Gulf, Martini, JPS. Motorsport has loads of nice liveries and probably the most well-known are normally present in System 1 or at Le Mans, however touring automotive racing additionally has loads of iconic color schemes.
We’ve been compiling varied British Touring Automotive high 10s in current weeks and now it’s the flip of the best liveries which have appeared within the championship because it started in 1958.
After all, that is much more subjective than our typical rankings, so apologies upfront in case your favorite hasn’t made the lower. Hopefully you’ll nonetheless like a few of our 10.
One key level is that the liveries chosen should have appeared within the BTCC for an affordable size of time. We’re not one-offs (a unique checklist?! – ed) or legendary schemes that often dipped in. So meaning no Texaco black-and-red, as appeared on the Eggenberger Ford Sierra RS500s on their uncommon raids in 1988…
10. Triple Eight/VX Racing
Key vehicles: Vauxhall Vectra (Tremendous Touring and S2000), Vauxhall Astra Coupe, Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch
The purple and white of Triple Eight wasn’t the very best but it surely was very profitable
Photograph by: Kevin Wooden / Motorsport Images
It’s not probably the most lovely entry on this checklist, however the red-and-white of the Triple Eight Vauxhall workforce grew to become an intrinsic a part of the BTCC. It’s related to unbelievable ranges of success, too, which earns it some bonus factors.
Like a number of entries right here, this covers quite a lot of comparable schemes over a big time period. Triple Eight’s Tremendous Touring Vectras, which arrived in 1997, had a barely totally different look every year earlier than the purple nostril, white center and purple rear grew to become acquainted on the entrance because the BTC-T Astra Coupe dominated in 2001-04, taking 4 consecutive title doubles.
A tad extra black had arrived in 2004, which was carried over to the awkward Astra Sport Hatch the next 12 months. In 2006, Vacation Inn sponsorship and inexperienced was added, which continued on the brand new S2000 Vectra that Fabrizio Giovanardi took to the 2007 crown.
The Vectras returned to primarily purple and white for Giovanardi’s profitable title defence and the neater livery loved yet another season on the entrance earlier than Vauxhall withdrew from the BTCC on the finish of 2009. However, with six drivers’ titles in simply over a decade, it had made its mark.
9. BMW/Fina
Key vehicles: BMW 318i and 320i
The predominately white livery stood out but it surely was the smaller particulars that make this a favorite
Photograph by: Motorsport Images
Predominantly white racing vehicles don’t usually make an inventory like this. The Le Mans-winning Martini Porsches are a uncommon exception, and so is the long-time BMW manufacturing unit look.
The white with splashes of blue and purple return to the earliest days of BMW Motorsport and, with Mobil sponsorship, featured on the Prodrive-run M3 taken to the BTCC title by Frank Sytner in 1988.
High 10: BMW Motorsport racers
For this checklist we’ve gone for the assorted Fina-backed variations of the Tremendous Touring period. Run by Schnitzer and with Warsteiner plastered on the bonnet, the E36-shape 318i was the automotive to have in 1993 and took the title with Jo Winkelhock.
There have been element modifications over the subsequent three years previous to BMW’s withdrawal, each to the livery itself and the vehicles because the rear-wheel-driver challenger sprouted wings.
Regardless of extra victories, BMW didn’t handle one other title within the aggressive interval, however did present a particular look. And we’re positively not swayed by the truth that the BMWs wore Autosport stickers for a number of the interval (and we didn’t just like the 1995 GoldenEye stickers)…
8. Wiggins Teape
Key vehicles: Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Capri
A childhood favorite for this author
This author had a poster of a Wiggins Teape-liveried Chevrolet Camaro on the bed room wall as a baby and the livery nonetheless appears to be like nice.
SCA European Highway Providers and Brut 33 have been contenders for this checklist and likewise adorned Camaros, however the predominantly darkish blue of the outdated paper-making agency wins out.
It was profitable, too. Brian Muir ran Wiggins Teape on his race-winning Malcolm Gartlan Racing Camaro in 1970-71, taking the category title and second total within the later 12 months.
He then switched to a Ford Capri RS2600 for 1972. He received two extra races and was usually the closest challenger to Frank Gardner’s SCA Camaro, on tempo if not reliability.
7. Supplier Group Vauxhall
Key automotive: Vauxhall Firenza Magnum 2300
Supplier Group Vauxhall had a comparatively fleeting run within the sequence
Photograph by: LAT Photographic
A wierd inclusion, maybe, as a result of the silver, inexperienced and purple of DTV that grew to become so well-known within the Seventies featured way more closely in Particular/Tremendous Saloons and rallying. However, reasonably like lead driver Gerry Marshall is usually regarded as a giant British Saloon Automotive determine regardless of comparatively few appearances, it made its mark. And it appears to be like fairly cool.
Already a widely known squad, DTV’s Marshall and ace engineer Invoice Blydenstein turned their consideration to the championship in 1976. The Firenza Magnum was instantly a pressure within the 1601-2300cc pack, Marshall sweeping to the category crown and third within the total standings.
Issues have been more durable in 1977. Tony Dron’s Triumph Dolomite was too fast in Class C and took the two.3-litre crown, whereas Marshall additionally confronted stern opposition from Jeff Allam’s Vauxhall.
PLUS: The forgotten tin-top great that battled the Capris
Marshall joined the Ford Capri ranks for 1978, whereas DTV switched its focus to rallying and the Chevette.
6. Halfords Honda
Key automotive: Honda Civic
There’s been loads of iterations of the Halfords orange and black design however 2016 stands out
Photograph by: Jakob Ebrey
The distinctive orange of Halfords initially appeared on Peugeots within the BTCC however grew to become synonymous with Group Dynamics Hondas. First seen on a Civic in 2004, Halfords adorned the Integra Kind Rs that Matt Neal took to consecutive titles in 2005-06.
The colors remained close to the entrance as Dynamics switched to the eighth-generation Civic from 2007.
Neal and Gordon Shedden then scored titles with white-and-red, Yuasa-liveried Civics in 2011, 2012 and 2015. That scheme, which additionally featured on the hanging Civic Tourer property, was one other candidate for this checklist, however a black-and-orange Halfords livery returned in 2016.
Shedden took his third BTCC crown that season with what was arguably an much more hanging machine than the orange Integras. He and Neal received races within the automotive once more in 2017, and the brand new FK8 Civic that Neal used to take victory within the particular BTCC sixtieth anniversary race in 2018 had an identical look.
Dan Cammish narrowly failed to attain a fourth ‘Halfords Honda’ drivers’ crown on the Manufacturers Hatch finale in 2019 and the motoring companies firm continued to help Dynamics till the tip of 2022.
5. Kaliber
Key vehicles: Ford Sierra RS500, Toyota Carina
Kaliber actually stood out from the pack
Maybe the Industrial Management Providers colors that Andy Rouse’s vehicles wore for a lot of the Nineteen Eighties and three BTCC titles ought to take this slot, however we reckon his comparable Kaliber scheme is that bit extra iconic.
The low-alcohol lager appeared on the Ford Sierra RS500s of Rouse and team-mate Man Edwards in 1988, simply because the BTCC actually began to achieve traction on TV.
Though Rouse misplaced out to Class B dominator Sytner for the general crown, he was the pacesetter on the entrance. He received 9 of the 12 rounds and was additionally concerned in a number of the most well-known tin-top dices towards the Texaco-backed Eggenberger-run works RS500s on their uncommon appearances.
The next 12 months, the Kaliber Ford driver fought a tricky, season-long marketing campaign with the Trakstar instance of Robb Gravett. After an unlucky begin to the season, Rouse fought again to grab the category crown at a controversial Silverstone finale, scoring six victories to Gravett’s 4.
The ICS colors returned to the Rouse RS500s for 1990 and seemed nice, however Gravett was now on high and took the general title. Kaliber and ICS then appeared collectively on the Toyota Carina Rouse used to win three races in 1991.
An honourable point out right here to the Labatt’s blue sported by, amongst others, Tim Harvey’s Rouse-prepared RS500 in 1989-90 and his 1991 Vic Lee Motorsport BMW M3.
4. 100+ Wheels/Dynamics
Key vehicles: BMW 318, Ford Mondeo, Nissan Primera
100+ Wheels was eye-catching and profitable with Neal within the Nineties
Photograph by: Gavin Lawrence
Earlier than they have been main gamers for total success, Neal and the household Group Dynamics squad was a high impartial contender within the Nineties.
Aesthetically, we just like the black-and-silver 100+ Wheels livery that Neal’s BMW M3 wore in 1992, but it surely’s the following varied purple variations which are significantly better recognized.
The purple 100+ Wheels first appeared on his BMW 318 in 1993 and returned, with extra white, on Neal’s Ford Mondeo in 1995. Neal was Independents’ champion each years.
Neal switched to his first Nissan Primera throughout 1997 and in 1999 he obtained his palms on the 1998 model. The automotive misplaced the 100+ Wheels stickers, however the livery stayed ostensibly the identical, so we’re together with it right here.
It seemed good on each automotive, however the Primera was maybe the best-known wearer of the colors. It was on this kind that Neal took his well-known £250,000 win as a privateer towards the works groups at Donington Park. He additionally took two extra class titles within the Primera.
All that’s vital as a result of the manufacturing unit Vodafone scheme that received races in 1997-98 and dominated in 1999 was one other candidate for this checklist. But it surely wasn’t the Primera’s greatest livery, nor was it probably the most iconic of the Tremendous Touring period – that’s increased up this 10…
3. Alan Mann Racing
Key vehicles: Ford Falcon, Ford Lotus Cortina, Ford Escort
Alan Mann Racing’s red-and-gold look might be thought-about the very best look of the Nineteen Sixties
Photograph by: LAT Photographic
Alan Mann Racing was one of many high touring automotive (and sportscar) outfits of the Nineteen Sixties and had a powerful relationship with Ford. In BTCC phrases, it ready the Mustang by which Roy Pierpoint took the 1965 crown, but it surely was with Frank Gardner that it actually made a mark within the championship.
Gardner’s Falcon, resplendent in Alan Mann’s red-and-gold livery, thumped the opposition in 1967, the five-litre supercharged V8 machine scoring seven wins.
Ford insisted on a change to the Escort for 1968 however the Twin Cam wasn’t prepared for the beginning of the season, so Gardner raced a Lotus Cortina. As soon as the Escort was accessible, Gardner dominated the 2000cc class and even took a few outright wins towards the V8s at Manufacturers Hatch.
It’s the Escort that most likely will get the livery this excessive, offering one of many iconic sights of the late-Nineteen Sixties. Gardner received the general crown in 1968 and likewise topped the large class – the Escort now supercharged – the next 12 months.
2. Pirtek
Key vehicles: Vauxhall Vectra, Honda Civic, MG6, Ford Focus, BMW 125i M Sport, BMW 330i M Sport
The Pirtek livery seemed nice on each automotive it coated
Photograph by: Jakob Ebrey/LAT Images
Some liveries simply look good on all the pieces. That’s true of the Pirtek colors that adorned, amongst different motorsport campaigns, Andrew Jordan’s varied BTCC machines all through the 2010s.
The largely blue scheme of the hydraulic and industrial hose supplier appeared on Jordan’s household run Eurotech Racing Vauxhall Vectra in 2010-11 however actually grew to become synonymous with the workforce and sequence on the NGTC Honda Civic.
Jordan grew to become a thorn within the facet of the manufacturing unit Hondas in 2012 and scooped the general crown the next 12 months. He was a race winner in 2014, however a Snetterton crash knocked the wind out of his title problem.
Jordan took Pirtek to the Triple Eight MG squad in 2015, then to the Motorbase Ford Focus the next 12 months earlier than touchdown at West Surrey Racing in 2017.
Each the metallic and blue-yellow variations seemed nice on the 125i M Sport and Jordan virtually scored a second title within the 330i M Sport in 2019. Had been these BMW liveries Pirtek at its greatest? Maybe, but it surely was on the flanks of the Civic that it made its greatest affect.
1. 1996-97 Williams Renault
Key automotive: Renault Laguna
The 1997 Laguna was the good automotive, pushed by one of many biggest drivers within the BTCC’s greatest period
Photograph by: Motorsport Images
Renault’s authentic Laguna was one of many best-looking tin-tops of the Nineties. The blue entrance/yellow rear livery of 1995 seemed nice but it surely’s the reversed effort that arrived the next 12 months that makes it onto this checklist.
That’s most likely partly as a result of success usually subconsciously makes us suppose issues look higher. And the yellow-blue Laguna was profitable.
Alain Menu took second within the 1996 standings behind the rampant four-wheel-drive Audi A4 of Frank Biela, however the Williams-built Laguna was unstoppable in 1997. Menu swept to the crown with 12 wins from 24 races, with rookie team-mate Jason Plato choosing up a brace.
The 1998 Laguna seemed fairly good within the inexperienced of Nescafe Mix 37 however didn’t have the affect or success of its predecessor.
An honourable point out goes to the Speedy Match Ford Mondeo 1999-2000 however there’s solely area for one yellow-and-blue Tremendous Touring livery right here. The 1997 Laguna was the good automotive, pushed by the interval’s biggest driver, in the course of the championship’s all-time excessive level and concerned a legendary F1 workforce – it genuinely is a BTCC icon.
Do you agree with this high 10?
Photograph by: Motorsport Images