1993 British Touring Car Championship

1993 BTCC season
Previous:	1992	Next:	1994

The 1993 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship season was 36th British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season.

Season summary

At the end of 1992 BMW GB withdrew from the championship after the rules had been changed in a direction which BMW felt disadvantaged them. Prodrive, which had run the works operation for BMW, picked up their now famous Subaru contract to build rally cars, while Vic Lee Motorsport was liquidated after owner Vic Lee’s drug scandal. The assets of the team were taken over by Steve Neal and Ray Bellm, who picked up personnel from Euroracing’s discontinued sports car effort and merged it into Neal’s Rimstock Racing outfit, creating Team Dynamics. Bellm would sell his share in the team later in the year, leaving Steve Neal as the only owner. The team started the 1993 season with three 1992-spec 318iS cars piloted by Matt Neal, Ray Bellm and Alex Portman, later dropping down to two.
Only weeks after BMW GB withdrew from the BTCC, BMW withdrew their Schnitzer Motorsport-run works operation from the German DTM championship, also there because of their disagreement with new rules. With few other series to contest in Schnitzer Motorsport were sent over by BMW to the British championship along with works drivers Steve Soper and Joachim Winkelhock.
Andy Rouse had lost his Toyota contract to famous Toyota tuners TOM'S Norfolk-based European arm known as Tom’s GB, who had previously run Group A Toyotas in BTCC in the eighties. Andy Rouse’s seat was taken over by Julian Bailey, and the new shape Carina E GTi replaced the older model. Toyota also supported a junior team run by Park Lane Racing, who would run two older shape Carinas for James Kaye and Bobby Verdon-Roe. Rouse himself had landed a Ford works deal, but the new Mondeo would not appear until after the season had started.
Vauxhall retained their John Cleland / Jeff Allam line-up in the Vauxhall Cavalier and their Ecurie Ecosse semi-works team; at Ecurie Ecosse David Leslie retained his seat and was after a few races joined by fellow Scotsman Harry Nuttall. Peugeot added Eugene O’Brien and Ian Flux to Robb Gravett for a three-car line-up in the Peugeot 405 Mi16 (with Flux’ car being run by Roy Kennedy Racing); Nissan ran three cars for Keith O'Dor, Win Percy and Tiff Needell, and Mazda returned with Patrick Watts in a brand new Xedos 6. Renault was the new manufacturer to join the championship with Alain Menu and reigning champion Tim Harvey as their drivers in the Renault 19 16v

The season started at Silverstone, where Steve Soper led team-mate Joachim Winkelhock home for a dominating BMW one-two. The second round at Donington Park was the support race for the European Grand Prix. The race was hit by torrential rain, and thanks to Michelin (whose wet-weather tyres were far superior to the ones of the other tire manufacturers) Renault was able to claim a one-two finish, Tim Harvey winning the race ahead of Alain Menu. It soon became apparent that Renault’s pace was tied to conditions, as they struggled to match the championship’s privateers in the dry.

A start line crash at the next round at Snetterton forced a red flag, and five cars failed to make the restart. The race would be won by Soper, with Julian Bailey in second and David Leslie in third. Winkelhock then took the victory at Round 4 at Donington Park ahead of Jeff Allam and Steve Soper. Winkelhock then took a commanding victory at Oulton Park, and as Steve Soper had gone off into a tyre wall and forced into retirement Winkelhock now took the championship lead by two points.

Brands Hatch hosted the first double header of the season. Winkelhock was at the centre of controversy when he shunted David Leslie out of the lead to take the win. Keith O’Dor finished second and Will Hoy third. Leslie was not amused, commenting that Winkelhock had not had any opportunity whatsoever to pull the pass off. Winkelhock apologized, saying he was a lot faster than Leslie in that corner but that there had been a bit of a misunderstanding when he tried his move. Winkelhock then led the second race when he made a mistake going into Clearways and went off into the Armco barrier and retirement. Will Hoy then went off at the same place, but ended up a bit further to the right and into the tires that covered some of the barriers at that corner. With both of his major contenders out Soper could take an easy win ahead of O’Dor and Jeff Allam.

The BTCC then headed to Wales for Round 8 at Pembrey, where Ford made its debut. Winkelhock won the race with Hoy in second and Soper in third. At the next round at Silverstone Toyota appeared to be heading home a one-two finish for Will Hoy and Julian Bailey. An over-ambitious move from Bailey however put Hoy on his roof and forced Bailey himself into retirement. It was instead Keith O’Dor who took his and Nissan’s first BTCC victory. To make it a perfect day for Nissan his teammate Win Percy finished second in a drag race over the line with Paul Radisich, who took the returning Ford team’s first podium.

Knockhill held the next double header of the season. A race long battle between Vauxhall driver John Cleland and Toyota driver Julian Bailey saw Cleland finally come out on top, with Will Hoy finishing in third. Further back, Soper lost valuable points when he was pushed off by Radisich in the Ford. Luckily for him Winkelhock was not able to start the second race due to clutch problems. It was now Bailey’s turn to win a race, finishing ahead of Cleland and Hoy. The Renault team decided to skip the Scottish meeting and focus on developing their car.

Oulton Park hosted Round 12 which was the Gold Cup, and Renault’s car updates appeared to have paid off. Both cars qualified and finished much better than before, Menu taking fourth. Up front Winkelhock led from start to finish while Soper was second ahead of Cleland.
Round 13 took place at Brands Hatch and Winkelhock and Leslie clashed again. First Winkelhock barged past Leslie to take second, and when Leslie attempted to retake the place he pushed Winkelhock into a spin. Both drivers dropped down the field while Radisich won the race from Soper and Peugeot driver Robb Gravett; Soper was however later penalised one position because of his rather forceful move on Gravett on the last lap to take second.

Leslie then finally won a race when the series visited Thruxton. Ford was second and third with Radisich and Andy Rouse, while a sixth place from Soper closed the gap between him and Winkelhock to twelve points.

Donington Park hosted the penultimate weekend of the championship and the last double header meeting. Radisich dominated the first race and won it by more than ten seconds, while wet weather conditions enabled Renault to finish second and third. A puncture had forced Soper to retire, and with Winkelhock finishing fifth the German now had the chance to take the title in the second race. Menu then won Race 2 from Radisich and Winkelhock, but as Soper finished fifth the championship would be decided in the final round at Silverstone.

At Silverstone the race was red flagged following an accident involving Robb Gravett’s Peugeot. Will Hoy led away in the Toyota after the restart, but was later passed by both Paul Radisich and Andy Rouse, who took a one-two finish for Ford. Hoy held on to third, and while Steve Soper finished ahead of Winkelhock he did not get the result he needed and it was Joachim Winkelhock who won the 1993 British Touring Car Championship. Despite missing the first part of the season Paul Radisich finished third in the championship, with John Cleland in fourth and Julian Bailey in fifth.

Teams and drivers

Team	Car	No.	Drivers	Rounds
Manufacturers
Renault Dealer Racing	Renault 19	1	Tim Harvey	1–8, 10–14
Renault Dealer Racing	Renault 19	19	Alain Menu	1–8, 10–14
Team Securicor Toyota	Toyota Carina E	2	Will Hoy	All
Team Securicor Toyota	Toyota Carina E	21	Julian Bailey	All
Vauxhall Sport	Vauxhall Cavalier	3	John Cleland	All
Vauxhall Sport	Vauxhall Cavalier	4	Jeff Allam	All
Team Mondeo	Ford Mondeo Si	5	Andy Rouse	7–14
Team Mondeo	Ford Mondeo Si	15	Paul Radisich	7–14
BMW Motorsport Team	BMW 318i	6	Steve Soper	All
BMW Motorsport Team	BMW 318i	22	Joachim Winkelhock	All
Park Lane Toyota Junior Team	Toyota Carina E	10	James Kaye	1–8, 10, 12–14
Park Lane Toyota Junior Team	Toyota Carina E	20	Bobby Verdon-Roe	All
RKR with Silkolene at Halfords	Peugeot 405 Mi16	14	Ian Flux	All
Nissan Castrol Racing	Nissan Primera eGT	23	Kieth O'dor	All
		24	Win Percy	1–4, 6–14
		34	Tiff Needell	2, 5–9, 11
Peugeot Talbot Sport	Peugeot 405 Mi16	45	Robb Gravett	All
Peugeot Talbot Sport	Peugeot 405 Mi16	46	Eugene O'Brien	All
Mazda Racing Team	Mazda Xedos 6	66	Patrick Watts	All
Ecurie Ecosse Vauxhall	Vauxhall Cavalier	78	Harry Nuttall	3–14
		79	David Leslie	All
		80	Chris Goodwin	11, 14
Independents
Team Dynamics	BMW 318is	11	Ray Bellm	2–4, 6–8
		11	Andy Wallace	5
		27	Alex Portman	1–6, 8–14
		77	Matt Neal	1–11
	BMW 318i	77	Matt Neal	12–14
Pinkney Motorsport	BMW 318is	12	Dave Pinkney	1–8, 11
Tamchester Team Maxted	Vauxhall Cavalier	16	Ian Ashley	1–8, 10–14
Tamchester Team Maxted	Vauxhall Cavalier	17	Ian Khan	All
Peggen Motorsport	BMW M3	25	Peggen Andersson	1–2
Jim Wheals	Ford Sierra Sapphire	26	Jim Wheals	3
Asquith Autosport	Mazda 323F	32	Ian Cantwell	1–3, 6, 8
Bob Berridge	Ford Sierra Sapphire	35	Bob Berridge	6, 8, 10–14

TOCA Shootout

Entrants

Team	Car	No.	Drivers
Manufacturers
Team Mondeo	Ford Mondeo Si	55	Nigel Mansell
Team Mondeo	Ford Mondeo Si	15	Paul Radisich
BMW Motorsport Team	BMW 318i	6	Steve Soper
Park Lane Toyota Junior Team	Toyota Carina E	8	Derek Warwick
Peugeot Talbot Sport	Peugeot 405 Mi16	45	Robb Gravett
Peugeot Talbot Sport	Peugeot 405 Mi16	46	Dave Coyne
Mazda Racing Team	Mazda Xedos 6	66	Patrick Watts
Ecurie Ecosse Vauxhall	Vauxhall Cavalier	78	Tiff Needell
		79	David Leslie
		80	Hayden Measham
Independents
Team Dynamics	BMW 318i	11	Matt Neal
	BMW 318is	27	Alex Portman
	BMW 318is	77	Chris Rea
Pinkney Motorsport	BMW 318is	12	Dave Pinkney
Colin Davids Racing	Vauxhall Cavalier	16	Ian Ashley
Tamchester Team Maxted	Vauxhall Cavalier	17	Ian Khan
Thenander Motorsport	BMW 318is	30	Bengt Thenander
Petroline	BMW 318i	33	Klaas Zwart

Results

TOCA Shootout
Pos.	Driver
1	David Leslie
2	Paul Radisich
3	Steve Soper
4	Robb Gravett
5	Dave Coyne
6	Tiff Needell
7	Ian Ashley
NC	Matt Neal
NC	Nigel Mansell
NC	Bengt Thenander
NC	Ian Khan
NC	Hayden Measham
NC	David Pinkney
NC	Derek Warwick
NC	Chris Rea
NC	Klaas Zwart
NC	Patrick Watts
NC	Alex Portman

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	Silverstone (National), Northamptonshire	28 March	Steve Soper	Joachim Winkelhock	Steve Soper	BMW Motorsport Team	Matt Neal
2	R2	Donington Park (GP), Leicestershire	12 April	Steve Soper	Tim Harvey	Tim Harvey	Renault Dealer Racing	Ian Cantwell
3	R3	Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk	3 May	Patrick Watts	Joachim Winkelhock	Steve Soper	BMW Motorsport Team	Ian Ashley
4	R4	Donington Park (GP), Leicestershire	16 May	Joachim Winkelhock	Joachim Winkelhock	Joachim Winkelhock	BMW Motorsport Team	Matt Neal
5	R5	Oulton Park, Cheshire	31 May	John Cleland	John Cleland	Joachim Winkelhock	BMW Motorsport Team	Ian Ashley
6	R6	Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent	13 June	David Leslie	Keith O'Dor	Joachim Winkelhock	BMW Motorsport Team	Ray Bellm
6	R7	Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent	13 June		Joachim Winkelhock	Steve Soper	BMW Motorsport Team	Ray Bellm
7	R8	Pembrey Circuit, Carmarthenshire	27 June	David Leslie	David Leslie	Joachim Winkelhock	BMW Motorsport Team	Ian Khan
8	R9	Silverstone (GP), Northamptonshire	11 July	Keith O'Dor	Patrick Watts	Keith O'Dor	Nissan Castrol Racing	Ian Khan
9	R10	Knockhill Racing Circuit, Fife	25 July	Julian Bailey	Jeff Allam	John Cleland	Vauxhall Sport	Matt Neal
9	R11	Knockhill Racing Circuit, Fife	25 July		Julian Bailey	Julian Bailey	Team Securicor Toyota	Alex Portman
10	R12	Oulton Park, Cheshire	8 August	Joachim Winkelhock	Joachim Winkelhock	Joachim Winkelhock	BMW Motorsport Team	Alex Portman
11	R13	Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent	22 August	David Leslie	Joachim Winkelhock	Paul Radisich	Team Mondeo	Ian Khan
12	R14	Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire	30 August	David Leslie	David Leslie	David Leslie	Ecurie Ecosse Vauxhall	Matt Neal
13	R15	Donington Park (GP), Leicestershire	12 September	Paul Radisich	Tim Harvey	Paul Radisich	Team Mondeo	Alex Portman
13	R16	Donington Park (GP), Leicestershire	12 September		Paul Radisich	Alain Menu	Renault Dealer Racing	Ian Ashley
14	R17	Silverstone (National), Northamptonshire	19 September	Paul Radisich	Paul Radisich	Paul Radisich	Team Mondeo	Ian Khan

Championship results

Drivers Championship

Pos	Driver	SIL	DON	SNE	DON	OUL	BHI		PEM	SIL	KNO		OUL	BHI	THR	DON		SIL	Pts
1	Joachim Winkelhock	2	Ret	5	1	1	1	Ret	1	4	3	DNS	1	20	14	5	3	8	163
2	Steve Soper	1	3	1	3	Ret	4	1	3	Ret	12	8	2	3	6	Ret	5	5	150
3	Paul Radisich								8	3	5	5	Ret	1	2	1	2	1	110
4	John Cleland	3	4	10	7	2	Ret	5	7	6	1	2	3	12	8	Ret	6	7	102
5	Julian Bailey	Ret	7	2	5	15	6	9	4	Ret	2	1	5	7	7	7	17	6	88
6	Kieth O'Dor	Ret	5	DNS	9	4	2	2	5	1	7	11	10	5	11	8	11	11	82
7	Will Hoy	4	Ret	4	6	Ret	3	14	2	Ret	10	3	Ret	4	10	16	16	3	79
8	David Leslie	Ret	Ret	3	8	Ret	18	6	Ret	5	9	7	7	13	1	4	8	4	72
9	Jeff Allam	5	6	DNS	2	3	7	3	10	18	6	6	6	15	13	11	12	9	67
10	Alain Menu	10	2	Ret	13	Ret	15	Ret	Ret	8			4	9	9	2	1	Ret	57
11	Andy Rouse								Ret	Ret	16	10	Ret	6	3	DSQ	4	2	41
12	Win Percy	7	Ret	8	11		5	4	9	2	DNS	DNS	18	11	Ret	10	7	Ret	38
13	Robb Gravett	Ret	Ret	7	14	DNS	DSQ	16	11	9	Ret	DNS	Ret	2	4	17	13	DNS	34
14	Tim Harvey	11	1	Ret	16	Ret	11	8	Ret	Ret			Ret	14	16	3	Ret	15	31
15	Patrick Watts	6	Ret	DNS	4	Ret	10	Ret	Ret	Ret	4	4	Ret	8	12	Ret	DNS	12	29
16	Eugene O'Brien	Ret	Ret	13	Ret	5	12	11	Ret	Ret	8	Ret	9	10	5	6	15	Ret	23
17	Harry Nuttall			16	15	8	Ret	DNS	6	7	11	9	8	Ret	15	9	Ret	13	16
18	Ian Flux	9	8	11	10	6	9	7	14	Ret	15	13	11	Ret	18	Ret	10	18	14
19	Bobby Verdon-Roe	14	Ret	6	12	7	8	15	15	12	Ret	Ret	13	17	17	Ret	DNS	Ret	11
20	Matt Neal	8	Ret	DNS	17	Ret	14	Ret	18	13	14	15	16	18	19	13	14	17	3
21	James Kaye	13	11	9	Ret	Ret	Ret	DNS	Ret	10	DNS	DNS	12		20	14	Ret	14	3
22	Ian Cantwell	12	9	Ret			Ret	17	DNQ	16									2
23	Ian Ashley	Ret	12	12	Ret	9	17	13	13	17			17	21	Ret	15	9	19	2
24	Ian Khan	15	10	17	Ret	14	Ret	DNS	12	11	18	Ret	15	16	21	DNS	18	16	1
25	Alex Portman	Ret	Ret	15	19	10	16	Ret	DNQ	Ret	17	14	14	Ret	22	12	Ret	21	1
26	Chris Goodwin													Ret				10	1
27	Tiff Needell		Ret			12	Ret	10	19	Ret	13	12		Ret					0
28	Andy Wallace					11													0
29	Ray Bellm		Ret	DNS	18		13	12	17	14									0
30	David Pinkney	Ret	13	14	Ret	13	Ret	Ret	16	15				19					0
31	Bob Berridge						Ret	DNS		Ret			Ret	DSQ	Ret	18	Ret	20	0
—	Peggen Andersson	Ret	Ret																0
—	Jim Wheals			Ret															0
Pos	Driver	SIL	DON	SNE	DON	OUL	BHI		PEM	SIL	KNO		OUL	BHI	THR	DON		SIL	Pts

Colour	Result
Gold	Winner
Silver	2nd place
Bronze	3rd place
Green	Points finish
Blue	Non-points finish
Blue	Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple	Retired (Ret)
Red	Did not qualify (DNQ)
Red	Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black	Disqualified (DSQ)
White	Did not start (DNS)
	Withdrew (WD)
	Race cancelled (C)
Blank	Did not participate (DNP)
Blank	Excluded (EX)

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

TOCA Challenge for Privateers

Pos	Driver	SIL	DON	SNE	DON	OUL	BHI		PEM	SIL	KNO		OUL	BHI	THR	DON		SIL	Pts
1	Matt Neal	8	Ret	DNS	17	Ret	14	Ret	18	13	14	15	16	18	19	13	14	17	194
2	Ian Khan	15	10	17	Ret	14	Ret	DNS	12	11	18	Ret	15	16	21	DNS	18	16	192
3	Ian Ashley	Ret	12	12	Ret	9	17	13	13	17			17	21	Ret	15	9	19	148
4	Alex Portman	Ret	Ret	15	19	10	16	Ret	DNQ	Ret	17	14	14	Ret	22	12	Ret	21	125
5	David Pinkney	Ret	13	14	Ret	13	Ret	Ret	16	15				19					70
6	Ray Bellm		Ret	DNS	18		13	12	17	14									64
7	Ian Cantwell	12	9	Ret			Ret	17	DNQ	16									56
8	Bob Berridge						Ret	DNS		Ret			Ret	DSQ	Ret	18	Ret	20	15
9	Andy Wallace					11													12
–	Peggen Andersson	Ret	Ret																0
–	Jim Wheals			Ret															0
Pos	Driver	SIL	DON	SNE	DON	OUL	BHI		PEM	SIL	KNO		OUL	BHI	THR	DON		SIL	Pts

Manufacturers Championship

Pos	Manufacturer	SIL	DON	SNE	DON	OUL	BHI		PEM	SIL	KNO		OUL	BHI	THR	DON		SIL	Pts
1	BMW / BMW Motorsport Team	1	3	1	1	1	1	1	1	4	3	8	1	3	6	5	3	5	251
2	Vauxhall / Vauxhall Sport/Ecurie Ecosse	3	4	3	2	2	7	3	6	5	1	2	3	12	1	4	6	4	198
3	Toyota / Team Securicor Toyota/Park Lane Toyota Junior Team	4	7	2	5	15	3	9	2	Ret	2	1	5	4	7	7	16	3	159
4	Nissan / Nissan Castrol Racing	7	5	8	9	4	2	2	5	1	7	11	10	5	11	8	7	11	138
5	Ford / Team Mondeo								8	3	5	5	Ret	1	2	1	2	1	122
6	Peugeot / Peugeot Sport/Roy Kennedy Racing	9	8	7	10	5	9	7	11	9	8	13	9	2	4	6	10	18	111
7	Renault / Renault Dealer Racing	10	1	Ret	13	Ret	11	8	Ret	8			4	9	9	2	1	15	93
8	Mazda / Mazda Racing Team	6	Ret	DNS	4	Ret	10	Ret	Ret	Ret	4	4	Ret	8	12	Ret	DNS	12	51
Pos	Driver	SIL	DON	SNE	DON	OUL	BHI		PEM	SIL	KNO		OUL	BHI	THR	DON		SIL	Pts

External links

Full championship results

British Saloon/Touring Car Championship

1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Champions Records Teams and Drivers

Super Touring championships

British Touring Car Championship	1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

French Supertouring Championship	1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Italian Superturismo Championship	1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Touring Car World Cup	1993 1994 1995

South American Super Touring Car Championship	1997 1998 1999 2000

Japanese Touring Car Championship	1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Super Tourenwagen Cup	1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Belgian Procar Championship	1994 1995 1996 1997

Swedish Touring Car Championship	1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Campeonato de España de Turismos	1994 1995 1996 1997

Portuguese Touring Car Championship	1993 1994

Central European Supertouring Car Championship	1994 1995 1996

South African Touring Car Championship	1994 1995 1996

Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship	1994 1996 1997 1998 1999

Australian Super Touring Championship	1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000–01 2002

North American Touring Car Championship	1996 1997

European Touring Car Championship	2000 2001

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