2003 British Touring Car Championship

Last updated

The 2003 Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 46th British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season.

Contents

Changes for 2003

The Drivers' Championship was won by Yvan Muller. Yvan Muller 2003.jpg
The Drivers' Championship was won by Yvan Muller.

Team and driver changes - Touring

For 2003 all three main manufacturers in the premier Touring class ran three cars. Reigning champions Vauxhall cut down to three Astra Coupes by axing its Egg Sport squad and entering three VX Racing-liveried cars, run once again by Triple 8. 2002 champion James Thompson and runner-up Yvan Muller remained, and Paul O'Neill moved across from Egg Sport to take the third seat.

MG expanded to three West Surrey Racing-run ZSs, with Colin Turkington joining 2002 drivers Anthony Reid and Warren Hughes after impressing in his debut season with the Team Atomic Kitten MG squad, which had also been run by WSR.

Mandatory pit stops became a feature for all races in the 'Touring' class BTCC 2003 Yvan Muller.jpg
Mandatory pit stops became a feature for all races in the 'Touring' class

Arena Motorsport ran three Civic Type Rs for Honda, with only Irishman Alan Morrison remaining from the 2002 line-up. Matt Neal replaced Andy Priaulx (who left to contest the European Touring Car Championship with BMW) after moving from Vauxhall, and teenager Tom Chilton filled the third seat after an impressive debut year in the Barwell Motorsport-run Astra. Proton again returned as a fourth manufacturer, retaining both David Leslie and Phil Bennett in its two Impians.

Vic Lee Racing switched from the ex-works Peugeot 406 Coupe's to a pair of brand new Peugeot 307 designed by Sergio Rinland, former chief designer at the Sauber Formula 1 team. [1] Reigning independents cup champion Dan Eaves was retained alongside Carl Breeze who raced for the team for most of 2002. Meanwhile, Tim Harvey swapped his crash helmet for a microphone, joining ITV's commentary team. Breeze would leave the team after the Rockingham races, moving to GA Motorsport in the seat vacated by Gavin Pyper. [2] Daniel Buxton would in turn take Breeze's seat at VLR, graduating from the Clio Cup which he had been dominating at the time.

Gavin Pyper had started the season strongly in the GA Motorsport Vauxhall Astra Coupe, winning the independents class five times in the ten races he contested and leading the class when he was forced to withdraw due to a lack of funding. [2] With Breeze now in Pyper's car Paul Wallace switched from GA's production Alfa Romeo to a second Astra which the team had entered for Gareth Howell at Silverstone after a failed attempt to hire 2001 Champion Jason Plato. [3]

Howell himself later reappeared in another ex-Triple 8 Astra for Team Dynamics from the Snetterton rounds onwards.

Production class champions Synchro Motorsport graduated to the touring class with champion driver James Kaye running an ex-works Honda Civic Type R. [4]

Also stepping up was Rob Collard with his self-run team, entering an ex-works Vauxhall Astra Coupe that had been driven by Aaron Slight in 2002. [5]

Team and driver changes - Production

Barwell Motorsport headed the Production class field after stepping back down from the Touring class and acquiring Synchro Motorsport's title winning Honda Civic Type Rs, which were driven by young debutante Luke Hines, and Alan Blencowe, moving from GA Motorsports. Edenbridge Racing cut down to a single BMW 320i for single seater convert Michael Bentwood, with Tom Boardman switching to John Batchelor's team (now known as Team Varta) in a new Peugeot 307. Jim Edwards Jnr returned in a Honda Accord as the team's second driver. A Peugeot 306 GTi and a second 307 joined the Varta line-up midway through the season together with Jay Wheals and Richard Marsh, and each of the four drivers raced more than one of these chassis across the remainder of the year.

GA Motorsport campaigned Alfa Romeo 156s for a fourth year, with Chris Ryan and Paul Wallace driving. However, Ryan withdrew after an expensive crash in the second round at Brands Hatch, and Wallace was called up to the team's Touring class assault mid-season. Mark Fullalove joined the grid mid-season with his own team, driving the Peugeot 306 he had raced for Tech-Speed Motorsport in 2002, while Jason Hughes was another late entry in a Nissan Primera run by his own Kartworld Racing team.

CMS Motorsport registered an entry with support from Macmillan Cancer for Nick Leason in a Ford Focus previously run by GR Motorsport in the 2001 Season but they were forced to delay their debut and ultimately never raced. [6]

Other changes

Teams and drivers

TeamCarNo.DriversRounds
Works Entries
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg VX Racing Vauxhall Astra Coupé 1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson All
2 Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller All
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul O'Neill All
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Honda Racing Honda Civic Type-R 3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal All
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Chilton All
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Morrison All
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg MG Sport & Racing MG ZS 4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid All
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Turkington All
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Warren Hughes All
Flag of Malaysia.svg Petronas Syntium Proton Proton Impian 15 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Leslie All
20 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Phil Bennett All
Independent Entries
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Team Halfords Peugeot 307 0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dan Eaves All
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Carl Breeze 1–5
30 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Danny Buxton 6–10
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg GA Motorsports Vauxhall Astra Coupé 10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Carl Breeze 6–10
44 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gavin Pyper 1–5
45 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gareth Howell 4
46 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul Wallace 6–10
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Synchro Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R 11 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Kaye All
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Collard Racing Vauxhall Astra Coupé 21 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Rob Collard All
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Team Dynamics Vauxhall Astra Coupé 45 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gareth Howell 7–10
Production Entries
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Barwell Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R 52 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Hines All
53 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Blencowe All
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg GA Motorsports Alfa Romeo 156 54 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul Wallace 1–5
55 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Ryan1–2
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mark Fullalove Racing Peugeot 306 GTi 60 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mark Fullalove7–10
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Team Varta Honda Accord 69 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jim Edwards Jr.1–6
71 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Marsh 7–10
Peugeot 307 69 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jim Edwards Jr.7–10
70 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Boardman All
Peugeot 306 GTI 71 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Marsh 6
72 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jay Wheals 7–10
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Edenbridge Racing BMW 320i 77 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Bentwood All
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Kartworld Racing Nissan Primera 99 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Hughes 6–10

Race calendar and winners

RoundCircuitDatePole PositionFastest LapWinning DriverWinning TeamProduction Class winner
1R1 Mondello Park 21 April Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson VX Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Ryan
R2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Warren Hughes Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson VX Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Bentwood
2R3 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 5 May Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Honda Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Bentwood
R4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller VX Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Bentwood
3R5 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 26 May Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller VX Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Boardman
R6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Warren Hughes Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller VX Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Boardman
4R7 Silverstone Circuit
(International), Northamptonshire
8 June Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson VX Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Hines
R8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller VX Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Hines
5R9 Rockingham Motor Speedway
(International Super Sports Car Long), Northamptonshire
22 June Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Morrison Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Morrison Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Honda Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Boardman
R10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Warren Hughes Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller VX Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Hines
6R11 Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire 13 July Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Honda Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Boardman
R12 Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid MG Sport & Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Hines
7R13 Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk 9 August Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Morrison Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul O'Neill VX Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Hines
R14 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Honda Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Boardman
8R15 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 25 August Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Warren Hughes Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Warren Hughes MG Sport & Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Bentwood
R16 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Turkington Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Turkington MG Sport & Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Boardman
9R17 Donington Park (National), Leicestershire 7 September Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Honda Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Hines
R18 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Turkington Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller VX Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Hines
10R19 Oulton Park (Island), Cheshire 21 September Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson VX Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Blencowe
R20 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Honda Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Boardman

Championship results

Points system
 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th Fastest LapLead a lap
151210865432111

Drivers' Championships

PosDriver MON BRH THR SIL ROC CRO SNE BRH DON OUL Pts
Touring Class (BTC-T)
1 Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller 2*2*21*1*1*2*1*31*Ret33Ret2*5*31*32*233
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson 1*1*52451*254222*Ret5102*31*Ret*199
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Ret*Ret1*72*11*Ret*Ret1*Ret1*5*4*1*4Ret1*10121*148
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul O'Neill Ret43*333*75*106*36*1*10*6264Ret5138
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Morrison 3578*524Ret2*Ret*Ret*4Ret*214355*2*Ret125
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid RetRet44Ret4*104*62*51*5374Ret954121
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Warren Hughes 4RetRet*5*Ret6Ret38*3Ret10Ret81*6*474898
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Turkington DNSRet6Ret8Ret38RetRet47Ret43*1*1926397
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Chilton Ret3DNSDNS7105647712658*776RetDNS70
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Rob Collard 6713RetRetDNSRet975Ret886RetRet9*168742
11 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Leslie 5996178Ret1011Ret919Ret998RetRetRetDNS28
12 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gavin Pyper Ret68Ret6Ret679Ret24
13 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Carl Breeze Ret10Ret1010RetRetDNSRet989Ret71015*88151122
14 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Kaye RetRet1291178RetRetDNS13117*1111Ret1011101216
15 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dan Eaves Ret811*Ret9RetRetRetRet106*RetRet121211111411915
16 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gareth Howell 9*Ret13Ret1312Ret137*614
17 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Phil Bennett RetRet10Ret149RetRet12810159RetRet9Ret1291014
18 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Danny Buxton 12RetRetRet1514*131514Ret1
19 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul Wallace 11RetDNSRet171312Ret13Ret0
Production Class (BTC-P)
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Hines RetDNS151213131111181116131014181814171714243
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Blencowe 8Ret171515151312141215161215192016181617193
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Bentwood 101114111614121416Ret1714RetDNS161717191816186
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jim Edwards Jr.9121814Ret1614161514RetRetRetRetRetRet15RetDNS1596
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Boardman RetRetRetDNS1212Ret1513DSQ14RetRet13Ret16RetDSQRet1357
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul Wallace RetRet1613RetRetRet13171346
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Marsh 1817RetRet22222021191946
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mark Fullalove11Ret201918RetRet1839
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jay Wheals Ret162121Ret20RetRet27
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Ryan7RetRetRet15
11 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Hughes Ret18RetRetRetDNSDNSDNSRetDNS6
PosDriver MON BRH THR SIL ROC CRO SNE BRH DON OUL Pts

Independents' Cup

PosDriver MON BRH THR SIL ROC CRO SNE BRH DON OUL Pts
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Rob Collard 6713RetRetDNSRet975Ret886RetRet91687160
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Kaye RetRet1291178RetRetDNS131171111Ret10111012151
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Carl Breeze Ret10Ret1010RetRetDNSRet989Ret71015881511141
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dan Eaves Ret811Ret9RetRetRetRet106RetRet1212111114119126
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gavin Pyper Ret68Ret6Ret679Ret80
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gareth Howell 9Ret13Ret1312Ret137680
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Danny Buxton 12RetRetRet1514131514Ret38
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul Wallace 11RetDNSRet171312Ret13Ret37
PosDriver MON BRH THR SIL ROC CRO SNE BRH DON OUL Pts

Manufacturers Championship

PosManufacturer MON BRH THR SIL ROC CRO SNE BRH DON OUL Pts
1 Vauxhall / VX Racing 112111113122110222112528
2232332254332Ret553335
Ret4534575106Ret63Ret61064RetRet
2 Honda / Honda Racing 33172246171441431521318
Ret5785105Ret2Ret7562875612Ret
RetRetDNSDNS711RetRet4RetRet12Ret514Ret710RetDNS
3 MG / MG Sport & Racing 4Ret448433624153114243243
RetRet65Ret61048357Ret43419754
DNSRetRetRetRetRetRet8RetRetRet10Ret876Ret968
4 Proton / Petronas Syntium Proton 5996148Ret101189159998Ret1291075
RetRet10Ret179RetRet12Ret1019RetRetRet9RetRetRetDNS
PosManufacturer MON BRH THR SIL ROC CRO SNE BRH DON OUL Pts

Touring Teams Championship

PosTeam MON BRH THR SIL ROC CRO SNE BRH DON OUL Pts
1 VX Racing 112111113122110222112438
2232332254332Ret553335
2 Honda Racing 33172246171441431521299
Ret5785105Ret2Ret7562875612Ret
3 MG Sport & Racing 4Ret448433624153114243216
RetRet65Ret61048357Ret43419754
4 Petronas Syntium Proton 5996148Ret101189159998Ret1291070
RetRet10Ret179RetRet12Ret1019RetRetRet9RetRetRetDNS
5 Collard Racing 6713RetRetDNSRet975Ret886RetRet9168745
6 Team Halfords Ret811109RetRetRetRet96RetRet121211111411926
Ret10RetRet10RetRetDNSRet1012RetRetRet1514131514Ret
7 GA Motorsports Ret68Ret6Ret679Ret89Ret7101388131118
9Ret11RetDNSRet171512Ret15Ret
8Synchro MotorsportRetRet1291178RetRetDNS131171111Ret1011101210
9 Team Dynamics 13Ret1312Ret13769
PosTeam MON BRH THR SIL ROC CRO SNE BRH DON OUL Pts

Production Teams Championship

PosTeam MON BRH THR SIL ROC CRO SNE BRH DON OUL Pts
1Barwell Motorsport8Ret151213131111141115131014181814171614417
RetDNS171515151312181216161215192016181717
2 Team Varta 91218141212141513141417Ret13211615201913196
RetRetRetDNSRet16Ret1615DSQ18RetRet1622212021Ret15
3Edenbridge Racing101114111614121416Ret1714RetDNS161717191816182
4 GA Motorsports 7Ret1613RetRetRet13171356
RetRetRetRet
5Mark Fullalove Racing11Ret201918RetRet1839
6 Kartworld Racing Ret18RetRetRetDNSDNSDNSRetDNS6
PosTeam MON BRH THR SIL ROC CRO SNE BRH DON OUL Pts

References

  1. "F1 designer pens new Peugeot 307 - BTCC - Autosport". Autosport.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
  2. 1 2 "Pyper's out, Breeze's in". Crash. 2003-07-10. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
  3. https://www.crash.net/btcc/news/7632/1/wallace-moves-up-to-touring-class
  4. "Synchro graduates to Touring Class with Kaye". Crash. 2003-03-28. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
  5. "BTCT : Vauxhall Astra Coupé V2001-007". Touring Car Register. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
  6. http://cameronleason.co.uk/Nick_gallery.htm
  7. Wilkins, Robert (29 May 2003). "Gow returns to help run BTCC". Crash. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  8. "Live coverage for Satellite TV channel". Autosport. 7 January 2003. Archived from the original on 2 December 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.