The battle for the British Touring Automobile Championship at all times appears to go all the way down to the ultimate race. It doesn’t fairly, however there have been loads of unimaginable finales within the class’s historical past, stretching again to the very starting in 1958.
For this checklist, we’ve checked out how tight the title fights have been, the circumstances of the ultimate spherical and the drama of the decider. With multi-race conferences, we’ve got targeted on the ultimate encounter relatively than the entire weekend and thought of the drivers nonetheless in rivalry at that time.
10. 1958 Manufacturers Hatch
Sears beat Tommy Sopwith in 1958 in a two-heat race throughout which they swapped vehicles
Picture by: Motorsport Images
Contenders: Tommy Sopwith, Jack Sears
Winner: Jack Sears
Champion: Jack Sears
This one both needed to be at primary or quantity 10 as a result of it’s the one time in collection historical past {that a} particular race was placed on to determine the crown. We’ve popped it at 10 as a result of later bouts have been extra dramatic or action-packed, involving extra protagonists, and even Autosport reckoned the promise of a “grand scrap” was “not likely fulfilled”.
Tommy Sopwith and Jack Sears each dominated their lessons within the inaugural season of what was then referred to as the British Saloon Automobile Championship. Sopwith did a lot of the general successful along with his 3.4-litre Jaguar, whereas Sears set the tempo in Class C for vehicles as much as 2700cc in his Austin A105 Westminster.
Following the ultimate spherical at Manufacturers Hatch, they have been tied on 48 factors, only one forward of Speedwell Austin A35 driver John Sprinzel, so a shootout was organised on the identical day, with each in Riley 1.5s.
In appallingly moist circumstances, Sopwith gained the primary five-lapper by 2.2 seconds. The duo then swapped vehicles and this time Sears got here out on high by round 4s, giving him the victory on combination and turning into the collection’ first champion.
9. 2013 Manufacturers Hatch
By atrocious circumstances, Jordan’s privateer Honda Civic claimed the title in 2013 by defeating MG driver Plato
Picture by: JEP / Motorsport Images
Contenders: Andrew Jordan, Jason Plato, Gordon Shedden
Winner: Gordon Shedden
Champion: Andrew Jordan
Andrew Jordan had been a rising pressure within the BTCC for a while, significantly as soon as he bought his fingers on the NGTC Honda Civic, and put one over the manufacturing facility groups in 2013. A constant marketing campaign that included six wins meant he carried a 34-point lead over Matt Neal into the wet closing spherical. Gordon Shedden, Colin Turkington and Jason Plato have been additionally in rivalry, nevertheless it appeared like Jordan’s title to lose.
After a effective fifth in race one – forward of Neal – issues bought rather a lot tougher for Jordan because of the second encounter. Jordan and Neal have been the harmless victims of a multi-car incident on lap two, which put Neal out of title rivalry and meant Jordan needed to begin the finale in twenty fourth. His factors benefit had additionally been slashed to fifteen, now over MG driver Plato. One way or the other, that put Jordan into a greater state of mind.
“Earlier than the race I used to be extra relaxed than I had been all week,” he stated. “If Jason gained I wanted to be eighth so we had a purpose. I used to be fairly chilled.”
Jordan rose from twenty fourth to 18th on the primary lap of 15 and reached thirteenth on lap 4. With a struggling Plato solely working sixth and race chief Shedden 20 factors behind, that may have been sufficient for Jordan to take the title, however he pressed on.
After six laps the blue Honda was tenth and now Jordan responded to his crew’s requests to sluggish. A second for Plato handed Jordan one other spot and he duly crossed the road ninth, whereas very good victor Shedden snatched second within the standings, seven factors down having come into the weekend 35 adrift.
PLUS: Autosport tests Jordan’s BTCC title winner
8. 1977 Manufacturers Hatch
Whereas Dron’s Dolomite claimed the category crown, he misplaced out on the general spoils to Unett
Picture by: Motorsport Images
Contenders: Bernard Unett, Tony Dron
Winner: Gordon Spice
Champion: Bernard Unett
Tony Dron and Broadspeed’s focus for 1977 wasn’t simply to win the 1601-2300cc class, it was to take general victories towards the bigger-engined Ford Capris. Dron’s Triumph Dolomite Dash proved extremely good at that and scored extra general wins – 5 – than another mixture.
PLUS: The forgotten BTCC wins scored by the Capri’s first nemesis
He additionally went to the season finale with an general championship likelihood towards Bernard Unett, already a two-time title winner and the pacesetter within the smallest-engined class along with his Chrysler Avenger 1300 GT.
The usage of Dunlop qualifying tyres had helped Dron all season and he managed to beat the Capri hordes to pole by a scarcely plausible 1.1s. He was engulfed firstly however didn’t have to beat the Class D vehicles and all appeared good for the crown, significantly as a shunt in follow had left Unett’s Avenger wanting second-hand.
Then Dron bought a wierd feeling as a tyre started to fail. “I nursed it as greatest I may on the right-handers however the injury was finished,” Dron informed Autosport in 2021. “As that tyre steadily fell aside, I discovered myself going ever extra sideways, at much-reduced velocity. With about three laps to go, I noticed the nostril of a Vauxhall Magnum within the distance behind me, gaining quickly.”
That was class rival Jeff Allam. One way or the other, the struggling Dron stored Allam behind till the ultimate nook of the season.
“My left rear was fully shot by then and so, with nice chunks of tread flying off it, I went by way of that nook on almost full reverse lock at a painfully sluggish velocity whereas nonetheless making an attempt my greatest to make myself into an impediment,” added Dron. “It was hopeless, and Allam slipped previous very simply and beat me to the end line by lower than a second.”
It turned out that, unbeknown to Dron, Broadspeed boss Ralph Broad had gone for a softer-compound tyre than initially deliberate. The consequence was that, though Dron took the category crown, he missed the general title by one level to Unett, the 1300cc dominator who suffered his personal defeat at Manufacturers.
7. 1966 Manufacturers Hatch
Ford Anglia driver Fitzpatrick, pictured at Manufacturers Hatch earlier within the 1966 season, narrowly gained out over Mini driver Rhodes
Picture by: Rainer W. Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Images
Contenders: John Rhodes, John Fitzpatrick
Winner: Jackie Oliver
Champion: John Fitzpatrick
General victories in 1966 have been shared round so, not for the primary or final time, the general crown boiled all the way down to a battle between these within the smaller-engined lessons. Rising star John Fitzpatrick was the person to beat within the as much as 1000cc class along with his Broadspeed Ford Anglia, whereas the entertaining and constant John Rhodes scored effectively within the 1300cc cut up along with his Cooper-run Austin Mini Cooper S.
Neither may afford to slide up on the Manufacturers finale, run over two heats for an combination rating and described by Autosport’s Gregor Grant as “extremely thrilling”. Whereas Jackie Oliver’s Ford Mustang gained, Rhodes confronted a stern take a look at from the Superspeed Anglia of Mike Younger.
Autosport reckoned the duo have been “speeding around the circuit in a bit ball of tyre smoke” as Younger pressed Rhodes till discovering a well beyond in warmth one. The Anglia held on to beat Rhodes by simply 0.2s and take fifth general.
Rhodes grabbed the benefit in warmth two in a contest that once more went all the way in which to the flag. “On the final lap the 2 of them have been facet by facet spherical Paddock, facet by facet up the hill and facet by facet spherical Druids,” reported Simon Taylor.
Younger got here out forward and held on to pip Rhodes as soon as once more and prohibit him to second on combination. In the meantime, Fitzpatrick beat the Imp problem in each stanzas to take Class A.
That meant the duo completed the season on equal factors and, with six class wins to the one in every of Rhodes, Fitzpatrick grew to become the youngest collection champion, a report that also stands.
6. 2000 Silverstone
Reid was unlucky within the 2000 closing spherical at Silverstone, staged beneath the floodlights, to lose out to Ford team-mate Menu
Picture by: Peter Fox
Contenders: Anthony Reid, Alain Menu, Rickard Rydell
Winner: Tom Kristensen
Champion: Alain Menu
By way of producer involvement, the high-cost Tremendous Touring period was previous its peak by 2000, the ultimate yr of the ruleset within the UK. However the high quality was extremely excessive, with crack groups from Ford, Honda and Vauxhall.
Prodrive’s subtle V6 Ford Mondeo was the automobile to have and all three of the crew’s drivers – 1997 champion Alain Menu, 1998 title winner Rickard Rydell and 1998 runner-up Anthony Reid – went to Silverstone with an opportunity of the crown.
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Reid led Menu by 9 factors, with Rydell the outsider in a dropped-scores system. And issues began badly for Menu in race one when, after a poor begin, he misplaced management and was hit by Plato. “It was my fault,” recalled Menu in 2007.
He may solely watch as Rydell took second and Reid seventh, nevertheless it may have been worse. A ballast-laden Reid had been working fourth when contact with Gabriele Tarquini’s Honda, for which the Italian acquired three penalty factors, pushed him again.
“I used to be fully relaxed between the 2 races as a result of I had nothing to lose,” added Menu. His job was made simpler when on engine leak cruelly prevented Rydell from beginning the finale, organising a straight duel for the title.
Menu ran second early on within the evening race and the stress was on sixth-starter Reid. Each made positive of grabbing a degree for main throughout the pitstop section.
The title nonetheless hung within the steadiness, with Menu working within the second place he wanted however with an attacking Plato pressuring him and Reid fifth. However when a tentative Reid was hit by an aggressive Vincent Radermecker’s Vauxhall at Becketts with lower than three laps to go, it was throughout. The Belgian was handed 4 penalty factors for the transfer however that was little comfort for a distraught Reid, who was left within the gravel.
Menu was then comfortable to let Plato by. The Swiss completed third, sufficient to safe his second BTCC title by two factors. “It feels significantly better than 1997,” he stated.
“What a end!” reckoned Autosport.
5. 2015 Manufacturers Hatch
Shedden carved his method by way of the pack from nineteenth to complete fourth and pip Plato to the 2015 crown
Picture by: JEP / Motorsport Images
Contenders: Gordon Shedden, Jason Plato
Winner: Jason Plato
Champion: Gordon Shedden
A 23-point lead heading into the ultimate assembly is to not be sniffed at within the fashionable period. That’s what works Honda ace Shedden had going into 2015’s finale however there was a rollercoaster trip earlier than the Scot secured his second BTCC crown.
Title rival Plato had thrust his VW forward of Shedden in race one after which backed him up, although no less than Shedden had team-mate Neal taking part in rear-gunner. However in race two a punt from behind gave Shedden injury and he completed nineteenth, scoring no factors and giving him a row 10 begin for the finale. Plato was now 12 factors behind and ranging from second…
Plato did his bit by grabbing the lead when poleman Neal slid broad at Paddock on lap one, and headed the pack all through, placing the onus on Shedden to get deep into the factors. No less than he now had no success ballast, permitting Shedden to unleash the total potential of the Civic Sort R.
A mix of hard-charging, security automobile restarts, assist from sure rivals and others hitting hassle, allowed Shedden to maneuver ahead. “I simply couldn’t do something other than give it all the pieces,” he stated. “If I didn’t give it most assault I wasn’t going to win something.”
With 4 laps to go, Shedden moved into fifth however nonetheless wanted another place given Plato’s lead, quickest lap and better variety of 2015 race wins.
With two laps to go, third-placed Neal backed off to permit Jack Goff and Shedden by way of. Sam Tordoff additionally stole the quickest lap level on the penultimate tour, that means Shedden’s drive from nineteenth to fourth was sufficient to beat Plato to the title by 4 factors.
Shedden’s successful margin in 2016 was even smaller – two factors – and he needed to come again from a 52-point deficit midway by way of the season, however rival Tordoff simply wasn’t capable of put up as a lot of a struggle within the finale, so 2015 will get the nod right here.
4. 2019 Manufacturers Hatch
Turkington stormed again into rivalry after race two drama and have become champion after Cammish’s brakes gave out
Picture by: JEP / Motorsport Images
Contenders: Dan Cammish, Colin Turkington, Andrew Jordan
Winner: Jason Plato
Champion: Colin Turkington
BMW duo Colin Turkington and Jordan had set the tempo early in 2019 with West Surry Racing’s new 330i M Sport. Sometimes, Turkington’s marketing campaign grew to become one in every of consistency whereas carrying important success ballast, whereas Jordan banged in additional wins as he strove to get well floor misplaced to a critical shunt at Donington Park.
And in addition within the combine was Dan Cammish, in simply his second BTCC season with the Dynamics Honda squad. A win and a 3rd within the first two Manufacturers races put Cammish forward of Turkington and Jordan, regardless of solely taking two wins to their 5 and 6 respectively. He’d been helped by a controversial conflict between team-mate Neal and Turkington in race two, which had restricted Turkington to twenty fifth and earned Neal a five-place penalty for the finale.
Cammish began eighth and reached sixth simply after one-third distance. A charging Turkington was already ninth however, with Jordan solely fifth, a shock title appeared to be heading to the Honda driver.
Remarkably, Turkington stored coming and, on lap 12 of 15, discovered a method by Cammish to take seventh, with Tom Ingram additional demoting the Civic to ninth.
Even Turkington rising to sixth wasn’t sufficient for the BMW ace however on the penultimate lap Cammish’s overheating brakes lastly failed him heading into Hawthorns. The following crash dramatically put the Honda out and handed Turkington his fourth crown by simply two factors from Jordan and Cammish.
“It’s positively been the race of my life,” stated Turkington. “There have been some wonderful finals however for me personally, I may by no means replicate that.”
3. 2004 Donington Park
Muller led all the way in which within the 2004 finale, however third with quickest lap was sufficient for Thompson to edge to the crown
Picture by: Jeff Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Contenders: James Thompson, Yvan Muller
Winner: Yvan Muller
Champion: James Thompson
Vauxhall and Triple Eight dominated the early years of the cut-price BTC-T period with the Astra Coupe, its high drivers battling it out for the title. The 2001 conflict between Plato and Yvan Muller may have made this checklist, however we’ve gone for the Donington decider three years later as a result of there have been extra frontrunners and the championship struggle was even tighter.
It was the primary yr of three races per spherical and MG driver Reid had a mathematical likelihood of the crown on the closing assembly. However actually it was about James Thompson and Muller, separated by simply 4 factors, each having scored 4 wins.
Thompson was in an uncharacteristically tough temper and bought a effective and factors on his licence for an enormous lunge on Neal’s Honda in race one. He apologised however crucially completed second, with Muller solely seventh after his personal contretemps along with his team-mate.
Muller clawed some floor again in race two, ending second to Thompson’s fifth. That meant the Frenchman was six factors behind heading into the thirtieth and closing contest – and had extra success ballast.
In what Autosport referred to as “one of many tightest, closest battles of the season”, Muller grabbed the lead, with Thompson rising from fifth to 3rd on the opening lap. There have been 15 factors on provide for a win, one for main and one for quickest lap. Solely 10 have been awarded for third, so the future of the crown was on a knife edge all through.
Muller needed to fend off the attentions of Plato’s lighter SEAT, whereas Thompson managed to set quickest lap on the third tour. If anybody aside from Muller took it away from him and the Frenchman stayed the place he was, the duo would end on the identical variety of factors, with Muller taking it on wins countback.
Regardless of an enormous effort and a bit contact from Plato, Muller held on to win by 0.291s. However even tighter was the quickest lap level: Plato’s greatest was simply 0.021s slower than Thompson’s. The Brit thus took his second BTCC crown by a single level – not many titles are determined by 0.021s!
“That was at all times the sport plan – to take quickest lap,” stated a cool Thompson. “Then I simply needed to sit there and hope nobody else went faster.”
“It was a effective finish to an thrilling BTCC season,” concluded Autosport.
2. 2009 Manufacturers Hatch
Turkington needed to get his elbows out to safe his first BTCC title in 2009
Picture by: JEP / Motorsport Images
Contenders: Colin Turkington, Fabrizio Giovanardi, Jason Plato
Winner: Jason Plato
Champion: Colin Turkington
The 2009 marketing campaign was one of many nice BTCC seasons. Double champion Fabrizio Giovanardi was aiming for a hat-trick with the Triple Eight Vauxhall squad, Plato grew to become an increasing number of of a risk with the RML Chevrolet Lacetti, and Turkington had come of age with the WSR BMW crew.
Turkington, with six wins, arrived at Manufacturers with a 13-point lead over five-time victor Giovanardi, whereas Plato (4 wins) appeared the outsider, one other 15 factors behind. All three confirmed their mettle throughout a fittingly enthralling showdown.
A comparatively tame opening affair was enlivened on the finish as Plato managed to outfox long-time chief Tom Chilton at Clearways, successful the drag to the road by simply 0.015s. Giovanardi was third, whereas Turkington may solely progress from tenth to eighth.
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Plato did it once more in race two, although this time Turkington made it to 3rd, with Giovanardi between them. “The Italian’s automobile teetered on the point of adhesion greater than another – that was how laborious he was pushing,” reported Autosport. “It was breathtaking to look at.”
All this left Turkington 4 factors forward of Giovanardi and Plato solely one other 4 additional again. They began sixth, seventh and eighth respectively for the finale.
Turkington picked his method by way of an eventful opening lap to run second, with Giovanardi third and Plato sixth. Chief Neal tried to carry Turkington as much as assist his Vauxhall team-mate and the BMW needed to get tough, forcing the difficulty at Druids at half-distance.
Giovanardi adopted Turkington by way of after which attacked at Clearways, the duo flirting with catastrophe. Giovanardi bought two wheels onto the grass and each have been delayed, permitting a flying Plato to get a run on his rivals. The Chevrolet powered by the Vauxhall after which went across the outdoors of Turkington to brilliantly take the lead. “If anybody wanted proof of this yr’s BTCC being a basic, this was it,” reckoned Autosport.
Whereas Plato headed to a outstanding hat-trick, Turkington needed to be extra strong than normal to maintain Giovanardi again, the Vauxhall being delayed sufficient to permit Chilton’s Ford into third. “Staying forward of Fabrizio took in all probability the perfect two laps my life,” stated Turkington after ending second to take his first title by 5 factors from Plato.
1. 1992 Silverstone
Cleland and Soper’s dramatic crash secured the 1992 title for Harvey
Picture by: Motorsport Images
Contenders: John Cleland, Tim Harvey, Will Hoy
Winner: Andy Rouse
Champion: Tim Harvey
Is that this probably the most well-known BTCC race of all? It in all probability did greater than another to spice up the championship’s profile.
Regardless of a nasty testing crash that left him with a damaged again and sternum, Dave Prepare dinner Racing Vauxhall’s John Cleland held a slender benefit heading into the finale, however Tim Harvey arrived on the again of 5 consecutive wins along with his Vic Lee Motorsport BMW. Rouse Toyota driver and 1991 champion Will Hoy was additionally in rivalry.
All had troubled qualifying classes, Cleland lining up seventh, Hoy ninth and Harvey twelfth, whereas Andy Rouse scored a spectacular pole, the final of his illustrious BTCC profession.
The primary drama concerned Harvey’s BMW team-mate Steve Soper. Contact with David Leslie’s Ecurie Ecosse Vauxhall at Membership despatched him spinning and he was collected by Robb Gravett’s Peugeot. One way or the other Soper’s shortened 318is was nonetheless cell and he charged again into the race to start out a outstanding restoration drive.
Though Hoy had brilliantly jumped to fourth, Cleland remained the title favorite as he battled Harvey. However Soper was quickly closing on all three.
With two laps to go, lower than 3s coated the highest seven, with Hoy main Harvey and Cleland. That will have been sufficient to provide Cleland the crown, however then Harvey barged previous Hoy at Copse, sending the Toyota broad.
Cleland and Soper glided by the Toyota and Harvey, earlier than Soper’s ABS-equipped BMW dived by the Vauxhall at Membership. Whereas Cleland confirmed his disapproval, Harvey overtook him at Bridge, with Soper instantly permitting his team-mate by way of. Now Harvey was set to take the crown.
At Brooklands, Cleland launched the Vauxhall down the within of Soper, going up on two wheels. Soper retaliated by attacking the Cavalier into Luffield, hitting Cleland within the door – and the duo disappeared into the gravel collectively. Cue the notorious, “The person’s an animal,” line from Cleland.
The well-known crash made for the final word dramatic conclusion to a season filled with intrigue
Picture by: Sutton Pictures
Harvey raced on to fourth, with Hoy fifth. That was sufficient for the BMW driver to take the crown by three factors – and for Hoy to grab second from Cleland.
“Nobody may have scripted a extra dramatic end,” stated Autosport, which additionally plastered the conflict throughout its cowl. “It had been a mighty spectacular race, however a bit too bodily.”
PLUS: The full story of the BTCC’s 1992 season decider
Up on the entrance, the race underlined how shut competitors beneath the two-litre rules was as Rouse pipped Allam by 0.1s for his closing BTCC victory, with Leslie solely 0.72s behind the winner.
Toyota driver Rouse was the just about forgotten winner of probably the most well-known BTCC title decider of all of them
Picture by: Motorsport Images