Gabriele Tarquini with Alfa Romeo 155 in Thruxton.

The 1994 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship season was the 37th British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season.

Changes for 1994

  • The number of double header meetings were increased from three to eight
  • Double headers now awarded full points in both races instead of half, as had previously been the case

Season summary

The lead up to the 1994 season saw both consolidation and major news amongst the manufacturers. Reigning champions BMW retained Joachim Winkelhock and Steve Soper, and the team would again be managed by works outfit Schnitzer Motorsport. Soper however would miss some races when they clashed with his JTCC programme; his place would then be taken by Roberto Ravaglia. Ford were looking to build on their late 1993 success with Paul Radisich and Andy Rouse, while Toyota added Tim Sugden to their 1993 drivers Will Hoy and Julian Bailey. While Vauxhall retained drivers John Cleland and Jeff Allam they had handed over the running of their works team to Ray Mallock Ltd., who had previously run semi-works cars as Ecurie Ecosse.

Renault also retained their drivers Alain Menu and Tim Harvey, but replaced their Renault 19 with more modern Lagunas. Keith O’Dor continued with Nissan but was joined by ex-Formula One driver Eric van de Poele, who replaced Win Percy. Patrick Watts moved from Mazda to Peugeot, replacing Robb Gravett, while Mazda expanded to a two-car line up with drivers Matt Neal and David Leslie.

Two new manufacturers joined the championship. Tom Walkinshaw made a comeback with Volvo, the Swedish manufacturer surprisingly choosing to run the estate version of their 850 model. 1988 Le Mans winner Jan Lammers and Swedish Formula Three racer Rickard Rydell would be the team’s two drivers. Alfa Romeo was the other manufacturer to join; Italian works outfit Alfa Corse would run two cars for Gabriele Tarquini and Giampiero Simoni. Alfa had produced a unique homologation special version of their 155 model complete with wings and spoilers, significantly improving the aerodynamics of the car. The 155 was to revolutionize Super Touring racing. The rules stated that aerodynamic wings could be used provided they were fitted to a limited number of road cars. Peugeot, Ford and Toyota had all run with rear spoilers in previous years due to this. Alfa exploited the rules by releasing a special edition of the 155 called the 'Silverstone' just to gain the aero advantage.[1] Renault and BMW eventually followed suit by releasing limited "homologation special" editions of their cars, the Laguna Airflow and the 318is, respectively.

The start of the season showed that Alfa Romeo had a substantial advantage over their opponents as Gabriele Tarquini dominated, taking the first five wins of the season. Several complaints and protests were lodged by other manufacturers, and just prior to Oulton Park Alfa were told to run without the aerodynamic aids fitted. Alfa refused and left the circuit in protest, allowing Alain Menu to take Renault’s first win of the season. Eventually matters were resolved and Alfa re-instated after agreeing to run with the spoilers lowered, but having lost out on any points from Oulton Park. Even with lowered spoilers, however, Tarquini was able to keep much of his advantage.

Silverstone hosted the twelfth round of the championship, and there rule changes were exploited by other manufacturers to add aerodynamic aids to their own cars. This levelled the playing field considerably and allowed Joachim Winkelhock to make a bid for victory, overtaking Tarquini and winning the race. Tarquini would only win one more race that season, but was always in contention: it was not so much a matter of if but when the Italian would become champion. When turned out to be the penultimate weekend at Silverstone, where Tarquini’s second place in the first race of the day secured the title for him. The main battle going into the final rounds at Donington Park was for second place, and would stand between Alain Menu and Paul Radisich. Radisich won the first race of the day bringing him up to level on points with Menu, but mechanical gremlins put a stop to his challenge in the second race. Menu thus finished second in the championship from Radisich, with John Cleland in fourth and Simoni in fifth.

Teams and drivers

BTCC

Team Car No. Drivers Rounds
Manufacturers
Germany BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer BMW 318i 1 Germany Joachim Winkelhock All
2 United Kingdom Steve Soper 1–3, 5, 7, 9, 11–13
21 Italy Roberto Ravaglia 4, 6, 8, 10
United Kingdom Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Ghia 3 New Zealand Paul Radisich All
31 United Kingdom Robb Gravett 13
32 United Kingdom Kelvin Burt 12
33 United Kingdom Andy Rouse All
United Kingdom Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 4 United Kingdom John Cleland All
9 United Kingdom Jeff Allam All
Japan Toyota Castrol Team Toyota Carina E 5 United Kingdom Julian Bailey All
7 United Kingdom Will Hoy All
57 United Kingdom Tim Sugden 2–6, 8, 12–13
Japan Team Mazda Mazda Xedos 6 8 United Kingdom David Leslie 1–8
12 United Kingdom Matt Neal 1–4
France Renault Dealer Racing Renault Laguna 10 Switzerland Alain Menu All
11 United Kingdom Tim Harvey All
France Peugeot Sport Peugeot 405 Mi16 13 United Kingdom Eugene O'Brien 1, 3–12
18 United Kingdom Patrick Watts All
Sweden Volvo 850 Racing Volvo 850 SE/GLT 14 Netherlands Jan Lammers All
15 Sweden Rickard Rydell All
United Kingdom Old Spice Nissan Racing Nissan Primera eGT 23 United Kingdom Kieth O'dor All
24 Belgium Eric van de Poele 1–8
34 United Kingdom Tiff Needell 5, 7–13
Italy Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 TS 55 Italy Gabriele Tarquini 1–4, 6–13
56 Italy Giampiero Simoni 1–4, 6–13
Independents
United Kingdom Maxted Motorsport Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 17 United Kingdom Ian Khan 3, 5–8
Toyota Carina E 1–2
29 United Kingdom James Kaye All
United Kingdom Woodkirk Peugeot Peugeot 405 Mi16 19 United Kingdom James Thompson 1–4, 7–13
United Kingdom Geoff Steel Racing BMW 318is 22 United Kingdom Geoff Steel 1–3, 5–6, 10–11
United Kingdom Team HMSO Cavalier Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 25 United Kingdom Nigel Smith All
United Kingdom Hamish Irvine BMW 318is 26 United Kingdom Hamish Irvine 4–13
United Kingdom Harlow Motorsport Renault 19 16v 27 United Kingdom Nigel Albon All
United Kingdom Roy Kennedy Racing Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 30 United Kingdom Chris Goodwin 2–8, 10–13

ToCA Shoot Out

Team Car No. Drivers
Manufacturers
Italy Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 TS 1 Italy Gabriele Tarquini
5 Italy Giampiero Simoni
United Kingdom Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Ghia 3 New Zealand Paul Radisich
31 United Kingdom Robb Gravett
United Kingdom Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 4 United Kingdom John Cleland
10 United Kingdom Jeff Allam
20 United Kingdom Anthony Reid
Germany BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer BMW 318i 6 United Kingdom Steve Soper
France Peugeot Sport Peugeot 405 Mi16 8 United Kingdom Patrick Watts
18 United Kingdom Eugene O'Brien
United Kingdom Old Spice Nissan Racing Nissan Primera eGT 22 United Kingdom Tiff Needell
Japan Team Mazda Mazda 323F 24 United Kingdom Matt Neal
Independents
United Kingdom Team HMSO Cavalier Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 25 United Kingdom Nigel Smith
United Kingdom Maxted Motorsport Toyota Carina E 29 United Kingdom James Kaye
United Kingdom Roy Kennedy Racing Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 30 United Kingdom Julian Westwood

Race calendar and winners

All races were held in the United Kingdom.

Round Circuit Date Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Team Winning Privateer
1 R1 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 4 April Italy Gabriele Tarquini Italy Gabriele Tarquini Italy Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse United Kingdom James Kaye
2 R2 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 17 April Italy Gabriele Tarquini Italy Gabriele Tarquini Italy Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse United Kingdom Nigel Smith
R3 Italy Giampiero Simoni Italy Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse United Kingdom Chris Goodwin
3 R4 Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit, Norfolk 2 May Italy Giampiero Simoni Italy Gabriele Tarquini Italy Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse United Kingdom James Kaye
4 R5 Silverstone Circuit (National), Northamptonshire 15 May Switzerland Alain Menu New Zealand Paul Radisich Italy Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse United Kingdom Chris Goodwin
R6 Switzerland Alain Menu New Zealand Paul Radisich Team Mondeo United Kingdom James Kaye
5 R7 Oulton Park (International), Cheshire 30 May Switzerland Alain Menu Switzerland Alain Menu Switzerland Alain Menu Renault Dealer Racing United Kingdom Chris Goodwin
6 R8 Donington Park (Grand Prix), Leicestershire 12 June New Zealand Paul Radisich United Kingdom John Cleland United Kingdom John Cleland Vauxhall Sport United Kingdom James Kaye
R9 New Zealand Paul Radisich United Kingdom John Cleland Vauxhall Sport United Kingdom James Kaye
7 R10 Brands Hatch (Grand Prix), Kent 26 June Italy Giampiero Simoni Italy Gabriele Tarquini Italy Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse United Kingdom James Kaye
R11 Italy Gabriele Tarquini Italy Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse United Kingdom James Thompson
8 R12 Silverstone Circuit (Grand Prix), Northamptonshire 10 July Germany Joachim Winkelhock Italy Gabriele Tarquini Germany Joachim Winkelhock BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer United Kingdom James Thompson
9 R13 Knockhill Racing Circuit, Fife 31 July New Zealand Paul Radisich United Kingdom Steve Soper Switzerland Alain Menu Renault Dealer Racing United Kingdom James Kaye
R14 United Kingdom Steve Soper United Kingdom Steve Soper BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer United Kingdom Nigel Smith
10 R15 Oulton Park (International), Cheshire 14 August Switzerland Alain Menu Germany Joachim Winkelhock Germany Joachim Winkelhock BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer United Kingdom Nigel Albon
11 R16 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 29 August Germany Joachim Winkelhock Germany Joachim Winkelhock Germany Joachim Winkelhock BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer United Kingdom James Kaye
R17 Italy Gabriele Tarquini Germany Joachim Winkelhock BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer United Kingdom Nigel Smith
12 R18 Silverstone Circuit (Grand Prix), Northamptonshire 11 September United Kingdom Tim Harvey United Kingdom Steve Soper United Kingdom Tim Harvey Renault Dealer Racing United Kingdom Nigel Smith
R19 Italy Gabriele Tarquini Italy Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse United Kingdom James Kaye
13 R20 Donington Park (Grand Prix), Leicestershire 18 September Germany Joachim Winkelhock New Zealand Paul Radisich New Zealand Paul Radisich Team Mondeo United Kingdom Chris Goodwin
R21 New Zealand Paul Radisich Italy Giampiero Simoni Alfa Corse United Kingdom James Kaye

Championship results

Drivers Championship

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Points system
 1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th 
24 18 12 10 8 6 4 3 2 1
  • Race 2 grid for Double Headers are based on Race 1 results.
Pos Driver THR BRH SNE SIL OUL DON BRH SIL KNO OUL BRH SIL DON Pts
1 Italy Gabriele Tarquini 1 1 1 1 1 DNS WD 3 DNS 1 1 2 Ret DNS 3 2 2 2 1 Ret 4 298
2 Switzerland Alain Menu 6 18 Ret Ret 3 2 1 5 4 9 6 5 1 3 2 7 7 3 2 2 2 222
3 New Zealand Paul Radisich Ret 5 4 2 2 1 2 2 2 Ret Ret 3 2 2 Ret 14 DSQ Ret DNS 1 9 206
4 United Kingdom John Cleland 2 3 2 Ret 7 4 7 1 1 5 4 DNS 5 6 Ret Ret DNS 4 4 8 5 177
5 Italy Giampiero Simoni 11 2 DSQ 3 Ret DNS WD Ret DNS 2 2 Ret Ret 9 4 3 3 6 3 3 1 156
6 Germany Joachim Winkelhock 3 Ret 7 Ret 14 14 8 Ret 8 8 7 1 Ret 11 1 1 1 Ret DNS 4 3 147
7 United Kingdom Steve Soper 4 10 6 8 4 4 14 3 1 5 4 22 5 12 Ret 102
8 United Kingdom Patrick Watts 7 7 8 5 5 3 3 7 11 3 3 6 15 Ret 8 6 DNS Ret Ret 7 11 98
9 United Kingdom Tim Harvey 10 Ret DNS Ret Ret 8 Ret 9 10 Ret 11 4 DSQ 4 6 4 Ret 1 18 5 8 78
10 United Kingdom Jeff Allam 14 6 5 6 12 9 6 6 3 19 10 7 4 5 12 13 Ret 8 9 9 13 76
11 United Kingdom Andy Rouse 21 4 3 DNS 4 19 Ret 4 6 6 5 Ret 11 15 Ret 11 DNS 13 8 20 10 66
12 United Kingdom Julian Bailey 20 19 10 Ret 10 5 10 8 5 11 9 DNS 8 7 9 10 6 5 6 6 6 66
13 United Kingdom Will Hoy 5 9 9 12 6 6 Ret 10 7 Ret 17 9 9 8 11 12 DNS 7 7 18 7 48
14 Sweden Rickard Rydell 15 22 15 Ret 19 13 5 11 Ret 10 8 8 6 10 Ret 15 8 10 12 10 12 27
15 Netherlands Jan Lammers Ret 12 16 11 Ret 16 13 14 15 7 16 12 NC 12 7 9 5 16 17 13 16 18
16 United Kingdom Kieth O'Dor 9 11 Ret 4 8 DNS 11 13 12 12 13 DNS 14 14 10 16 DNS 11 Ret 22 18 16
17 United Kingdom Eugene O'Brien Ret 7 11 10 9 16 20 13 Ret Ret 7 13 14 8 Ret 12 Ret 14
18 Italy Roberto Ravaglia Ret Ret 12 9 Ret 5 10
19 United Kingdom Tim Sugden 20 12 Ret 9 7 12 15 14 Ret 9 10 19 14 9
20 United Kingdom David Leslie 8 8 11 17 16 11 Ret Ret DNS Ret 19 11 6
21 United Kingdom Tiff Needell 17 Ret 18 DNS 10 16 13 17 9 15 14 15 15 3
22 Belgium Eric van de Poele 13 DNS DNS 9 13 12 14 17 13 14 12 DNS 2
23 United Kingdom Matt Neal 12 15 17 10 15 DNS 1
24 United Kingdom James Thompson Ret 16 18 Ret 21 DNS 18 15 10 Ret DNS Ret 20 Ret 18 Ret 16 19 1
25 United Kingdom Nigel Smith 18 13 14 15 20 Ret 16 20 18 16 20 13 Ret 17 17 19 10 17 16 23 20 1
26 United Kingdom Chris Goodwin 14 13 14 17 17 15 19 17 17 Ret DNS 18 22 11 19 15 14 21 0
27 United Kingdom Kelvin Burt 14 11 0
28 United Kingdom Robb Gravett 11 Ret 0
29 United Kingdom James Kaye 16 17 19 13 18 15 Ret 18 16 15 21 15 12 18 Ret 18 Ret 20 13 17 17 0
30 United Kingdom Nigel Albon 17 Ret DNS 16 22 18 22 Ret DNS DNS Ret Ret DNS 15 Ret 12 21 DNS Ret 22 0
31 United Kingdom Hamish Irvine 23 20 Ret 23 Ret 21 Ret 14 13 Ret 16 21 DNS 23 DNS 21 23 0
32 United Kingdom Geoff Steel 22 21 20 18 18 24 21 Ret 23 13 0
33 United Kingdom Ian Khan 19 DNS DNS Ret Ret 21 19 20 22 0
Pos Driver THR BRH SNE SIL OUL DON BRH SIL KNO OUL BRH SIL DON Pts

Privateers Championship

Pos Driver THR BRH SNE SIL OUL DON BRH SIL KNO OUL BRH SIL DON Pts
1 United Kingdom James Kaye 16 17 19 13 18 15 Ret 18 16 15 21 15 12 18 Ret 18 Ret 20 13 17 17 340
2 United Kingdom Nigel Smith 18 13 14 15 20 Ret 16 20 18 16 20 13 Ret 17 17 19 10 17 16 23 20 308
3 United Kingdom Chris Goodwin 14 13 14 17 17 15 19 17 17 Ret DNS 18 22 11 19 15 14 21 274
4 United Kingdom James Thompson Ret 16 18 Ret 21 DNS 18 15 10 Ret DNS Ret 20 Ret 18 Ret 16 19 158
5 United Kingdom Nigel Albon 17 Ret DNS 16 22 18 22 Ret DNS DNS Ret Ret DNS 15 Ret 12 21 DNS Ret 22 108
6 United Kingdom Hamish Irvine 23 20 Ret 23 Ret 21 Ret 14 13 Ret 16 21 DNS 23 DNS 21 23 108
7 United Kingdom Geoff Steel 22 21 20 18 18 24 21 Ret 23 13 72
8 United Kingdom Ian Khan 19 DNS DNS Ret Ret 21 19 20 22 48
Pos Driver THR BRH SNE SIL OUL DON BRH SIL KNO OUL BRH SIL DON Pts

Manufacturers Championship

Pos Manufacturer THR BRH SNE SIL OUL DON BRH SIL KNO OUL BRH SIL DON Pts
1 Alfa Romeo / Alfa Corse 1 1 1 1 1 DNS WD 3 DNS 1 1 2 Ret 9 3 2 2 2 1 3 1 330
2 Renault / Renault Dealer Racing 6 18 Ret Ret 3 2 1 5 4 9 6 4 1 3 2 4 7 1 2 2 2 259
3 Ford / Team Mondeo 21 4 3 2 2 1 2 2 2 6 5 3 2 2 Ret 11 DSQ 13 8 1 9 248
4 BMW / BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer 3 10 6 8 14 14 4 12 8 4 7 1 3 1 1 1 1 22 5 4 3 242
5 Vauxhall / Vauxhall Motorsport 2 3 2 6 7 4 6 1 1 5 4 7 4 5 12 13 Ret 4 4 8 5 224
6 Peugeot / Peugeot Sport 7 7 8 5 5 3 3 7 11 3 3 6 7 13 8 6 Ret 12 Ret 7 11 167
7 Toyota / Toyota Castrol Team 5 9 9 12 6 5 10 8 5 11 9 9 8 7 9 10 6 5 6 6 6 137
8 Volvo / Volvo 850 Racing 15 12 15 11 19 13 5 11 15 7 8 8 6 10 7 9 5 10 12 10 12 103
9 Nissan / Old Spice Nissan Racing 9 11 Ret 4 8 12 11 13 12 12 12 DNS 10 14 10 16 9 11 14 15 15 69
10 Mazda / Team Mazda 8 8 11 10 15 11 Ret Ret DNS Ret 19 11 31
Pos Driver THR BRH SNE SIL OUL DON BRH SIL KNO OUL BRH SIL DON Pts

References

  1. "Road cars of Touring Car Racing - Alfa Romeo 155". 15 March 2009.
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