1993 British Touring Car Championship

36th season of the British Touring Car Championship December 2025 1993 BTCC season 1992 1994 thumb|Joachim Winkelhock, the 1993 British Touring Car Champion. The 1993 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship season was 36th British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season. Season summary At the end of 1992 BMW GB withdrew from the championship after the rules had been changed in a direction which BMW felt disadvantaged them. Prodrive, which had run the works operation for BMW, had been expected to be entering a works Mercedes-Benz team in cooperation with AMG, running the C-class. Prodrive stalwart Tim Sugden and Bernd Schneider were due to drive for the team.January 2026 The plans were for a late season appearance leading to a full challenge in 1994, but this eventually came to nothing.http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/april-1993/4/february February 7 July 2014 Vic Lee Motorsport was liquidated after owner Vic Lee's drug scandal. The assets of the team were taken over by Steve Neal and Ray Bellm, who picked up personnel from Euroracing's discontinued sports car effort and merged it into Neal's Rimstock Racing outfit, creating Team Dynamics. Bellm would sell his share in the team later in the year, leaving Steve Neal as the only owner. The team started the 1993 season with three 1992-spec 318iS cars piloted by Matt Neal, Ray Bellm and Alex Portman, later dropping down to two. Only weeks after BMW GB withdrew from the BTCC, BMW withdrew their Schnitzer Motorsport-run works operation from the German DTM championship, also there because of their disagreement with new rules. With few other series to contest in Schnitzer Motorsport were sent over by BMW to the British championship along with works drivers Steve Soper and Joachim Winkelhock. Andy Rouse had lost his Toyota contract to famous Toyota tuners TOM'S Norfolk-based European arm known as Tom's GB, who had previously run Group A Toyotas in BTCC in the eighties. Andy Rouse's seat was taken over by Julian Bailey, and the new shape Carina E GTi replaced the older model. Toyota also supported a junior team run by Park Lane Racing, who would run two older shape Carinas for James Kaye and Bobby Verdon-Roe. Rouse himself had landed a Ford works deal, but the new Mondeo would not appear until after the season had started. Vauxhall retained their John Cleland / Jeff Allam line-up in the Vauxhall Cavalier and their Ecurie Ecosse semi-works team; at Ecurie Ecosse David Leslie retained his seat and was after a few races joined by fellow Scotsman Harry Nuttall. Peugeot added Eugene O’Brien and Ian Flux to Robb Gravett for a three-car line-up in the Peugeot 405 Mi16 (with Flux’ car being run by Roy Kennedy Racing); Nissan ran three cars for Keith O'Dor, Win Percy and Tiff Needell, and Mazda returned with Patrick Watts in a brand new Xedos 6. Renault was the new manufacturer to join the championship with Alain Menu and reigning champion Tim Harvey as their drivers in the Renault 19 16v The season started at Silverstone, where Steve Soper led team-mate Joachim Winkelhock home for a dominating BMW one-two. The second round at Donington Park was the support race for the European Grand Prix. The race was hit by torrential rain, and thanks to Michelin (whose wet-weather tyres were far superior to the ones of the other tire manufacturers) Renault was able to claim a one-two finish, Tim Harvey winning the race ahead of Alain Menu. It soon became apparent that Renault's pace was tied to conditions, as they struggled to match the championship's privateers in the dry. A start line crash at the next round at Snetterton forced a red flag, and five cars failed to make the restart. The race would be won by Soper, with Julian Bailey in second and David Leslie in third. Winkelhock then took the victory at Round 4 at Donington Park ahead of Jeff Allam and Steve Soper. Winkelhock then took a commanding victory at Oulton Park, and as Steve Soper had gone off into a tyre wall and forced into retirement Winkelhock now took the championship lead by two points. Brands Hatch hosted the first double header of the season. Winkelhock was at the centre of controversy when he shunted David Leslie out of the lead to take the win. Keith O’Dor finished second and Will Hoy third. Leslie was not amused, commenting that Winkelhock had not had any opportunity whatsoever to pull the pass off. Winkelhock apologized, saying he was a lot faster than Leslie in that corner but that there had been a bit of a misunderstanding when he tried his move. Winkelhock then led the second race when he made a mistake going into Clearways and went off into the Armco barrier and retirement. Will Hoy then went off at the same place, but ended up a bit further to the right and into the tires that covered some of the barriers at that corner. With both of his major contenders out Soper could take an easy win ahead of O’Dor and Jeff Allam. The BTCC then headed to Wales for Round 8 at Pembrey, where Ford made its debut. Winkelhock won the race with Hoy in second and Soper in third. At the next round at Silverstone Toyota appeared to be heading home a one-two finish for Will Hoy and Julian Bailey. An over-ambitious move from Bailey however put Hoy on his roof and forced Bailey himself into retirement. It was instead Keith O’Dor who took his and Nissan's first BTCC victory. To make it a perfect day for Nissan his teammate Win Percy finished second in a drag race over the line with Paul Radisich, who took the returning Ford team's first podium. Knockhill held the next double header of the season. A race long battle between Vauxhall driver John Cleland and Toyota driver Julian Bailey saw Cleland finally come out on top, with Will Hoy finishing in third. Further back, Soper lost valuable points when he was pushed off by Radisich in the Ford. Winkelhock was not able to start the second race due to clutch problems. It was now Bailey's turn to win a race, finishing ahead of Cleland and Hoy. The Renault team decided to skip the Scottish meeting and focus on developing their car. Oulton Park hosted Round 12 which was the Gold Cup, and Renault's car updates appeared to have paid off. Both cars qualified and finished much better than before, Menu taking fourth. Up front Winkelhock led from start to finish while Soper was second ahead of Cleland. Round 13 took place at Brands Hatch and Winkelhock and Leslie clashed again. First Winkelhock barged past Leslie to take second, and when Leslie attempted to retake the place he pushed Winkelhock into a spin. Both drivers dropped down the field while Radisich won the race from Soper and Peugeot driver Robb Gravett; Soper was however later penalised one position because of his rather forceful move on Gravett on the last lap to take second. Leslie then finally won a race when the series visited Thruxton. Ford was second and third with Radisich and Andy Rouse, while a sixth place from Soper closed the gap between him and Winkelhock to twelve points. Donington Park hosted the penultimate weekend of the championship and the last double header meeting. It also saw Nigel Mansell join the Ford team for the meeting. Radisich dominated the first race and won it by more than ten seconds, while wet weather conditions enabled Renault to finish second and third. A puncture had forced Soper to retire, and with Winkelhock finishing fifth the German now had the chance to take the title in the second race. Menu then won Race 2 from Radisich and Winkelhock, but as Soper finished fifth the championship would be decided in the final round at Silverstone. At Silverstone the race was red flagged following an accident involving Robb Gravett's Peugeot. Will Hoy led away in the Toyota after the restart, but was later passed by both Paul Radisich and Andy Rouse, who took a one-two finish for Ford. Hoy held on to third, and while Steve Soper finished ahead of Winkelhock he did not get the result he needed and it was Joachim Winkelhock who won the 1993 British Touring Car Championship. Despite missing the first part of the season Paul Radisich finished third in the championship, with John Cleland in fourth and Julian Bailey in fifth. Teams and drivers Team Car No. Drivers Rounds Manufacturers FRA Renault Dealer Racing Renault 19 1 GBR Tim Harvey 1–8, 10–14 19 CHE Alain Menu 1–8, 10–14 JPN Team Securicor Toyota Toyota Carina E 2 GBR Will Hoy All 21 GBR Julian Bailey All GBR Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Cavalier 3 GBR John Cleland All 4 GBR Jeff Allam All GBR Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Si 5 GBR Andy Rouse 7–14 15 NZL Paul Radisich 7–14 DEU BMW Motorsport Team BMW 318i 6 GBR Steve Soper All 22 DEU Joachim Winkelhock All GBR Park Lane Toyota Junior Team Toyota Carina E 10 GBR James Kaye 1–8, 10, 12–14 20 GBR Bobby Verdon-Roe All GBR RKR with Silkolene at Halfords Peugeot 405 Mi16 14 GBR Ian Flux All GBR Nissan Castrol Racing Nissan Primera eGT 23 GBR Kieth O'dor All 24 GBR Win Percy 1–4, 6–14GBR Tiff Needell5 34 6–9, 11 FRA Peugeot Talbot Sport Peugeot 405 Mi16 45 GBR Robb Gravett All 46 GBR Eugene O'Brien All JPN Mazda Racing Team Mazda Xedos 6 66 GBR Patrick Watts All GBR Ecurie Ecosse Vauxhall Vauxhall Cavalier 78 GBR Tiff Needell 2 GBR Harry Nuttall 3–14 79 GBR David Leslie All 80 GBR Chris Goodwin 11, 14 Independents GBR Team Dynamics BMW 318is 11 GBR Ray Bellm 2–4, 6–8 GBR Andy Wallace 5 27 GBR Alex Portman 1–6, 8–14 13 GBR Matt Neal 1–11 BMW 318i77 12–14 GBR Pinkney Motorsport BMW 318is 12 GBR Dave Pinkney 1–8, 11 GBR Tamchester Team Maxted Vauxhall Cavalier 17 GBR Ian Khan All 16 GBR Ian Ashley 1–8 GBR Colin Davids Racing 10-14 GBR Gareth Howell Racing Ford Sierra Sapphire 18 GBR Gareth Howell None SWE Peggen Motorsport BMW M3 25 SWE Peggen Andersson 1–2 GBR Jim Wheals Ford Sierra Sapphire 26 GBR Jim Wheals 3 GBR Asquith Autosport Mazda 323F 32 GBR Ian Cantwell 1–3, 6, 8 GBR Bob Berridge Ford Sierra Sapphire 35 GBR Bob Berridge 6, 8, 10–14 Although Gareth Howell appeared on the entry list, he did not actually race.lawsworld.co.uk http://www.lawsworld.co.uk:80/ https://web.archive.org/web/20050205090021/http://www.lawsworld.co.uk:80/ 2005-02-05 2026-09-03 TOCA Shootout Entrants Team Car No. Drivers Manufacturers GBR Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Si 5 GBR Nigel Mansell 15 NZL Paul Radisich DEU BMW Motorsport Team BMW 318i 6 GBR Steve Soper GBR Park Lane Toyota Junior Team Toyota Carina E 8 GBR Derek Warwick FRA Peugeot Talbot Sport Peugeot 405 Mi16 45 GBR Robb Gravett 46 GBR Dave Coyne JPN Mazda Racing Team Mazda Xedos 6 66 GBR Patrick Watts GBR Ecurie Ecosse Vauxhall Vauxhall Cavalier 78 GBR Tiff Needell 79 GBR David Leslie 80 GBR Hayden Measham Independents GBR Team Dynamics BMW 318i 11 GBR Matt NealBMW 318is 27 GBR Alex Portman 77 GBR Chris Rea GBR Pinkney Motorsport BMW 318is 12 GBR Dave Pinkney GBR Colin Davids Racing Vauxhall Cavalier 16 GBR Ian Ashley GBR Tamchester Team Maxted Vauxhall Cavalier 17 GBR Ian Khan SWE Thenander Motorsport BMW M3 30 SWE Bengt Thenander NLD Petroline BMW 318i 33 NLD Klaas Zwart Results TOCA Shootout Pos. Driver 1 GBR David Leslie 2 NZL Paul Radisich 3 GBR Steve Soper 4 GBR Robb Gravett 5 GBR Dave Coyne 6 GBR Tiff Needell 7 GBR Ian Ashley NC GBR Matt Neal NC GBR Nigel Mansell NC SWE Bengt Thenander NC GBR Ian Khan NC GBR Hayden Measham NC GBR David Pinkney NC GBR Derek Warwick NC GBR Chris Rea NC NLD Klaas Zwart NC GBR Patrick Watts NC GBR Alex Portman 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 Silverstone (National), Northamptonshire 28 March GBR Steve Soper DEU Joachim Winkelhock GBR Steve Soper BMW Motorsport Team GBR Matt Neal 2 R2 Donington Park (GP), Leicestershire 11 April GBR Steve Soper GBR Tim Harvey GBR Tim Harvey Renault Dealer Racing GBR Ian Cantwell 3 R3 Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk 3 May GBR Patrick Watts DEU Joachim Winkelhock GBR Steve Soper BMW Motorsport Team GBR Ian Ashley 4 R4 Donington Park (GP), Leicestershire 16 May DEU Joachim Winkelhock DEU Joachim Winkelhock DEU Joachim Winkelhock BMW Motorsport Team GBR Matt Neal 5 R5 Oulton Park, Cheshire 31 May GBR John Cleland GBR John Cleland DEU Joachim Winkelhock BMW Motorsport Team GBR Ian Ashley 6 R6 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 13 June GBR David Leslie GBR Keith O'Dor DEU Joachim Winkelhock BMW Motorsport Team GBR Ray Bellm R7 DEU Joachim Winkelhock GBR Steve Soper BMW Motorsport Team GBR Ray Bellm 7 R8 Pembrey Circuit, Carmarthenshire 27 June GBR David Leslie GBR David Leslie DEU Joachim Winkelhock BMW Motorsport Team GBR Ian Khan 8 R9 Silverstone (GP), Northamptonshire 11 July GBR Keith O'Dor GBR Patrick Watts GBR Keith O'Dor Nissan Castrol Racing GBR Ian Khan 9 R10 Knockhill Racing Circuit, Fife 25 July GBR Julian Bailey GBR Jeff Allam GBR John Cleland Vauxhall Sport GBR Matt Neal R11 GBR Julian Bailey GBR Julian Bailey Team Securicor Toyota GBR Alex Portman 10 R12 Oulton Park, Cheshire 8 August DEU Joachim Winkelhock DEU Joachim Winkelhock DEU Joachim Winkelhock BMW Motorsport Team GBR Alex Portman 11 R13 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 22 August GBR David Leslie DEU Joachim Winkelhock NZL Paul Radisich Team Mondeo GBR Ian Khan 12 R14 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 30 August GBR David Leslie GBR David Leslie GBR David Leslie Ecurie Ecosse Vauxhall GBR Matt Neal 13 R15 Donington Park (GP), Leicestershire 12 September NZL Paul Radisich GBR Tim Harvey NZL Paul Radisich Team Mondeo GBR Alex Portman R16 NZL Paul Radisich CHE Alain Menu Renault Dealer Racing GBR Ian Ashley 14 R17 Silverstone (National), Northamptonshire 19 September NZL Paul Radisich NZL Paul Radisich NZL Paul Radisich Team Mondeo GBR Ian Khan Championship results Drivers Championship Pos Driver SIL DON SNE DON OUL BRH PEM SIL KNO OUL BRH THR DON SIL Pts 1 DEU Joachim Winkelhock 2 Ret 5 1 1 1 Ret 1 4 3 DNS 1 20 14 5 3 8 163 2 GBR Steve Soper 1 3 1 3 Ret 4 1 3 Ret 12 8 2 3 6 Ret 5 5 150 3 NZL Paul Radisich 8 3 5 5 Ret 1 2 1 2 1 110 4 GBR John Cleland 3 4 10 7 2 Ret 5 7 6 1 2 3 12 8 Ret 6 7 102 5 GBR Julian Bailey Ret 7 2 5 15 6 9 4 Ret 2 1 5 7 7 7 17 6 88 6 GBR Kieth O'Dor Ret 5 DNS 9 4 2 2 5 1 7 11 10 5 11 8 11 11 82 7 GBR Will Hoy 4 Ret 4 6 Ret 3 14 2 Ret 10 3 Ret 4 10 16 16 3 79 8 GBR David Leslie Ret Ret 3 8 Ret 18 6 Ret 5 9 7 7 13 1 4 8 4 72 9 GBR Jeff Allam 5 6 DNS 2 3 7 3 10 18 6 6 6 15 13 11 12 9 67 10 CHE Alain Menu 10 2 Ret 13 Ret 15 Ret Ret 8 4 9 9 2 1 Ret 57 11 GBR Andy Rouse Ret Ret 16 10 Ret 6 3 DSQ 4 2 41 12 GBR Win Percy 7 Ret 8 11 5 4 9 2 DNS DNS 18 11 Ret 10 7 Ret 38 13 GBR Robb Gravett Ret Ret 7 14 DNS DSQ 16 11 9 Ret DNS Ret 2 4 17 13 DNS 34 14 GBR Tim Harvey 11 1 Ret 16 Ret 11 8 Ret Ret Ret 14 16 3 Ret 15 31 15 GBR Patrick Watts 6 Ret DNS 4 Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret 4 4 Ret 8 12 Ret DNS 12 29 16 GBR Eugene O'Brien Ret Ret 13 Ret 5 12 11 Ret Ret 8 Ret 9 10 5 6 15 Ret 23 17 GBR Harry Nuttall 16 15 8 Ret DNS 6 7 11 9 8 Ret 15 9 Ret 13 16 18 GBR Ian Flux 9 8 11 10 6 9 7 14 Ret 15 13 11 Ret 18 Ret 10 18 14 19 GBR Bobby Verdon-Roe 14 Ret 6 12 7 8 15 15 12 Ret Ret 13 17 17 Ret DNS Ret 11 20 GBR Matt Neal 8 Ret DNS 17 Ret 14 Ret 18 13 14 15 16 18 19 13 14 17 3 21 GBR James Kaye 13 11 9 Ret Ret Ret DNS Ret 10 DNS DNS 12 20 14 Ret 14 3 22 GBR Ian Cantwell 12 9 Ret Ret 17 DNQ 16 2 23 GBR Ian Ashley Ret 12 12 Ret 9 17 13 13 17 17 21 Ret 15 9 19 2 24 GBR Ian Khan 15 10 17 Ret 14 Ret DNS 12 11 18 Ret 15 16 21 DNS 18 16 1 25 GBR Alex Portman Ret Ret 15 19 10 16 Ret DNQ Ret 17 14 14 Ret 22 12 Ret 21 1 26 GBR Chris Goodwin Ret 10 1 27 GBR Tiff Needell Ret 12 Ret 10 19 Ret 13 12 Ret 0 28 GBR Andy Wallace 11 0 29 GBR Ray Bellm Ret DNS 18 13 12 17 14 0 30 GBR David Pinkney Ret 13 14 Ret 13 Ret Ret 16 15 19 0 31 GBR Bob Berridge Ret DNS Ret Ret DSQ Ret 18 Ret 20 0 — SWE Peggen Andersson Ret Ret 0 — GBR Jim Wheals Ret 0 Pos Driver SIL DON SNE DON OUL BRH PEM SIL KNO OUL BRH THR DON SIL Pts Note: bold signifies pole position, italics signifies fastest lap. TOCA Challenge for Privateers Pos Driver SIL DON SNE DON OUL BRH PEM SIL KNO OUL BRH THR DON SIL Pts 1 GBR Matt Neal 8 Ret DNS 17 Ret 14 Ret 18 13 14 15 16 18 19 13 14 17 194 2 GBR Ian Khan 15 10 17 Ret 14 Ret DNS 12 11 18 Ret 15 16 21 DNS 18 16 192 3 GBR Ian Ashley Ret 12 12 Ret 9 17 13 13 17 17 21 Ret 15 9 19 148 4 GBR Alex Portman Ret Ret 15 19 10 16 Ret DNQ Ret 17 14 14 Ret 22 12 Ret 21 125 5 GBR David Pinkney Ret 13 14 Ret 13 Ret Ret 16 15 19 70 6 GBR Ray Bellm Ret DNS 18 13 12 17 14 64 7 GBR Ian Cantwell 12 9 Ret Ret 17 DNQ 16 56 8 GBR Bob Berridge Ret DNS Ret Ret DSQ Ret 18 Ret 20 15 9 GBR Andy Wallace 11 12 – SWE Peggen Andersson Ret Ret 0 – GBR Jim Wheals Ret 0 Pos Driver SIL DON SNE DON OUL BRH PEM SIL KNO OUL BRH THR DON SIL Pts Manufacturers Championship Pos Manufacturer SIL DON SNE DON OUL BRH PEM SIL KNO OUL BRH THR DON SIL Pts 1 BMW / BMW Motorsport Team 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 3 8 1 3 6 5 3 5 251 2 Vauxhall / Vauxhall Sport/Ecurie Ecosse 3 4 3 2 2 7 3 6 5 1 2 3 12 1 4 6 4 198 3 Toyota / Team Securicor Toyota/Park Lane Toyota Junior Team 4 7 2 5 15 3 9 2 Ret 2 1 5 4 7 7 16 3 159 4 Nissan / Nissan Castrol Racing 7 5 8 9 4 2 2 5 1 7 11 10 5 11 8 7 11 138 5 Ford / Team Mondeo 8 3 5 5 Ret 1 2 1 2 1 122 6 Peugeot / Peugeot Sport/Roy Kennedy Racing 9 8 7 10 5 9 7 11 9 8 13 9 2 4 6 10 18 111 7 Renault / Renault Dealer Racing 10 1 Ret 13 Ret 11 8 Ret 8 4 9 9 2 1 15 93 8 Mazda / Mazda Racing Team 6 Ret DNS 4 Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret 4 4 Ret 8 12 Ret DNS 12 51 Pos Driver SIL DON SNE DON OUL BRH PEM SIL KNO OUL BRH THR DON SIL Pts References External links Full championship results 1993 Season Touring Car Championship Season