2002 British Touring Car Championship

45th season of the British Touring Car Championship December 2025 British Touring Car Championship 2002 2002 ToCA Support series:2002 British Formula Ford2002 Porsche Cup2002 Formula Renault UK2002 Renault Clio Cup UK thumb|James Thompson won his first BTCC title. thumb|Yvan Muller finished runner up. The 2002 Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 45th British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season which began at Brands Hatch on 1 April and concluded at Donington Park on 22 September. Changes for 2002 Teams and drivers Touring Class The second season of BTC-T rules in the top class saw two new manufacturer backed teams enter, with Honda returninghttp://www.crash.net/btcc/news/7032/1/honda-civics-for-2002-btcc Honda Civics for 2002 BTCC. 2001-10-18 Crash 2017-12-13 and Proton entering for the first time. Reigning champions Vauxhall again entered four Triple 8-run Vauxhall Astra Coupes. With reigning champion Jason Plato not returning,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/1689656.stm Plato leaves Vauxhall 2001-12-03 2017-12-13 en-GB 2001 runner-up Yvan Muller was partnered by James Thompson in the Vauxhall Motorsport entries while Thompson's place in the Egg Sport entry was taken by Matt Neal, fresh from a season in the European Touring Car Championship, alongside Production class graduate Paul O'Neill. MG, who had trialled their West Surrey Racing-prepared ZS in the closing stages of 2001 retained experienced touring car hand Anthony Reid and Warren Hughes at the wheel. After a year absence Honda returned with a pair Honda Civic Type-R's prepared by Arena Motorsport, who had previously entered as an independent in 1999. Guernseyman Andy Priaulx, who crossed over from Formula 3 after impressing on a one off BTCC outing for Vauxhall in 2001, was signed alongside Northern Irishman Alan Morrison, the 2000 Production (then Class B) champion. In late 2001 it was announced that Proton would enter a pair of manufacturer backed carshttp://www.crash.net/btcc/news/7039/1/proton-enters-2002-championship Proton enters 2002 championship. 2001-11-01 Crash 2017-12-25 backed by Petronas and run under the Petronas Syntium Proton - Team [PSP] banner. Jason Plato was initially linked with the drive before Scottish veteran David Leslie and Phil Bennett, who had been dropped by Vauxhall, were officially announced. With Peugeot withdrawing their factory backing, Vic Lee Racing now headed the independents class, which was reinstated after a 1-year hiatus, with their pair of 406 Coupes, and acquired sponsorship from the motoring retailer Halfords. Dan Eaves remained and was joined by 1992 champion Tim Harvey, moving across from JSM. The pair were joined later in the year by Formula Renault championship winner Carl Breeze in a third car. The works MG squad was supported from second meeting onwards by a WSR-run satellite team carrying the name of the girl band Atomic Kitten as part of a sponsorship deal. This team ran the young pairing of Fiesta racer Colin Turkington and Production graduate Gareth Howell. Barwell Motorsport stepped up from the Production class to complete the Touring grid with a pair of ex-works Vauxhall Astra Coupes driven by New Zealand superbike racer Aaron Slight, who switched to car racing after a successful guest appearance for Peugeot in 2001, and 17-year-old rookie Tom Chilton. Total Motorsport planned to continue running the Lexus IS200 they had run the previous year with a two-car entry for Steve Sutcliffe and Richard DeanTwo Lexus for 2002 BTCC. | Crash.net 13 February 2002 https://www.crash.net/btcc/news/7090/1/two-lexus-for-2002-btcc and GR Motorsport planned to graduate from the Production Class with Gordon Shedden driving an ex-JS Motorsport Alfa Romeo 147BTCT : Alfa Romeo 147 2 https://www.touringcarregister.com/register/492/ 2025-09-02 Touring Car Register en but neither of these entries came to fruition. Production Class In the Production class Synchro Motorsport gained the upper hand by stepping up from the Honda Accord to the brand new Civic Type R, recruiting former Honda factory driver James Kaye from Barwell alongside the returning Dave Allan. The Accords were still campaigned by new squad Beacon Motorsport with Lotus Elise championship graduates Mark Thomas and Spencer Marsh, and John Batchelor's team swapped from Integras to a pair of Accords for Jim Edwards Jnr and Batchelor (again under the name of John B-and-Q), who was injured in a crash during the second meeting at Oulton Park and replaced by Peter Cate and later Hyla Breese. Tech-Speed Motorsport continued their Peugeot 306 campaign, with Lotus Elise champion Mark Fullalove replacing Vauxhall-bound Paul O'Neill alongside Annie Templeton, and GA Motorsport also returned with their Alfa Romeo 156s, this time campaigned by series newcomers Graham Saunders and Alan Blencowe, accompanied by 2001 driver Gavin Pyper at circuits with enough grid space to accommodate a third car. Pyper received a race ban following an incident at Thruxton and his car was driven by former Ford and Volvo driver Kelvin Burt. Rob Collard also returned in his self-entered Renault Clio but did not contest a full programme. The big new arrival to the class was Edenbridge Racing's pair of BMW 320is, after their planned 2001 entry never materialised. Their drivers were teenager Tom Boardman in his second year in the class, and experienced German production saloon racer Norman Simon who had raced in the European Super Production championship in 2001. TH Motorsport also appeared at selected rounds with a Mitsubishi Carisma for Steve Wood. Other changes Number of race weekends reduced from 13 to 10 ITV took over terrestrial broadcasting rights from the BBChttps://www.autosport.com/btcc/news/17400/btcc-switches-to-itv-for-2002 BTCC switches to ITV for 2002 - BTCC - Autosport Autosport.com 2017-12-13 en https://web.archive.org/web/20171214071730/https://www.autosport.com/btcc/news/17400/btcc-switches-to-itv-for-2002 2017-12-14 dead Greenflag took over as title sponsor from AA.http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/18301 BTCC news: BTCC signs up new sponsor for 2002 staff AUTOSPORT.com AUTOSPORT.com 2017-12-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20191105160108/http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/18301 2019-11-05 dead Trivia Hyla Breese became the first driver since Dave Brodie in 1989 to end the season with a negative points score after collecting 20 penalty points for engine changes taking his final tally to -16. Teams and drivers Team Car No. Drivers Rounds Works Entries GBR Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Astra Coupé 2 FRA Yvan Muller All 3 GBR James Thompson All GBR egg:sport 0 GBR Matt Neal All 29 GBR Paul O'Neill All GBR MG Sport & Racing MG ZS 11 GBR Anthony Reid All 12 GBR Warren Hughes All MYS Petronas Syntium Proton Proton Impian 15 GBR David Leslie All 20 GBR Phil Bennett All GBR Honda Racing Honda Civic Type-R 27 GBR Alan Morrison All 28 GBR Andy Priaulx All Independent Entries GBR Team Halfords Peugeot 406 Coupé 5 GBR Dan Eaves All 8 GBR Tim Harvey All 23 GBR Carl Breeze 4–10 GBR Team Atomic Kitten MG ZS 21 GBR Gareth Howell 2–10 22 GBR Colin Turkington 2–10 GBR Barwell Motorsport Vauxhall Astra Coupé 17 GBR Tom Chilton All 111 NZL Aaron Slight All Production Entries GBR Collard Racing Renault Clio 172 51 GBR Rob Collard 1–4, 6 GBR Synchro Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R 52 GBR James Kaye All 53 GBR Dave Allan 3–10 GBR Gary Ayles Motorsport Alfa Romeo 156 55 GBR Graham Saunders All 56 GBR Alan Blencowe All 57 GBR Gavin Pyper 2–3, 5–10 58 GBR Kelvin Burt† 4 GBR Tech-Speed Motorsport Peugeot 306 GTi 59 GBR Annie Templeton All 60 GBR Mark Fullalove All GBR Beacon Motorsport Honda Accord 62 GBR Spencer Marsh All 63 GBR Mark Thomas All GBR Edenbridge Racing BMW 320i 77 GBR Tom Boardman All 78 DEU Norman Simon All GBR Team B&Q Jet York City Honda Accord 79 AUS Hyla Breese 6–10 88 GBR John B&Q 1–2 89 GBR Peter Cate 3–5 99 GBR Jim Edwards Jr. All GBR TH Motorsport Mitsubishi Carisma 81 GBR Steve Wood 1–4, 10† Not eligible for points. Race calendar and winners All races were held in the United Kingdom (except Mondello Park which was held in Ireland). Round Circuit Date Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Winning team Production class winner 1 R1 Brands Hatch (Grand Prix), Kent 1 April FRA Yvan Muller FRA Yvan Muller GBR Matt Neal egg:sport DEU Norman Simon R2 FRA Yvan Muller FRA Yvan Muller GBR James Thompson Vauxhall Motorsport GBR Rob Collard 2 R3 Oulton Park (Island), Cheshire 21 April GBR Matt Neal GBR Matt Neal FRA Yvan Muller Vauxhall Motorsport GBR James Kaye R4 GBR Matt Neal GBR Matt Neal GBR Paul O'Neill egg:sport GBR Spencer Marsh 3 R5 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 6 May FRA Yvan Muller GBR James Thompson GBR James Thompson Vauxhall Motorsport GBR James Kaye R6 FRA Yvan Muller FRA Yvan Muller FRA Yvan Muller Vauxhall Motorsport GBR James Kaye 4 R7 Silverstone Circuit (International), Northamptonshire 3 June GBR Matt Neal GBR James Thompson GBR Warren Hughes MG Sport & Racing DEU Norman Simon R8 GBR Anthony Reid GBR James Thompson GBR James Thompson Vauxhall Motorsport GBR James Kaye 5 R9 Mondello Park 23 June FRA Yvan Muller FRA Yvan Muller GBR Matt Neal egg:sport GBR Gavin Pyper R10 GBR James Thompson FRA Yvan Muller FRA Yvan Muller Vauxhall Motorsport GBR Spencer Marsh 6 R11 Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire 14 July GBR James Thompson GBR James Thompson GBR James Thompson Vauxhall Motorsport DEU Norman Simon R12 GBR James Thompson FRA Yvan Muller FRA Yvan Muller Vauxhall Motorsport DEU Norman Simon 7 R13 Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk 28 July GBR Matt Neal GBR Matt Neal GBR James Thompson Vauxhall Motorsport GBR Gavin Pyper R14 GBR James Thompson GBR Matt Neal FRA Yvan Muller Vauxhall Motorsport GBR James Kaye 8 R15 Knockhill Circuit, Fife 11 August GBR Andy Priaulx GBR Matt Neal GBR Matt Neal egg:sport GBR Gavin Pyper R16 GBR Andy Priaulx FRA Yvan Muller GBR Andy Priaulx Honda Racing GBR Gavin Pyper 9 R17 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 26 August GBR Anthony Reid GBR Anthony Reid GBR Anthony Reid MG Sport & Racing DEU Norman Simon R18 GBR Warren Hughes GBR Andy Priaulx GBR Warren Hughes MG Sport & Racing DEU Norman Simon 10 R19 Donington Park (Grand Prix), Leicestershire22 September GBR James Thompson GBR James Thompson GBR James Thompson Vauxhall Motorsport GBR Gavin Pyper R20 GBR Andy Priaulx GBR Alan Morrison GBR Alan Morrison Honda Racing DEU Norman Simon Championship results tables Points system  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th  Pole position Fastest lap Lead a lapin feature race1512108654321111 No driver may collect more than one "Lead a Lap" point per race no matter how many laps they lead. Touring Class (BTC-T) Pos. Driver BRH OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BRH DON Pts Touring Class (BTC-T) 1 GBR James Thompson Ret 1* 3 7* 1 2 8 1* 2 2 1 Ret 1 2 3 3 NC Ret 1 3 183 198 total score, minus penalty points 2 FRA Yvan Muller 5 2* 1 10* Ret 1* 9 10 Ret 1* Ret 1* 2 1* 4 2 3 6 5 Ret 163 168 total score, minus penalty points 3 GBR Matt Neal 1 4 4 Ret* 2 3* 6 3* 1 3 Ret Ret Ret Ret* 1 4 4 8 3 Ret 145 150 total score, minus penalty points 4 GBR Anthony Reid 4 3 5 Ret 3 Ret* DSQ 2* 5 4* Ret 3 4 10 2 6* 1 5* 4 8 136 5 GBR Andy Priaulx 12 5 7 Ret 4 5 4 6 6 Ret 4 2* 3 Ret 7 1* 11 7* 2 4* 116 126 total score, minus penalty points 6 GBR Warren Hughes Ret 8* 2 2 11 10 1 11 10 7 5 11 7 3 Ret Ret 2 1* 7 2* 110 115 total score, minus penalty points 7 GBR David Leslie Ret Ret 8 3 9 9 3 9 3 11 2 7 5 Ret 9 8* 9 Ret 6 6 79 8 GBR Paul O'Neill Ret Ret Ret 1* 8 7 2 4* 4 5* Ret 6* 11 16 6 5* 10 4 Ret 5 77 92 total score, minus penalty points 9 GBR Alan Morrison Ret Ret 10 5 12 8 5 Ret* Ret 6 6 Ret* 6 Ret 5 10 8 2 10 1* 68 73 total score, minus penalty points 10 GBR Dan Eaves 2 13 20 Ret 6 6 12 7 Ret Ret 9 4 13 7 12 Ret Ret 21 9 Ret 43 11 GBR Tim Harvey Ret 7* Ret 6 5 4* Ret 5 7 DSQ Ret Ret Ret DNS 11 9 6 3 Ret Ret* 43 53 total score, minus penalty points 12 GBR Gareth Howell 9 4 10 11 Ret 8 Ret 10 Ret 9 10 5 Ret 13* 5 Ret* Ret Ret 32 13 NZL Aaron Slight 9 12 6 8 7 DNS 10 Ret DNS 8 7 10 12 9 Ret 12 Ret 9 Ret Ret 32 14 GBR Colin Turkington 19 Ret Ret Ret Ret 12 DNS DNS 3 5 9 4 8 Ret Ret 16 11 Ret 29 15 GBR Tom Chilton 3 Ret 11 9 13 Ret 11 Ret 9 Ret Ret Ret Ret 8* 10 7 12 10 12 Ret 14 24 total score, minus penalty points 16 GBR Phil Bennett 11 6 Ret DNS 14 Ret 7 13 8 9 12 8 8 18 Ret DNS 7 12 8 9 9 34 total score, minus penalty points 17 GBR Carl Breeze DNS 16 Ret 18 8 12* 14 6 Ret 14 Ret DNS 13 7 8 13 total score, minus penalty points Production Class (BTC-P) 1 GBR James Kaye Ret NC 12 Ret 15 12 16 15 17 Ret 11 14 17 11 16 17 14 13 16 11 210 2 DEU Norman Simon 6 Ret 15 13 Ret DNS 13 Ret Ret Ret 10 13 16 Ret 14 15 13 11 15 10 180 3 GBR Spencer Marsh 8 Ret 16 11 17 Ret 20 17 Ret 12 Ret 15 22 Ret 15 Ret 17 15 19 13 122 4 GBR Gavin Pyper Ret Ret Ret 20 15 Ret Ret DNS 15 12 13 11 15 14 14 12 107 127 total score, minus penalty points 5 GBR Jim Edwards Jr. 10 Ret 17 12 21 14 17 Ret 18 13 17 16 24 Ret DSQ 20 22 17 20 14 101 6 GBR Tom Boardman Ret 10 DNS DNS 16 17 Ret 22 16 15 18 Ret 19 13 20 22 16 Ret 17 15 98 7 GBR Alan Blencowe Ret Ret 14 Ret Ret 13 21 18 19 17 13 Ret Ret 20 18 21 19 18 Ret Ret 76 8 GBR Mark Fullalove Ret Ret 13 14 18 Ret 18 Ret Ret Ret 16 Ret Ret 19 Ret 16 18 20 18 Ret 69 9 GBR Dave Allan Ret 18 26 19 20 16 15 Ret 18 15 17 19 Ret 19 Ret 17 61 10 GBR Mark Thomas Ret Ret 18 15 19 16 19 Ret Ret 19 Ret 17 21 17 19 23 21 Ret 21 16 61 11 GBR Graham Saunders Ret 11 DNS DNS 22 15 22 21 Ret Ret 14 Ret 20 14 21 18 20 Ret Ret DNS 60 12 GBR Rob Collard 7 9 DNS DNS DNS DNS 14 Ret DNS DNS 34 39 total score, minus penalty points 13 GBR Annie Templeton 13 Ret Ret 17 24 19 25 Ret DNS DNS 19 18 25 Ret 22 24 23 22 22 Ret 26 14 GBR Peter Cate 20 21 24 20 Ret 14 23 15 GBR Steve Wood DNS DNS Ret 16 23 Ret 23 23 23 Ret 12 – GBR John B&Q DNS DNS Ret DNS 0 – AUS Hyla Breese DNS DNS 23 21 DNS DNS Ret DNS DNS DNS -16 4 total score, minus penalty points guest drivers ineligible for points – GBR Kelvin Burt 15 14 0† Pos. Driver BRH OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BRH DON Pts Note: bold signifies pole position in class (1 point awarded all races), italics signifies fastest lap in class (1 point awarded all races) and * signifies that driver lead feature race for at least one lap (1 point given). † Not eligible for points. Independent's Championship Pos. Driver BRH OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BRH DON Pts 1 GBR Dan Eaves 2 13 20 Ret 6 6 12 7 Ret Ret 9 4 13 7 12 Ret Ret 21 9 Ret 145 2 NZL Aaron Slight 9 12 6 8 7 DNS 10 Ret DNS 8 7 10 12 9 Ret 12 Ret 9 Ret Ret 142 3 GBR Tim Harvey Ret 7 Ret 6 5 4 Ret 5 7 DSQ Ret Ret Ret DNS 11 9 6 3 Ret Ret 126 136 total score, minus penalty points 4 GBR Gareth Howell 9 4 10 11 Ret 8 Ret 10 Ret 9 10 5 Ret 13 5 Ret Ret Ret 126 5 GBR Tom Chilton 3 Ret 11 9 13 Ret 11 Ret 9 Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 10 7 12 10 12 Ret 123 133 total score, minus penalty points 6 GBR Colin Turkington 19 Ret Ret Ret Ret 12 DNS DNS 3 5 9 4 8 Ret Ret 16 11 Ret 108 7 GBR Carl Breeze DNS 16 Ret 18 8 12 14 6 Ret 14 Ret DNS 13 7 72 77 total score, minus penalty points Pos. Driver BRH OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BRH DON Pts Manufacturers Championship Pos Manufacturer BRH OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BRH DON Pts 1 Vauxhall / Vauxhall Motorsport/egg:sport 1 1 1 7 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 6 1 3 471 496 total score, minus penalty points 5 2 3 10 2 2 8 3 2 2 Ret Ret 2 2 3 3 4 8 3 Ret Ret 4 4 Ret Ret 3 9 10 Ret 3 Ret Ret Ret Ret 4 4 NC Ret 5 Ret 2 MG / MG Sport & Racing 4 3 2 2 3 10 1 2 5 4 5 3 4 3 2 6 1 1 4 2 320 325 total score, minus penalty points Ret 8 5 Ret 11 Ret DSQ 11 10 7 Ret 11 7 10 Ret Ret 2 5 7 8 3 Honda / Honda Racing 12 5 7 5 4 5 4 6 6 6 4 2 3 Ret 5 1 8 2 2 1 212 227 total score, minus penalty points Ret Ret 10 Ret 12 8 5 Ret Ret Ret 6 Ret 6 Ret 7 10 11 7 10 4 4 Proton / Petronas Syntium Proton 11 6 8 3 9 9 3 9 3 9 2 7 5 18 9 8 7 12 6 6 145 170 total score, minus penalty points Ret Ret Ret DNS 14 Ret 7 13 8 11 12 8 8 Ret Ret DNS 9 Ret 8 9 Pos Manufacturer BRH OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BRH DON Pts Touring Teams Championship Pos Team BRH OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BRH DON Pts 1 Vauxhall Motorsport 1 7 1 1 1 1 1 2 6 3 161 181 total score, minus penalty points 2 10 2 10 2 Ret 2 3 Ret Ret 2 MG Sport & Racing 3 2 10 2 4 3 3 6 1 2 107 112 total score, minus penalty points 8 Ret Ret 11 7 11 10 Ret 5 8 3 egg:sport 4 1 3 3 3 6 16 4 4 5 87 107 total score, minus penalty points Ret Ret 7 4 5 Ret Ret 5 8 Ret 4 Honda Racing 5 5 5 6 6 2 Ret 1 2 1 78 108 total score, minus penalty points Ret Ret 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 7 4 5 Team Halfords 7 6 4 5 Ret 4 7 9 3 Ret 47 57 total score, minus penalty points 13 Ret 6 7 DSQ Ret DNS Ret 21 Ret 6 Team Atomic Kitten 4 11 8 10 5 4 13 16 Ret 34 Ret Ret 12 DNS 9 5 Ret Ret Ret 7 Team Petronas 6 3 9 9 9 7 18 8 12 6 14 39 total score, minus penalty points Ret DNS Ret 13 11 8 Ret DNS Ret 9 8 Barwell Motorsport 12 8 Ret Ret 8 10 8 7 9 Ret 12 22 total score, minus penalty points Ret 9 DNS Ret Ret Ret 9 12 10 Ret Pos Team BRH OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BRH DON Pts Production Teams Championship Pos Team BRH OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BRH DON Pts 1 Synchro Motorsport NC Ret 12 15 16 14 11 17 13 11 127 18 19 Ret Ret 15 19 19 17 2 Edenbridge Racing 10 13 17 22 15 13 13 15 11 10 115 Ret DNS DNS Ret Ret Ret Ret 22 Ret 15 3 Beacon Motorsport Ret 11 16 17 12 15 17 23 15 13 103 Ret 15 Ret Ret 19 17 Ret Ret Ret 16 4 Gary Ayles Motorsport 11 Ret 13 18 17 Ret 12 11 14 12 86 106 total score, minus penalty points Ret Ret 15 21 Ret Ret 14 18 18 Ret 5 Team B&Q Jet York City Ret 12 14 20 13 16 21 20 17 14 59 79 total score, minus penalty points DNS DNS 21 Ret 14 DNS Ret DNS DNS DNS 6 Tech-Speed Motorsport Ret 14 19 Ret Ret 18 19 16 20 Ret 43 Ret 17 Ret Ret DNS Ret Ret 24 22 Ret 7 Collard Racing 9 DNS DNS Ret DNS 10 15 total score, minus penalty points 8 TH Motorsport DNS 16 Ret 23 Ret 8 Pos Team BHGP OUL THR SIL MON CRO SNE KNO BHI DON Pts References 2002 Season Touring Car Championship