Who Misses the 1990's BTCC? Long Post Warning ;)
Discussion
I dont miss it as i never watched that era of touring car racing but watching old videos the cars were good and some of the races were very close, however it was to expensive and a victim of its own suscusses. The btcc even though the manafactures have pulled out it is as far the best touring car series and with the new regs looks like it will be even better i dont see many new cars enter wtcc for example, i will always support the champonship great racing.
snowen250 said:
Yup i remember Patrick Watts in the 323F in 92, followed by the Xedos (spelling) in 1993.
Supertouring was excellent, but it was doomed, costs were mental and thus the rules had to be changed. The current NGTC rules are looking to be bringing in a similar, but cheaper era with confirmed:
Toyota Avensis x 3
Audi A4 x 2
Vectra x 2
Focus x 4 (prob)
Leon x 2
Civic x 2
Cruze x 2 (probably)
Plus many more by the time its all off again in April.
Good post but you forgot a few:
]
Good shouts on those snowen, totally forgot about the Carina.Supertouring was excellent, but it was doomed, costs were mental and thus the rules had to be changed. The current NGTC rules are looking to be bringing in a similar, but cheaper era with confirmed:
Toyota Avensis x 3
Audi A4 x 2
Vectra x 2
Focus x 4 (prob)
Leon x 2
Civic x 2
Cruze x 2 (probably)
Plus many more by the time its all off again in April.
Good post but you forgot a few:
]
www.supertouring.co.uk has certainly kept me amused in my time off!
Great topic.
I remember wanting my dad to buy a 155 sooo badly because of the BTCC!
The drivers used to be really accessible too. I remember going to several British motorshows and getting autographs from the likes of Tarquini and Menu. I still watch BTCC when I'm around and it is on but it doesn't have the same appeal as it did during the 90s.
I remember wanting my dad to buy a 155 sooo badly because of the BTCC!
The drivers used to be really accessible too. I remember going to several British motorshows and getting autographs from the likes of Tarquini and Menu. I still watch BTCC when I'm around and it is on but it doesn't have the same appeal as it did during the 90s.
RatLad said:
The Ford Mondeo ran for the longest period in BTCC, racing between 1993 to 2000, only clinching a title in it’s last year. The Mondeo’s debut was less than remarkable after opting to go for a RWD layout, based on the 4WD model that was due for production. (The road-going Mondeo was not formally released at this point) Ford had to carry a weight penalty for the RWD layout and due to the complexity of transferring power from a transverse engine to the rear wheels; they soon switched to FWD as the car was not competitive.
Don't think the RWD Mondeo actually raced, Ford/Rouse started that season late after swapping back to FWD.Vauxhall also tried the same thing a few years before - they raced a RWD, 4WD and the regular FWD Cavalier over the course of the season. The RWD and 4WD versions didn't last very long... That was in the very early days of the 2-litre formula when the teams were still dealing with the challenges of making a 300hp FWD racing car work properly, which seems quite odd nowadays!
RatLad said:
Next up we have the Alfa 155,
If you’re brave enough, the sound of that V6 is worth the compromise in running costs…
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2268639.htm
Thats my mates Alfa 155 that he's just sold! That was his V6 narrow-body, he also owns a V6 wide-body with full BTCC bodykit and spoilers, and also a very rare 155 Q4 with Lancia Delta Integrale engine and 4wd. Yes he did really own 3 red Alfa 155s...If you’re brave enough, the sound of that V6 is worth the compromise in running costs…
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2268639.htm
I've driven the V6s, nice torquey motor and also looks fantastic. His do seem to go wrong on a fairly regular basis though
Cool post, you're pushing me hard back in the direction of the Accord Type R I decided not to buy recently 
Also reminded me of how much I used to love Audis before I worked for an Audi dealer and began to associate the cars with utter, utter tossers...for which I'm grateful as it's a shame to write off an entire marque on the reputation of the stereotypical driver of it.
Also nice to see this pic again, it was on my bedroom wall as a teenager
Right then, off to browse ATRs, 320s and A4s before bed.
Also reminded me of how much I used to love Audis before I worked for an Audi dealer and began to associate the cars with utter, utter tossers...for which I'm grateful as it's a shame to write off an entire marque on the reputation of the stereotypical driver of it.
Also nice to see this pic again, it was on my bedroom wall as a teenager
Right then, off to browse ATRs, 320s and A4s before bed.
Great post. I was a massive BTCC fan as a youngster - my father had a Cavalier so you can imagine who I supported. Later in life I ran a Vectra SRi for a while as family transport. When it didn't need to do this job anymore I converted it into track day car with genuine 1998 BTCC 888 carbon aero kit. Had some nice suspension on it and a few engine modifications, but it never had enough power for the looks.
I watched with my father at Brands and Thruxton a few times 
vecbtb said:
Great post. I was a massive BTCC fan as a youngster - my father had a Cavalier so you can imagine who I supported. Later in life I ran a Vectra SRi for a while as family transport. When it didn't need to do this job anymore I converted it into track day car with genuine 1998 BTCC 888 carbon aero kit. Had some nice suspension on it and a few engine modifications, but it never had enough power for the looks.
That's exactly what I was thinking when I stated the thread, fantastic work!I used to go to Brands Hatch to see the BTCC back in the glory years of the Alfa 155s, Volvo, etc., etc.
I have a bunch of photos taken back then, with cars flying (literally) through (over ?) the old Dingle Dell chicane. Think I've also got pictures of James Thompson in the blue Pug 405 he ran as a very young privateer before getting a works drive.
At the time you don't have any sort of historic context, but I really think the years of the Super Touring cars were the peak of tin-top racing globally. Also used to go to Donington for the Touring Car World Cup, which Paul Radisich won in a Mondeo.
Oh, and count me in as someone who lusted after an Alfa 155, something I've never quite managed to shake.
What I miss about it was that there was a decent range of manufactures. The last BTCC race I went to a couple of years ago, there were two manufacturers (I think) and the rest had quite old cars. There was even a Rover in the pack, several years after they went out of business. To me, it looked more like club racing.
I guess WTC has possibly taken over from where BTCC was seen as a challenge for global manufactures. I've only seen a little WTC on the TV and it looked fairly dull. I think it might have been the tracks. Not a patch on Knockhill or Thruxton.
I guess WTC has possibly taken over from where BTCC was seen as a challenge for global manufactures. I've only seen a little WTC on the TV and it looked fairly dull. I think it might have been the tracks. Not a patch on Knockhill or Thruxton.
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