1994 British Touring Car Championship

The 1994 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship season was the 37th British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season.

1994 BTCC season
Previous: 1993 Next: 1995
Gabriele Tarquini with Alfa Romeo 155 in Thruxton.

Changes for 1994
  • The number of double header meetings were increased from three to eight
  • Double headers now awarded full points in both races instead of half, as had previously been the case

Season summary

The lead up to the 1994 season saw both consolidation and major news amongst the manufacturers. Reigning champions BMW retained Joachim Winkelhock and Steve Soper, and the team would again be managed by works outfit Schnitzer Motorsport. Soper however would miss some races when they clashed with his JTCC programme; his place would then be taken by Roberto Ravaglia. Ford were looking to build on their late 1993 success with Paul Radisich and Andy Rouse, while Toyota added Tim Sugden to their 1993 drivers Will Hoy and Julian Bailey. While Vauxhall retained drivers John Cleland and Jeff Allam they had handed over the running of their works team to Ray Mallock Ltd., who had previously run semi-works cars as Ecurie Ecosse.

Renault also retained their drivers Alain Menu and Tim Harvey, but replaced their Renault 19 with more modern Lagunas. Keith O’Dor continued with Nissan but was joined by ex-Formula One driver Eric van de Poele, who replaced Win Percy. Patrick Watts moved from Mazda to Peugeot, replacing Robb Gravett, while Mazda expanded to a two-car line up with drivers Matt Neal and David Leslie.

Two new manufacturers joined the championship. Tom Walkinshaw made a comeback with Volvo, the Swedish manufacturer surprisingly choosing to run the estate version of their 850 model. 1988 Le Mans winner Jan Lammers and Swedish Formula Three racer Rickard Rydell would be the team’s two drivers. Alfa Romeo was the other manufacturer to join; Italian works outfit Alfa Corse would run two cars for Gabriele Tarquini and Giampiero Simoni. Alfa had produced a unique homologation special version of their 155 model complete with wings and spoilers, significantly improving the aerodynamics of the car. The 155 was to revolutionize Super Touring racing. The rules stated that aerodynamic wings could be used provided they were fitted to a limited number of road cars. Peugeot, Ford and Toyota had all run with rear spoilers in previous years due to this. Alfa exploited the rules by releasing a special edition of the 155 called the 'Silverstone' just to gain the aero advantage.[1] Renault and BMW eventually followed suit by releasing limited "homologation special" editions of their cars, the Laguna Airflow and the 318is, respectively.

The start of the season showed that Alfa Romeo had a substantial advantage over their opponents as Gabriele Tarquini dominated, taking the first five wins of the season. Several complaints and protests were lodged by other manufacturers, and just prior to Oulton Park Alfa were told to run without the aerodynamic aids fitted. Alfa refused and left the circuit in protest, allowing Alain Menu to take Renault’s first win of the season. Eventually matters were resolved and Alfa re-instated after agreeing to run with the spoilers lowered, but having lost out on any points from Oulton Park. Even with lowered spoilers, however, Tarquini was able to keep much of his advantage.

Silverstone hosted the twelfth round of the championship, and there rule changes were exploited by other manufacturers to add aerodynamic aids to their own cars. This levelled the playing field considerably and allowed Joachim Winkelhock to make a bid for victory, overtaking Tarquini and winning the race. Tarquini would only win one more race that season, but was always in contention: it was not so much a matter of if but when the Italian would become champion. When turned out to be the penultimate weekend at Silverstone, where Tarquini’s second place in the first race of the day secured the title for him. The main battle going into the final rounds at Donington Park was for second place, and would stand between Alain Menu and Paul Radisich. Radisich won the first race of the day bringing him up to level on points with Menu, but mechanical gremlins put a stop to his challenge in the second race. Menu thus finished second in the championship from Radisich, with John Cleland in fourth and Simoni in fifth.

Teams and drivers

BTCC
Team Car No. Drivers Rounds
Manufacturers
BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer BMW 318i 1 Joachim Winkelhock All
2 Steve Soper 1–3, 5, 7, 9, 11–13
21 Roberto Ravaglia 4, 6, 8, 10
Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Ghia 3 Paul Radisich All
31 Robb Gravett 13
32 Kelvin Burt 12
33 Andy Rouse All
Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 4 John Cleland All
9 Jeff Allam All
Toyota Castrol Team Toyota Carina E 5 Julian Bailey All
7 Will Hoy All
57 Tim Sugden 2–6, 8, 12–13
Team Mazda Mazda Xedos 6 8 David Leslie 1–8
12 Matt Neal 1–4
Renault Dealer Racing Renault Laguna 10 Alain Menu All
11 Tim Harvey All
Peugeot Sport Peugeot 405 Mi16 13 Eugene O'Brien 1, 3–12
18 Patrick Watts All
Volvo 850 Racing Volvo 850 SE/GLT 14 Jan Lammers All
15 Rickard Rydell All
Old Spice Nissan Racing Nissan Primera eGT 23 Kieth O'dor All
24 Eric van de Poele 1–8
34 Tiff Needell 5, 7–13
Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 TS 55 Gabriele Tarquini 1–4, 6–13
56 Giampiero Simoni 1–4, 6–13
Independents
Maxted Motorsport Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 17 Ian Khan 3, 5–8
Toyota Carina E 1–2
29 James Kaye All
Woodkirk Peugeot Peugeot 405 Mi16 19 James Thompson 1–4, 7–13
Geoff Steel Racing BMW 318is 22 Geoff Steel 1–3, 5–6, 10–11
Team HMSO Cavalier Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 25 Nigel Smith All
Hamish Irvine BMW 318is 26 Hamish Irvine 4–13
Harlow Motorsport Renault 19 16v 27 Nigel Albon All
Roy Kennedy Racing Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 30 Chris Goodwin 2–8, 10–13

ToCA Shoot Out
Team Car No. Drivers
Manufacturers
Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 TS 1 Gabriele Tarquini
5 Giampiero Simoni
Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Ghia 3 Paul Radisich
31 Robb Gravett
Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 4 John Cleland
10 Jeff Allam
20 Anthony Reid
BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer BMW 318i 6 Steve Soper
Peugeot Sport Peugeot 405 Mi16 8 Patrick Watts
18 Eugene O'Brien
Old Spice Nissan Racing Nissan Primera eGT 22 Tiff Needell
Team Mazda Mazda 323F 24 Matt Neal
Independents
Team HMSO Cavalier Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 25 Nigel Smith
Maxted Motorsport Toyota Carina E 29 James Kaye
Roy Kennedy Racing Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 30 Julian Westwood

Race calendar and winners

All races were held in the United Kingdom.

Round Circuit Date Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Team Winning Privateer
1 R1 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 4 April Gabriele Tarquini Gabriele Tarquini Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse James Kaye
2 R2 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 17 April Gabriele Tarquini Gabriele Tarquini Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse Nigel Smith
R3 Giampiero Simoni Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse Chris Goodwin
3 R4 Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit, Norfolk 2 May Giampiero Simoni Gabriele Tarquini Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse James Kaye
4 R5 Silverstone Circuit (National), Northamptonshire 15 May Alain Menu Paul Radisich Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse Chris Goodwin
R6 Alain Menu Paul Radisich Team Mondeo James Kaye
5 R7 Oulton Park (International), Cheshire 30 May Alain Menu Alain Menu Alain Menu Renault Dealer Racing Chris Goodwin
6 R8 Donington Park (Grand Prix), Leicestershire 12 June Paul Radisich John Cleland John Cleland Vauxhall Sport James Kaye
R9 Paul Radisich John Cleland Vauxhall Sport James Kaye
7 R10 Brands Hatch (Grand Prix), Kent 26 June Giampiero Simoni Gabriele Tarquini Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse James Kaye
R11 Gabriele Tarquini Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse James Thompson
8 R12 Silverstone Circuit (Grand Prix), Northamptonshire 10 July Joachim Winkelhock Gabriele Tarquini Joachim Winkelhock BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer James Thompson
9 R13 Knockhill Racing Circuit, Fife 31 July Paul Radisich Steve Soper Alain Menu Renault Dealer Racing James Kaye
R14 Steve Soper Steve Soper BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer Nigel Smith
10 R15 Oulton Park (International), Cheshire 14 August Alain Menu Joachim Winkelhock Joachim Winkelhock BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer Nigel Albon
11 R16 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 29 August Joachim Winkelhock Joachim Winkelhock Joachim Winkelhock BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer James Kaye
R17 Gabriele Tarquini Joachim Winkelhock BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer Nigel Smith
12 R18 Silverstone Circuit (Grand Prix), Northamptonshire 11 September Tim Harvey Steve Soper Tim Harvey Renault Dealer Racing Nigel Smith
R19 Gabriele Tarquini Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse James Kaye
13 R20 Donington Park (Grand Prix), Leicestershire 18 September Joachim Winkelhock Paul Radisich Paul Radisich Team Mondeo Chris Goodwin
R21 Paul Radisich Giampiero Simoni Alfa Corse James Kaye

Championship results

Drivers Championship

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Points system
 1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th 
24 18 12 10 8 6 4 3 2 1
  • Race 2 grid for Double Headers are based on Race 1 results.
Pos Driver THR BRH SNE SIL OUL DON BRH SIL KNO OUL BRH SIL DON Pts
1 Gabriele Tarquini 1 1 1 1 1 DNS WD 3 DNS 1 1 2 Ret DNS 3 2 2 2 1 Ret 4 298
2 Alain Menu 6 18 Ret Ret 3 2 1 5 4 9 6 5 1 3 2 7 7 3 2 2 2 222
3 Paul Radisich Ret 5 4 2 2 1 2 2 2 Ret Ret 3 2 2 Ret 14 DSQ Ret DNS 1 9 206
4 John Cleland 2 3 2 Ret 7 4 7 1 1 5 4 DNS 5 6 Ret Ret DNS 4 4 8 5 177
5 Giampiero Simoni 11 2 DSQ 3 Ret DNS WD Ret DNS 2 2 Ret Ret 9 4 3 3 6 3 3 1 156
6 Joachim Winkelhock 3 Ret 7 Ret 14 14 8 Ret 8 8 7 1 Ret 11 1 1 1 Ret DNS 4 3 147
7 Steve Soper 4 10 6 8 4 4 14 3 1 5 4 22 5 12 Ret 102
8 Patrick Watts 7 7 8 5 5 3 3 7 11 3 3 6 15 Ret 8 6 DNS Ret Ret 7 11 98
9 Tim Harvey 10 Ret DNS Ret Ret 8 Ret 9 10 Ret 11 4 DSQ 4 6 4 Ret 1 18 5 8 78
10 Jeff Allam 14 6 5 6 12 9 6 6 3 19 10 7 4 5 12 13 Ret 8 9 9 13 76
11 Andy Rouse 21 4 3 DNS 4 19 Ret 4 6 6 5 Ret 11 15 Ret 11 DNS 13 8 20 10 66
12 Julian Bailey 20 19 10 Ret 10 5 10 8 5 11 9 DNS 8 7 9 10 6 5 6 6 6 66
13 Will Hoy 5 9 9 12 6 6 Ret 10 7 Ret 17 9 9 8 11 12 DNS 7 7 18 7 48
14 Rickard Rydell 15 22 15 Ret 19 13 5 11 Ret 10 8 8 6 10 Ret 15 8 10 12 10 12 27
15 Jan Lammers Ret 12 16 11 Ret 16 13 14 15 7 16 12 NC 12 7 9 5 16 17 13 16 18
16 Kieth O'Dor 9 11 Ret 4 8 DNS 11 13 12 12 13 DNS 14 14 10 16 DNS 11 Ret 22 18 16
17 Eugene O'Brien Ret 7 11 10 9 16 20 13 Ret Ret 7 13 14 8 Ret 12 Ret 14
18 Roberto Ravaglia Ret Ret 12 9 Ret 5 10
19 Tim Sugden 20 12 Ret 9 7 12 15 14 Ret 9 10 19 14 9
20 David Leslie 8 8 11 17 16 11 Ret Ret DNS Ret 19 11 6
21 Tiff Needell 17 Ret 18 DNS 10 16 13 17 9 15 14 15 15 3
22 Eric van de Poele 13 DNS DNS 9 13 12 14 17 13 14 12 DNS 2
23 Matt Neal 12 15 17 10 15 DNS 1
24 James Thompson Ret 16 18 Ret 21 DNS 18 15 10 Ret DNS Ret 20 Ret 18 Ret 16 19 1
25 Nigel Smith 18 13 14 15 20 Ret 16 20 18 16 20 13 Ret 17 17 19 10 17 16 23 20 1
26 Chris Goodwin 14 13 14 17 17 15 19 17 17 Ret DNS 18 22 11 19 15 14 21 0
27 Kelvin Burt 14 11 0
28 Robb Gravett 11 Ret 0
29 James Kaye 16 17 19 13 18 15 Ret 18 16 15 21 15 12 18 Ret 18 Ret 20 13 17 17 0
30 Nigel Albon 17 Ret DNS 16 22 18 22 Ret DNS DNS Ret Ret DNS 15 Ret 12 21 DNS Ret 22 0
31 Hamish Irvine 23 20 Ret 23 Ret 21 Ret 14 13 Ret 16 21 DNS 23 DNS 21 23 0
32 Geoff Steel 22 21 20 18 18 24 21 Ret 23 13 0
33 Ian Khan 19 DNS DNS Ret Ret 21 19 20 22 0
Pos Driver THR BRH SNE SIL OUL DON BRH SIL KNO OUL BRH SIL DON Pts

Privateers Championship
Pos Driver THR BRH SNE SIL OUL DON BRH SIL KNO OUL BRH SIL DON Pts
1 James Kaye 16 17 19 13 18 15 Ret 18 16 15 21 15 12 18 Ret 18 Ret 20 13 17 17 340
2 Nigel Smith 18 13 14 15 20 Ret 16 20 18 16 20 13 Ret 17 17 19 10 17 16 23 20 308
3 Chris Goodwin 14 13 14 17 17 15 19 17 17 Ret DNS 18 22 11 19 15 14 21 274
4 James Thompson Ret 16 18 Ret 21 DNS 18 15 10 Ret DNS Ret 20 Ret 18 Ret 16 19 158
5 Nigel Albon 17 Ret DNS 16 22 18 22 Ret DNS DNS Ret Ret DNS 15 Ret 12 21 DNS Ret 22 108
6 Hamish Irvine 23 20 Ret 23 Ret 21 Ret 14 13 Ret 16 21 DNS 23 DNS 21 23 108
7 Geoff Steel 22 21 20 18 18 24 21 Ret 23 13 72
8 Ian Khan 19 DNS DNS Ret Ret 21 19 20 22 48
Pos Driver THR BRH SNE SIL OUL DON BRH SIL KNO OUL BRH SIL DON Pts

Manufacturers Championship
Pos Manufacturer THR BRH SNE SIL OUL DON BRH SIL KNO OUL BRH SIL DON Pts
1 Alfa Romeo / Alfa Corse 1 1 1 1 1 DNS WD 3 DNS 1 1 2 Ret 9 3 2 2 2 1 3 1 330
2 Renault / Renault Dealer Racing 6 18 Ret Ret 3 2 1 5 4 9 6 4 1 3 2 4 7 1 2 2 2 259
3 Ford / Team Mondeo 21 4 3 2 2 1 2 2 2 6 5 3 2 2 Ret 11 DSQ 13 8 1 9 248
4 BMW / BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer 3 10 6 8 14 14 4 12 8 4 7 1 3 1 1 1 1 22 5 4 3 242
5 Vauxhall / Vauxhall Motorsport 2 3 2 6 7 4 6 1 1 5 4 7 4 5 12 13 Ret 4 4 8 5 224
6 Peugeot / Peugeot Sport 7 7 8 5 5 3 3 7 11 3 3 6 7 13 8 6 Ret 12 Ret 7 11 167
7 Toyota / Toyota Castrol Team 5 9 9 12 6 5 10 8 5 11 9 9 8 7 9 10 6 5 6 6 6 137
8 Volvo / Volvo 850 Racing 15 12 15 11 19 13 5 11 15 7 8 8 6 10 7 9 5 10 12 10 12 103
9 Nissan / Old Spice Nissan Racing 9 11 Ret 4 8 12 11 13 12 12 12 DNS 10 14 10 16 9 11 14 15 15 69
10 Mazda / Team Mazda 8 8 11 10 15 11 Ret Ret DNS Ret 19 11 31
Pos Driver THR BRH SNE SIL OUL DON BRH SIL KNO OUL BRH SIL DON Pts
gollark: `git commit A` executed.
gollark: PotatoASM's assembly language?
gollark: Well, mutability bad embrace FP.
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gollark: Which is entirely reasonable.

References
  1. http://www.touringcartimes.com/2009/03/15/road-cars-of-touring-car-racing-alfa-romeo-155/
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