Best season for the BTCC

[Radisichrox]

What was the best season for the BTCC?

You decide!

I feel 1993, up to Donington Park, rounds 8+9, 1994, was the all-time climax of Super Touring. It had several high points, like in 1995, and I feel 1997 was also a great season, because everybody eventually ended up with a good race in their pockets at the end of the season. Besides, the in-car cameras are awesome that year, too. 1998, too, was maybe the last great season for Super Touring. For a while, nobody knew who would be champ. Besides, it was a very exciting year, no doubt. 1999, and 2000, were weak, I feel, because people relied on the pitstops too much to pass, and therefore, didn't see too much on-track action. This year, if the Touring racing got boring, we could always look to the Productions for a good race, well demonstrated at the final round this year, when I listened to the TOCA radio for the first time.

[hunttheshunt]

1995/1996-

Heaps of manufacturers, plenty of privateers, and plenty of crowd support and tv coverage.

[racer69]

That's true, but in 1996 there were only 4 privateers.

I reckon 1997

[Radisichrox]

Correct, 4 privateers, only 2 of which were competitive.

1997 had Matt Neal, Robb Gravett, Colin Gallie (by the way where is he these days?), Jamie Wall, and Lee Brookes. All of them were competitive and were very exciting to watch.

1998 was weak in terms of independents, Tommy Rustad wasn't much to watch.

[runnyhunny]

Why has no-one mentioned 1992?! We had:

• - Title decided at last race, between THREE potential winners (Will Hoy, John Cleland and Tim Harvey)
  - Steve Soper making numerous charges from the back
  - Will Hoy and Andy Rouse colliding at Brands Hatch
  - BMW making progress through the year
  - John Cleland throwing a race away (Oulton Park!)

and lots more fun...

[MJB RETURNS]

im goning 2 bow my head in shame cos i havnt got 1992 vid ...yet. 1998 was best year 4 me cos...

(1. 16 cars with so many race winners, 9 total.
ex-f1 champs 2 excite the crowd
the best race ever at doington with mansell(my mate said balls up last corner....then he did)
so many brilliant races,
cox and watson at their best
reid,rydell fight. thompson,plato fight.
loads of good qoutes from cox
ex champs every where u look!
weather speaded out thought the season
i could go on but i will be here 4 ages!

[AndyF]

IMO 1995 was the best year, with plenty of action let down by the huge number of accidents However, Cleland got what he deserved, but it brilliant title fight - '94 and '96 were good too!

[MJB RETURNS]

strange, in just wacthed 1995.some of those accidents were bad like cox at thuxton,rydell at brands,sugden also.and not forgetting that really small gap at snetterton frist aid post with rydell maneging to park in.oh plus lesile at oulton park.but like you said good title fight.

[AndyF]

Also the Watts/Radisich coming together on the pit straight at Brands, also James Kaye and James Thompson escaped big practice shunts. 1995 was a great year, but we were lucky not to see any serious injuries in the BTCC field.

[Radisichrox]

Originally posted by MJB RETURNS
strange, in just wacthed 1995.some of those accidents were bad like cox at thuxton,rydell at brands,.

Those crashes have been some of the scariest I have ever seen. Cox's was dust everywhere, and you couldn't see the car at all, and then when they show the remnants of Cox's car, its amazing he was able to get away from it. Rydell's also, is a little scary, because there is smoke coming off of the tires, and plus such a big car like the 850 upside down is a little harrowing! The Watts/Radisich crash at Brands still freaks me out! !!

I agree, 1992 was a really, really good title race, (the best I've seen) and as "Runnyhunny" said, my man Steve Soper had a ton of his "This is another Superlative Steve Soper charge in the BMW!" well said by Murray Walker. The only problem I have with that year was that it was really dominated by BMW, Toyota, and Vauxhall. Later years had almost every manufacturer scoring points and finishing well. We didn't see much of guys like Kieth O'Dor, Robb Gravett, David Leslie, ect.

[Kelvin]

2001 has to be the best for me, as it was my first full season. It also saw the return of MG to the circuits! :-) I know very little of the previous history so can relate very little to the past.


Kelvin

[touringlegend]

Same here Kelvin. I've only known of the BTCC since mid-1998 when I bought TOCA Touring Cars for my PlayStation.

But going by the review videos 1995 has to be the best for all the different weather conditions etc.

[simon_blay]

1/ 1990 -Robb & Rouse all the way
2/ 1992 -see above
3/ 1998 -ditto

Poorest year- 94,95,96, when one manufacturer took everything...

[MJB RETURNS]

i saw the btcc by fluke as well.i saw 1 live race in 1997 then near the end of that year, i was jus about 2 by f1 97 then i saw btcc 1997 vid.....ever since that day f1 wasnt my fav motorsport.still got the recipt.

[Radisichrox]

The only reason I really enjoy "Snormula 1" now is when there's a big battle (which rarely happens), In-car footage, and of course, for their speeds. The racing is incomparable, when placed next to the BTCC, or for some of you, CART, which I admit, can be very exciting. I take back what I said a while ago about CART being boring. It can be very exciting at some points, especially the first few laps.

[Radisichrox]

The day when my uncle gave me the "BTCC in-car experience 2" is a day that I will remember for the rest of my life as the day I discovered BTCC, and found the best racing in the world!

[AndyF]

I haven't seen any of the in-car experince videos - are they any good??

[MJB RETURNS]

Originally posted by Radisichrox
The only reason I really enjoy "Snormula 1" now is when there's a big battle (which rarely happens), In-car footage, and of course, for their speeds. The racing is incomparable, when placed next to the BTCC, or for some of you, CART, which I admit, can be very exciting. I take back what I said a while ago about CART being boring. It can be very exciting at some points, especially the first few laps.

you read my mind!the last f1 race which was "exciting" was the european g.p which jonny herbert won.but i got admit im a big damon hill fan but since hes my fav driver ever doesnt mean f1 is d best!and i jus fought of a good topic...................

[Radisichrox]

The last F1 race I saw (I think) was this year's British GP on Speedvision. It was awesome when Hakkinen passed Schumacher, but it was extremely boring from then on.

[MJB RETURNS]

i given up on quilfying for f1, it seems like im wacthing the same session over and over.i hope premier 1 is more exciting! the past years in f1 are getting worse.bring back the 1997 cars!

[Nononsensecapeesh]

2005 Matt Neal becoming the first Independent to outright Champ