2005 British Touring Car Championship season

2005 BTCC season
Previous: 2004 Next: 2006

The 2005 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 48th British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season. As in 2004, there were ten racing weekends at nine different circuits; each round comprising three races, making a thirty round competition in total.

Contents

Changes for 2005

Teams and drivers

After 2004 saw the BTCC boasting its biggest number of entries since the abolition of the Super Touring rules in 2001, the following season brought a significant decline in interest. Proton and Honda pulled their manufacturer support from the series, with many of the smaller independent teams also deciding against returning. Reigning champions Vauxhall stayed on as one of the two remaining manufacturers, dropping its Astra Coupe after four straight titles with the chassis, and introducing the all new Astra Sport Hatch (again prepared by Triple 8). Reigning champion James Thompson had left the BTCC to contest the World Touring Car Championship with Alfa Romeo, leaving runner-up (and 2003 champion) Yvan Muller to head the team. Irishman Gavin Smith joined the team after a part-season with GA Motorsport in 2004, and Colin Turkington moved into Thompson's seat after two promising seasons with the WSR MG squad. Their only manufacturer opposition came from SEAT, expanding their effort to three Super 2000-spec Toledos for their second season. 2001 champion Jason Plato remained as team leader, but Rob Huff departed to join the Chevrolet WTCC campaign. He was replaced by Luke Hines, joining from Vauxhall, with James Pickford taking the third seat as reward for winning the SEAT Cupra Cup in 2004. Team Dynamics took a brave gamble by replacing their Honda Civic Type Rs with a pair of brand new Integras. Matt Neal (son of team boss Steve) and Dan Eaves were again driving. A third car was entered late in the season for Gareth Howell in order to support Neal's title campaign. West Surrey Racing again campaigned the MG ZS as an independent after MG Rover withdrew their support at the end of 2003, Rob Collard moved from his independently run Astra Coupe to fill Colin Turkington's seat, but a second driver with sufficient budget could not be found. Arena Motorsport also continued their campaign despite losing manufacturer support, entering a single Honda Civic Type-R for the returning Tom Chilton from the second round onwards. The only other full-time returnees were Synchro Motorsport, with James Kaye driving their ex-works Civic Type-R once again. Two new squads joined the series, both on very low budgets. SpeedEquipe (as HPI Racing) graduated from the Renault Clio Cup together with their drivers Richard Williams and Ian Curley, to run Lexus IS200s. Fast-Tec Motorsports moved from the SCSA stock car series to run the ex-Rob Collard Astra Coupe for team owner/driver Mark Proctor. Kartworld Racing returned mid-season with team principal Jason Hughes again racing an ex-works MG ZS, as did Tech-Speed Motorsport running their Astra Coupe (now bio-ethanol powered) for rookie Fiona Leggate, and Daniels Motorsport entered another Astra Coupe for Andy Neate for the final round at Brands Hatch.

Other changes

Teams and drivers

Team Car Car Spec. No. Drivers Class Rounds
VX Racing Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch BTC-T 2 Yvan Muller M All
6 Colin Turkington M All
88 Gavin Smith M All
Team Halfords Honda Integra Type-R BTC-T 5 Matt Neal I All
8 Dan Eaves I All
25 Gareth Howell I 8-10
Arena Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R BTC-T 9 Tom Chilton I 2-9
Synchro Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R BTC-T 10 James Kaye I 1-9
31 10
SEAT Sport UK SEAT Toledo Cupra S2000 11 Jason Plato M All
12 James Pickford M All
57 Luke Hines M All
West Surrey Racing MG ZS BTC-T 21 Rob Collard I All
Fast-Tec Motorsport Vauxhall Astra Coupé BTC-T 23 Mark Proctor I 1, 3-10
Kartworld Racing MG ZS BTC-T 36 Jason Hughes I 6, 8, 10
Team Nuts with Daniels Motorsport Vauxhall Astra Coupé BTC-T 44 Andy Neate I 10
HPI Racing with Friends Reunited Lexus IS200 S2000 77 Richard Williams I All
78 Ian Curley I 2-10
Tech-Speed Motorsport Vauxhall Astra Coupé BTC-T 82 Fiona Leggate I 5-10
Icon Class
M Manufacturer
I Independent
Icon Specification
S2000 Super 2000
BTC-T BTC Touring

Season Calendar

Round Circuit Date Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Team
1 R1 Donington Park National 10 April Colin Turkington Yvan Muller Matt Neal Team Halfords
R2 Rob Collard Yvan Muller VX Racing
R3 Dan Eaves Matt Neal Team Halfords
2 R5 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 1 May Tom Chilton Tom Chilton Dan Eaves Team Halfords
R5 Dan Eaves Dan Eaves Team Halfords
R6 Jason Plato Dan Eaves Team Halfords
3 R7 Brands Hatch Indy, Kent 5 June Matt Neal James Pickford Matt Neal Team Halfords
R8 Dan Eaves Matt Neal Team Halfords
R9 Tom Chilton Yvan Muller VX Racing
4 R10 Oulton Park Island, Cheshire 19 June Jason Plato Matt Neal Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R11 Matt Neal Matt Neal Team Halfords
R12 Jason Plato Tom Chilton Arena Motorsport
5 R13 Croft Circuit, Yorkshire 17 July Colin Turkington Colin Turkington Colin Turkington VX Racing
R14 Yvan Muller Yvan Muller VX Racing
R15 Dan Eaves Dan Eaves Team Halfords
6 R16 Mondello Park 24 July Yvan Muller Yvan Muller Yvan Muller VX Racing
R17 Matt Neal Colin Turkington VX Racing
R18 Yvan Muller Yvan Muller VX Racing
7 R19 Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit, Norfolk 7 August Tom Chilton Matt Neal Tom Chilton Arena Motorsport
R20 Matt Neal Tom Chilton Arena Motorsport
R21 Yvan Muller Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
8 R22 Knockhill Racing Circuit, Fife 28 August Colin Turkington Matt Neal Yvan Muller VX Racing
R23 Matt Neal Matt Neal Team Halfords
R24 Yvan Muller Rob Collard West Surrey Racing
9 R25 Silverstone 18 September Gareth Howell Tom Chilton Tom Chilton Arena Motorsport
R26 Gareth Howell Luke Hines SEAT Sport UK
R27 Jason Plato Gareth Howell Team Halfords
10 R28 Brands Hatch GP, Kent 2 October Dan Eaves Gavin Smith Dan Eaves Team Halfords
R29 James Pickford Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R30 Rob Collard Rob Collard West Surrey Racing

Championship Standings

Drivers Championship

Pos Driver DON THU BHI OUL CRO MON SNE KNO SIL BHGP Pts
1 Matt Neal 1* 3 1* 3 2 4 1* 1* 6 2 1* 2 3 6 2 3 3 7 3 3 4 2 1* 2 9 4 7 4 3 5 316
2 Yvan Muller 2* 1* 3 6 3 3 3 4 1* 4 2 Ret 2 1* 8 1* 6 1* 4 4 3 1* 2* Ret 4 Ret 5 2 11 Ret 273
3 Dan Eaves 3 4 2 1* 1* 1* Ret 3 2 3 3 6 5 10 1* 6 2 4 2 2 5 4 Ret 6 Ret 3 4 1* 2* Ret 269
4 Jason Plato 6 5 6* 2* 5 5* 4 2 3 1* 10* 3 4 13 3 2 10 Ret Ret 10 1* 6 8 5 3 DSQ 6 3 1* Ret 208
5 Tom Chilton 10* 6 Ret 7 NC 7 5 5 1* 6 3 9 9 8* 2* 1* 1* 7 5 3 3 1* 8* 3 175
6 Colin Turkington 5 Ret 8 4 7 2 2 5 5 10 6 Ret 1* 2 7 4 1* 5 7 7 Ret 3 4 7 7 Ret 9 7 Ret 6 174
7 Rob Collard 4 2 4 5 11 Ret 6 6 Ret 8 4 4* 7 4 5 5 4 3 5 5 12 9 9 1* 10 10 2* Ret 9 1* 173
8 James Pickford 9 7 7 7 4 6 9 8 DSQ 9 7 7 10 8 4 11 9 Ret 6 9 2 Ret 12 Ret 2 6 8 9 5 2 116
9 Luke Hines 7 8 9 8 8 8* 5 Ret Ret 7 Ret 5 Ret 9 6 12 5 Ret 10 8 Ret 7 5 Ret 6 1* Ret Ret 7 Ret 87
10 Gavin Smith 8 6 5 9 10 Ret 10 7 Ret 6 11 Ret 8 7 Ret 7 Ret 6 9 11 8 8 Ret Ret 11 2 11 6 4 3 86
11 James Kaye Ret Ret Ret Ret 9 7 8 Ret 4 11 DNS Ret 9 5 Ret 8 Ret 11 8 6 6 10 Ret Ret 8 Ret 10 8 6 7 58
12 Gareth Howell Ret* 6 4 5 Ret* 1* 5 DSQ 4 54
13 Jason Hughes 10 7 8 11 7 8 10 8 8 22
14 Richard Williams NC 9 11 WD WD WD Ret DNS 9 13 9 Ret 13 12 Ret 15 12 13 13 12 9 DNS Ret DNS 12 7 Ret 11 Ret 9 14
15 Mark Proctor 10 Ret 10 Ret DNS 8 12 8 Ret Ret DNS DNS 14 Ret 10 12 Ret 11 13 10 10 Ret 9 12 NC Ret 13 13
16 Fiona Leggate 11 14 10 13 13 9 11 13 DNS 14 11 9 13 5 13 13 Ret 10 12
17 Ian Curley WD WD WD NC 9 NC DNS DNS DNS 12 11 Ret 16 11 12 14 Ret 10 12 Ret DNS 14 11 14 14 12 12 3
18 Andy Neate 12 10 11 1
Pos Driver DON THU BHI OUL CRO MON SNE KNO SIL BHGP 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)

Manufacturers Championship

Pos Manufacturer DON THU BHI OUL CRO MON SNE KNO SIL BHGP Penalties Pts
1 Vauxhall / VX Racing 2 1 3 4 3 2 2 4 1 4 2 Ret 1 1 7 1 1 1 4 4 3 1 2 7 4 2 5 2 4 3 -10 781
5 6 5 6 7 3 3 5 5 6 6 Ret 2 2 8 4 6 5 7 7 8 3 4 Ret 7 Ret 9 6 11 6
8 Ret 8 9 10 Ret 10 7 Ret 10 11 Ret 8 7 Ret 7 Ret 6 9 11 Ret 8 Ret Ret 11 Ret 11 7 Ret Ret
2 Seat / Seat Sport UK 6 5 6 2 4 5 4 2 3 1 7 3 4 8 3 2 5 Ret 6 8 1 6 5 5 2 1 6 3 1 2 -60 629
7 7 7 7 5 6 5 8 DSQ 7 10 5 10 9 4 11 9 Ret 10 9 2 7 8 Ret 3 6 8 9 5 Ret
9 8 9 8 8 8 9 Ret Ret 9 Ret 7 Ret 13 6 12 10 Ret Ret 10 Ret Ret 12 Ret 6 DSQ Ret Ret 7 Ret

Teams Championship

Pos Team DON THU BHI OUL CRO MON SNE KNO SIL BHGP Penalties Pts
1 Team Halfords 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 3 6 1 3 2 4 2 2 4 2 1 2 5 3 1 1 2 4 -20 573
3 4 2 3 2 4 Ret 3 6 3 3 6 5 10 2 6 3 7 3 3 5 4 6 4 9 4 4 4 3 5
2 VX Racing 2 1 3 4 3 2 2 4 1 4 2 Ret 1 1 7 1 1 1 4 4 3 1 2 7 4 2 5 2 4 3 -10 470
5 6 5 6 7 3 3 5 5 6 6 Ret 2 2 8 4 6 5 7 7 8 3 4 Ret 7 Ret 9 6 11 6
3 Seat Sport UK 6 5 6 2 4 5 4 2 3 1 7 3 4 8 3 2 5 Ret 6 8 1 6 5 5 2 1 6 3 1 2 -60 306
7 7 7 7 5 6 5 8 DSQ 7 10 5 10 9 4 11 9 Ret 10 9 2 7 8 Ret 3 6 8 9 5 Ret
4 West Surrey Racing 4 2 4 5 11 Ret 6 6 Ret 8 4 4 7 4 5 5 4 3 5 5 12 9 9 1 10 10 2 Ret 9 1 172
5 Arena Motorsport 10 6 Ret 7 NC 7 5 5 1 6 3 9 9 8 2 1 1 7 5 3 3 1 8 3 -10 157
6 Synchro Motorsport Ret Ret Ret Ret 9 7 8 Ret 4 11 DNS Ret 9 5 Ret 8 Ret 11 8 6 6 10 Ret Ret 8 Ret 10 8 6 7 -20 49
7 Kartworld Racing 10 7 8 11 7 8 10 8 8 29
8 HPI Racing with Friends Reunited NC 9 11 WD WD WD NC 9 9 13 9 Ret 12 11 Ret 15 11 12 13 12 9 12 Ret DNS 12 7 14 11 12 9 27
WD WD WD Ret DNS NC DNS DNS DNS 13 12 Ret 16 12 13 14 Ret 10 DNS Ret DNS 14 11 Ret 14 Ret 12
9 Fast-Tec Motorsport 10 Ret 10 Ret DNS 8 12 8 Ret Ret DNS DNS 14 Ret 10 12 Ret 11 13 10 10 Ret 9 12 NC Ret 13 21
10 Tech-speed Motorsport 11 14 10 13 13 9 11 13 DNS 14 11 9 13 5 13 13 Ret 10 17
11 Team Nuts with Daniels Motorsport 12 10 11 3
Pos Team DON THU BHI OUL CRO MON SNE KNO SIL BHGP Penalties Pts

Independents Trophy

Pos Driver DON THU BHI OUL CRO MON SNE KNO SIL BHGP Pts
1 Matt Neal 1 3 1 3 2 4 1 1 6 2 1 2 3 6 2 3 3 7 3 3 4 2 1 2 9 4 7 4 3 5 367
2 Dan Eaves 3 4 2 1 1 1 Ret 3 2 3 3 6 5 10 1 6 2 4 2 2 5 4 Ret 6 Ret 3 4 1 2 Ret 313
3 Rob Collard 4 2 4 5 11 Ret 6 6 Ret 8 4 4 7 4 5 5 4 3 5 5 12 9 9 1 10 10 2 Ret 9 1 256
4 Tom Chilton 10 6 Ret 7 NC 7 5 5 1 6 3 9 9 8 2 1 1 7 5 3 3 1 8 3 230
5 James Kaye Ret Ret Ret Ret 9 7 8 Ret 4 11 DNS Ret 9 5 Ret 8 Ret 11 8 6 6 10 Ret Ret 8 Ret 10 8 6 7 140
6 Richard Williams NC 9 11 WD WD WD Ret DNS 9 13 9 Ret 13 12 Ret 15 12 13 13 12 9 DNS Ret DNS 12 7 Ret 11 Ret 9 79
7 Mark Proctor 10 Ret 10 Ret DNS 8 12 8 Ret Ret DNS DNS 14 Ret 10 12 Ret 11 13 10 10 Ret 9 12 NC Ret 13 70
8 Fiona Leggate 11 14 10 13 13 9 11 13 DNS 14 11 9 13 5 13 13 Ret 10 69
9 Gareth Howell Ret 6 4 5 Ret 1 5 DSQ 4 67
10 Jason Hughes 10 7 8 11 7 8 10 8 8 57
11 Ian Curley WD WD WD NC 9 NC DNS DNS DNS 12 11 Ret 16 11 12 14 Ret 10 12 Ret DNS 14 11 14 14 12 12 52
12 Andy Neate 12 10 11 12
Pos Driver DON THU BHI OUL CRO MON SNE KNO SIL BHGP Pts

Independent Teams Championship

Pos Team DON THU BHI OUL CRO MON SNE KNO SIL BHGP Pts
1 Team Halfords 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 3 6 1 3 2 4 2 2 4 2 1 2 5 3 1 1 2 4 725
3 4 2 3 2 4 Ret 3 6 3 3 6 5 10 2 6 3 7 3 3 5 4 6 4 9 4 4 4 3 5
2 West Surrey Racing 4 2 4 5 11 Ret 6 6 Ret 8 4 4 7 4 5 5 4 3 5 5 12 9 9 1 10 10 2 Ret 9 1 256
3 Arena Motorsport 10 6 Ret 7 NC 7 5 5 1 6 3 9 9 8 2 1 1 7 5 3 3 1 8 3 230
4 Synchro Motorsport Ret Ret Ret Ret 9 7 8 Ret 4 11 DNS Ret 9 5 Ret 8 Ret 11 8 6 6 10 Ret Ret 8 Ret 10 8 6 7 143
5 HPI Racing with Friends Reunited NC 9 11 WD WD WD NC 9 9 13 9 Ret 12 11 Ret 15 11 12 13 12 9 12 Ret DNS 12 7 14 11 12 9 134
WD WD WD Ret DNS NC DNS DNS DNS 13 12 Ret 16 12 13 14 Ret 10 DNS Ret DNS 14 11 Ret 14 Ret 12
6 Fast-Tec Motorsport 10 Ret 10 Ret DNS 8 12 8 Ret Ret DNS DNS 14 Ret 10 12 Ret 11 13 10 10 Ret 9 12 NC Ret 13 73
7 Tech-speed Motorsport 11 14 10 13 13 9 11 13 DNS 14 11 9 13 5 13 13 Ret 10 72
8 Kartworld Racing 10 7 8 11 7 8 10 8 8 60
9 Team Nuts with Daniels Motorsport 12 10 11 13
Pos Team DON THU BHI OUL CRO MON SNE KNO SIL BHGP Pts

External links

1958 • 1959 • 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012