1994 British Touring Car Championship

37th season of the British Touring Car Championship December 2025 1994 BTCC season 1993 1995 thumb|Gabriele Tarquini, the 1994 British Touring Car Champion. 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. Mazda however would not see out the season, a collision between both drivers at the first Silverstone meeting of the season resulted in Neal spectacularly barrel rolling down the circuit several times, writing off his Xedos 6 car in the process. Neal wouldn't drive again that year as the team could not afford to provide a replacement car, and they subsequently soldiered on for a further three meetings with Leslie as their sole entry, before finally running out of money and withdrawing from the championship just before the Knockhill meeting.thumb|right|Gabriele Tarquini with Alfa Romeo 155 in Thruxton.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.https://www.touringcartimes.com/2009/03/15/road-cars-of-touring-car-racing-alfa-romeo-155/ Road cars of Touring Car Racing - Alfa Romeo 155 15 March 2009 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 DEU BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer BMW 318i 1 DEU Joachim Winkelhock All 2 GBR Steve Soper 1–3, 5, 7, 9, 11–13 21 ITA Roberto Ravaglia 4, 6, 8, 10 GBR Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Ghia 3 NZL Paul Radisich All 31 GBR Robb Gravett 13 32 GBR Kelvin Burt 12 33 GBR Andy Rouse All GBR Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 4 GBR John Cleland All 9 GBR Jeff Allam All JPN Toyota Castrol Team Toyota Carina E 5 GBR Julian Bailey All 7 GBR Will Hoy All 57 GBR Tim Sugden 2–6, 8, 12–13 JPN Team Mazda Mazda Xedos 6 8 GBR David Leslie 1–8 12 GBR Matt Neal 1–4 FRA Renault Dealer Racing Renault Laguna 10 CHE Alain Menu All 11 GBR Tim Harvey All FRA Peugeot Sport Peugeot 405 Mi16 13 GBR Eugene O'Brien 1, 3–12 18 GBR Patrick Watts All SWE Volvo 850 Racing Volvo 850 SE/GLT 14 NLD Jan Lammers All 15 SWE Rickard Rydell All GBR Old Spice Nissan Racing Nissan Primera eGT 23 GBR Kieth O'dor All 24 BEL Eric van de Poele 1–8 34 GBR Tiff Needell 5, 7–13 ITA Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 TS 55 ITA Gabriele Tarquini 1–4, 6–13 56 ITA Giampiero Simoni 1–4, 6–13 Independents GBR Maxted Motorsport Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 17 GBR Ian Khan 3, 5–7 Toyota Carina E 1–2 29 GBR James Kaye All GBR Woodkirk Peugeot Peugeot 405 Mi16 19 GBR James Thompson 1–4, 7–13 SuperPower 20 GBR Ian Flux None GBR Geoff Steel Racing BMW 318is 22 GBR Geoff Steel 1–3, 5–6, 10–11 GBR Team HMSO Cavalier Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 25 GBR Nigel Smith All GBR Hamish Irvine BMW 318is 26 GBR Hamish Irvine 4–13 GBR Harlow Motorsport Renault 19 16v 27 GBR Nigel Albon All GBR Roy Kennedy Racing Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 30 GBR Chris Goodwin 2–8, 10–13 Ian Flux appeared on the official entry list but never raced.2024-02-15 The French Peugeot that Never Raced https://1990sbtcc.com/2024/02/15/the-french-peugeot-that-never-raced/ 2026-09-01 www.1990sBTCC.com en-US ToCA Shoot Out Team Car No. Drivers Manufacturers ITA Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 TS 1 ITA Gabriele Tarquini 5 ITA Giampiero Simoni GBR Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Ghia 3 NZL Paul Radisich 31 GBR Robb Gravett GBR Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 4 GBR John Cleland 10 GBR Jeff Allam 20 GBR Anthony Reid DEU BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer BMW 318i 6 GBR Steve Soper FRA Peugeot Sport Peugeot 405 Mi16 8 GBR Patrick Watts 18 GBR Eugene O'Brien GBR Old Spice Nissan Racing Nissan Primera eGT 22 GBR Tiff Needell JPN Team Mazda Mazda 323F 24 GBR Matt Neal Independents GBR Team HMSO Cavalier Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 25 GBR Nigel Smith GBR Maxted Motorsport Toyota Carina E 29 GBR James Kaye GBR Roy Kennedy Racing Vauxhall Cavalier 16v 30 GBR 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 ITA Gabriele Tarquini ITA Gabriele Tarquini ITA Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse GBR James Kaye 2 R2 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 17 April ITA Gabriele Tarquini ITA Gabriele Tarquini ITA Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse GBR Nigel Smith R3 ITA Giampiero Simoni ITA Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse GBR Chris Goodwin 3 R4 Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit, Norfolk 2 May ITA Giampiero Simoni ITA Gabriele Tarquini ITA Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse GBR James Kaye 4 R5 Silverstone Circuit (National), Northamptonshire 15 May CHE Alain Menu NZL Paul Radisich ITA Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse GBR Chris Goodwin R6 CHE Alain Menu NZL Paul Radisich Team Mondeo GBR James Kaye 5 R7 Oulton Park (International), Cheshire 30 May CHE Alain Menu CHE Alain Menu CHE Alain Menu Renault Dealer Racing GBR Chris Goodwin 6 R8 Donington Park (Grand Prix), Leicestershire 12 June NZL Paul Radisich GBR John Cleland GBR John Cleland Vauxhall Sport GBR James Kaye R9 NZL Paul Radisich GBR John Cleland Vauxhall Sport GBR James Kaye 7 R10 Brands Hatch (Grand Prix), Kent 26 June ITA Giampiero Simoni ITA Gabriele Tarquini ITA Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse GBR James Kaye R11 ITA Gabriele Tarquini ITA Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse GBR James Thompson 8 R12 Silverstone Circuit (Grand Prix), Northamptonshire 10 July DEU Joachim Winkelhock ITA Gabriele Tarquini DEU Joachim Winkelhock BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer GBR James Thompson 9 R13 Knockhill Racing Circuit, Fife 31 July NZL Paul Radisich GBR Steve Soper CHE Alain Menu Renault Dealer Racing GBR James Kaye R14 GBR Steve Soper GBR Steve Soper BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer GBR Nigel Smith 10 R15 Oulton Park (International), Cheshire 14 August CHE Alain Menu DEU Joachim Winkelhock DEU Joachim Winkelhock BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer GBR Nigel Albon 11 R16 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 29 August DEU Joachim Winkelhock DEU Joachim Winkelhock DEU Joachim Winkelhock BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer GBR James Kaye R17 ITA Gabriele Tarquini DEU Joachim Winkelhock BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer GBR Nigel Smith 12 R18 Silverstone Circuit (Grand Prix), Northamptonshire 11 September GBR Tim Harvey GBR Steve Soper GBR Tim Harvey Renault Dealer Racing GBR Nigel Smith R19 ITA Gabriele Tarquini ITA Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Corse GBR James Kaye 13 R20 Donington Park (Grand Prix), Leicestershire 18 September DEU Joachim Winkelhock NZL Paul Radisich NZL Paul Radisich Team Mondeo GBR Chris Goodwin R21 NZL Paul Radisich ITA Giampiero Simoni Alfa Corse GBR 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 24181210864321 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 ITA 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 CHE 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 NZL 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 GBR 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 ITA 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 DEU 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 GBR Steve Soper 4 10 6 8 4 4 14 3 1 5 4 22 5 12 Ret 102 8 GBR 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 GBR Tim Harvey 10 Ret DNS Ret Ret 7 Ret 9 10 Ret 11 4 DSQ 4 6 4 Ret 1 18 5 8 79 10 GBR 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 GBR 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 GBR 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 GBR 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 SWE 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 NLD 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 GBR 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 GBR Eugene O'Brien Ret 7 11 10 9 16 20 13 Ret Ret 7 13 14 8 Ret 12 Ret 14 18 ITA Roberto Ravaglia Ret Ret 12 9 Ret 5 10 19 GBR Tim Sugden 20 12 Ret 9 7 12 15 14 Ret 9 10 19 14 9 20 GBR David Leslie 8 8 11 17 16 11 Ret Ret DNS Ret 19 11 6 21 GBR Tiff Needell 17 Ret 18 DNS 10 16 13 17 9 15 14 15 15 3 22 BEL Eric van de Poele 13 DNS DNS 9 13 12 14 17 13 14 12 DNS 2 23 GBR Matt Neal 12 15 17 10 15 DNS 1 24 GBR James Thompson Ret 16 18 Ret 21 DNS 18 15 10 Ret DNS Ret 20 Ret 18 Ret 16 19 1 25 GBR 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 GBR Chris Goodwin 14 13 14 17 17 15 19 17 17 Ret DNS 18 22 11 19 15 14 21 0 27 GBR Kelvin Burt 14 11 0 28 GBR Robb Gravett 11 Ret 0 29 GBR 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 GBR Nigel Albon 17 Ret DNS 16 22 18 DNS 22 Ret DNS DNS Ret Ret DNS 15 Ret 12 21 DNS Ret 22 0 31 GBR Hamish Irvine 23 20 Ret 23 Ret 21 Ret 14 13 Ret 16 21 DNS 23 DNS 21 23 0 32 GBR Geoff Steel 22 21 20 18 18 24 21 Ret 23 13 0 33 GBR 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 GBR 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 GBR 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 GBR Chris Goodwin 14 13 14 17 17 15 19 17 17 Ret DNS 18 22 11 19 15 14 21 274 4 GBR James Thompson Ret 16 18 Ret 21 DNS 18 15 10 Ret DNS Ret 20 Ret 18 Ret 16 19 158 5 GBR Nigel Albon 17 Ret DNS 16 22 18 DNS 22 Ret DNS DNS Ret Ret DNS 15 Ret 12 21 DNS Ret 22 108 6 GBR Hamish Irvine 23 20 Ret 23 Ret 21 Ret 14 13 Ret 16 21 DNS 23 DNS 21 23 108 7 GBR Geoff Steel 22 21 20 18 18 24 21 Ret 23 13 72 8 GBR 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 DNSWD 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 External links Full championship results 1994 Season Touring Car Championship Season Category:Auto racing controversies