with a negative points score after collecting 20 penalty points for engine changes taking his final tally to -16.

Teams and drivers

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Team Car No. Drivers Rounds
Works Entries
  Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Astra Coupé 2   Yvan Muller All
3   James Thompson All
  egg:sport 0   Matt Neal All
29   Paul O'Neill All
  MG Sport & Racing MG ZS 11   Anthony Reid All
12   Warren Hughes All
  Petronas Syntium Proton Proton Impian 15   David Leslie All
20   Phil Bennett All
  Honda Racing Honda Civic Type-R 27   Alan Morrison All
28   Andy Priaulx All
Independent Entries
  Team Halfords Peugeot 406 Coupé 5   Dan Eaves All
8   Tim Harvey All
23   Carl Breeze 4–10
  Team Atomic Kitten MG ZS 21   Gareth Howell 2–10
22   Colin Turkington 2–10
  Barwell Motorsport Vauxhall Astra Coupé 17   Tom Chilton All
111   Aaron Slight All
Production Entries
  Collard Racing Renault Clio 172 51   Rob Collard 1–4, 6
  Synchro Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R 52   James Kaye All
53   Dave Allan 3–10
  Gary Ayles Motorsport Alfa Romeo 156 55   Graham Saunders All
56   Alan Blencowe All
57   Gavin Pyper 2–3, 5–10
58   Kelvin Burt 4
  Tech-Speed Motorsport Peugeot 306 GTi 59   Annie Templeton All
60   Mark Fullalove All
  Beacon Motorsport Honda Accord 62   Spencer Marsh All
63   Mark Thomas All
  Edenbridge Racing BMW 320i 77   Tom Boardman All
78   Norman Simon All
  Team B&Q Jet York City Honda Accord 79   Hyla Breese 6–10
88   John B&Q 1–2
89   Peter Cate 3–5
99   Jim Edwards Jr. All
  TH Motorsport Mitsubishi Carisma 81   Steve Wood 1–4, 10

Not eligible for points.

Race calendar and winners

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All races were held in the United Kingdom (except Mondello Park which was held in Ireland).

Round Circuit Date Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Team Production Class winner
1 R1 Brands Hatch (Grand Prix), Kent 1 April   Yvan Muller   Yvan Muller   Matt Neal egg:sport   Norman Simon
R2   Yvan Muller   Yvan Muller   James Thompson Vauxhall Motorsport   Rob Collard
2 R3 Oulton Park (Island), Cheshire 21 April   Matt Neal   Matt Neal   Yvan Muller Vauxhall Motorsport   James Kaye
R4   Matt Neal   Matt Neal   Paul O'Neill egg:sport   Spencer Marsh
3 R5 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 6 May   Yvan Muller   James Thompson   James Thompson Vauxhall Motorsport   James Kaye
R6   Yvan Muller   Yvan Muller   Yvan Muller Vauxhall Motorsport   James Kaye
4 R7 Silverstone Circuit (International), Northamptonshire 3 June   Matt Neal   James Thompson   Warren Hughes MG Sport & Racing   Norman Simon
R8   Anthony Reid   James Thompson   James Thompson Vauxhall Motorsport   James Kaye
5 R9 Mondello Park 23 June   Yvan Muller   Yvan Muller   Matt Neal egg:sport   Gavin Pyper
R10   James Thompson   Yvan Muller   Yvan Muller Vauxhall Motorsport   Spencer Marsh
6 R11 Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire 14 July   James Thompson   James Thompson   James Thompson Vauxhall Motorsport   Norman Simon
R12   James Thompson   Yvan Muller   Yvan Muller Vauxhall Motorsport   Norman Simon
7 R13 Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk 28 July   Matt Neal   Matt Neal   James Thompson Vauxhall Motorsport   Gavin Pyper
R14   James Thompson   Matt Neal   Yvan Muller Vauxhall Motorsport   James Kaye
8 R15 Knockhill Circuit, Fife 11 August   Andy Priaulx   Matt Neal   Matt Neal egg:sport   Gavin Pyper
R16   Andy Priaulx   Yvan Muller   Andy Priaulx Honda Racing   Gavin Pyper
9 R17 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 26 August   Anthony Reid   Anthony Reid   Anthony Reid MG Sport & Racing   Norman Simon
R18   Warren Hughes   Andy Priaulx   Warren Hughes MG Sport & Racing   Norman Simon
10 R19 Donington Park (Grand Prix), Leicestershire 22 September   James Thompson   James Thompson   James Thompson Vauxhall Motorsport   Gavin Pyper
R20   Andy Priaulx   Alan Morrison   Alan Morrison Honda Racing   Norman Simon

Championship results tables

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Points system
 1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th  Pole Position Fastest Lap Lead a lap
in feature race
15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 1
  • No driver may collect more than one "Lead a Lap" point per race no matter how many laps they lead.

Touring Class (BTC-T)

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Pos. Driver BRH OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BRH DON Pts
Touring Class (BTC-T)
1   James Thompson Ret 1* 3 7* 1 2 8 1* 2 2 1 Ret 1 2 3 3 NC Ret 1 3 183
2   Yvan Muller 5 2* 1 10* Ret 1* 9 10 Ret 1* Ret 1* 2 1* 4 2 3 6 5 Ret 163
3   Matt Neal 1 4 4 Ret* 2 3* 6 3* 1 3 Ret Ret Ret Ret* 1 4 4 8 3 Ret 145
4   Anthony Reid 4 3 5 Ret 3 Ret* DSQ 2* 5 4* Ret 3 4 10 2 6* 1 5* 4 8 136
5   Andy Priaulx 12 5 7 Ret 4 5 4 6 6 Ret 4 2* 3 Ret 7 1* 11 7* 2 4* 116
6   Warren Hughes Ret 8* 2 2 11 10 1 11 10 7 5 11 7 3 Ret Ret 2 1* 7 2* 110
7   David Leslie Ret Ret 8 3 9 9 3 9 3 11 2 7 5 Ret 9 8* 9 Ret 6 6 79
8   Paul O'Neill Ret Ret Ret 1* 8 7 2 4* 4 5* Ret 6* 11 16 6 5* 10 4 Ret 5 77
9   Alan Morrison Ret Ret 10 5 12 8 5 Ret* Ret 6 6 Ret* 6 Ret 5 10 8 2 10 1* 68
10   Dan Eaves 2 13 20 Ret 6 6 12 7 Ret Ret 9 4 13 7 12 Ret Ret 21 9 Ret 43
11   Tim Harvey Ret 7* Ret 6 5 4* Ret 5 7 DSQ Ret Ret Ret DNS 11 9 6 3 Ret Ret* 43
12   Gareth Howell 9 4 10 11 Ret 8 Ret 10 Ret 9 10 5 Ret 13* 5 Ret* Ret Ret 32
13   Aaron Slight 9 12 6 8 7 DNS 10 Ret DNS 8 7 10 12 9 Ret 12 Ret 9 Ret Ret 32
14   Colin Turkington 19 Ret Ret Ret Ret 12 DNS DNS 3 5 9 4 8 Ret Ret 16 11 Ret 29
15   Tom Chilton 3 Ret 11 9 13 Ret 11 Ret 9 Ret Ret Ret Ret 8* 10 7 12 10 12 Ret 14
16   Phil Bennett 11 6 Ret DNS 14 Ret 7 13 8 9 12 8 8 18 Ret DNS 7 12 8 9 9
17   Carl Breeze DNS 16 Ret 18 8 12* 14 6 Ret 14 Ret DNS 13 7 8
Production Class (BTC-P)
1   James Kaye Ret NC 12 Ret 15 12 16 15 17 Ret 11 14 17 11 16 17 14 13 16 11 210
2   Norman Simon 6 Ret 15 13 Ret DNS 13 Ret Ret Ret 10 13 16 Ret 14 15 13 11 15 10 180
3   Spencer Marsh 8 Ret 16 11 17 Ret 20 17 Ret 12 Ret 15 22 Ret 15 Ret 17 15 19 13 122
4   Gavin Pyper Ret Ret Ret 20 15 Ret Ret DNS 15 12 13 11 15 14 14 12 107
5   Jim Edwards Jr. 10 Ret 17 12 21 14 17 Ret 18 13 17 16 24 Ret DSQ 20 22 17 20 14 101
6   Tom Boardman Ret 10 DNS DNS 16 17 Ret 22 16 15 18 Ret 19 13 20 22 16 Ret 17 15 98
7   Alan Blencowe Ret Ret 14 Ret Ret 13 21 18 19 17 13 Ret Ret 20 18 21 19 18 Ret Ret 76
8   Mark Fullalove Ret Ret 13 14 18 Ret 18 Ret Ret Ret 16 Ret Ret 19 Ret 16 18 20 18 Ret 69
9   Dave Allan Ret 18 26 19 20 16 15 Ret 18 15 17 19 Ret 19 Ret 17 61
10   Mark Thomas Ret Ret 18 15 19 16 19 Ret Ret 19 Ret 17 21 17 19 23 21 Ret 21 16 61
11   Graham Saunders Ret 11 DNS DNS 22 15 22 21 Ret Ret 14 Ret 20 14 21 18 20 Ret Ret DNS 60
12   Rob Collard 7 9 DNS DNS DNS DNS 14 Ret DNS DNS 34
13   Annie Templeton 13 Ret Ret 17 24 19 25 Ret DNS DNS 19 18 25 Ret 22 24 23 22 22 Ret 26
14   Peter Cate 20 21 24 20 Ret 14 23
15   Steve Wood DNS DNS Ret 16 23 Ret 23 23 23 Ret 12
 –   John B&Q DNS DNS Ret DNS 0
 –   Hyla Breese DNS DNS 23 21 DNS DNS Ret DNS DNS DNS -16
guest drivers ineligible for points
 –   Kelvin Burt 15 14 0
Pos. Driver BRH OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BRH DON Pts
  • Note: bold signifies pole position in class (1 point awarded all races), italics signifies fastest lap in class (1 point awarded all races) and * signifies that driver lead feature race for at least one lap (1 point given).

Not eligible for points.

Independent's Championship

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Pos. Driver BRH OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BRH DON Pts
1   Dan Eaves 2 13 20 Ret 6 6 12 7 Ret Ret 9 4 13 7 12 Ret Ret 21 9 Ret 145
2   Aaron Slight 9 12 6 8 7 DNS 10 Ret DNS 8 7 10 12 9 Ret 12 Ret 9 Ret Ret 142
3   Tim Harvey Ret 7 Ret 6 5 4 Ret 5 7 DSQ Ret Ret Ret DNS 11 9 6 3 Ret Ret 126
4   Gareth Howell 9 4 10 11 Ret 8 Ret 10 Ret 9 10 5 Ret 13 5 Ret Ret Ret 126
5   Tom Chilton 3 Ret 11 9 13 Ret 11 Ret 9 Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 10 7 12 10 12 Ret 123
6   Colin Turkington 19 Ret Ret Ret Ret 12 DNS DNS 3 5 9 4 8 Ret Ret 16 11 Ret 108
7   Carl Breeze DNS 16 Ret 18 8 12 14 6 Ret 14 Ret DNS 13 7 72
Pos. Driver BRH OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BRH DON Pts

Manufacturers Championship

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Pos Manufacturer BRH OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BRH DON Pts
1 Vauxhall / Vauxhall Motorsport/egg:sport 1 1 1 7 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 6 1 3 471
5 2 3 10 2 2 8 3 2 2 Ret Ret 2 2 3 3 4 8 3 Ret
Ret 4 4 Ret Ret 3 9 10 Ret 3 Ret Ret Ret Ret 4 4 NC Ret 5 Ret
2 MG / MG Sport & Racing 4 3 2 2 3 10 1 2 5 4 5 3 4 3 2 6 1 1 4 2 320
Ret 8 5 Ret 11 Ret DSQ 11 10 7 Ret 11 7 10 Ret Ret 2 5 7 8
3 Honda / Honda Racing 12 5 7 5 4 5 4 6 6 6 4 2 3 Ret 5 1 8 2 2 1 212
Ret Ret 10 Ret 12 8 5 Ret Ret Ret 6 Ret 6 Ret 7 10 11 7 10 4
4 Proton / Petronas Syntium Proton 11 6 8 3 9 9 3 9 3 9 2 7 5 18 9 8 7 12 6 6 145
Ret Ret Ret DNS 14 Ret 7 13 8 11 12 8 8 Ret Ret DNS 9 Ret 8 9
Pos Manufacturer BRH OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BRH DON Pts

Touring Teams Championship

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Pos Team BRH OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BRH DON Pts
1 Vauxhall Motorsport 1 7 1 1 1 1 1 2 6 3 161
2 10 2 10 2 Ret 2 3 Ret Ret
2 MG Sport & Racing 3 2 10 2 4 3 3 6 1 2 107
8 Ret Ret 11 7 11 10 Ret 5 8
3 egg:sport 4 1 3 3 3 6 16 4 4 5 87
Ret Ret 7 4 5 Ret Ret 5 8 Ret
4 Honda Racing 5 5 5 6 6 2 Ret 1 2 1 78
Ret Ret 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 7 4
5 Team Halfords 7 6 4 5 Ret 4 7 9 3 Ret 47
13 Ret 6 7 DSQ Ret DNS Ret 21 Ret
6 Team Atomic Kitten 4 11 8 10 5 4 13 16 Ret 34
Ret Ret 12 DNS 9 5 Ret Ret Ret
7 Team Petronas 6 3 9 9 9 7 18 8 12 6 14
Ret DNS Ret 13 11 8 Ret DNS Ret 9
8 Barwell Motorsport 12 8 Ret Ret 8 10 8 7 9 Ret 12
Ret 9 DNS Ret Ret Ret 9 12 10 Ret
Pos Team BRH OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BRH DON Pts

Production Teams Championship

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Pos Team BRH OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BRH DON Pts
1 Synchro Motorsport NC Ret 12 15 16 14 11 17 13 11 127
18 19 Ret Ret 15 19 19 17
2 Edenbridge Racing 10 13 17 22 15 13 13 15 11 10 115
Ret DNS DNS Ret Ret Ret Ret 22 Ret 15
3 Beacon Motorsport Ret 11 16 17 12 15 17 23 15 13 103
Ret 15 Ret Ret 19 17 Ret Ret Ret 16
4 Gary Ayles Motorsport 11 Ret 13 18 17 Ret 12 11 14 12 86
Ret Ret 15 21 Ret Ret 14 18 18 Ret
5 Team B&Q Jet York City Ret 12 14 20 13 16 21 20 17 14 59
DNS DNS 21 Ret 14 DNS Ret DNS DNS DNS
6 Tech-Speed Motorsport Ret 14 19 Ret Ret 18 19 16 20 Ret 43
Ret 17 Ret Ret DNS Ret Ret 24 22 Ret
7 Collard Racing 9 DNS DNS Ret DNS 10
8 TH Motorsport DNS 16 Ret 23 Ret 8
Pos Team BHGP OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BHI DON Pts

References

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  1. ^ "Honda Civics for 2002 BTCC". Crash. 2001-10-18. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
  2. ^ "Plato leaves Vauxhall". 2001-12-03. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
  3. ^ "Proton enters 2002 championship". Crash. 2001-11-01. Retrieved 2017-12-25.
  4. ^ "BTCC switches to ITV for 2002 - BTCC - Autosport". Autosport.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
  5. ^ staff, AUTOSPORT.com. "BTCC news: BTCC signs up new sponsor for 2002". AUTOSPORT.com. Archived from the original on 2019-11-05. Retrieved 2017-12-13.