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. 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.

Entry List

BTCC

Team Car No. Drivers Rounds
Manufacturers
Audi Sport UK Audi A4 quattro 1 Germany Frank Biela All
7 United Kingdom John Bintcliffe All
Williams Renault Dealer Racing Renault Laguna 2 Switzerland Alain Menu All
22 United Kingdom Jason Plato All
Volvo S40 Racing Volvo S40 3 Sweden Rickard Rydell All
11 United Kingdom Kelvin Burt All
Vodafone Nissan Racing Nissan Primera GT 4 United Kingdom David Leslie All
23 United Kingdom Anthony Reid All
Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Vectra 8 United Kingdom John Cleland All
88 United Kingdom Derek Warwick All
Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo 9 United Kingdom Will Hoy All
15 New Zealand Paul Radisich All
Team Honda Sport Honda Accord 10 United Kingdom James Thompson All
20 Italy Gabriele Tarquini All
Esso Ultron Team Peugeot Peugeot 406 12 United Kingdom Tim Harvey All
14 United Kingdom Patrick Watts All
Independents
Brookes Motorsport Peugeot 406 17 United Kingdom Lee Brookes All
Janco Motorsport Opel Vectra 18 Sweden Jan Brunstedt 2
Team DCRS BMW 318i 19 United Kingdom Colin Gallie All
Mint Motorsport Vauxhall Cavalier 25 United Kingdom Jamie Wall All
ProMotor Sport Vauxhall Cavalier 28 United Kingdom Ian Heward 6, 9–10, 12
Rock-It Cargo Honda Accord 29 United Kingdom Robb Gravett 2–12
Team Dynamics Ford Mondeo 77 United Kingdom Matt Neal 1–5
Nissan Primera eGT 6–12

RAC Tourist Trophy

Team Car No. Drivers
Manufacturers
Williams Renault Dealer Racing Renault Laguna 1 Switzerland Alain Menu
3 United Kingdom Jason Plato
Audi Sport UK Audi A4 quattro 2 Germany Frank Biela
7 United Kingdom John Bintcliffe
Audi A4 18 France Yvan Muller
Volvo S40 Racing Volvo S40 4 Sweden Rickard Rydell
14 Germany Armin Hahne
Vodafone Nissan Racing Nissan Primera GT 8 United Kingdom David Leslie
11 United Kingdom Anthony Reid
17 United Kingdom Paula Cook
Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Vectra 12 United Kingdom John Cleland
Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo 15 New Zealand Paul Radisich
16 United Kingdom Will Hoy
Team Honda Sport Honda Accord 21 New Zealand Aaron Slight
22 United Kingdom Jonny Kane
Independents
Abt Sportsline Audi A4 quattro 23 Germany Christian Abt
24 Denmark Kris Nissen
Mint Motorsport Vauxhall Cavalier 25 United Kingdom Tim Sugden
Janco Motorsport Opel Vectra 27 Sweden Jan Brunstedt
Tord Linnerud Opel Vectra 28 Norway Tord Linnerud
Team Dynamics Ford Mondeo 77 United Kingdom Matt Neal
Nissan Primera eGT 78 Sweden 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 United Kingdom Jason Plato Switzerland Alain Menu Switzerland Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing United Kingdom Colin Gallie
R2 United Kingdom Jason Plato Switzerland Alain Menu Switzerland Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing United Kingdom Colin Gallie
2 R3 Silverstone Circuit (International), Northamptonshire 20 April United Kingdom Jason Plato United Kingdom Jason Plato Switzerland Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing United Kingdom Robb Gravett
R4 Switzerland Alain Menu Switzerland Alain Menu Switzerland Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing United Kingdom Robb Gravett
3 R5 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 5 May Switzerland Alain Menu United Kingdom James Thompson Germany Frank Biela Audi Sport UK United Kingdom Matt Neal
R6 Switzerland Alain Menu United Kingdom James Thompson Italy Gabriele Tarquini Team Honda Sport United Kingdom Matt Neal
4 R7 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 18 May Switzerland Alain Menu Switzerland Alain Menu Switzerland Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing United Kingdom Robb Gravett
R8 Italy Gabriele Tarquini Switzerland Alain Menu United Kingdom James Thompson Team Honda Sport United Kingdom Robb Gravett
5 R9 Oulton Park (Fosters), Cheshire 26 May Switzerland Alain Menu Switzerland Alain Menu Switzerland Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing United Kingdom Colin Gallie
R10 Switzerland Alain Menu Switzerland Alain Menu Switzerland Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing United Kingdom Lee Brookes
6 R11 Donington Park (National), Leicestershire 15 June Switzerland Alain Menu Switzerland Alain Menu Germany Frank Biela Audi Sport UK United Kingdom Lee Brookes
R12 Switzerland Alain Menu Italy Gabriele Tarquini Switzerland Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing United Kingdom Lee Brookes
7 R13 Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire 29 June Switzerland Alain Menu1 Italy Gabriele Tarquini Switzerland Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing United Kingdom Matt Neal
R14 Switzerland Alain Menu1 Switzerland Alain Menu Switzerland Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing United Kingdom Lee Brookes
8 R15 Knockhill Racing Circuit, Fife 3 August United Kingdom John Bintcliffe Germany Frank Biela United Kingdom John Bintcliffe Audi Sport UK United Kingdom Robb Gravett
R16 Germany Frank Biela Germany Frank Biela Germany Frank Biela Audi Sport UK United Kingdom Robb Gravett
9 R17 Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit, Norfolk 10 August Switzerland Alain Menu Switzerland Alain Menu Switzerland Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing United Kingdom Lee Brookes
R18 Switzerland Alain Menu Switzerland Alain Menu United Kingdom Jason Plato Williams Renault Dealer Racing United Kingdom Matt Neal
10 R19 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 25 August Sweden Rickard Rydell Italy Gabriele Tarquini United Kingdom John Bintcliffe Audi Sport UK United Kingdom Lee Brookes
R20 United Kingdom James Thompson Germany Frank Biela Germany Frank Biela Audi Sport UK United Kingdom Lee Brookes
11 R21 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 7 September Germany Frank Biela2 United Kingdom Anthony Reid Germany Frank Biela Audi Sport UK United Kingdom Lee Brookes
R22 United Kingdom Anthony Reid3 Sweden Rickard Rydell Sweden Rickard Rydell Volvo S40 Racing United Kingdom Lee Brookes
12 R23 Silverstone Circuit (International), Northamptonshire 21 September United Kingdom Jason Plato United Kingdom Anthony Reid Switzerland Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing United Kingdom Matt Neal
R24 Switzerland Alain Menu Switzerland Alain Menu United Kingdom Jason Plato Williams Renault Dealer Racing United Kingdom 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 Switzerland 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 Germany 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 United Kingdom 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 Sweden 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 United Kingdom 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 Italy 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 New Zealand 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 Sweden Jan Brunstedt 17 14 0
23 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 Sweden Jan Brunstedt 17 14 12
7 United Kingdom 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 Switzerland Alain Menu 4 1 1
2 United Kingdom Jason Plato 2 14 2
3 Sweden Rickard Rydell 3 5 3
4 Germany Frank Biela 6 6 4
5 France Yvan Muller 9 4 5
6 United Kingdom Anthony Reid 1 17 6
7 United Kingdom Will Hoy 12 3 7
8 Germany Armin Hahne 15 13 8
9 United Kingdom John Bintcliffe 10 7 9
10 Denmark Kris Nissen 8 8 10
11 United Kingdom Matt Neal Ret 10 11
12 Germany Christian Abt 13 9 12
13 United Kingdom Paula Cook 17 12 13
14 United Kingdom Jonny Kane 11 11 14
15 United Kingdom Tim Sugden 14 15 15
16 Sweden Kari Mäkinen 16 Ret 16
17 Sweden Jan Brunstedt 19 16 17
  United Kingdom David Leslie 7 2 Ret
  United Kingdom John Cleland 18 Ret Ret
  New Zealand Paul Radisich 5 Ret Ret
  Norway Tord Linnerud Ret Ret DNS
  New Zealand Aaron Slight Ret DNS DNS
Pos. Driver H1 H2 F
DON

External links

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