Champions

[cos]

I was just thinking... how many of the current BTCC drivers have been champion of something at some time? Since some people seem to think that the quality of driver has gone downhill since the Super Touring days, this might make interesting reading.

Dan Eaves (2002 Indy champ & 1998 Renault Spider champ)
James Thompson (obviously!)
Yvan Muller (Ice racing champion, british F2 champ 1992)
Matt Neal (independents champ 1999/2000)
Anthony Reid (Japanese F3 champ 1992, JGT champ 1995)
Colin Turkington (2001 Fiesta champ)
Warren Hughes (FFord + MGF cup champion)
Tom Chilton (BRSCC Winter German Challenge Class Champion)
James Kaye (2002 BTC-P champion)
Alan Morrison (2000 BTCC class B champ)
Carl Breeze (various karting titles and 2001 Formula Renault champ)
David Leslie (FFord and Formula Atlantic)
Paul Wallace (Tomcat/Vento Challenge)
Luke Hines (karting)
Alan Blencowe (Fiesta winter series)
Chris Ryan (Ginetta Championship)
Jim Edwards (Clios)
Tom Boardman (Ministox, Autograss)
Michael Bentwood (karting)

Pyper, Collard, Bennett, O'Neill haven't won anything overall, and Tom Chilton's championship win seems a little contrived to be honest... but I think this shows that most BTCC drivers do have talent (even though some have £££ as well....)

[Invincible]

Tom Boardman was also the first ever T-Car Champion in 1999

[Nikh_mg]

And people say we need drivers from abroad in the championship........
Show what they know lol

[John]

Add indy championships in the early 90s to Kaye and Neal's CVs - but then those drivers kalibers arent really in doubt are they?

A rather random point that Id noticed was that had Plato joined GA as was expected then since 1990 all the British winners of the overall championship (except Cleland) would also have raced in the Independent championship at some point (ie Gravett, Hoy, Harvey, Thompson and Plato) whereas none of the foreign champions have raced in the indy series - not very relevant but as I thought of it ;) !!

[Alan]

Bit too warm for the anorak isn't it John?:D

You are quite right of course - Matt still has to win the championship though!

[John]

Good point - WHEN Matt wins the championship that'll be another to add to the list! ;)

[Claw]

Originally posted by cos

Matt Neal (independents champ 1999/2000)



Also 1993 and 1995! :rolleyes:

Why do people cast the best era of the BTCC a-side now?

[Nikh_mg]

Didnt know he won '93, that was 'cos I was only young in '93 and we taped the season but my mum taped over it :rolleyes: :mad:
I've got every season fron '94 on video, there were some great seasons in the mid-90s :D

[Claw]

Originally posted by Nikh_mg
there were some great seasons in the mid-90s :D


They were mega years! 1993-1998. The best years if you ask me.

[GEDsjt]

1995 was an excellent year

[touringlegend]

Also, Yvan Muller - 1995 French Touring Car Champion in a BMW

[The Stig]

Wasn't Rob Collard once a Hot Rod Champion, or doesn't that really count ? Seems no less tenuous than some of the titles mentioned earlier.

[Claw]

Originally posted by cos

James Thompson (obviously!)



Yeah he was great in the 1994 NSC!

[touringlegend]

Originally posted by Claw
Yeah he was great in the 1994 NSC!

He was in the BTCC that year...:confused:

[Claw]

Duh, it must have been 1993 then!

[kevin ritson]

Alan Morrison was Fiesta champ in '98 and I think went on to win the Vectra one-make series in '99 as a funded scholarship driver

[MGmad]

Again I don't know much about this subjet but I can tell you about the titles Reid, Hughes and Turkington have won in the past.

Anthony was a success in Japan where in 1992 Reidy was champion in their F3.

Warren was in 1999 MGF champion, and in 1990 a Formula Ford Champion.

Colin was in 1998 champion in the Northern Ireland Metro Association, and in 1992 he was champion in the Japanese F3.

If I am mistaken in anything I would appreciate any correction.

[Les]

Originally posted by kevin ritson
Alan Morrison was Fiesta champ in '98 and I think went on to win the Vectra one-make series in '99 as a funded scholarship driver

Dave Pinkney (happy birthday for yesterday mate) won the Vectras in 1999 by one point from Alan.

[Reidy'sHemlet]

Originally posted by MGmad

Anthony was a success in Japan where in 1992 Reidy was champion in their F3.

Warren was in 1999 MGF champion, and in 1990 a Formula Ford Champion.

Colin was in 1998 champion in the Northern Ireland Metro Association, and in 1992 he was champion in the Japanese F3.

If I am mistaken in anything I would appreciate any correction.

You have missed out on Reidy being the Japanese GT champ in 1997. And Colin was Ford Zetec Champ in 2001 prior to joining Team Atomic Kitten.

But well done for those other things MGmad!

[Toto]

Originally posted by MGmad
Colin was in 1998 champion in the Northern Ireland Metro Association, and in 1992 he was champion in the Japanese F3.

If I am mistaken in anything I would appreciate any correction.
I think you mean Reid was Japanese F3 champ in 1992 - I don't think Colin had started secondary school by then!

Reid was also one of a bunch of superb drivers racing in the likes of Formula Ford 2000 in the early 80s and very good he was too. That was one ultra-competitive series in those days.

Warren I recall (I think) driving both a white Mobil and red Agip Van Diemen in FF1600s. It was, if I recall correctly, the Dunlop/Autosport title that he won for rookie drivers. He also dragged some pretty impressive results out of a stubborn Ralt in British F3. He will also be remembered for beating British F3 champion Marc Hynes in an F3000 shoot-out at Monza (although I can't remember for which team). An extremely polished performer.

Ballast aside, it says quite a lot for Colin that he's regularly outqualifying these two and matching them for pace. Until his bad luck strikes, that is ...

[kevin ritson]

Dave Pinkney (happy birthday for yesterday mate) won the Vectras in 1999 by one point from Alan.

Apologies to Mr Pinkney, my memory's not what it used to be (I'm getting old as well, it was my birthday the day after Dave's, although I'm not as 'mature'!! - Still at least he gets to race a Porsche on Sundays...life's not fair...)