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==Support races== |
==Support races== |
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| − | In 1992, the [[VW Vento Cup]] joined the [[Super Touring Sim Racing (STSR)|STSR]] support package. |
+ | In 1992, the [[VW Vento Cup]] joined the [[Super Touring Sim Racing (STSR)|STSR]] support package. [[Mike Bell]] won the inaugural championship. However, the series would be dropped from the STSR support package at the end of the season. |
==See Also== |
==See Also== |
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Revision as of 20:44, 15 July 2020
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom, currently organised and administered by Super Touring Sim Racing (STSR). It was established in 1991. The championship currently runs the FIA Super Touring regulations.
History
The introduction of a 2-litre, single-class touring car formula (devised in the UK and later adopted worldwide by the FIA as ‘SuperTouring’) – and with all cars running on unleaded fuel – attracted interest from major motor manufacturers, which led to unprecedented growth, unparalleled global interest and fierce rivalries. The BTCC quickly became the world’s premier touring car series and, as such, the best possible global shop window for car companies wishing to promote their mainstream showroom models. The one-class system was popular with manufacturers from the beginning with five manufacturer supported teams from BMW, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota and Vauxhall entered in the championship. During the first seasons, the cars were not fitted with aerodynamic aids such as a front splitter or a rear wing which were allowed from 1995.
1991
Round 1 of the 1991 STSR British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton
The first ever STSR season was a year long battle between Nissan and Toyota, and towards the end of the season Mitsubishi, but Nissan eventually won as Roy Cop took the Overall and Manufacturer Drivers championship ahead of Toyota driver Michael Sneath. Mike Bell and Auto Trader Techspeed Team took the Independent honours. Notable moments during the season included Mike Bell taking the first win by an Independent driver in the first ever race meeting, the first ever BTCC night race at Donington Park and Toyota driver Vik Rune getting banned from the series due to unsportsmanlike conduct in the Birmingham Superprix round.
1992
Round 1 of the 1992 STSR British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone
1992 was dominated by Lorenzo Turri of Vauxhall who took 19 wins out of a possible 26 and finished 103 points ahead of second placed (and defending champion) Toyota's Roy Cop who took three race wins. Mike Bell once again claimed the Independent title driving a for Park Lane Racing, also claiming an outright race win at Knockhill. During the season, there were also wins for Johannes Meles and Matthew Wheeler.
1993
Round 1 of the 1993 STSR British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone
2 new manufacturer teams entered the series in 1993, Ford and Renault. Lorenzo Turri successfully defended his title driving for Ford, claiming 13+ wins. His nearest championship rival, Mike Bell of Nissan took 5+ victories. There were also wins for Cop (Ford, 5 wins) and Johannes Meles (Renault, 2 wins). Finland's Pekka Ylitalo took the Independent title driving a BMW for Team Dynamics. A notable event during the season was that at Round 6 at Pembrey, it was the first time during an STSR event that the podium was shared by drivers of the same nationality (Bell, Jaz Evered, Kris Simton).
1994
2 new teams (Alfa Romeo and Volvo), as well as the return of BMW and Mazda, ensured that the BTCC grid for 1994 would be much bigger than previous years.
Car regulations
The Super Touring cars were required to be a minimum of 4.20 metres (13.8 ft) in length, with four doors, effectively requiring a small family saloon car as a minimum. No more than 2 litres engine capacity, or six cylinders were permitted, and the engine was required to be normally aspirated. Only two wheels could be driven and steered. For homologation, initially at least 2500 units of the model used must have been produced. In 1995, in a bid to counter the increasing numbers of homologation specials this was increased to at least 25,000 units.
Circuits
Being a national championship, the BTCC has visited circuits throughout the United Kingdom over its long history. Currently the series visits eight different tracks in the UK over the course of ten meetings. These tracks are: Thruxton Circuit, Brands Hatch, Castle Combe Circuit, Silverstone Circuit, Snetterton Circuit, Oulton Park, Donington Park and the Knockhill Racing Circuit in Scotland. In the past, the BTCC has visited a street race around the city of Birmingham known as the Birmingham Superprix in 1991 and Pembrey Circuit in 1993.
Race format
Race format will depend on the race meeting, The format planned will be marked next to each race meeting on the website calendar.
Format A:
- 19:30 - Practice
- 20:00 - BTCC Qualifying One shot qualifying
- 20:30 - BTCC Race 1
- 21:00 - BTCC Race 2 reversed grid from race 1 results
- 21:30 - BTCC Race 3 reversed grid from race 2 results
Format B:
- 19:30 - Practice
- 20:00 - BTCC Qualifying One shot qualifying
- 20:30 - BTCC Race 1 Sprint race
- 21:00 - BTCC Race 2 Feature race reversed grid from race 1 results
* Includes a mandatory pit stop
Points system
Current points system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen drivers in each race as follows:
| Points system | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | Pole Position | ||
| 18 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||
1992 points system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen drivers in each race as follows:
| Points system | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | Pole Position | Fastest Lap Of Meeting | |
| 18 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
1991 points system
Points are awarded to the top seventeen drivers in each race as follows:
| Points system | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | 16th | 17th | Pole Position | Fastest Lap |
| 20 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Current Independent points system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen drivers in each race as follows:
| Points system | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | |||
| 18 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |||
1992-93 Independent points system
Points are awarded to the top three drivers in each race as follows:
| Points system | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | ||||||||||||||||
| 30 | 20 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||
1991 Independent points system
Points are awarded to the top seven drivers in each race as follows:
| Points system | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | ||||||||||||
| 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||
Previous champions
Support races
In 1992, the VW Vento Cup joined the STSR support package. Mike Bell won the inaugural championship. However, the series would be dropped from the STSR support package at the end of the season.