1994 British Touring Car Championship season
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| 1994 BTCC season | |
|---|---|
| Previous: 1993 | Next: 1995 |
The 1994 British Touring Car Championship saw two new teams. Volvo was to run an estate car, which surprised many. Because of this, they were not expected to be front runners, but this was not the case of the other new team. To run Gabriele Tarquini and Giampiero Simoni, it was reported that Alfa Romeo were putting up a budget of £6million. They were certainly keen on winning.
The season kicked off at Thruxton and Tarquini took victory in his 1st race. By contrast his teammate was in the thick of it, battling through the field until he came across Paul Radisich in the Ford. He tried to pass many times but failed. Clearly getting frustrated, he dived inside and took out the ford. He was later penalised. But Alfa were clearly in charge.
For rounds 2&3, Tarquini again won comfortably whilst in the 1st race, Simoni took 2nd. But in the 2nd race he again clashed with Radisich who took him out this time. Simoni also struggled to fight back to the front by colliding with other cars. His inexperience certainly showed. However for round 4 he led but was passed by Radisich and Tarquini after he made a mistake. Tarquini then passed the Ford to win again with Radisich and Simoni 2nd and 3rd. So Tarquini led by a country mile in the championship.
At Silverstone for the 5th and 6th races, Tarquini was finally beaten. In the 1st race he won again but in the 2nd, he was spun by Alain Menu’s Renault and collected heavily by Odor's Nissan. So Radisich took the win from Menu.
But for the 8th round at Oulton Park, the championship had conflict. At Snetterton, Ford and Vauxhall wanted to know if the Alfas could run with their wings extended as it clearly gave them a down force advantage. At Oulton they were told they could not, so they decided to withdraw from the race as they saw this as an unfair ruling. So the race was up for grabs. In the end Menu won form Radisich and Watts 3rd. So Tarquini’s lead was cut.
At Donington Park for the next 2 races however, Alfa returned with their cars now in an acceptable state. But, now their wings were retracted, they were slower than the Ford and Vauxhall. John Cleland and Radisich were the 2 to beat and they battled all race long in the 1st race. Eventually though Radisich had to yield to Cleland who clearly had the quicker car, allowing the Vauxhall man his 1st win of the season. Tarquini had a quiet race to 3rd but broke down on the slow down lap meaning he was unable to start race 2. In the 2nd race, Cleland led away but on the opening lap was passed by the Ford. However as in race 1, Radisich had to yield 1st place as his tyres went off allowing Cleland to take another victory. It meant that Radisich was tied on points with Tarquini who scored 0 in race 2.
With the championship closer than ever, crowds flocked to Brands Hatch for the next 2 races hoping to see close racing. But it was total domination from the Alfa Romeos who took two 1-2 finishes, Tarquini winning both. Radisich had mixed fortunes and was punted off on the last lap of race 1 by Watts' Peugeot, whilst lying 3rd. In the 2nd he struggled again, this time with tyre trouble meaning he lost valuable points to Tarquini.
The next race at Silverstone was a support race for the British Grand Prix, a highlight of the season. At Silverstone, 2 teams arrived with a new look. Renault and 1993 BTCC champions BMW had new spoilers and front diffusers to try and catch Alfa Romeo and improve their cars performance. BMW were immediately on the pace, taking pole and 2nd on the grid. The race itself started and almost immediately was stopped, as there was a 1st corner crash, which took out at least 7 cars. It led to Murray Walker saying those famous words "Its absolute carnage at Copse!" When the race restarted Tarquini led from BMW’s Jo Winkelhock, who late in the race overtook Tarquini 2 or 3 times on 1 lap. But he pulled the move off eventually to win his 1st race as the BTCC champion with Tarquini 2nd and Radisich 3rd.
At Knockhill for rounds 13 & 14, BMW and Renault again showed their improved form. But for championship leader Tarquini, it was to be a memorable afternoon. Not at the front as he usually was, he battled with Tim Harvey's Renault, who hit the Alfa at a corner, causing it to roll over 2 or 3 times, wrecking the car. Both men were ok but Tarquini would be taking no further part in the day’s races. At the sharp end Menu won for Renault from Radisich in the Ford and Soper in the BMW.
For race 2 Steve Soper was determined to get victory and duly overtook Menu to lead. Radisich saw Soper pass and then did the same to get 2nd but he couldn’t catch, Soper who won his first race of 1994. Menu got 3rd.
Back at Oulton Park for round 15, Winkelhock cruised to victory on a circuit he feels is like a mini Nurburgring. Radisich would love to have beaten Tarquini but he broke down around half distance. Later his teammate Rouse would retire at exactly the same place. But back at the front, BMW were putting together an impressive run of results. At Brands Hatch for the next 2 races, Winkelhock won with Tarquini and Simoni finishing 2nd and 3rd in the 2nd race. Radisich was again lower down the order so Tarquini could win the title at the next meeting.
During the penultimate rounds at Silverstone, Tarquini had a virus so was not feeling great. He still out qualified Radisich who again was uncompetitive against the new BMW’s and Renaults. In race 1 Tarquini just followed Tim Harvey’s Renault all the way to the chequered flag, which was brought out early after an accident involving 2 independents. His 2nd place combined with Radisich’s engine failure gave him the title. Harvey meanwhile won his 1st race of the season. In race 2 Tarquini celebrated his title with a win making it a great day for Alfa. Donington Park hosted the final 2 races of the season. All eyes were now on the battle for 2nd between Menu and Radisich who had suffered a lot of retirements in the latter half of the season.
In the 1st race, Radisich took the win ahead of Menu, so they would go into the final race equal on points, whilst new champion Tarquini ended his race in the sand trap.
It looked set for a great finale but then on the warm up lap of the final round, Radisich dived for the pits with yet more car trouble. In the race Menu was passed by Simoni in the Alfa Romeo who took his 1 and only win in the final race. Menu was 2nd to guarantee 2nd in the championship despite Radisich doing a superb comeback to finish in the top 10. However, the best drive came from Tarquini.
He started last with a 10 second penalty, but scorched through the field to finish a remarkable 4th. It was a fitting drive from the champion.
[edit] Entry List
| No. | Driver | Nat | Team | Car | Cl. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joachim Winkelhock |  |
BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer | BMW 318i | M | |
| 2 | Steve Soper |  |
BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer | BMW 318i | M | Rounds 1-4, 7, 10-11, 13-14, 16-21 |
| 3 | Paul Radisich |  |
Team Mondeo | Ford Mondeo | M | |
| 4 | John Cleland |  |
Vauxhall Sport | Vauxhall Cavalier | M | |
| 5 | Julian Bailey | |
Toyota Castrol Team | Toyota Carina | M | |
| 7 | Will Hoy | |
Toyota Castrol Team | Toyota Carina | M | |
| 8 | David Leslie | |
Team Mazda | Mazda Xedos 6 | M | Rounds 1-12 |
| 9 | Jeff Allam | |
Vauxhall Sport | Vauxhall Cavalier | M | |
| 10 | Alain Menu |  |
Renault Dealer Racing | Renault Laguna | M | |
| 11 | Tim Harvey | |
Renault Dealer Racing | Renault Laguna | M | |
| 12 | Matt Neal | |
Team Mazda | Mazda Xedos 6 | M | Rounds 1-6 |
| 13 | Eugene O'Brien |  |
Peugeot Sport UK | Peugeot 405 | M | Rounds 1, 4-19 |
| 14 | Jan Lammers |  |
Volvo 850 Racing | Volvo 850 SE | M | |
| 15 | Rickard Rydell |  |
Volvo 850 Racing | Volvo 850 SE | M | |
| 17 | Ian Khan | |
Maxted Motorsport | Toyota Carina / Vauxhall Cavalier | I | Rounds 1-4, 7-12 |
| 18 | Patrick Watts | |
Peugeot Sport UK | Peugeot 405 | M | |
| 19 | James Thompson | |
Woodkirk Peugeot | Peugeot 405 | I | Rounds 1-6, 10-21 |
| 20 | Ian Flux | |
Team Halfords | Peugeot 405 | I | Did not race. |
| 21 | Roberto Ravaglia |  |
BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer | BMW 318i | M | Rounds 5-6, 8-9, 12, 15 |
| 22 | Geoff Steel | |
Geoff Steel Racing | BMW 318iS coupé | I | Rounds 1-4, 7-9, 15-17 |
| 23 | Kieth Odor | |
Old Spice Nissan Racing | Nissan Primera | M | |
| 24 | Eric van de Poele | .svg/22px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).svg.png){kind=small} |
Old Spice Nissan Racing | Nissan Primera | M | Rounds 1-12 |
| 25 | Nigel Smith | |
Team HMSO | Vauxhall Cavalier | I | |
| 26 | Hamish Irvine | |
driver | BMW 318iS coupé | I | Rounds 5-21 |
| 27 | Nigel Albon | |
Harlow Motorsport | Renault 19 | I | Rounds 1-9, 12-21 |
| 29 | James Kaye | |
Maxted Motorsport | Toyota Carina | I | |
| 30 | Chris Goodwin | |
Roy Kennedy Racing | Vauxhall Cavalier | I | Rounds 2-12, 15-21 |
| 31 | Robb Gravett | |
Team Mondeo | Ford Mondeo | M | Rounds 20-21 |
| 32 | Kelvin Burt | |
Team Mondeo | Ford Mondeo | M | Rounds 18-19 |
| 33 | Andy Rouse | |
Team Mondeo | Ford Mondeo | M | |
| 34 | Tiff Needell | |
Old Spice Nissan Racing | Nissan Primera | M | Rounds 7, 10-21 |
| 55 | Gabriele Tarquini | |
Alfa Romeo GB | Alfa Romeo 155 | M | |
| 56 | Giampiero Simoni | |
Alfa Romeo GB | Alfa Romeo 155 | M | |
| 57 | Tim Sugden | |
Toyota Castrol Team | Toyota Carina | M | Rounds 2-9, 12, 18-21 |
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