First Privateer Winner

SPOONERBORO · 23 Jun 2001, 00:08 (Ref:108447)

I was thinking the other day whilst i was watchin the 1999 btcc review and the commentators were ranting and raving cos Matt Neal was the first ever privateer winner - well in super touring yes!! but in the modern era as far as i can recall David Leslie won at Thruxton in 1993 in an Ecurie Ecosse Vauxhall which was a private entry!!!!!!

was it not tell me if im wrong!!

redshoes · 23 Jun 2001, 10:07 (Ref:108550)

Not wrong at all. For some reason Ecurie Ecosse is never classed as a proper privateer. I suspect also they count 1994 as the start of the modern era (i.e. when SuperTouring proper was introduced).

GezaPlatoFan · 23 Jun 2001, 13:03 (Ref:108592)

Ecurie ecosse? wot's that about?

hunttheshunt · 23 Jun 2001, 13:06 (Ref:108596)

In 1993 the Ecurie Ecosse team were not classed as privateers, they were classed as 'semi-works' becauase of the help they recieved from teh factory outfit (Vauxhall). This was rather similar to Andy Rouse's Nissan's in 1996. However, when Matt Neal won in 1999, by those rules, David Leslie and Ecurie Ecosse would actually have been legible for a 'privateer' win. What a difference 6 years makes!

kmchow · 24 Jun 2001, 07:41 (Ref:108927)

What happened to the team? Last time I heard, they ran the MB 190Es in the ASTC. Is Ecurie Ecosse the team name or the title sponsor name?

I mean the german ST team Wolfe is again racing in the DTCC. Eggenberger is doing what? What is Andy Rouse up to? All these legendary ST teams!!

redshoes · 24 Jun 2001, 17:47 (Ref:109162)

Ecurie Ecosse is/was run by Ray Mallock, of works Vauxhall / Nissan fame. The name still gets used occationally - I think this year's Saleem S7R Le Mans and ALMS cars were run under the Ecurie Ecosse banner.

TimD · 24 Jun 2001, 18:08 (Ref:109171)

I couldn't help but notice the RML logo on the Saleen as I cut inside it under braking and made the pass on that long sweeping left-hander.

Oh, alright, so the car was firmly locked away in the transporter which I overtook on the E402 motorway just outside Calais last week. But the Le Mans Saleen entry was definitely under the Ray Mallock Limited banner, but sadly no mention of Ecurie Ecosse this time.

Ecurie Ecosse (Team Scotland) has a long and glorious history, but the Vauxhall Cavalier entries of 1993 were a step away from their normal Sportscar/Endurance racing experience. The team has - in one shape or another - been competing since about 1955, and chalked up Le Mans wins in the 1950s with Jaguar D-Types painted in Scottish blue rather than British Racing Green.

They entered cars of their own manufacture in the mid 1980s to take a couple of Group C2 class championships.

I think the analysis of the 1993 Cavaliers as "semi-works" is pretty much right. Wasn't Colin McRae given a drive in an Ecurie Ecosse Cavalier at one meeting? The regular number two was Bobby Verdon-Roe, I think.

JTBK · 24 Jun 2001, 18:15 (Ref:109174)

I think Colin drove at Knockhill in 1992.

Maybe if Colin had raced on the grass and gravel, he'd have been quicker!

Bennett Fan · 24 Jun 2001, 19:18 (Ref:109212)

The Ecurie Ecosse team name is now owned by Hugh McCaig who is a business partner of Ray Mallock's. They both joined forces in the late 80s to run the C2 World Sportscars at Le Mans and other races. Then in 1992 they bought a pair of ex-work's Cavaliers and ran them for David Leslie and firstly Bobby Verdon-Roe and latterly Alex Portman. Then for 1993 they built 2 brand new cars designed by RML themselves and ran Leslie again, this time to a race win and a few pole positions. He was partnered by at first Tiff Needell then followed by Harry Nuttall. The name disappeared after that season as RML got the works deal for Vauxhall, but the Ecurie Ecosse badge remained on the cars in 94 and 95 even though they were now in Vauxhall Motorsport colours.

Colin McRae did race at Knockhill 1992. But it was in a 3rd Prodrive BMW 318is Coupe. He was disqualified from the 2nd race for punting off Matt Neal's BMW M3.

Radisichrox · 25 Jun 2001, 22:54 (Ref:109714)

Quote: Colin McRae did race at Knockhill 1992. But it was in a 3rd Prodrive BMW 318is Coupe. He was disqualified from the 2nd race for punting off Matt Neal's BMW M3.

hahaha, watching that move that he did on Neal on the review tape makes me laugh. He just pushes him off.

Dan Friel · 27 Jun 2001, 18:48 (Ref:110410)

What about Tim Harvey, who won the champiosnhip in 1992, in a Vic Lee BMW (Listerene ones) - was he a privateer??

Bennett Fan · 27 Jun 2001, 20:36 (Ref:110437)

VLM and Prodrive were both nominated works teams in 1992. I'm unsure about VLM in 1991 however when Hoy won the title.

Peter.S · 27 Jun 2001, 21:10 (Ref:110454)

The evidence is clear. Colin McRea In the rain at Knockhill..

knowlesy59 · 27 Jun 2001, 21:27 (Ref:110465)

ahh.those were the real days of touring cars..the bmw's.someone remind me nearer to the weekend to watch my review video.92 that is

Bennett Fan · 27 Jun 2001, 21:43 (Ref:110474)

Talking of privateers and while you're here Peter. Who drives the Rover Gti from 1991 that is featured on your site?

Peter.S · 29 Jun 2001, 19:33 (Ref:111240)

Sorry I missed you Bennett Fan.

The Rover 216 GTi (I dont think the 220 GTi was avaliable then) was driven by Grahame Davies whose company Moto-Build prpared the car.
He attended 4 meetings during 1991, qaulified last at every event. Only managed to start once, from which he retired during the first race at the Brands Hatch meeting in August.
A bit of trivia. Did you know that 41 drivers competed in the 1991 BTCC? Also 3 drivers from this championship have up to now competed in the 2001 BTCC... Any ideas???

Bennett Fan · 29 Jun 2001, 19:56 (Ref:111244)

Tim Harvey and Steve Soper are the only 2 i know of for sure. I like seeing all the old photos from 1991 as that was when i really got into touring cars after getting the 1990 review video for Xmas.

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