BTCC - The Super Touring Years Online Quiz | Sports

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1. The 1991 British Touring Car Championship season was run to all new 'Super Touring' regulations. The new regulations attracted numerous manufacturers to the grid. Which manufacturer won the first race of 1991?

Answer: BMW

BMW had run an M3 for the 1990 BTCC season, though that season was still run under the old Group A regulations. For 1991, Group A was defunct, and BMW started 1991 with an advantage, thanks to what was effectively a years preparation. Will Hoy, driving for BMW Team Listerine, won the first race of the 1991 season at Silverstone.

He would win twice more during the season, but it was his consistency that help him win the title, with six more podiums in addition to his three wins.

2. The 1992 BTCC season was one of the most exciting in living memory, the title going down to the final round with three drivers with a chance of winning. John Cleland was one of those men, but which driver did he collide during the final race at Silverstone, causing him to retire and lose the title?

Answer: Steve Soper

In arguably one of the most controversial incidents in BTCC history, Cleland and Soper battled hard for position during the final states of the race, Soper working for his team-mate Harvey, who was also going for the title. With only a couple of laps to go, Cleland and Soper were battling for position, swapping back and forth, but it was a lunge by Soper into Brooklands that caused a collision that put both cars out on the spot, and handed the title to Harvey.

3. Which driver missed the first seven rounds of the 1993 BTCC season but still managed to finish third in the championship?

Answer: Paul Radisich

Ford had been a mainstay of the BTCC during the Group A years, thanks to the dominance of their Sierra RS500. The new regulations led to their partial withdrawal, and they only officially returned at Round 8 of the 1993 season. Their new Mondeo was immediately competitive, Radisich taking 3rd place in only his second race, and he would eventually take three wins in the final five races, taking second place at the other two, overtaking Cleland for third overall at the final race.

4. The 1994 season saw manufacturer interest continue to increase. How many manufacturers had official entrants at the first race at Thruxton for 1994?

Answer: 10

Ten manufacturers entered cars for the 1994 BTCC season: BMW, Ford, Vauxhall, Toyota, Mazda (departing after round 8), Renault, Peugeot, Volvo (with their famous 850 Estate), Nissan and Alfa Romeo.
Alfa Romeo dominated the season, Gabriele Tarquini winning the Drivers Championship, with 8 victories, Alfa Romeo winning the Manufacturers Championship.

5. In 1994, Volvo had stunned the paddock by arriving in the paddock with their 850 Estate. While amusing, the car wasn't particularly competitive, so was replaced for 1995 with the 850 saloon. Immediately competitive, how many races did Volvo win in 1995?

Answer: 6

It took only two races for Volvo to taste success in 1995, Rickard Rydell winning round 2 at Silverstone. Tim Harvey then won both races at Brands Hatch for rounds 3 and 4, with Rydell then winning three more races during the season. The Volvo couldn't quite match the Renault or Vauxhall, Rydell finishing third and Harvey fifth in the Drivers Championship.

6. By 1996, the BTCC was considered the most competitive in Europe, with numerous manufacturers and drivers from across the continent, and the globe, arriving to compete. Drivers from as far as New Zealand competed in the BTCC in 1996, but which country was not represented during the season?

Answer: France

Though the majority of drivers on the grid still hailed from the United Kingdom, drivers from across Europe crossed the Channel to compete in the TCC. Alain Menu was from Switzerland, Rickard Rydell from Sweden, Joachim Winkehlhock and Frank Biela from Germany, Roberto Ravaglia from Italy, and Peter Kox from the Netherlands. An international flavour was added by Paul Radisich, from New Zealand.

7. In 1997, Alain Menu finally won the British Touring Car Championship, driving a Renault Laguna. How many times had he finished runner-up before winning it?

Answer: 3

His first full season was in 1994, winning twice and finishing runner-up to Gabriele Tarquini. In 1995, he won seven races and finished runner-up to John Cleland. In 1996, he won four races and finished runner-up to Frank Biela. For 1997, he left nothing to chance, dominating the season with twelve victories and winning the title by over 100 points.

He would go on to win a second title in 2000, the only driver to win more than one title during the Super Touring era.

8. By 1998, the BTCC was more popular than ever, with manufacturer interest still high, the grid filled by some of the best drivers in the world, though costs were starting to spiral. On track action was as fierce as ever, with how many drivers winning a race during the season?

Answer: 8

Rickard Rydell won the 1998 BTCC, taking five wins. Anthony Reid finished as runner-up, winning more races with seven, though lost the title through less consistency than Rydell. Other drivers to taste the champagne as a victor were James Thompson (four wins), Alain Menu (three wins), Jason Plato (one win), David Leslie (two wins), John Cleland (two wins), Derek Warwick (one win) and veteran Will Hoy, taking his last career win.

9. There were warning signs by 1999 that the increasing costs would be trouble as only six manufacturers returned. However, the first feature race of the season at Donington Park saw which driver become the first independent driver to win a championship race during the 'Super Touring' era?

Answer: Matt Neal

Neal was already a veteran of the series by 1999, driving for his father's Team Dynamics squad since 1995 (though he debuted in 1991.) As an independent in 1998, he had been competitive at numerous rounds, though he didn't quite make the podium.

By winning round 2 in 1999, Neal became the first and only independent winner of the 'Super Touring' era. He would take three more podiums during the season, finishing in the top ten of the championship, ahead of full-time manufacturer drivers, such as Alain Menu, Anthony Reid and John Cleland.

10. The 2000 BTCC season was the last to feature 'Super Touring' regulations. Spiralling costs meant only three manufacturers had factory supported entries. Despite the lack of entries, the season was still a cracker, going right down to the wire. Which marque won the last drivers and manufacturers title?

Answer: Ford

Nissan, Renault and Volvo all withdrew from the championship at the end of 1998, leaving only Ford, Vauxhall and Honda as official entries. With very few Independent entries, as the cost for small team to run was prohibitive, a new 'Class B' was formed. Ford dominated the championship, their drivers finishing first (Alain Menu), second (Anthony Reid) and third (Rickard Rydell), though Ford only beat Vauxhall to the manufacturers championship by 9 points.

Source: Author minardifan

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

BTCC - The Super Touring Years Quiz

From 1991 - 2000, the BTCC, run to Super Touring regulations, provided great action.

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