1997 British Touring Car Championship

1997 BTCC season
Previous:	1996	Next:	1998

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.

Team/driver changes for 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 it 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 later in the season.

For BMW, 1996 proved to be their last year in the BTCC as a full manufacturer based outfit, and their drivers Joachim Winkelhock and Roberto Ravaglia left the series to compete in the STW and the FIA GT Championship respectively.

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.

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, who was 3rd in 1996, again drove alongside former Ford driver Kelvin Burt.

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. They replaced experienced Scot David Leslie, who joined Nissan and 1992 Independent Champion James Kaye.

There was a new works-based team on the scene for this season. Nissan, who had contested last season under the guise of a semi-works effort run by Andy Rouse, fielded a pair of brand new Primeras for David Leslie and Anthony Reid, the latter making his debut in the championship.

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.

Ford elected to introduce the latest shape Mondeo, and the driver line-up looked formidable on paper, with ex-Renault, Toyota and BMW driver Will Hoy joining Kiwi Paul Radisich, Hoy having replaced Steve Robertson, who left the series. The cars were again built by Reynard Motorsport and run by West Surrey Racing.

Peugeot, now into their second season running the 406, maintained the experienced duo of Patrick Watts and 1992 champion Tim Harvey.

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 family run Mondeo, however he would subsequently switch to a Nissan Primera mid-season. 1990 Champion Robb Gravett, having run selected rounds in 1996, returned with a Honda, whilst Colin Gallie ran a BMW 318i. Ian Heward and Jan Brunstedt also ran for selected rounds.

Entry List

BTCC

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 Tord Linnerud 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 Menu^1 Gabriele Tarquini Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal R14 Alain Menu^1 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 Biela^2 Anthony Reid Frank Biela Audi Sport UK Lee Brookes R22 Anthony Reid^3 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 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  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th  Pole Position 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 Pos. Driver DON SIL THR BHI OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BHI 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 Radisch 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 BHI OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BHI SIL Pts Privateers Championship Pos. Driver DON SIL THR BHI OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BHI 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 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 BHI OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BHI SIL Pts Manufacturers Championship Pos Manufacturer DON SIL THR BHI OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BHI 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Pos Manufacturer DON SIL THR BHI OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BHI SIL Pts Teams Championship Pos Team DON SIL THR BHI OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BHI 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 BHI OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BHI 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 External links BTCC Pages Touring-Cars.net Super Touring Register 1997 Teams Championship Results