1995 British Touring Car Championship

The 1995 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship was won by John Cleland in a Vauxhall Cavalier. The Independents' title was won by Matt Neal in his Team Dynamics Ford Mondeo with fourteen class wins.

1995 BTCC season
Previous: 1994 Next: 1996

Team and Driver Information

All the race weekends were now double header meetings, with full points awarded at each race. The exception was the British Grand Prix support round.

Following the controversies over aerodynamic aids in 1994 first used by Alfa Romeo, TOCA announced wings and spoilers were eligible for all the cars in the new season.

After their domination in 1994, Alfa Corse went back to contesting the Italian Supertouring Championship, leaving Prodrive to run the works Alfa team. Derek Warwick was signed to drive alongside Giampiero Simoni with champion Gabriele Tarquini returning in a third car at Oulton Park. He replaced Simoni after the Silverstone Circuit GP support round but results continued to be disappointing and Alfa Romeo withdrew from the championship at the end of the year.

TWR Volvo replaced the 850 estate with the 850 saloon. The cars were instantly on the pace with Rickard Rydell winning round two and teammate Tim Harvey doubling up at the next round. Rydell remained in championship contention until the penultimate round, taking three more victories in the process whilst Harvey dropped back in the standings and at times was unconvincing compared to Rydell.

WilliamsF1 setup Williams Touring Car Engineering and took over development of Renault Laguna whilst Sodemo Moteurs supplied engines. 1994 runner up Alain Menu was retained and took more wins than any other driver during the season and he partnered by 1991 champion Will Hoy moving from Toyota. Towards the end of the year the Laguna was the class of the field, winning five of the last six races which helped Renault to take the manufacturers title for the first time.

Andy Rouse Engineering ran Ford's works effort for a third season with the V6 Mondeo. Double touring car world cup winner Paul Radisich was joined by British F3 championship winner Kelvin Burt. The car was competitive in the early part of the year but fell back in the development race. The powerful but heavy V6 contributed to major front tyre wear that saw the cars become mobile chicanes as races progressed.[1] Radisich in particular struggled, scoring just 2 points in the final 10 races.

Vauxhall announced that the Cavalier was to be replaced by the new Vectra at the end of the season, so 1995 was the last hurrah for the venerable car. John Cleland was joined by James Thompson who replaced Jeff Allam, and despite the Volvo and Renault giving strong competition, Cleland's consistency and the Cavalier's reliability took the driver's and teams championships. Thompson crashed heavily during testing for the Knockhill Circuit round and injuries sustained would see him miss the remaining rounds. Jeff Allam was brought in as a last minute replacement for Knockhill and then Michael Briggs, the 1995 South African Touring Car Championship winner, for the rest of the season.

Team Schnitzer were heavily involved in other touring car championships around the world in 1995, with 1994 BTCC drivers Joachim Winkelhock competing in the German Supertouring championship which he won, while Steve Soper raced in Japan and took the title there. BMW instead employed it's UK arm to take on the challenge, with factory drivers Johnny Cecotto and David Brabham. The season was a disaster by BMWs standard however with no wins or even a podium finish to their credit.

Toyota retained Julian Bailey and Tim Sugden with Toyota Team Europe engineering the Carina with the backing of a major new sponsor, Mobil 1.[2] Both drivers regularly ran near the higher end of the midfield and at Snetterton Circuit the team debuted a brand new right hand drive car, driven by Sugden, then Bailey for the remainder of the year. The new car was a significant step forward allowing Bailey to challenge the top 3 teams but it wasn't enough to stop Toyota pulling the plug at the end of the season.

Total Team Peugeot once again entered the Peugeot 405 Mi16, now in its final year. Patrick Watts remained with the team for a second season and he was joined by Simon Harrison the 1994 National Saloon Car Championship winner. Harrison struggled, scoring points on just 4 occasions. Watts was more competitive, finishing on the podium twice.

Honda joined the championship with Motor Sport Developments entering the Accord driven by David Leslie and double independents champion James Kaye. Results steadily improved as the season progressed and Leslie in particular was able to mix it at the front of the pack, scoring a podium at Oulton Park.

In the Independents Championship, Matt Neal dominated the season and easily won his second Independent title driving a 1994 Andy Rouse Engineering built Ford Mondeo[3] run by family outfit Team Dynamics. Mint Motorsport entered a 1993 Mondeo, also built by Andy Rouse engineering[4] for Richard Kaye, making his BTCC debut and finishing second in the independent standings. Finishing third Nigel Smith competing in his second season, once again racing his 1993 Ecurie Ecosse Vauxhall Cavalier.[5] Hamish Irvine finished fourth in his 1994 Peugeot 405.[6] 1990 champion Robb Gravett entered the opening rounds at Donington Park in a 1993 Vauxhall Cavalier[7] before returning at the Silverstone GP support race in an ex-STW Ford Mondeo.[8] At Sneterton he scored the first outright podium finish for an independent driver in the 2 litre era. Australian Charlie Cox (racing) also entered a Ford Mondeo.[9] A strategic tyre choice saw him take fifth overall at Brands Hatch in April. At the following round he was involved in a huge crash destroying the car and forcing him to miss a number of races. He returned at Brands Hatch in a rebuilt car,[10] the first hatchback Mondeo to race in the UK.

Entry List
Team Car No. Drivers Rounds
Manufacturers
Alfa Romeo Old Spice Racing Alfa Romeo 155 TS 1 Gabriele Tarquini 5, 9–13
5 Giampiero Simoni 1–8
55 Derek Warwick All
Williams Renault Dealer Racing Renault Laguna 2 Alain Menu All
22 Will Hoy All
Valvoline Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Ghia 3 Paul Radisich All
33 Kelvin Burt All
Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 4 John Cleland All
10 Jeff Allam 9
14 James Thompson 1–8
24 Mike Briggs 10–13
Total Team Peugeot Peugeot 405 Mi16 8 Patrick Watts All
18 Simon Harrison All
Volvo 850 Racing Volvo 850 20v 9 Tim Harvey All
15 Rickard Rydell All
Team Toyota GB Toyota Carina E 11 Julian Bailey All
12 Tim Sugden All
BMW Motorsport Team BMW 318i 16 Johnny Cecotto All
17 David Brabham All
Honda Team MSD Honda Accord 20 David Leslie All
21 James Kaye All
Independents
Thames Ford Dealers Ford Mondeo Ghia 19 Charlie Cox 1–3
Ford Mondeo 10–13
Mint Motorsport Ford Mondeo Ghia 23 Richard Kaye All
HMSO Bookshops Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 25 Nigel Smith All
SCB Vehicle Dismantlers Peugeot 405 Mi16 26 Hamish Irvine All
Foesport Ford Mondeo Ghia 27 Robb Gravett 8–13
Roy Kennedy Racing Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 30 1
Team Magic Mazda 323F 32 Slim Borgudd DNS*
Team Dynamics Ford Mondeo Ghia 77 Matt Neal All
  • Team Magic was entered for the season on the initial entry listing, but did not compete due to budget issues.[11]

Race calendar and winners

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 2 April Rickard Rydell John Cleland John Cleland Vauxhall Sport Matt Neal
R2 Rickard Rydell Rickard Rydell Rickard Rydell Volvo 850 Racing Matt Neal
2 R3 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 17 April Rickard Rydell Paul Radisich Tim Harvey Volvo 850 Racing Charlie Cox
R4 Rickard Rydell Kelvin Burt Tim Harvey Volvo 850 Racing Matt Neal
3 R5 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 8 May Alain Menu Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Nigel Smith
R6 James Thompson James Thompson James Thompson Vauxhall Sport Nigel Smith
4 R7 Silverstone Circuit (National), Northamptonshire 14 May Rickard Rydell Paul Radisich Rickard Rydell Volvo 850 Racing Matt Neal
R8 Rickard Rydell Paul Radisich Paul Radisich Valvoline Team Mondeo Matt Neal
5 R9 Oulton Park (International), Cheshire 29 May James Thompson Alain Menu Rickard Rydell Volvo 850 Racing Nigel Smith
R10 Rickard Rydell Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal
6 R11 Brands Hatch (Grand Prix), Kent 11 June Alain Menu John Cleland Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Hamish Irvine
R12 Alain Menu Alain Menu John Cleland Vauxhall Sport Richard Kaye
7 R13 Donington Park (Grand Prix), Leicestershire 25 June John Cleland John Cleland John Cleland Vauxhall Sport Nigel Smith
R14 John Cleland John Cleland John Cleland Vauxhall Sport Richard Kaye
8 R15 Silverstone Circuit (Grand Prix), Northamptonshire 16 July John Cleland Julian Bailey John Cleland Vauxhall Sport Robb Gravett
9 R16 Knockhill Circuit, Fife 30 July Rickard Rydell Rickard Rydell Rickard Rydell Volvo 850 Racing Matt Neal
R17 Rickard Rydell Tim Harvey Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal
10 R18 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 13 August Rickard Rydell Rickard Rydell Will Hoy Williams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal
R19 Rickard Rydell John Cleland John Cleland Vauxhall Sport Matt Neal
11 R20 Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk 28 August Rickard Rydell Johnny Cecotto Kelvin Burt Valvoline Team Mondeo Robb Gravett
R21 Rickard Rydell Rickard Rydell Will Hoy Williams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal
12 R22 Oulton Park (Fosters), Cheshire 10 September Alain Menu Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal
R23 Alain Menu Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal
13 R24 Silverstone Circuit (National), Northamptonshire 24 September John Cleland Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Richard Kaye
R25 Alain Menu Alain Menu Will Hoy Williams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal

Results

Points tables for the various titles as follows:[12]

Drivers Championship

Note: bold signifies pole position, italics signifies fastest lap.

Points system
 1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th 
24 18 12 10 8 6 4 3 2 1
Pos. Driver DON BRH THR SIL OUL BRH DON SIL KNO BRH SNE OUL SIL Pts
1 John Cleland 1 2 Ret Ret 2 5 3 5 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 5 6 3 1 13 3 3 2 3 3 348
2 Alain Menu 2 4 7 9 1 2 Ret 4 3 1 1 3 3 4 16 Ret 1 4 18 Ret 10 1 1 1 2 305
3 Rickard Rydell 4 1 13 3 9 4 1 2 1 2 7 DNS 2 6 17 1 2 2 3 14 Ret 5 10 7 Ret 255
4 Will Hoy 6 5 9 7 Ret Ret 5 15 Ret 18 4 4 12 8 2 Ret Ret 1 2 12 1 2 Ret 2 1 195
5 Tim Harvey 8 3 1 1 15 7 7 3 8 15 3 5 10 12 Ret 2 3 7 7 Ret 2 Ret 5 10 7 176
6 Paul Radisich 3 6 2 DNS Ret 6 2 1 Ret 5 Ret 7 5 2 6 Ret Ret 14 Ret 9 Ret Ret 12 18 12 130
7 James Thompson 7 7 Ret 2 Ret 1 4 Ret 6 4 Ret 2 4 5 3 124
8 Kelvin Burt Ret 13 3 4 Ret 3 Ret 7 DNS 6 Ret 14 9 3 5 3 Ret 13 11 1 12 10 7 4 Ret 117
9 Julian Bailey Ret Ret 6 8 7 8 Ret DNS 4 9 6 6 6 7 4 6 9 9 Ret 11 6 Ret 4 Ret 5 94
10 Patrick Watts 13 11 8 DNS 3 Ret 6 10 Ret 13 5 8 15 Ret 10 DNS 11 11 6 2 Ret Ret Ret 11 8 61
11 David Leslie Ret Ret 17 17 8 12 9 8 DNS DNS 12 18 7 9 12 11 7 17 10 8 8 6 3 5 4 61
12 Johnny Cecotto 5 8 11 5 Ret 11 11 12 9 Ret 10 9 Ret Ret DNS 4 Ret 5 Ret 10 Ret Ret 6 Ret Ret 49
13 David Brabham 12 12 4 6 5 Ret 8 11 10 8 Ret 10 11 11 7 DNS 4 Ret Ret 16 17 11 Ret 9 Ret 48
14 Tim Sugden 9 Ret 14 10 4 Ret Ret 6 Ret 11 Ret DNS 8 13 8 7 10 12 9 6 7 Ret Ret 13 6 48
15 Michael Briggs 6 5 7 5 12 8 6 Ret 35
16 Gabriele Tarquini 11 Ret Ret 8 Ret 4 4 Ret 4 13 Ret 15 33
17 Giampiero Simoni 10 9 10 12 6 10 Ret 9 5 7 9 12 Ret Ret 11 27
18 James Kaye 11 10 19 14 16 13 10 13 14 10 13 19 14 10 Ret Ret 5 10 8 18 9 7 9 16 9 25
19 Derek Warwick Ret Ret 12 Ret 12 Ret 16 17 DNS DNS 8 11 13 Ret 9 Ret 16 8 14 Ret 13 8 Ret 8 10 15
20 Robb Gravett 19 15 13 10 14 19 13 3 Ret 16 DNS 15 Ret 13
21 Matt Neal 15 14 16 13 Ret 15 13 14 13 14 Ret DNS Ret Ret 14 9 13 15 12 15 4 13 11 17 11 12
22 Simon Harrison 14 17 15 11 10 9 12 16 7 12 11 13 Ret Ret 15 Ret Ret Ret DNS 19 11 9 Ret Ret DNS 9
23 Charlie Cox 18 Ret 5 15 13 DNS 21 15 Ret 16 Ret DNS Ret 14 8
24 Richard Kaye 17 Ret 20 19 14 16 14 18 15 17 15 15 17 14 Ret 13 15 18 17 5 14 15 15 12 13 8
25 Jeff Allam 8 12 3
26 Nigel Smith 16 16 18 16 11 14 Ret Ret 12 16 16 17 16 Ret Ret 12 18 16 16 17 15 14 14 Ret DNS 0
27 Hamish Irvine Ret 18 Ret 18 Ret DNS 15 Ret 16 Ret 14 16 18 15 18 14 17 20 Ret Ret DNS 17 16 14 Ret 0
Pos. Driver DON BRH THR SIL OUL BRH DON SIL KNO BRH SNE OUL SIL Pts

Total Cup for Privateers
Pos. Driver DON BRH THR SIL OUL BRH DON SIL KNO BRH SNE OUL SIL Pts
1 Matt Neal 15 14 16 13 Ret 15 13 14 13 14 Ret DNS Ret Ret 14 9 13 15 12 15 4 13 11 17 11 430
2 Richard Kaye 17 Ret 20 19 14 16 14 18 15 17 15 15 17 14 Ret 13 15 18 17 5 14 15 15 12 13 342
3 Nigel Smith 16 16 18 16 11 14 Ret Ret 12 16 16 17 16 Ret Ret 12 18 16 16 17 15 14 14 Ret DNS 298
4 Hamish Irvine Ret 18 Ret 18 Ret DNS 15 Ret 16 Ret 14 16 18 15 18 14 17 20 Ret Ret DNS 17 16 14 Ret 188
5 Robb Gravett 19 15 13 10 14 19 13 3 Ret 16 DNS 15 Ret 160
6 Charlie Cox 18 Ret 5 15 13 DNS 21 15 Ret 16 Ret DNS Ret 14 110
Pos. Driver DON BRH THR SIL OUL BRH DON SIL KNO BRH SNE OUL SIL Pts

Manufacturers Championship
Pos Manufacturer DON BRH THR SIL OUL BRH DON SIL KNO BRH SNE OUL SIL Pts
1 Renault / Williams Renault Dealer Team 2 4 7 7 1 2 5 4 3 1 1 3 3 4 2 Ret 1 1 2 12 1 1 1 1 1 419
2 Vauxhall / Vauxhall Sport 1 2 Ret 2 2 1 3 5 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 5 6 3 1 7 3 3 2 3 3 414
3 Volvo / Volvo 850 Racing 4 1 1 1 9 4 1 2 1 2 3 5 2 6 17 1 2 2 3 14 2 5 5 7 7 359
4 Ford / Valvoline Team Mondeo 3 6 2 4 Ret 3 2 1 Ret 5 Ret 7 5 2 5 3 Ret 13 11 1 12 10 7 4 12 236
5 Toyota / Team Toyota GB 9 Ret 6 8 4 8 Ret 6 4 9 6 6 6 7 4 6 9 9 9 6 6 Ret 4 13 5 172
6 BMW / BMW Motorsport Team 5 8 4 5 5 11 8 11 9 8 10 9 11 11 7 4 4 5 Ret 10 17 11 6 9 Ret 144
7 Honda / Honda Team MSD 11 10 17 14 8 12 9 8 14 10 12 18 7 9 12 11 5 10 8 8 8 6 3 5 4 136
8 Alfa Romeo / Alfa Romeo Old Spice Racing 10 9 10 12 6 10 16 9 5 7 8 11 13 Ret 9 Ret 8 8 4 4 13 4 13 8 10 132
9 Peugeot / Total Team Peugeot 13 11 8 11 3 9 6 10 7 12 5 8 15 Ret 10 Ret 11 11 6 2 11 9 Ret 11 8 127
Pos Manufacturer DON BRH THR SIL OUL BRH DON SIL KNO BRH SNE OUL SIL Pts

Teams Championship
Pos Team DON BRH THR SIL OUL BRH DON SIL KNO BRH SNE OUL SIL Pts
1 Vauxhall Sport 1 2 Ret 2 2 1 3 5 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 5 6 3 1 7 3 3 2 3 3 510
7 7 Ret Ret Ret 5 4 Ret 6 4 Ret 2 4 5 3 8 12 6 5 13 5 12 8 6 Ret
2 Williams Renault Dealer Team 2 4 7 7 1 2 5 4 3 1 1 3 3 4 2 Ret 1 1 2 12 1 1 1 1 1 500
6 5 9 9 Ret Ret Ret 15 Ret 18 4 4 12 8 16 Ret Ret 4 18 Ret 10 2 Ret 2 2
3 Volvo 850 Racing 4 1 1 1 9 4 1 2 1 2 3 5 2 6 17 1 2 2 3 14 2 5 5 7 7 431
8 3 13 3 15 7 7 3 8 15 7 DNS 10 12 Ret 2 3 7 7 Ret Ret Ret 10 10 Ret
4 Valvoline Team Mondeo 3 6 2 4 Ret 3 2 1 Ret 5 Ret 7 5 2 5 3 Ret 13 11 1 12 10 7 4 12 247
Ret 13 3 DNS Ret 6 Ret 7 DNS 6 Ret 14 9 3 6 Ret Ret 14 Ret 9 Ret Ret 12 18 Ret
5 Team Toyota GB 9 Ret 6 8 4 8 Ret 6 4 9 6 6 6 7 4 6 9 9 9 6 6 Ret 4 13 5 142
Ret Ret 14 10 7 Ret Ret DNS Ret 11 Ret DNS 8 13 8 7 10 12 Ret 11 7 Ret Ret Ret 6
6 BMW Motorsport Team 5 8 4 5 5 11 8 11 9 8 10 9 11 11 7 4 4 5 Ret 10 17 11 6 9 Ret 97
12 12 11 6 Ret Ret 11 12 10 Ret Ret 10 Ret Ret DNS DNS Ret Ret Ret 16 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret
7 Honda Team MSD 11 10 17 14 8 12 9 8 14 10 12 18 7 9 12 11 5 10 8 8 8 6 3 5 4 87
Ret Ret 19 17 16 13 10 13 DNS DNS 13 19 14 10 Ret Ret 7 17 10 18 9 7 9 16 9
8 Alfa Romeo Old Spice Racing 10 9 10 12 6 10 16 9 5 7 8 11 13 Ret 9 Ret 8 8 4 4 13 4 13 8 10 75
Ret Ret 12 Ret 12 Ret Ret 17 11 Ret 9 12 Ret Ret 11 Ret 12 Ret 14 Ret Ret 8 Ret Ret 15
9 Total Team Peugeot 13 11 8 11 3 9 6 10 7 12 5 8 15 Ret 10 Ret 11 11 6 2 11 9 Ret 11 8 70
14 17 15 DNS 10 Ret 12 16 Ret 13 11 13 Ret Ret 15 DNS Ret Ret DNS 19 Ret Ret Ret Ret DNS
10 Foesport 13 10 14 19 13 3 Ret 16 DNS 15 Ret 13
11 Team Dynamics 15 14 16 13 Ret 15 13 14 13 14 Ret DNS Ret Ret 14 9 13 15 12 15 4 13 11 17 11 12
12 Thames Ford Dealers 18 Ret 5 15 13 DNS 21 15 Ret 16 Ret DNS Ret 14 8
13 Mint Motorsport 17 Ret 20 19 14 16 14 18 15 17 15 15 17 14 Ret 13 15 18 17 5 14 15 15 12 13 8
14 HMSO Bookshops 16 16 18 16 11 14 Ret Ret 12 16 16 17 16 Ret Ret 12 18 16 16 17 15 14 14 Ret DNS 0
15 SCB Vehicle Dismantlers Ret 18 Ret 18 Ret DNS 15 Ret 16 Ret 14 16 18 15 18 14 17 20 Ret Ret DNS 17 16 14 Ret 0
16 Roy Kennedy Racing 19 15 0
Pos Team DON BRH THR SIL OUL BRH DON SIL KNO BRH SNE OUL SIL Pts

References
  1. Touring Car Year 95–96. Teddington: Haymarket Specialist Motoring Publications Ltd. 1996. p. 122. ISBN 0-86024-925-5.
  2. https://www.motorsport.com/btcc/news/btcc-toyota-announces-1995-challenge/
  3. http://www.supertouringregister.com/register/vehicle/262/
  4. http://www.supertouringregister.com/register/vehicle/61/
  5. http://www.supertouringregister.com/register/vehicle/67/
  6. http://www.supertouringregister.com/register/vehicle/294/
  7. http://www.supertouringregister.com/register/vehicle/128/
  8. http://www.supertouringregister.com/register/vehicle/170/
  9. http://www.supertouringregister.com/register/vehicle/173/
  10. http://www.supertouringregister.com/register/vehicle/206/
  11. http://www.motorsport.com/btcc/news/btcc-1995-entry-list-2006-04-10/
  12. Touring Car Year 95–96. Teddington: Haymarket Specialist Motoring Publications Ltd. 1996. p. 122. ISBN 0-86024-925-5.
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