1998 British Touring Car Championship

1998 BTCC season
Previous:	1997	Next:	1999

The 1998 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship was a prominent BTCC season during the 'golden era' of touring car racing in Britain. It was eventually won by Rickard Rydell in a Volvo S40 with a round to spare. The runner-up was Anthony Reid in a Nissan Primera. The Autosport Cup for Independents, a championship for privateer entries was won by Tommy Rustad in a Renault Laguna. The video game TOCA 2 Touring Cars is based on this championship season.

Background

There were three major rule changes to the championship prior to the start of the 1998 season. Race weekends were changed notably with two different types of races now elected: a "sprint" race and a, longer, "feature" race with two-tyre pit stops being mandatory in the latter. Qualifying for the sprint race involved drivers holding a "shoot-out" style session where each driver was sent out one of a time and were given a single timed lap to determine their starting position. Qualifying for the feature race remained the same as the previous season.

Four wheel drive systems were also banned for 1998, a system used notably by 1996 champions Audi. Audi continued to use their A4 platform for the 1998 season.

Team and driver changes

I think last year on some tracks we were not the quickest car but we ended up winning the championship because we made less mistakes than the other guys. So hopefully this year will be the same.

Alain Menu

Following their success in 1997, the Williams backed Renault team, now in their third year as partnership in the BTCC, retained their driver line up of champion Alain Menu and Jason Plato. The same Laguna platform was also retained. The only change for the team saw them take away the yellow-blue livery for a new dark green livery as they changed. Nissan were another team to retain their driver line-up with the experience Scots David Leslie and Anthony Reid leading the Japanese manufacturers bid for the championship.

Following a very promising test programme with their Accord fastest in most of the winter testing, Honda replaced 1994 champion Gabriele Tarquini with GT Racer Peter Kox to race alongside James Thompson who was looking to build on his career best fifth overall in the previous seasons drivers' championship. Volvo had also changed their lineup with former Ferrari and Sauber driver Gianni Morbidelli replacing the experienced Kelvin Burt to partner Swede Rickard Rydell in this Volvos fifth season in the BTCC.

Derek Warwick added to the former Formula One drivers in the BTCC paddock as he continued driving for the Vauxhall works team this year alongside double champion John Cleland. The 1992 team champions were looking for their first win in the championship since James Thompson took victory in race two at Snetterton in 1996. Ford had made headlines in the press during pre-season after signing 1992 Formula One champion Nigel Mansell to compete in three rounds of the championship. Ford retained Will Hoy, now in his eleventh season of BTCC competition, and swapped New Zealander Paul Radisich for another one in Craig Baird.

Radisich meanwhile had joined Tim Harvey at Peugeot who were developing their 406 car since its introduction in the 1996 season. The French outfit had yet to win a race with the car. Following the regulation changes banning four wheel drive systems, Audi were forced to abandon their four-wheel-drive A4 which helped them to the 1996 title for a more conventional front-wheel drive car. The team also bringing in 1995 French touring car champion Yvan Muller to their line up who helped the German manufacturer develop the new system in the Super Tourenwagen Cup. Muller was joined by John Bintcliffe now in his third season with Audi with Frank Biela moving to Audis Sportscar project.

Alfa Romeo announced that they would make a comeback to the BTCC by entering selected events. Fabrizio Giovanardi and Nicola Larini were scheduled to drive the new 156 but Alfa's plans fell through, and the team never appeared.

Entry list

Volvo placed second in the Manufacturers Championship with its S40s

Team	Car	No.	Drivers	Rounds
Manufacturers
Blend 37 Williams Renault	Renault Laguna	1	Alain Menu	All
		3	Jason Plato	All
		21	Tommy Rustad	13
Volvo S40 Racing	Volvo S40	4	Rickard Rydell	All
Volvo S40 Racing	Volvo S40	14	Gianni Morbidelli	All
Team Honda Sport	Honda Accord	5	James Thompson	All
Team Honda Sport	Honda Accord	50	Peter Kox	All
Audi Sport UK	Audi A4	7	John Bintcliffe	All
Audi Sport UK	Audi A4	12	Yvan Muller	All
Vodafone Nissan Racing	Nissan Primera GT	8	David Leslie	All
		23	Anthony Reid	All
		24	Tiff Needell	11
Esso Ultron Team Peugeot	Peugeot 406	9	Tim Harvey	All
Esso Ultron Team Peugeot	Peugeot 406	11	Paul Radisich	All
Ford Mondeo Racing with Reynard	Ford Mondeo	32	Will Hoy	All
		33	Craig Baird	1–5, 7–10
		55	Nigel Mansell	6, 11, 13
Alfa Romeo	Alfa Romeo 156	56	Nicola Larini	DNS
Alfa Romeo	Alfa Romeo 156	57	Fabrizio Giovanardi	DNS
Vauxhall Sport	Vauxhall Vectra	88	Derek Warwick	All
		98	John Cleland	1–8, 10–13
		99	Flavio Figueiredo	9
Independents
Mint Motorsport	Vauxhall Vectra	16	Mark Lemmer	1–7
Mardi Gras Motorsport	Vauxhall Vectra	16	Mark Lemmer	9, 11, 13
Mardi Gras Motorsport	Honda Accord	17	Roger Möen	1–7
DC Cook Motorsport	Renault Laguna	21	Tommy Rustad	1–12
DC Cook Motorsport	Honda Accord	22	Paula Cook	12–13
Brookes Motorsport	Honda Accord	28	Lee Brookes	12
Brookes Motorsport	Honda Accord	29	Robb Gravett	All
Team Dynamics Max Power	Nissan Primera GT	77	Matt Neal	All

Calendar

All races were held in the United Kingdom.

Round		Circuit	Date	Pole Position	Fastest Lap	Winning Driver	Winning Team	Winning Independent
1	R1	Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire	13 April	Rickard Rydell	Rickard Rydell	Rickard Rydell	Volvo S40 Racing	Mark Lemmer
1	R2	Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire	13 April	Rickard Rydell	Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Blend 37 Williams Renault	Matt Neal
2	R3	Silverstone Circuit (International), Northamptonshire	26 April	James Thompson	David Leslie	David Leslie	Vodafone Nissan Racing	Robb Gravett
2	R4	Silverstone Circuit (International), Northamptonshire	26 April	Jason Plato	James Thompson	Will Hoy	Ford Mondeo Racing	Robb Gravett
3	R5	Donington Park (National), Leicestershire	4 May	Rickard Rydell	David Leslie	John Cleland	Vauxhall Sport	Matt Neal
3	R6	Donington Park (National), Leicestershire	4 May	David Leslie	David Leslie	David Leslie	Vodafone Nissan Racing	Matt Neal
4	R7	Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent	17 May	Rickard Rydell	Anthony Reid	Rickard Rydell	Volvo S40 Racing	Tommy Rustad
4	R8	Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent	17 May	Rickard Rydell	Anthony Reid	Rickard Rydell	Volvo S40 Racing	Matt Neal
5	R9	Oulton Park (Fosters), Cheshire	25 May	Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Blend 37 Williams Renault	Tommy Rustad
5	R10	Oulton Park (Fosters), Cheshire	25 May	Anthony Reid	Anthony Reid	Jason Plato	Blend 37 Williams Renault	Tommy Rustad
6	R11	Donington Park (National), Leicestershire	14 June	Anthony Reid	Rickard Rydell	Anthony Reid	Vodafone Nissan Racing	Robb Gravett
6	R12	Donington Park (National), Leicestershire	14 June	Anthony Reid	Anthony Reid	John Cleland	Vauxhall Sport	Matt Neal
7	R13	Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire	28 June	James Thompson	James Thompson	James Thompson	Team Honda Sport	Matt Neal
7	R14	Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire	28 June	David Leslie	David Leslie	Rickard Rydell	Volvo S40 Racing	Robb Gravett
8	R15	Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk	26 July	Anthony Reid	Matt Neal	Anthony Reid	Vodafone Nissan Racing	Robb Gravett
8	R16	Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk	26 July	Anthony Reid	Anthony Reid	James Thompson	Team Honda Sport	Robb Gravett
9	R17	Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire	2 August	Rickard Rydell	Anthony Reid	Anthony Reid	Vodafone Nissan Racing	Matt Neal
9	R18	Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire	2 August	Anthony Reid	Anthony Reid	Alain Menu	Blend 37 Williams Renault	Mark Lemmer
10	R19	Knockhill Circuit, Fife	16 August	Anthony Reid	David Leslie	Anthony Reid	Vodafone Nissan Racing	Matt Neal
10	R20	Knockhill Circuit, Fife	16 August	Anthony Reid	Yvan Muller	Derek Warwick	Vauxhall Sport	Tommy Rustad
11	R21	Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent	31 August	Anthony Reid	Anthony Reid	Anthony Reid	Vodafone Nissan Racing	Matt Neal
11	R22	Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent	31 August	Rickard Rydell	Anthony Reid	Rickard Rydell	Volvo S40 Racing	Matt Neal
12	R23	Oulton Park (Fosters), Cheshire	13 September	Anthony Reid	Anthony Reid	James Thompson	Team Honda Sport	Tommy Rustad
12	R24	Oulton Park (Fosters), Cheshire	13 September	Anthony Reid	James Thompson	Anthony Reid	Vodafone Nissan Racing	Matt Neal
13	R25	Silverstone Circuit (International), Northamptonshire	20 September	Rickard Rydell	Anthony Reid	James Thompson	Team Honda Sport	Mark Lemmer
13	R26	Silverstone Circuit (International), Northamptonshire	20 September	David Leslie	Rickard Rydell	Anthony Reid	Vodafone Nissan Racing	Paula Cook

Drivers Championship

Points system
1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	Pole Position	Lead a lap in feature race
15	12	10	8	6	5	4	3	2	1	1	1

No driver may collect more than one "Lead a Lap" point per race no matter how many laps they lead.

Pos.	Driver	THR		SIL		DON		BHI		OUL		DON		CRO		SNE		THR		KNO		BHI		OUL		SIL		Pts
1	Rickard Rydell	1	2*	5	Ret	3	7*	1	1*	2	2	2	Ret	4	1*	5	2*	3	3	Ret	3	3	1*	11	4	2	3	254
2	Anthony Reid	8	13	7	3	Ret	6	2	3	5	3*	1	Ret*	2	3	1	NC	1	6	1	7	1	2*	2	1*	5	1*	239
3	James Thompson	3	3	2	9*	2	4	9	2	Ret	5	Ret	Ret	1	5	4	1*	4	5*	2	Ret	2	9*	1	Ret	1	4*	203
4	Alain Menu	5	1*	Ret	Ret	4	2	3	4	1	4*	Ret	Ret	3	4	3	Ret	2	1*	3	4	5	3	3	Ret	9	Ret	187
5	Jason Plato	2	4	3	2*	Ret	5	4	Ret	4	1*	9	Ret	8	6	2	3	Ret	Ret	Ret	5	7	4*	6	2	4	6	163
6	David Leslie	7	12	1	Ret	Ret	1*	Ret	6	3	Ret	Ret	2*	Ret	2*	6	4	5	2	5	9	4	Ret	4	Ret	13	2*	148
7	Yvan Muller	9	Ret	10	8	6	10	5	15	10	10	7	4*	5	10	15	5	6	10	4	2	11	6	5	3	3	5	110
8	John Cleland	4	6	6	7	1	3*	6	9*	7	6*	5	1*	6	8	9	Ret			13	Ret	8	Ret	9	11	8	Ret	106
9	Derek Warwick	12	5	4	6*	13	8	11	13	11	Ret	DSQ	3	9	12	10	Ret	7	Ret	9	1	Ret	14	10	5*	7	10	70
10	Will Hoy	Ret	15	9	1*	8	16	7	Ret	8	7	3	Ret	13	9*	8	8	10	12	6	Ret	Ret	Ret	8	6	10	8	69
11	Gianni Morbidelli	6	11	8	5	12	Ret	13	10	6	9*	6	7	10	7*	7	11	8	4	11	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	9	17	Ret	56
12	Peter Kox	10	7	Ret	11	7	Ret	14	7	Ret	Ret	4	Ret	7	Ret	16	Ret	13	7	7	14	6	7*	7	Ret	Ret	7*	52
13	Matt Neal	Ret	10	Ret	16	5	9	Ret	5	Ret	14	Ret	6	12	15	NC	13	12	Ret	8	Ret	9	5	13	7	Ret	Ret	35
14	Paul Radisich	Ret	8	12	4	11	Ret	8	12	12	13	10	Ret	11	Ret	18	10	9	Ret	10	6	10	10	Ret	Ret	6	14	31
15	John Bintcliffe	11	9	14	17	10	14	10	8	9	8*	Ret	9	Ret	11	14	7	11	8	Ret	10	13	11	NC	Ret	12	Ret	23
16	Tommy Rustad	16	Ret	15	13	17	12	12	14*	13	12	12	8	15	Ret	17	12	14	Ret	14	8	15	13	12	8	11	9	12
17	Tim Harvey	13	Ret	11	18	9	11	Ret	11	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	16	18	12	Ret	15	9*	15	11	14	8*	14	10	Ret	Ret	10
18	Nigel Mansell											Ret	5*									Ret	Ret			14	11	7
19	Robb Gravett	17	16	13	12*	15	Ret	16	17	15	16	8	Ret	Ret	14	13	9	16	Ret	Ret	12	16	12*	15	12	Ret	DNS	7
20	Craig Baird	15	14	Ret	10	14	13	15	Ret	14	11			14	13	11	6	Ret	DNS	12	13							6
21	Roger Möen	18	17	16	15	Ret	15	18	16	16	15	11	10	Ret	16													1
22	Flavio Figueiredo																	17	11									0
23	Tiff Needell																					12	15					0
24	Paula Cook																							16	13	16	12	0
25	Mark Lemmer	14	Ret	Ret	14	16	Ret	17	Ret	Ret	DNS	Ret	Ret	17	17			18	13			Ret	16			15	13	0
–	Lee Brookes																							DNS	DNS			0
Pos.	Driver	THR		SIL		DON		BHI		OUL		DON		CRO		SNE		THR		KNO		BHI		OUL		SIL		Pts

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

* signifies that driver lead feature race for at least one lap (1 point given). Note: All bonus leading points may not be added due to them being added after seeing Season Review footage and some race reports.

Note: No points were awarded for leading in the feature race at Knockhill.

Autosport Cup for Independents

Pos.	Driver	THR		SIL		DON		BHI		OUL		DON		CRO		SNE		THR		KNO		BHI		OUL		SIL		Pts
1	Tommy Rustad	16	Ret	15	13	17	12	12	14	13	12	12	8	15	Ret	17	12	14	Ret	13	8	15	13	12	8			251
2	Robb Gravett	17	16	13	12	15	Ret	16	17	15	16	8	Ret	Ret	14	13	9	16	Ret	Ret	12	16	12	15	12	Ret	DNS	212
3	Matt Neal	Ret	10	Ret	16	5	9	Ret	5	Ret	14	Ret	6	12	15	NC	13	12	Ret	8	Ret	9	5	13	7	Ret	Ret	211
4	Mark Lemmer	14	Ret	Ret	14	16	Ret	17	Ret	Ret	DNS	Ret	Ret	17	17			18	13			Ret	16			15	13	95
5	Roger Möen	18	17	16	15	Ret	15	18	16	16	15	11	10	Ret	16													92
6	Paula Cook																							16	13	16	12	27
–	Lee Brookes																							DNS	DNS			0
Pos.	Driver	THR		SIL		DON		BHI		OUL		DON		CRO		SNE		THR		KNO		BHI		OUL		SIL		Pts

Manufacturers Championship

Pos	Manufacturer	THR		SIL		DON		BHI		OUL		DON		CRO		SNE		THR		KNO		BHI		OUL		SIL		Pts
1	Nissan / Vodafone Nissan Racing	7	12	1	3	Ret	1	2	3	3	3	1	2	2	2	1	4	1	2	1	7	1	2	2	1	5	1	273
2	Volvo / Volvo S40 Racing	1	2	5	5	3	7	1	1	2	2	2	7	4	1	5	2	3	3	11	3	3	1	11	4	2	3	245
3	Renault / Blend 37 Williams Renault	2	1	3	2	4	2	3	4	1	1	9	Ret	3	4	2	3	2	1	3	4	5	3	3	2	4	6	244
4	Honda / Team Honda Sport	3	3	2	9	2	4	9	2	Ret	5	4	Ret	1	5	4	1	4	5	2	14	2	7	1	Ret	1	4	222
5	Vauxhall / Vauxhall Sport	4	5	4	6	1	3	6	9	7	6	5	1	6	8	9	Ret	7	11	9	1	8	14	9	5	7	10	162
6	Audi / Audi Sport UK	9	9	10	8	6	10	5	8	9	8	7	4	5	10	14	5	6	8	4	2	11	6	5	3	3	5	150
7	Ford / Ford Mondeo Racing	15	14	9	1	8	13	7	Ret	8	7	3	5	13	9	8	6	10	12	6	13	Ret	Ret	8	6	10	8	117
8	Peugeot / Esso Ultron Team Peugeot	13	8	11	4	9	11	8	11	12	13	10	Ret	11	18	12	10	9	9	10	6	10	8	14	10	6	14	96
Pos	Manufacturer	THR		SIL		DON		BHI		OUL		DON		CRO		SNE		THR		KNO		BHI		OUL		SIL		Pts

Teams Championship

Pos	Team	THR	SIL	DON	BHI	OUL	DON	CRO	SNE	THR	KNO	BHI	OUL	SIL	Pts
1	Vodafone Nissan Racing	12	3	1	3	3	2	2	4	2	7	2	1	1	168
1	Vodafone Nissan Racing	13	Ret	6	6	Ret	Ret	3	NC	6	9	Ret	Ret	2	168
2	Blend 37 Williams Renault	1	2	2	4	1	Ret	4	3	1	4	3	2	6	159
2	Blend 37 Williams Renault	4	Ret	5	Ret	4	Ret	6	Ret	Ret	5	4	Ret	Ret	159
3	Volvo S40 Racing	2	5	7	1	2	7	1	2	3	3	1	4	3	140
3	Volvo S40 Racing	11	Ret	Ret	10	9	Ret	7	11	4	Ret	Ret	9	Ret	140
4	Team Honda Sport	3	9	4	2	5	Ret	5	1	5	14	7	Ret	4	95
4	Team Honda Sport	7	11	Ret	7	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	7	Ret	9	Ret	7	95
5	Vauxhall Sport	5	6	3	9	6	1	8	Ret	11	1	14	5	10	75
5	Vauxhall Sport	6	7	8	13	Ret	3	12	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	11	Ret	75
6	Audi Sport UK	9	8	10	8	8	4	10	5	8	2	6	3	5	59
6	Audi Sport UK	Ret	17	14	15	10	9	11	7	10	10	11	Ret	Ret	59
7	Ford Mondeo Racing	14	1	13	Ret	7	5	9	6	12	13	Ret	6	8	44
7	Ford Mondeo Racing	15	10	16	Ret	11	Ret	13	8	DNS	Ret	Ret		11	44
8	Team Dynamics Max Power	10	16	9	5	14	6	15	13	Ret	Ret	5	7	Ret	24
9	Esso Ultron Team Peugeot	8	4	11	11	13	Ret	18	10	9	6	8	10	14	19
9	Esso Ultron Team Peugeot	Ret	18	Ret	12	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	11	10	Ret	Ret	19
10	DC Cook Motorsport	Ret	13	12	14	12	8	Ret	12	Ret	8	13	8	12	9
10	DC Cook Motorsport												13		9
11	Brookes Motorsport	16	12	Ret	17	16	Ret	14	9	Ret	12	12	12	DNS	2
11	Brookes Motorsport												DNS		2
12	Mardi Gras Motorsport	17	15	15	16	15	10	16		13		16		13	1
13	Mint Motorsport	Ret	14	Ret	Ret	DNS	Ret	17							0
Pos	Team	THR	SIL	DON	BHI	OUL	DON	CRO	SNE	THR	KNO	BHI	OUL	SIL	Pts

External links

BTCC Pages

British Saloon/Touring Car Championship
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 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Champions Records Teams and Drivers

Super Touring championships
British Touring Car Championship	1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
French Supertouring Championship	1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Italian Superturismo Championship	1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Touring Car World Cup	1993 1994 1995
South American Super Touring Car Championship	1997 1998 1999 2000
Japanese Touring Car Championship	1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
Super Tourenwagen Cup	1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Belgian Procar Championship	1994 1995 1996 1997
Swedish Touring Car Championship	1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
Campeonato de España de Turismos	1994 1995 1996 1997
Portuguese Touring Car Championship	1993 1994
Central European Supertouring Car Championship	1994 1995 1996
South African Touring Car Championship	1994 1995 1996
Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship	1994 1996 1997 1998 1999
Australian Super Touring Championship	1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000–01 2002
North American Touring Car Championship	1996 1997
European Touring Car Championship	2000 2001

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