Who drove the Opel in 97?

[McKay]

Who drove the Opel in 97?
It was at silverstone i think....
What was its number aswell
thanks for all the help if you can

[Stuart]

Only driver I can think of is Mike Briggs who raced at Silverstone and Brands Hatch (I think) in 1996, He was the reigning South African champion for Opel and joined the works Vauxhall team in as a reserve driver. It is possible that they badged the car as an Opel for those races.

[Alan]

A chap called Jan Brunstedt ran an Opel Vectra at Silverstone in 97. It appears he qualified last and did not run well.

Can't see any sign of a second appearance.

[Claw]

He also appeared at the TT at Donington in 1997.

The only time you saw him was when he spun at the old hairpin.

[Claw]

Originally posted by Stuart
Only driver I can think of is Mike Briggs who raced at Silverstone and Brands Hatch (I think) in 1996, He was the reigning South African champion for Opel and joined the works Vauxhall team in as a reserve driver. It is possible that they badged the car as an Opel for those races.

I think you are thinking of Ian Heward who drove a Cavalier for 2 meetings.

Mike Briggs never came back after his impresive stint in 1995.

[John]

Car number 18
Jan BRUNSTEDT
SWEDISH
Entered by Janco Motorsport
Car - Opel Vectra

[vitesse]

Originally posted by Claw
He also appeared at the TT at Donington in 1997.

The only time you saw him was when he spun at the old hairpin.

He also did the 96 TT as well- the car was one of the 1996 season BTCC Vectras, which Brunstedt bought to run in the Swedish series. He took delivery of the car at the 96 TT where it ran as a Vauxhall (run by the factory team). He then came back to do the first round of the 97 BTCC, and returned as you said for the 97 TT. I've got a feeling that he also entered a couple of other BTCC races early in 98 with a 2 car team, but didn't show- I definitely remember there being 2 Swedish Vectras listed in the programme for a Brands BTCC meeting, but not actually appearing

He's in the aircraft business in Sweden- think his company is involved in airliner maintenance or something similar. He's raced on and off in historics for a number of years as well as in the Swedish Touring car series- drove for and possibly ran 'Opel Team Sweden' at one point

[vitesse]

Originally posted by Stuart
Only driver I can think of is Mike Briggs who raced at Silverstone and Brands Hatch (I think) in 1996, He was the reigning South African champion for Opel and joined the works Vauxhall team in as a reserve driver. It is possible that they badged the car as an Opel for those races.

Briggs substituted for James Thompson while he was sidelined after an accident in 95- Jeff Allam did one race and then Briggs took over until the end of the season (2 meetings I think)- the Cavalier was definitely Vauxhall-badged though- Briggs did race an 'Opel Vectra'-badged RML Cav at the FIA World Cup in France at the end of the season though.