Production Class BTCC

[jsmee]

Hi all

just watching some of the BTCC review DVDs and wondered about the BTCC production class cars.

What sort of lap times did those cars do in period and how would they compare against the modern Clio Cup, or even NGTC or S2000 cars?

And who built them? Were they built by the powerhouses running the Super Touring manufacturer efforts (JAS or WSR for the Accord, RML for the Primeras)?

Watching 2000 season, they seem closer to the pace of the indy super tourers than I had expected...

And final question... where are they now?

[GCCheddaris]

Timing Solutions Limited carry results back as far as the 2002 season . If you go to tsl-timing.com/results/toca you will find all of the BTCC results up to the present day . The Super Production cars were approximately 5 to 6 per cent slower than the Touring car class ie they would be lapped every 15 to 20 laps .

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by jsmee

And who built them? Were they built by the powerhouses running the Super Touring manufacturer efforts (JAS or WSR for the Accord, RML for the Primeras)?

Bit of a mix really. Alfa Corse (via Bigazzi?) could sell you a complete car. BMW could sell you a kit. Bowman (VLR) built most of the Peugeots, GR built a number of Focuses, RJN built a few(?) Primeras, but you didn't have to buy in a car.

In many cases they were built in-house. You didn't need to be a Super Touring team with a multi-million pound CAD division, you just need to be able to bolt together already homologated parts. Something any competent team should be able to cope with.

And final question... where are they now?

One of the GA Alfas has been running in the HSCC SuperTouring series in recent years, having previously been the basis for a Britcar/VLN car.

A couple of the early Peugeot 306s went to Asia, and are probably still there. Most of the later cars are still around. Not sure if they are still racing but a couple were in CSCC Tintops.

A couple of the GR Focuses were running in CSCC Tintops and Scottish Saloons.

I'm sure there's a few more floating around somewhere. Super Production was a fairly widespread category globally.

[S griffin]

I’m trying to remember all the cars they had 200-03

Going in chronological order there was Peugeot (306), Honda (Accord/Integra/Civic), Nissan (Primera), Alfa Romeo (156), Toyota (Corolla), Ford (Focus), Mitsubishi (Carisma), Proton, BMW

The series attracted teams and drivers from the National Saloon Car Championship, which ended at the end of 2000, when it merged full time with the BTCC

[redshoes]

Toyota was a Carina, not a Corolla. You forgot the Renault Clio.

[S griffin]

Oh yes, the Rob Collard one

[pimmy]

There was a Peugeot 307 as well.

[Gerard C]

Cant remember the year but may be you had 406 too? Laurent Aïello or William David or Soheil Ayari may be?

[S griffin]

We’re talking about the BTCC here

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Sorry to commit the Cardinal sin of thread resurrecting but I've been wondering, could the BTCC have survived with only the Production cars (between end of Super Touring and intro of Super 2000)? Alex Burnham reckoned it's possible in his book 60 Seasons.

[S griffin]

Considering how much cheaper Super Production it probably would have survived, but would it have been as successful?

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Considering how much cheaper Super Production it probably would have survived, but would it have been as successful?

At least until Super 2000 cars were allowed in.

[S griffin]

The question is though, how many of the BTC teams, like 888 and WSR would have gone through with that idea and how many of the drivers would have too

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by S griffin

The question is though, how many of the BTC teams, like 888 and WSR would have gone through with that idea and how many of the drivers would have too

Who knows? I'm just intrigued by something Alex Burnham said on the subject in 60 Seasons.

[Petoli]

Wasnt Super 2000 heavily based upon Super Production, quite a few of the early S2000 were updated Super Production.

[S griffin]

Yes I did notice there were a few that ran in both, like the Accord

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by Petoli

Wasnt Super 2000 heavily based upon Super Production, quite a few of the early S2000 were updated Super Production.

Could have been a gradual evolution potentially.

Also, WSR prepared Collard's Clio.

[S griffin]

I think it was better they had two separate classes. It was good for WSR to branch out with Collard’s car

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I think it was better they had two separate classes. It was good for WSR to branch out with Collard’s car

Certainly added variety.

[redshoes]

WSR didn't run the Clio, it was run by Collard's own team.

The car was built by WSR a few years earlier for a team in the Dutch series.

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by redshoes

WSR didn't run the Clio, it was run by Collard's own team.

The car was built by WSR a few years earlier for a team in the Dutch series.

I knew the Clio had WSR connections and that it was Collard's team who ran it.