Masters of Donnington

[Knock-on]

FYI.

'BTCC MASTERS' RACE ANNOUNCED
Past Champions To Go Head-To-Head

The greatest names in British Touring Car history will clash at Donington Park's final championship meeting this season, when champions from the past 14 years go head to head with other notable past BTCC drivers in a spectacular and unique 'BTCC Masters' event.



BTCC Series Director Alan Gow has today unveiled plans for the one-off race: all title-winning drivers from the BTCC's golden era, right back to 1990, will be thrown together in identical SEAT Cupra Championship cars to fight it out for the title of 'BTCC Master'.



The cars, used in SEAT's single-make saloon car series that supports the BTCC, are two-litre and turbo-charged. In the hands of some of the BTCC's greatest drivers, they are sure to provide an incredible spectacle around Donington's National circuit on 25-26 September.



"I've had the BTCC Masters idea sitting in my head since the Nineties when I previously ran the championship and the idea recently surfaced again ... so now the time is right to make it happen," said Gow. "Every driver I have spoken to about it has been wildly enthusiastic for the concept and has put it in their diaries already.



"In addition to inviting all our champions since 1990, I will also be inviting a number of 'wild card' drivers. These will be drivers who starred in the BTCC, in that same era, but who didn't win the title. I suppose on that 'hit list' would be drivers such as Nigel Mansell, Steve Soper, Andy Rouse, Patrick Watts, Paul Radisich, Jeff Allam, Derek Warwick, David Brabham etc. They all had a tremendous presence in the championship. It's in the final planning stage at the moment and we will announce the full list of drivers at a later date.



"This will make for an absolutely stunning event, the likes of which has never been seen before. Just imagine ...all the best drivers that the BTCC has seen, all in the one race and all with every bit of their competitive instinct and talent on display.



Gow concluded: "SEAT and Donington have been tremendously enthusiastic about the idea and I can't thank them enough for their help in putting this together. Like everyone involved in the BTCC, both are racers in the truest sense of the word."



The race will be held over 20 laps and the winning driver will nominate his favourite charity, to where all the proceeds from the event will be donated.




Sadly, the only past champion who can't be invited will be Will Hoy who tragically died 18 months ago. Will won the BTCC title in 1991 driving a BMW M3 for Vic Lee Racing.



"Will was not just one of our most popular champions, but remained loyal to the BTCC for many years after winning his title," added Gow. "He was a fantastic competitor and a great friend and I know how much he would have loved to have been a part of this. Having our past champions together without Will is bound to stir a lot of people's emotions."



The BTCC's two-litre era started in 1991 having run as a class within the championship in 1990. It started a golden era in BTCC history.



The 'Masters' since 1990:

1990 Robb Gravett (GBR) Ford Sierra

1991 Will Hoy (GBR), BMW M3

1992 Tim Harvey (GBR), BMW 318

1993 Joachim Winkelhock (GER), BMW 318

1994 Gabriele Tarquini (ITA), Alfa Romeo 156

1995 John Cleland (GBR), Vauxhall Cavalier

1996 Frank Biela (GER), Audi A4 quattro

1997 Alain Menu (SUI), Renault Laguna

1998 Rickard Rydell (SWE), Volvo S40

1999 Laurent Aiello (FRA), Nissan Primera

2000 Alain Menu (SUI), Ford Mondeo

2001 Jason Plato (GBR), Vauxhall Astra

2002 James Thompson (GBR), Vauxhall Astra

2003 Yvan Muller (FRA), Vauxhall Astra

(Green Flag / BTCC press release)

[mark]

Fantastic idea Alan, it will be great to see all of the previous champions back racing against each other, apart from sadly, Will Hoy, who I'm sure would have loved to have taken part.

Expect to see some old rivalries settled once and for all?!!!!!

[Amanda]

This is a brilliant idea!

It should make for some very interesting racing, the best drivers in identical cars.

[Alfa Fan]

I wonder if Soper will be there, taking into account the career ending shunt he had at Brands in 2001?

[Nikki P]

Originally posted by Alfa Fan
I wonder if Soper will be there, taking into account the career ending shunt he had at Brands in 2001?

Well I doubt Phil Bennett will be there so he should be safe. ;)

[Alfa Fan]

Originally posted by Nikki P
Well I doubt Phil Bennett will be there so he should be safe. ;)

He has backinjuried, which as of January 2002, doctors advised him no tto race, lets hope it turned out to be less serious injuries and he has fully recovered, a bit of a sad way for Sopers career to end in the Druids typre wall i think

[btcc-thunder]

sounds like a fantastic idea but i doubt muller, thompson and plato are going to do four races in one day (3 x btcc, 1 x masters) especially if the btcc championship is still at stake.

other drivers i'd like to see racing
- leslie
- rouse
- radisich

[Alfa Fan]

Originally posted by btcc-thunder
sounds like a fantastic idea but i doubt muller, thompson and plato are going to do four races in one day (3 x btcc, 1 x masters) especially if the btcc championship is still at stake.

other drivers i'd like to see racing
- leslie
- rouse
- radisich

oh i think Thompson Mulller etc will be the most desperate, extra track time, get an idea of the track conditions if it is before the BTCC races, and I think I read somewhere that its the last race of the day, so the BTCC will be decided, thus the drivers will have no worries over being able to do a race afterwards

[Knock-on]

Alan has said there will be other "guest" drivers.

So, Nigel M possible or Damon H?

Matt n has got to be included.

Ohhh, I am getting goose pimples thinking about this. Will any Seats see the end of the race:D

If you ever want to see a race in your life, it's got to be this one. It's gonna hurt!!!

[Paul Rayner]

Originally posted by btcc-thunder
sounds like a fantastic idea but i doubt muller, thompson and plato are going to do four races in one day (3 x btcc, 1 x masters) especially if the btcc championship is still at stake.
Oh, I think they would. Jason's a cert - Seat's No. 1 driver turning down the chance to be in a Seat race? Nah. And If they get someone like Menu, would Plato really back down from the challenge? I think not. As for Thompson and Muller, I think they'd be "highly encouraged" to race. They'd be right proper spoilsports if they didn't!

This is an absolutely fantastic prospect. I'm drooling with anticipation!!!

Matt Neal's got to be in it. That independent win, at Donington, was just too special not to warrant an inclusion. And if they get Aiello back... Wow. :D

[inforacing]

THIS IS OOO COOL WHAT AN IDEA. IM DEFINATLY GOIN TO DONINGTON THIS YEAR NOW. AND LETS HOPE THAT MAYBE SOME OF THE DRIVERS LIKE MENU, RYDELL ETC DECIDE THAT RACING IS BRITAIN IS GREAT AFTER ALL AND JOIN THE BTCC FOR 2005.

[Peter]

I hope Anthony Reid will be competing. It would be great to see him dicing with Rickard and Alain again- shame they can't do it at Brands Hatch though!!:D

[Paul Rayner]

Hey, just because you're closer!!! ;)

Nope, Donington is the perfect circuit. Mansell '98, Neal '99... I think it's the right place. :)

[Alan Gow]

Judging by some of the questions/comments above, I presume that some on this forum haven't read Motoring News today?

In MN you will find most of the drivers that some are querying (i.e. Menu, Plato, Thompson, Radisich, Cleland etc) have already stated that they are doing it.

[Paul Rayner]

No, I haven't, because I'm in a village without a shop, and I won't get MN until tomorrow. If only the official BTCC site had mentioned that so many had confirmed they are doing it... ;))

[Knock-on]

Originally posted by Alan Gow
Judging by some of the questions/comments above, I presume that some on this forum haven't read Motoring News today?

In MN you will find most of the drivers that some are querying (i.e. Menu, Plato, Thompson, Radisich, Cleland etc) have already stated that they are doing it.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question on your forum page.

Can I just say that this is something I never thought I would see. The old and the new, dicing it out to see who's best. How will you get all those ego's into a Seat :D

This will be amazing and I am sure you will not get one voice of dissent over this race; something that has never happened in BTCC before :D Thanks a lot to you and your team from everyone

ps. Guess BETA can't 'eff this one up ;)

[touring fan]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very excited, what an idea! I can't wait to see it. We can finally settle the question of who would win if all the champions raced together. What a way to end the season too.
The only sad thing is that one will be missing. :(

[bramble]

What a fantastic idea - it's ideas like this which will make the BTCC huge again. Lets just hope that ITV can give it a proper show, live, with a good preshow, which lets everone see how each driver won their championship.
This will be a massive event no doubt, but if they can get Nigel M involved, it will get monumental press coverage.

[Les]

glad my Travelodge is booked because this will be monumental.

What a way to get the crowds back and if some guests come in like Matt Neal, Nige, and some of the others who came second even better


:D

[Jamie P-E]

What a fabulous weekend that'll be. is it the same weekend as racing rivals Live?

if it is then WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Claire]

With the race being run after the BTCC Championship has been decided it's going to be an amazing and very memorable end to the season. I only started following the BTCC in 2001 so I have yet to watch some of the "masters" at work and it is something I'm really looking forward to. A big well done to Alan and all at the BTCC for getting this sorted goes some way to making up for the GP cancellation.

[Thinlizzy101]

This more than makes up for the Silverstone GP support dissapointment :D

CAnt wait to see the guys who I practically worshipped when I was little all fighting in equal cars.

I hope Paul Radisich races, he was the first guy I ever supported in the BTCC when I was 6. Also, gotta see Cleland, especially if Thommo's racing lol. Would like to see Patrick Watts, Chris Goodwin, Smith(cant remember first name, used to race in a privateer Beemer in '94. Would liked to have seen Keith O'Dor too, he was a great driver in a poor car in his time imo.

[Alan]

Originally posted by Jamie P-E
What a fabulous weekend that'll be. is it the same weekend as racing rivals Live?

if it is then WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Um - no it isn't the same weekend Jamie - that is 28/29th August.

Anyway, they couldn't have the normal races then the "masters", there would be far too many problems with setup, damage etc for it to be practical I would guess.

Presumably they will be using the same 20 cars as are available in the SEAT championship. With 13 potential past winners that leaves just 7 (or so) extra cars for the other special guests. Perhaps SEAT have a couple of spares though!!!!

All in all a very good idea Mr Gow - well done!!

Now - all I need to know is - is Robb Gravett signed up?:D

[acf8181]

who do we need (besides every one of the btcc champ's of course)...

gravett,
soper,
leslie,
brabham,
radisich,
and how about sytner and hodgetts (chris that is)

[codename_47]

Mansell back would be nice......maybe Tiff Needell too, see if they'd enjoy being on a track together again after..."the" incident! :p

Fantastic idea.....I was already going to Donington, but now, if it's possible, I'm even MORE going...

No wait, that's not possible! :p

Shame they're not in Clio's though! :D

*hides*

*edit*

After posting this, I wandered off to Alan Gow's section, (busiest I've ever seen it,....must be a good sign!) and Jimeth, well done for your fantastic idea....Murray Walker commentating on this race would be the icing on an already special cake! :)

Someone get him on the phone ASAP and see what he thinks about it! :)

[Nikki P]

What about Murray Walker AND Charlie Cox?!! If that happens I'll think I'll have died and gone to touring car heaven!! :D

[Alan]

Originally posted by acf8181
who do we need (besides every one of the btcc champ's of course)...

gravett,
soper,
leslie,
brabham,
radisich,
and how about sytner and hodgetts (chris that is)


Excusssse Meeeee!!

Robb was champion in 1990!!!!!:)

Rest of your list is good though - how about Patrick Watts?:D

Andy Rouse would be good too!

[mondeoman]

Would be nice if the race could be dedicated to the likes of Will Hoy and Keith Odor.

[acf8181]

Originally posted by Alan
Excusssse Meeeee!!

Robb was champion in 1990!!!!!:)

Rest of your list is good though - how about Patrick Watts?:D

Andy Rouse would be good too!

yep, dunno why i put him down as a non-champ...sorry!

rouse would be good, and how about jeff allam.

[John]

Not been on for a couple of days but did see this story on teletext this morning - this is such good news. Funnily enough it crossed my mind last week when speed sunday had that report on NASCAR and the $1m prize competed for by all the race winners. Never thought anything like that would happen in BTCC - Alan I take my hat off to you...... well done!! As mentioned above I just hope this gets the coverage and tv airtime it clearly desreves to get!!

As for other drivers - Soper, Reid, Leslie, Neal, Radisich, Ravaglia (if you have Paul then you got to really!), Rouse, Mansell, Warwick, Needell, Burt, Charlie Cox for sure (also commentating from the car!)..... er I think I've run out of SEATs!!

Well done also to SEAT for offering their cars - dont know if they're getting paid for it but even so it further demonstrates their commitment to BTCC.

Great stuff!

[Jamie P-E]

Originally posted by Alan
Um - no it isn't the same weekend Jamie - that is 28/29th August.

Anyway, they couldn't have the normal races then the "masters", there would be far too many problems with setup, damage etc for it to be practical I would guess.

Presumably they will be using the same 20 cars as are available in the SEAT championship. With 13 potential past winners that leaves just 7 (or so) extra cars for the other special guests. Perhaps SEAT have a couple of spares though!!!!

All in all a very good idea Mr Gow - well done!!

Now - all I need to know is - is Robb Gravett signed up?:D

Alan forgive me for sounding thick. i realised that after i posted it but it was too late to change. I gathered that they would not use the same cars oin the same weekend!!!

Sorry:o

[Les]

Charlie Cox - oh that would be good with Murray.

and just wire all the drivers up for sound please ;)

[steve21]

Does anyone think there will be much chance of seeing of the previous Independant Champions racing at the masters? I think it would be great for them to pit there skills against the works teams in the exact same spec cars what are the chances???

[John]

Good idea......

Some will hopefully be represented anyway (Gravett, Neal, Kaye).

Also, what about the championship winning cars (if they are still about in their original liveries??) on display and being driven round during the parade lap (or show cars that look like the original cars?)

[mondeoman]

Originally posted by steve21
Does anyone think there will be much chance of seeing of the previous Independant Champions racing at the masters? I think it would be great for them to pit there skills against the works teams in the exact same spec cars what are the chances???

Just how many cars are Seat supplying.

[codename_47]

Originally posted by mondeoman
Just how many cars are Seat supplying.

I'm guessing, since the SEAT Cupra cup will be over by then, it'll just be those cars...of which there are 18 in the championship IIRC...(but there were more last year, so there could be room for a good few more drivers yet!)

BTW...there's too many N's in this topic's track!
It's Donington! ;)

[Peter]

We've got to get access to their radios too- especially John Cleland!! As the race is live on tv, any chance of a live commentatry-radio link up with John Cleland during warm up laps/ safety cars/ slowing down laps?

[John]

Safety car laps..... who said anything about safety cars........ oh yeah good point! hehe ;)

Do seat need the cars for the 2005 Cupra championship?!? :D

[Knock-on]

Originally posted by John
Safety car laps..... who said anything about safety cars........ oh yeah good point! hehe ;)

Do seat need the cars for the 2005 Cupra championship?!? :D

They may have enough left to cobble a SEAT together out of the spares but I doubt much more than that will survive.

As for JC's commentary :eek: Some of the younger viewers may blush a little ;)

[cos]

Apparently Vauxhall have ruled out Thompson and Muller from taking part - but that does mean more seats for old favourites like Radisich who Alan Gow says is competing.

[Peter]

Originally posted by cos
Apparently Vauxhall have ruled out Thompson and Muller from taking part - but that does mean more seats for old favourites like Radisich who Alan Gow says is competing.

That is very disappointing news- if true. First they appear to play a major role in the cancellation of the British GP support race and now this. Are they scared that Plato will yet again blow Muller into the weeds like last time when they were in equal equipment?:p

[Alfa Fan]

Originally posted by Peter
That is very disappointing news- if true. First they appear to play a major role in the cancellation of the British GP support race and now this. Are they scared that Plato will yet again blow Muller into the weeds like last time when they were in equal equipment?:p

Vauxhall seem to be doing there best to make the BTCC as bad as possible. if I were Gow I would tell any team that didnt let there drivers race if selected would not be able to score points in the BTCC this season.

[touring fan]

Erm why?????????????

[Peter]

If the story is true, I would speculate that Vauxhall don't want their drivers to showcase the cars of a rival manufacturer.

[Paul Rayner]

It wouldn't exactly be a wise PR move if Vauxhall stopped them from racing - especially as both drivers have said they'd love to do it. It's going ahead in Seats whether they like it or not - it wouldn't look very good or sporting if they stood in the way of letting their drivers race, as it is after the final race of the year.

[Alfa Fan]

Dont worry, cant be true, how else could Thommo be driving an Alfa Romeo at Donny in the ETCC?

[John]

and didnt muller drive the ETCC SEAT at the end of last season when Thompson drove the Alfa?

[Peter]

I think the story is true. In today's Motorsport News, there is a quotation from Alan Gow which says that a couple of champions will not be competing due to contractual reasons. In the article, Tim Harvey also criticises a team for its self-centredness in not letting drivers compete...

Draw your own conclusions from that!

[Paul Rayner]

Originally posted by Peter
I think the story is true. In today's Motorsport News, there is a quotation from Alan Gow which says that a couple of champions will not be competing due to contractual reasons.
That could be DTM or ETCC teams, as their season doesn't finish until after the event. Note how the foreign past champions who have been confirmed as competing are Menu and Biela - neither of who race in Touring Cars elsewhere this year.


Originally posted by Peter
In the article, Tim Harvey also criticises a team for its self-centredness in not letting drivers compete...
No he doesn't. He says there might be some "narrow-minded teams that don't want their drivers to do it." In other words he's trying to suggest that it would reflect badly on any team or organisation that doesn't let their drivers race - it is to be a fantastic sporting event, and for charity...

[Cleland Fan]

Originally posted by Paul Rayner
That could be DTM or ETCC teams, as their season doesn't finish until after the event. Note how the foreign past champions who have been confirmed as competing are Menu and Biela - neither of who race in Touring Cars elsewhere this year.



Biela is in the DTM, but as he is racing for the VAG group anyway, i doubt that'd be a problem. Thumbs down to VX if they are preventing their drivers from racing. It's after the season has finished for goodness sake! But then again, the practice sessions would be in the way of their BTCC commitments. Maybe that's why? Don't want them to risk injury etc.

[Peter]

To end all the speculation and guess, let me quote today's Autosport.


Vauxhall has ruled out 2002 champ James Thompson and current title holder.

Thompson said: "Hopefully I'll be celebrating winning another title for Vauxhall. It wouldn't be right to end the day driving for someone else."

That is pretty clear to me...

[Amanda]

VX are not doing themselves any favours! The race is for charity. The drivers wouldn't be racing for another manufacturer just in a car made by another manufacturer which is hardly the same thing.

SEAT are putting so much into the BTCC this year it is a shame that others don't do the same!

[Paul Rayner]

Originally posted by Cleland Fan
Biela is in the DTM
Whoops. Was thinking of last year, and didn't check the list of current DTM drivers properly.

It's a great shame that Vauxhall are not being supportive of yet another great BTCC event. Tim Harvey was right, it is narrow-minded because, whether they like it or not, this Masters race is going to be the highlight of the Donington meeting.

People will want to know why the BTCCs current champions aren't racing, and I'm sure the real explanation will be given on TV and in the press at the time. Ben Edwards will never mention that "there's Yvan Muller/James Thompson, who won the BTCC title for Vauxhall earlier today."

They'll seem like bad sports. Because that's what they are. Being in motorsport as a manufacturer isn't all about winning - it's being popular that counts.

[Knock-on]

It is strange that there has been no official announcement either to confirm or deny this rumour.

I think there may be some truth in it but some 11th hour discussions may be going on.

We shall see.

If VX miss the race, they will be the only people to lose out. Think of the publicity their drivers will miss on what could be the most widely viewed domestic race ever in this country.

[tumbleweed]

i for one will be looking forward to this as following the touring cars on off for years and seeing some of the greatest touring car drivers ever all in one place nice one mr gow

like seeing (hopfully) cleland and warwick back together is a must for comedy value

i cant wait for this lucky for me donnington is the only round i can make this year

[cos]

So who have we got so far for this race...
From what I've read Biela and Harvey are in, Menu and Radisich are very probable and Tarquini is said to be 90% sure that he will be there... anyone else ...?

[Alfa Fan]

Cleland will be there.

[tumbleweed]

Originally posted by Alfa Fan
Cleland will be there.


cool one happy man i be there just for cleland

[cos]

Mansell has been in touch with Alan Gow apparently... he never really retired from racing of course!