1997 British Touring Car Championship season

1997 BTCC season
Previous: 1996 Next: 1998

The 1997 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship was won by Alain Menu of the Williams Renault Laguna Dealer Racing team, who drove a Renault Laguna. The runner up was Frank Biela of Audi Sport UK in an Audi A4 Quattro. Third place was Menu's teammate, Jason Plato. In the independent class the championship was won by Robb Gravett in a Honda Accord.

Contents

Entry List

BTCC

Team Car No. Drivers Class Rounds
Audi Sport UK Audi A4 quattro 1 Frank Biela M All
7 John Bintcliffe M All
Williams Renault Dealer Racing Renault Laguna 2 Alain Menu M All
22 Jason Plato M All
Volvo S40 Racing Volvo S40 3 Rickard Rydell M All
11 Kelvin Burt M All
Vodafone Nissan Racing Nissan Primera GT 4 David Leslie M All
23 Anthony Reid M All
Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Vectra 8 John Cleland M All
88 Derek Warwick M All
Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo 9 Will Hoy M All
15 Paul Radisich M All
Team Honda Sport Honda Accord 10 James Thompson M All
20 Gabriele Tarquini M All
Esso Ultron Team Peugeot Peugeot 406 12 Tim Harvey M All
14 Patrick Watts M All
Brookes Motorsport Peugeot 406 17 Lee Brookes I All
Janco Motorsport Opel Vectra 18 Jan Brunstedt I 2
Team DCRS BMW 318i 19 Colin Gallie I All
Mint Motorsport Vauxhall Cavalier 25 Jamie Wall I All
ProMotor Sport Vauxhall Cavalier 28 Ian Heward I 6, 9-10, 12
Rock-It Cargo Honda Accord 29 Robb Gravett I 2-12
Team Dynamics Ford Mondeo 77 Matt Neal I 1-5
Nissan Primera eGT 6-12
Icon Class
M Manufacturer
I Independent

RAC Tourist Trophy

Team Car No. Drivers Class
Williams Renault Dealer Racing Renault Laguna 1 Alain Menu M
3 Jason Plato M
Audi Sport UK Audi A4 quattro 2 Frank Biela M
7 John Bintcliffe M
Audi A4 18 Yvan Muller M
Volvo S40 Racing Volvo S40 4 Rickard Rydell M
14 Armin Hahne M
Vodafone Nissan Racing Nissan Primera GT 8 David Leslie M
11 Anthony Reid M
17 Paula Cook M
Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Vectra 12 John Cleland M
Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo 15 Paul Radisich M
16 Will Hoy M
Team Honda Sport Honda Accord 21 Aaron Slight M
22 Jonny Kane M
Abt Sportsline Audi A4 quattro 23 Christian Abt I
24 Kris Nissen I
Mint Motorsport Vauxhall Cavalier 25 Tim Sugden I
Janco Motorsport Opel Vectra 27 Jan Brunstedt I
Tord Linnerud Opel Vectra 28 Tord Linnerud I
Team Dynamics Ford Mondeo 77 Matt Neal I
Nissan Primera eGT 78 Kari Mäkinen I
Icon Class
M Manufacturer
I Independent

Calendar

Round Circuit Date Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Team Winning Independent
1 R1 Donington Park, Leicestershire March 31 Jason Plato Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Colin Gallie
R2 Jason Plato Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Colin Gallie
2 R3 Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire April 20 Jason Plato Jason Plato Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Robb Gravett
R4 Alain Menu Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Robb Gravett
3 R5 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire May 5 Alain Menu James Thompson Frank Biela Audi Sport UK Matt Neal
R6 Alain Menu James Thompson Gabriele Tarquini Team Honda Sport Matt Neal
4 R7 Brands Hatch, Kent May 18 Alain Menu Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Robb Gravett
R8 Gabriele Tarquini Alain Menu James Thompson Team Honda Sport Robb Gravett
5 R9 Oulton Park, Cheshire May 26 Alain Menu Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Colin Gallie
R10 Alain Menu Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Lee Brookes
6 R11 Donington Park, Leicestershire June 15 Alain Menu Alain Menu Frank Biela Audi Sport UK Lee Brookes
R12 Alain Menu Gabriele Tarquini Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Lee Brookes
7 R13 Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire June 29 Alain Menu1 Gabriele Tarquini Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal
R14 Alain Menu1 Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Lee Brookes
8 R15 Knockhill Racing Circuit, Fife August 3 John Bintcliffe Frank Biela John Bintcliffe Audi Sport UK Robb Gravett
R16 Frank Biela Frank Biela Frank Biela Audi Sport UK Robb Gravett
9 R17 Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit, Norfolk August 10 Alain Menu Alain Menu Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Lee Brookes
R18 Alain Menu Alain Menu Jason Plato Williams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal
10 R19 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire August 25 Rickard Rydell Gabriele Tarquini John Bintcliffe Audi Sport UK Lee Brookes
R20 James Thompson Frank Biela Frank Biela Audi Sport UK Lee Brookes
11 R21 Brands Hatch, Kent September 7 Frank Biela2 Anthony Reid Frank Biela Audi Sport UK Lee Brookes
R22 Anthony Reid3 Rickard Rydell Rickard Rydell Volvo S40 Racing Lee Brookes
12 R23 Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire September 21 Jason Plato Anthony Reid Alain Menu Williams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal
R24 Alain Menu Alain Menu Jason Plato Williams Renault Dealer Racing Matt Neal

1Qualifying cancelled. Grids set by championship standings.
2Qualifying cancelled. Grid set by fastest times in Sunday warm-up.
3Qualifying cancelled. Grid set by fastest laps in race 1.

Drivers' Championship

Pos. Driver DON
 SIL
 THR
 BHI
 OUL
 DON
 CRO
 KNO
 SNE
 THR
 BHI
 SIL
 Pts
1 Alain Menu 1 1 1 1 3 3 1 4 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 Ret 1 2 17 2 3 3 1 2 281
2 Frank Biela Ret 3 7 Ret 1 Ret 9 6 3 Ret 1 3 4 17 2 1 3 9 2 1 1 5 8 15 171
3 Jason Plato 2 Ret 10 3 Ret 7 3 5 2 4 4 Ret 2 4 Ret 5 4 1 7 6 2 Ret 3 1 170
4 Rickard Rydell Ret 2 2 2 5 5 7 16 6 3 5 7 3 9 4 7 5 5 Ret 7 15 1 18 7 137
5 James Thompson Ret 6 Ret 9 6 Ret 2 1 Ret 2 6 11 5 2 6 Ret 2 4 3 3 Ret Ret 7 4 132
6 Gabriele Tarquini 7 4 5 15 2 1 6 2 Ret Ret Ret 6 17 Ret 7 3 Ret 3 4 4 Ret 7 4 3 130
7 John Bintcliffe 5 5 Ret Ret 4 8 Ret 12 4 5 3 4 9 6 1 2 12 11 1 5 4 11 11 Ret 118
8 David Leslie 4 11 3 Ret 7 11 4 3 10 6 9 Ret Ret 3 11 Ret 9 6 8 10 6 8 6 6 87
9 Tim Harvey 10 Ret 11 4 9 2 Ret 10 Ret 8 7 2 10 7 14 9 8 15 6 13 5 9 13 Ret 66
10 Kelvin Burt 3 9 4 Ret Ret 13 8 8 9 Ret 8 Ret 12 12 8 4 Ret 8 Ret 16 14 6 5 8 60
11 Anthony Reid Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 4 5 14 7 Ret 11 Ret Ret 8 5 Ret Ret 10 13 Ret Ret 2 2 Ret 56
12 John Cleland 11 Ret 6 6 14 9 11 9 5 12 12 8 6 5 10 6 7 16 19 11 13 12 12 11 44
13 Paul Radisch 6 7 Ret Ret 10 10 Ret 7 8 7 Ret Ret Ret 11 Ret Ret 6 Ret 14 12 Ret 4 10 5 41
14 Derek Warwick 9 8 8 5 15 6 10 11 11 Ret Ret 10 7 10 9 13 11 Ret 9 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret 33
15 Will Hoy Ret Ret 12 7 11 12 DSQ 17 DNS DNS 13 9 8 Ret 12 14 10 7 5 9 7 Ret Ret 10 27
16 Patrick Watts 8 Ret 9 8 12 Ret Ret Ret Ret 15 10 5 11 16 18 8 Ret Ret 12 Ret 8 10 9 9 26
17 Lee Brookes Ret Ret 14 11 Ret DNS 13 15 16 9 14 12 Ret 13 17 15 13 Ret 10 14 9 13 15 16 5
18 Robb Gravett 13 10 16 16 12 13 14 13 17 Ret 15 14 13 10 14 13 16 Ret 10 14 16 14 3
19 Colin Gallie 12 10 15 12 17 15 DNS DNS 12 10 15 15 16 15 15 11 15 14 15 17 11 15 17 13 2
20 Jamie Wall 13 Ret 16 13 18 17 14 Ret 13 11 18 14 14 Ret 16 12 Ret DNS 18 15 12 17 19 17 0
21 Matt Neal Ret 12 Ret DNS 13 14 15 DNS 15 14 16 13 13 Ret Ret DNS Ret 12 11 Ret Ret 16 14 12 0
22 Jan Brunstedt 17 14 0
23 Ian Heward Ret 16 DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0
Privateers' Championship
1 Robb Gravett 13 10 16 16 12 13 14 13 17 Ret 15 14 13 10 14 13 16 Ret 10 14 16 14 236
2 Lee Brookes Ret Ret 14 11 Ret DNS 13 15 16 9 14 12 Ret 13 17 15 13 Ret 10 14 9 13 15 16 225
3 Colin Gallie 12 10 15 12 17 15 DNS DNS 12 10 15 15 16 15 15 11 15 14 15 17 11 15 17 13 225
4 Jamie Wall 13 Ret 16 13 18 17 14 Ret 13 11 18 14 14 Ret 16 12 Ret DNS 18 15 12 17 19 17 168
5 Matt Neal Ret 12 Ret DNS 13 14 15 DNS 15 14 16 13 13 Ret Ret DNS Ret 12 11 Ret Ret 16 14 12 166
6 Jan Brunstedt 17 14 12
7 Ian Heward Ret 16 DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 6
Pos. Driver DON
 SIL
 THR
 BHI
 OUL
 DON
 CRO
 KNO
 SNE
 THR
 BHI
 SIL
 Pts
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Finished, in points
Blue Finished, no points
Not classified (NC)
Purple Did not finish (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not participate
Excluded (EX)

Note: bold signifies pole position (1 point awarded), italics signifies fastest lap.

Manufacturers Championship

Pos Manufacturer DON
 SIL
 THR
 BHI
 OUL
 DON
 CRO
 KNO
 SNE
 THR
 BHI
 SIL
 Pts
1 Renault / Williams Renault Dealer Racing 1 1 1 1 3 3 1 4 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 5 1 1 7 2 2 3 1 1 278
2 Audi / Audi Sport UK 5 3 7 Ret 1 8 9 6 3 5 1 3 4 6 1 1 3 9 1 1 1 5 8 15 210
3 Honda / Team Honda Sport 7 4 5 9 2 1 2 1 Ret 2 6 6 5 2 6 3 2 3 3 3 Ret 7 4 3 209
4 Volvo / Volvo S40 Racing 3 2 2 2 5 5 7 8 6 3 5 7 3 9 4 4 5 5 Ret 7 14 1 5 7 191
5 Nissan / Vodafone Nissan Racing 4 11 3 Ret 7 4 4 3 7 6 9 Ret Ret 3 5 Ret 9 6 8 10 6 2 2 6 155
6 Peugeot / Esso Ultron Team Peugeot 8 Ret 9 4 9 2 Ret 10 Ret 8 7 2 10 7 14 8 8 15 6 13 5 9 9 9 118
7 Ford / Team Mondeo 6 7 12 7 10 10 DSQ 7 8 7 13 9 8 11 12 14 6 7 5 9 7 4 10 5 113
8 Vauxhall / Vauxhall Sport 9 8 6 5 14 6 10 9 5 12 12 8 6 5 9 6 7 16 9 8 13 12 12 11 106
Pos Manufacturer DON
 SIL
 THR
 BHI
 OUL
 DON
 CRO
 KNO
 SNE
 THR
 BHI
 SIL
 Pts

RAC Tourist Trophy Results

Pos. Driver DON
1 Alain Menu ? 1 1
2 Jason Plato ? ? 2
3 Rickard Rydell ? ? 3
4 Frank Biela ? ? 4
5 Yvan Muller ? ? 5
6 Anthony Reid 1 ? 6
7 Will Hoy ? ? 7
8 Armin Hahne ? ? 8
9 John Bintcliffe ? ? 9
10 Kris Nissen ? ? 10
11 Matt Neal ? ? 11
12 Christian Abt ? ? 12
13 Paula Cook ? ? 13
14 Jonny Kane ? ? 14
15 Tim Sugden ? ? 15
16 Kari Makinen ? ? 16
17 Jan Brunstedt ? ? 17
- David Leslie ? ? Ret
- John Cleland ? ? Ret
- Paul Radisich ? ? Ret
- Tord Linnerud Ret DNS DNS
- Aaron Slight Ret DNS DNS
Pos. Driver Car Points Wins
1 Alain Menu Renault Laguna 281 12
2 Frank Biela Audi A4 171 5
3 Jason Plato Renault Laguna 170 2
4 Rickard Rydell Volvo S40 137 1
5 James Thompson Honda Accord 132 1
6 Gabriele Tarquini Honda Accord 130 1
7 John Bintcliffe Audi A4 119 2
8 David Leslie Nissan Primera 87 0
9 Tim Harvey Peugeot 406 66 0
10 Kelvin Burt Volvo S40 60 0
11 Anthony Reid Nissan Primera 56 0
12 John Cleland Vauxhall Vectra 44 0
13 Paul Radisich Ford Mondeo 41 0
14 Derek Warwick Vauxhall Vectra 33 0
15 Will Hoy Ford Mondeo 27 0
16 Patrick Watts Peugeot 406 26 0

Privateers' Championship

Pos. Driver Car Points Wins
1 Robb Gravett Honda Accord 236
2 Lee Brookes Peugeot 406 225
3 Colin Gallie BMW 320i 225
4 Jamie Wall Vauxhall Cavalier 168
5 Matt Neal Ford Mondeo
Nissan Primera		 166
6 Jan Brunstedt Opel Vectra 12
7 Ian Heward Vauxhall Cavalier 6

Manufacturers

Pos. Manufacturer Points Wins
1 Williams Renault Dealer Racing 278 14
2 Audi Sport UK 210 7
3 Team Honda Sport 209 2
4 Volvo S40 Racing 191 1
5 Vodafone Nissan Racing 155 0
6 Team Peugeot 118 0
7 Team Mondeo 113 0
8 Vauxhall Sport 106 0

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