1997 British Touring Car Championship

The 1997 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship was won by Alain Menu of the Williams Renault Dealer Racing team, driving a Renault Laguna. Menu dominated the year, setting a record of 12 wins during the season. The runner up was Frank Biela of Audi Sport UK in an Audi A4 Quattro. Third place was Menu's teammate, Jason Plato. In the independent class the championship was won by Robb Gravett in a Honda Accord.

Season Review 1997

Defending manufacturers champions Audi retained the same driver line up for 1997, with defending drivers champion Frank Biela again partnering John Bintcliffe. Pre-season was not without controversy for Audi as had been announced that due to their dominance of much of 1996, a further weight penalty would be applied to both of their A4 Quattro's,^[1] a penalty that would subsequently be relaxed by 30kg at Oulton Park. Biela would secure 5 victories during the season to finish runner up to eventual champion Menu although he was never a serious threat for the title such was the Renault drivers dominance. Bintcliffe again finished 7th overall, scoring his first victory at Knockhill, repeating the feat at Thruxton.

Williams Renault, now into their third season running the Laguna, had a new driver in the form of future double BTCC champion Jason Plato, replacing 1991 Champion Will Hoy. Plato would drive alongside Swiss ace Alain Menu, three times a runner-up in the BTCC and now into his fifth year with Renault. Plato made history by taking pole position in his first 3 races but it was Menu who would go on to dominate the season with 12 victories, leading the standings throughout and wrapping up the title at Snetterton with 6 races to go. Plato's first victory came in that Snetterton race, the second coming in the final race of the year at Silverstone. The team wrapped up the manufacturers and teams championships.

The TWR backed Volvo squad, after an ultimately disappointing 1996 despite 5 wins, introduced a new car for 1997, replacing the 850 model with the sleek new S40. Swede Rickard Rydell, again drove alongside former Ford driver Kelvin Burt. The sole victory came for Rydell at Brands Hatch in August whilst Kelvin Burt scored just one podium in the opening race of the year

Honda, now having their pair of Accords run by the Prodrive team, had arguably the most exciting driver line-up for '97. Hard charger James Thompson, having joined from Vauxhall, and 1994 BTCC champion/ex-F1 driver Gabriele Tarquini would drive for the Japanese marque, who had had a resurgence towards the back end of 1996. Ultimately the season was a disappointment with just a single victory for each driver.

After a limited effort in 1996 Nissan re-entered the championship with a full blown manufacturer backed team. RML, who had run Vauxhall's effort since 1994, fielded a pair of brand new Primeras for David Leslie and Anthony Reid, the latter making his debut in the championship. Reliability was an issue but 5 podium finishes hinted at what was to come in 1998.

Vauxhall, after a difficult 1996 with just a solitary win for James Thompson, replaced the outgoing Yorkshireman with Derek Warwick, who joined both as a driver and team manager^[2] of the new-look Triple Eight Vectras after a somewhat low-key first BTCC season with Alfa in 1995. Double champion John Cleland would drive for Vauxhall for the ninth straight year in the BTCC. The team started the season with 1996 cars^[3] re-engineered by Triple Eight before being replaced by the new cars^[4] at Knockhill. The car suffered after a miscalculation with the aerodynamics that meant it lacked down force and did not work its tyres hard enough.^[5] BTCC rules meant that unlike in STW this was unable to be rectified.

Ford elected to introduce the latest shape Mondeo, and the driver line-up looked formidable on paper, with 1991 champion Will Hoy joining twice winner of the Touring Car World Cup New Zealander Paul Radisich. The cars were again built by Reynard Motorsport and run by West Surrey Racing. Whilst results were better than 1996 the cars continued to suffer from poor reliability and Ford finished the season 7th in the manufacturer standings.

After two seasons running the Honda factory effort Motorsport Developments (MSD) joined forces with Peugeot,^[6] now into their second season running the 406. They maintained the experienced duo of Patrick Watts and 1992 champion Tim Harvey and proved to be significantly more competitive than the previous season with Harvey taking a pair of 2nd places in wet conditions at Thruxton and Donington.

The independents championship was one of the most keenly contested for years. Defending independents champion Lee Brookes switched from a Toyota to a Peugeot, whilst rookie Jamie Wall drove the Mint Motorsport Vauxhall Cavalier used by Richard Kaye in 1996.

Matt Neal would again enter in his Team Dynamics built Mondeo,^[7] however the team looking to have closer ties to a manufacturer switched to a Nissan Primera mid season. Neal won the class six times, as many as eventual champion Gravett and was often mixing it with the works cars however inconsistency meant he was never in the championship battle.

1990 Champion Robb Gravett, having run selected rounds in 1996, returned with a Honda entered by Graham Hathaway and went on to secure the title, Whilst Scot Colin Gallie ran a 1994 BMW 318i entered by Dave Cook. Ian Heward again entered his 1993 ex RML Vauxhall Cavalier but often failed to qualify. Swedish Touring Car Championship regular Jan Brunstedt entered the early rounds at Silverstone but was lapped in both races.

Tourist Trophy

On October 18/19 the 1997 Tourist Trophy took place at Donington Park featuring an all-new format. One qualifying session on Saturday set the grid for the first of two 20-lap qualifying heats with the grid for the second race a reverse of the first. The grid for the 25 lap final was then decided by each driver's aggregate performance in the two heats.^[8]

Entry List

Team Car No. Drivers Rounds Manufacturers Audi Sport UK Audi A4 quattro 1 Frank Biela All 7 John Bintcliffe All Williams Renault Dealer Racing Renault Laguna 2 Alain Menu All 22 Jason Plato All Volvo S40 Racing Volvo S40 3 Rickard Rydell All 11 Kelvin Burt All Vodafone Nissan Racing Nissan Primera GT 4 David Leslie All 23 Anthony Reid All Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Vectra 8 John Cleland All 88 Derek Warwick All Team Mondeo with Reynard Ford Mondeo 9 Will Hoy All 15 Paul Radisich All Team Honda Sport Honda Accord 10 James Thompson All 20 Gabriele Tarquini All Esso Ultron Team Peugeot Peugeot 406 12 Tim Harvey All 14 Patrick Watts All Independents Brookes Motorsport Peugeot 406 17 Lee Brookes All Janco Motorsport Opel Vectra 18 Jan Brunstedt 2 Team DCRS BMW 318i 19 Colin Gallie All Mint Motorsport Vauxhall Cavalier 25 Jamie Wall All ProMotor Sport Vauxhall Cavalier 28 Ian Heward 6, 9–10, 12 Rock-It Cargo Honda Accord 29 Robb Gravett 2–12 Team Dynamics Ford Mondeo 77 Matt Neal 1–5 Nissan Primera eGT 6–12 RAC Tourist Trophy Team Car No. Drivers Manufacturers Williams Renault Dealer Racing Renault Laguna 1 Alain Menu 3 Jason Plato Audi Sport UK Audi A4 quattro 2 Frank Biela 7 John Bintcliffe Audi A4 18 Yvan Muller Volvo S40 Racing Volvo S40 4 Rickard Rydell 14 Armin Hahne Vodafone Nissan Racing Nissan Primera GT 8 David Leslie 11 Anthony Reid 17 Paula Cook Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Vectra 12 John Cleland Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo 15 Paul Radisich 16 Will Hoy Team Honda Sport Honda Accord 21 Aaron Slight 22 Jonny Kane Independents Abt Sportsline Audi A4 quattro 23 Christian Abt 24 Kris Nissen Mint Motorsport Vauxhall Cavalier 25 Tim Sugden Janco Motorsport Opel Vectra 27 Jan Brunstedt Linnerud Racing Opel Vectra 28 Tord Linnerud Team Dynamics Ford Mondeo 77 Matt Neal Nissan Primera eGT 78 Kari Mäkinen Calendar All races were held in the United Kingdom. Round Circuit Date Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Team Winning Independent 1 R1 Donington Park (Grand Prix), Leicestershire 31 March Jason Plato Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Colin Gallie R2 Jason Plato Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Colin Gallie 2 R3 Silverstone Circuit (International), Northamptonshire 20 April Jason Plato Jason Plato Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Robb Gravett R4 Alain Menu Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Robb Gravett 3 R5 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 5 May Alain Menu James Thompson Frank Biela Audi Sport UK Matt Neal R6 Alain Menu James Thompson Gabriele Tarquini Team Honda Sport Matt Neal 4 R7 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 18 May Alain Menu Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Robb Gravett R8 Gabriele Tarquini Alain Menu James Thompson Team Honda Sport Robb Gravett 5 R9 Oulton Park (Fosters), Cheshire 26 May Alain Menu Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Colin Gallie R10 Alain Menu Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Lee Brookes 6 R11 Donington Park (National), Leicestershire 15 June Alain Menu Alain Menu Frank Biela Audi Sport UK Lee Brookes R12 Alain Menu Gabriele Tarquini Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Lee Brookes 7 R13 Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire 29 June Alain Menu1 Gabriele Tarquini Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal R14 Alain Menu1 Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Lee Brookes 8 R15 Knockhill Racing Circuit, Fife 3 August John Bintcliffe Frank Biela John Bintcliffe Audi Sport UK Robb Gravett R16 Frank Biela Frank Biela Frank Biela Audi Sport UK Robb Gravett 9 R17 Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit, Norfolk 10 August Alain Menu Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Lee Brookes R18 Alain Menu Alain Menu Jason Plato Williams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal 10 R19 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 25 August Rickard Rydell Gabriele Tarquini John Bintcliffe Audi Sport UK Lee Brookes R20 James Thompson Frank Biela Frank Biela Audi Sport UK Lee Brookes 11 R21 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 7 September Frank Biela2 Anthony Reid Frank Biela Audi Sport UK Lee Brookes R22 Anthony Reid3 Rickard Rydell Rickard Rydell Volvo S40 Racing Lee Brookes 12 R23 Silverstone Circuit (International), Northamptonshire 21 September Jason Plato Anthony Reid Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal R24 Alain Menu Alain Menu Jason Plato Williams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal 1Qualifying cancelled. Grids set by championship standings. 2Qualifying cancelled. Grid set by fastest times in Sunday warm-up. 3Qualifying cancelled. Grid set by fastest laps in race 1. Championships Results Drivers Championship Note: bold signifies pole position (1 point awarded all races), italics signifies fastest lap. Drivers top 20 results count towards the championship. Points system Ref  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th  Pole Position 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 [9] Pos. Driver DON SIL THR BRH OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BRH SIL Pts 1 Alain Menu 1 1 1 1 3 3 1 (4) 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 Ret 1 2 17 2 3 (3) 1 2 281 2 Frank Biela Ret 3 7 Ret 1 Ret 9 6 3 Ret 1 3 4 17 2 1 3 9 2 1 1 5 8 15 171 3 Jason Plato 2 Ret 10 3 Ret 7 3 5 2 4 4 Ret 2 4 Ret 5 4 1 7 6 2 Ret 3 1 170 4 Rickard Rydell Ret 2 2 2 5 5 7 16 6 3 5 7 3 9 4 7 5 5 Ret 7 15 1 18 7 137 5 James Thompson Ret 6 Ret 9 6 Ret 2 1 Ret 2 6 11 5 2 6 Ret 2 4 3 3 Ret Ret 7 4 132 6 Gabriele Tarquini 7 4 5 15 2 1 6 2 Ret Ret Ret 6 Ret Ret 7 3 Ret 3 4 4 Ret 7 4 3 130 7 John Bintcliffe 5 5 Ret Ret 4 8 Ret 12 4 5 3 4 9 6 1 2 12 11 1 5 4 11 11 Ret 119 8 David Leslie 4 11 3 Ret 7 11 4 3 10 6 9 Ret Ret 3 11 Ret 9 6 8 10 6 8 6 6 87 9 Tim Harvey 10 Ret 11 4 9 2 Ret 10 Ret 8 7 2 10 7 14 9 8 15 6 13 5 9 13 Ret 66 10 Kelvin Burt 3 9 4 Ret Ret 13 8 8 9 Ret 8 Ret 12 12 8 4 Ret 8 Ret 16 14 6 5 8 60 11 Anthony Reid Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 4 5 14 7 Ret 11 Ret Ret 8 5 Ret Ret 10 13 Ret Ret 2 2 Ret 56 12 John Cleland 11 Ret 6 6 14 9 11 9 5 12 12 8 6 5 10 6 7 16 19 11 13 12 12 11 44 13 Paul Radisich 6 7 Ret Ret 10 10 Ret 7 8 7 Ret Ret Ret 11 Ret Ret 6 Ret 14 12 Ret 4 10 5 41 14 Derek Warwick 9 8 8 5 15 6 10 11 11 Ret Ret 10 7 10 9 13 11 Ret 9 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret 33 15 Will Hoy Ret DNS 12 7 11 12 DSQ 17 DNS DNS 13 9 8 Ret 12 14 10 7 5 9 7 Ret Ret 10 27 16 Patrick Watts 8 Ret 9 8 12 Ret Ret Ret Ret 15 10 5 11 16 18 8 Ret Ret 12 Ret 8 10 9 9 26 17 Lee Brookes Ret Ret 14 11 Ret DNS 13 15 16 9 14 12 NC 13 17 15 13 Ret 10 14 9 13 15 16 5 18 Robb Gravett 13 10 16 16 12 13 14 13 17 Ret 15 14 13 10 14 13 16 Ret 10 14 16 14 3 19 Colin Gallie 12 10 15 12 17 15 DNS DNS 12 10 15 15 16 15 15 11 15 14 15 17 11 15 17 13 2 20 Jamie Wall 13 Ret 16 13 18 17 14 Ret 13 11 18 14 14 Ret 16 12 Ret DNS 18 15 12 17 19 17 0 21 Matt Neal Ret 12 Ret DNS 13 14 15 DNS 15 14 16 13 13 Ret Ret DNS Ret 12 11 Ret Ret 16 14 12 0 22 Jan Brunstedt 17 14 0 23 Ian Heward Ret 16 DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 Pos. Driver DON SIL THR BRH OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BRH SIL Pts Privateers Championship Pos. Driver DON SIL THR BRH OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BRH SIL Pts 1 Robb Gravett 13 10 16 16 12 13 14 13 17 Ret 15 14 13 10 14 13 16 Ret 10 14 16 14 236 2 Lee Brookes Ret Ret 14 11 Ret DNS 13 15 16 9 14 12 NC 13 17 15 13 Ret 10 14 9 13 15 16 225 3 Colin Gallie 12 10 15 12 17 15 DNS DNS 12 10 15 15 (16) 15 15 11 15 14 15 17 11 15 (17) 13 225 (241) 4 Jamie Wall 13 Ret 16 13 18 17 14 Ret 13 11 18 14 14 Ret 16 12 Ret DNS 18 15 12 17 19 17 168 5 Matt Neal Ret 12 Ret DNS 13 14 15 DNS 15 14 16 13 13 Ret Ret DNS Ret 12 11 Ret Ret 16 14 12 166 6 Jan Brunstedt 17 14 12 7 Ian Heward Ret 16 DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 6 Pos. Driver DON SIL THR BRH OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BRH SIL Pts Manufacturers Championship Pos Manufacturer DON SIL THR BRH OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BRH SIL Pts 1 Renault / Williams Renault Dealer Racing 1 1 1 1 3 3 1 (4) 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 (5) 1 1 (7) 2 2 (3) 1 1 278 (312) 2 Audi / Audi Sport UK 5 3 7 Ret 1 (8) 9 6 3 5 1 3 4 6 1 1 3 (9) 1 1 1 5 8 (15) 210 (222) 3 Honda / Team Honda Sport 7 4 5 (9) 2 1 2 1 (Ret) 2 6 6 5 2 6 3 2 3 3 3 Ret (7) 4 3 209 (223) 4 Volvo / Volvo S40 Racing 3 2 2 2 5 5 7 (8) 6 3 5 7 3 (9) 4 4 5 5 Ret 7 (14) 1 5 7 191 (204) 5 Nissan / Vodafone Nissan Racing 4 11 3 Ret 7 4 4 3 7 6 9 (Ret) (Ret) 3 5 Ret 9 6 8 10 6 2 2 6 155 (161) 6 Peugeot / Esso Ultron Team Peugeot 8 Ret 9 4 9 2 Ret 10 (Ret) 8 7 2 10 7 (14) 8 8 15 6 (13) 5 9 9 9 118 (127) 7 Ford / Team Mondeo 6 7 12 7 10 (10) (Ret) 7 8 7 (13) 9 8 (11) 12 14 6 7 5 9 7 4 10 5 113 (125) 8 Vauxhall / Vauxhall Sport 9 8 6 5 14 6 10 9 5 (12) 12 8 6 5 9 6 7 (16) 9 8 13 (12) (12) 11 106 (118) Pos Manufacturer DON SIL THR BRH OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BRH SIL Pts Teams Championship Pos Team DON SIL THR BRH OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BRH SIL Pts 1 Williams Renault Dealer Racing 1 1 1 1 3 3 1 4 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 5 1 1 7 2 2 3 1 1 422 2 Ret 10 3 Ret 7 3 5 2 4 4 Ret 2 4 Ret Ret 4 2 17 6 3 Ret 3 2 2 Audi Sport UK 5 3 7 Ret 1 8 9 6 3 5 1 3 4 6 1 1 3 9 1 1 1 5 8 15 283 Ret 5 Ret Ret 4 Ret Ret 12 4 Ret 3 4 9 17 2 2 12 11 2 5 4 11 11 Ret 3 Team Honda Sport 7 4 5 9 2 1 2 1 Ret 2 6 6 5 2 6 3 2 3 3 3 Ret 7 4 3 254 Ret 6 Ret 15 6 Ret 6 2 Ret Ret Ret 11 Ret Ret 7 Ret Ret 4 4 4 Ret Ret 7 4 4 Volvo S40 Racing 3 2 2 2 5 5 7 8 6 3 5 7 3 9 4 4 5 5 Ret 7 14 1 5 7 191 Ret 9 4 Ret Ret 13 10 16 9 Ret 8 Ret 12 12 8 7 Ret 8 Ret 16 15 6 18 8 5 Vodafone Nissan Racing 4 11 3 Ret 7 4 4 3 7 6 9 Ret Ret 3 5 Ret 9 6 8 10 6 2 2 6 142 Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 11 5 14 10 Ret 11 Ret Ret 8 11 Ret Ret 10 13 Ret Ret 8 6 Ret 6 Esso Ultron Team Peugeot 8 Ret 9 4 9 2 Ret 10 Ret 8 7 2 10 7 14 8 8 15 6 13 5 9 9 9 92 10 Ret 11 8 12 Ret Ret Ret Ret 15 10 5 11 16 18 9 Ret Ret 12 Ret 8 10 13 Ret 7 Vauxhall Sport 9 8 6 5 14 6 10 9 5 12 12 8 6 5 9 6 7 16 9 8 13 12 12 11 77 11 Ret 8 6 15 9 11 11 11 Ret Ret 10 7 10 10 13 11 Ret 19 11 Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 Team Mondeo 6 7 12 7 10 10 Ret 7 8 7 13 9 8 11 12 14 6 7 5 9 7 4 10 5 62 Ret DNS Ret Ret 11 12 DSQ 17 DNS DNS Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 Ret 14 12 Ret Ret Ret 10 9 Brookes Motorsport Ret Ret 14 11 Ret DNS 13 15 16 9 14 12 NC 13 17 15 13 Ret 10 14 9 13 15 16 5 10 Rock-It Cargo 13 10 16 16 12 13 14 13 17 Ret 15 14 13 10 14 13 16 Ret 10 14 16 14 3 11 Team DCRS 12 10 15 12 17 15 DNS DNS 12 10 15 15 16 15 15 11 15 14 15 17 11 15 17 13 2 12 Mint Motorsport 13 Ret 16 13 18 17 14 Ret 13 11 18 14 14 Ret 16 12 Ret DNS 18 15 12 17 19 17 0 13 Team Dynamics Ret 12 Ret DNS 13 14 15 DNS 15 14 16 13 13 Ret Ret DNS Ret 12 11 Ret Ret 16 14 12 0 14 Janco Motorsport 17 14 0 15 ProMotor Sport Ret 16 DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 Pos Team DON SIL THR BRH OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BRH SIL Pts RAC Tourist Trophy Results Pos. Driver DON H1 H2 F 1 Alain Menu 4 1 1 2 Jason Plato 2 14 2 3 Rickard Rydell 3 5 3 4 Frank Biela 6 6 4 5 Yvan Muller 9 4 5 6 Anthony Reid 1 17 6 7 Will Hoy 12 3 7 8 Armin Hahne 15 13 8 9 John Bintcliffe 10 7 9 10 Kris Nissen 8 8 10 11 Matt Neal Ret 10 11 12 Christian Abt 13 9 12 13 Paula Cook 17 12 13 14 Jonny Kane 11 11 14 15 Tim Sugden 14 15 15 16 Kari Mäkinen 16 Ret 16 17 Jan Brunstedt 19 16 17  – David Leslie 7 2 Ret  – John Cleland 18 Ret Ret  – Paul Radisich 5 Ret Ret  – Tord Linnerud Ret Ret DNS  – Aaron Slight Ret DNS DNS Pos. Driver H1 H2 F DON References ^ Audi A4 Touring Car, ^ Harrison in control at Triple Eight, Crash.net ^ "Vauxhall / Opel Vectra B (V96B-002)". Super Touring Register. Retrieved 2017-12-07. ^ "Vauxhall / Opel Vectra B (V97-001)". Super Touring Register. Retrieved 2017-12-07. ^ "The worst car I ever drove - The Laughable Cavalier". Motor Sport Magazine. 2014-07-07. Retrieved 2017-12-07. ^ "BTCC: Peugeot & MSD join forces". Motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2017-12-07. ^ "Ford Mondeo". Super Touring Register. Retrieved 2017-12-07. ^ "BTCC: Tourist Trophy preview". Motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2017-12-07. ^ Lawrence, Paul, ed. (1997). "Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship". Motoring News – Track Record 1997 Season (Second ed.). Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire: Dent Publications. p. 17. ISBN 1-902204-00-X – via Internet Archive. External links BTCC Pages Archived 2019-11-15 at the Wayback Machine Touring-Cars.net Super Touring Register 1997 Teams Championship Results v t e British Saloon/Touring Car Championship BSCC (1958–1986) 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 BTCC (1987–present) 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Champions Records Teams and Drivers