2004 British Touring Car Championship

Last updated
2004 BTCC champion, James Thompson. James thompson spafrancorchamps2014.JPG
2004 BTCC champion, James Thompson.

The 2004 Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 47th British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season.

Contents

Changes for 2004

Teams and drivers

With the admittance of Super 2000-spec cars into the championship, the BTCC welcomed with it a new manufacturer, with SEAT Sport's UK division entering a pair of Toledos identical to those used in the European Touring Car Championship, run by RML. At the wheel were Jason Plato, returning to the championship for the first time since his title victory in 2001, and youngster Rob Huff, who earned his drive through winning the inaugural SEAT Cupra UK Championship, for which Plato had acted as a driver coach.

They were joined by reigning champions of the last three seasons Vauxhall, with Triple 8 Engineering again running a trio of Astra Coupes. 2003 champion Yvan Muller remained along with runner-up and 2002 title winner James Thompson, with Luke Hines replacing Paul O'Neill in the third car on the back of claiming the Production class title in his debut season the previous year.

Honda cut its Arena Motorsport-run Civic Type-R campaign down to a single car for the returning Tom Chilton. A three-car entry was registered on the official entry list with Alan Morrison intended as one of the other drivers but only Chilton's entry would appear all season. [1]

The Civic challenge was augmented by a pair of cars entered by Team Dynamics for Matt Neal, returning to his family team from the works Honda set-up, and Dan Eaves, who brought with him Halfords sponsorship after the withdrawal of Vic Lee Racing. A possible 3rd entry for Gareth Howell was mentioned but didn't come to fruition.

Proton completed the line-up of works teams, its two Impians now driven by two newcomers to British motorsport; the experienced South African Shaun Watson-Smith and the young Malaysian Farique Hairuman.

Financial trouble forced MG Rover to pull its works backing from West Surrey Racing's MG ZS assault, but the team cut down from three to two cars and returned as an independent with young gun Colin Turkington and veteran Anthony Reid staying on board.

Ex-works Vauxhall Astra Coupes were a popular choice amongst the other independents, with Michael Bentwood stepping up from the Production ranks in a 'VXR Junior' team prepared by Tech-Speed Motorsport and 2003 Independents champion Rob Collard continuing to campaign an Astra for his self-run team.

GA Motorsport (now under the 'Team Sureterm' banner) continued to run a pair of Astra Coupes for the returning Paul Wallace and Renault Clio Cup graduate Charlie Butler-Henderson, while a Super 2000-spec Alfa Romeo 156 was also entered for Carl Breeze. Wallace was soon replaced by experienced former Ford and Volvo factory driver Kelvin Burt, then later Irishman Gavin Smith and Stefan Hodgetts (son of ex-BTCC champion Chris), the latter then stepping in to replace Butler-Henderson when his funds ran out. Hodgetts then swapped cars with Breeze, who himself was replaced by Gavin Pyper for the final round.

Synchro Motorsport again returned with an ex-works Honda Civic Type R for former works driver James Kaye. Jason Hughes stepped up from the Production class, racing an ex-WSR MG ZS for his Kartworld Racing team, and John Batchelor's 'Team Varta' also switched classes, running Richard Marsh from the second round onwards in first a Super 2000 Civic Type-R, then later an ex-Vic Lee Racing Peugeot 307. Marsh was replaced by Jay Wheals for the final round, for which the team returned to the Civic.

Mardi Gras Motorsport had an abortive campaign, entering a Super 2000 Civic and later an ex-works Peugeot 406 Coupe, both LPG-powered, for businessman John George, and Edenbridge Racing briefly entered a Super 2000 BMW 320i for Justin Keen.

Carly Motors intended to enter a pair of BMW 320is for ex-Alfa Romeo driver Tom Ferrier and ex-Volvo ETCC driver James Hanson but this entry never materialised. [2]

Other changes

Teams and drivers

TeamCarNo.DriversRounds
Works BTC-T Entries
VX Racing Vauxhall Astra Coupé 1 Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller All
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson All
57 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Hines All
Team Honda Honda Civic Type-R 9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Chilton All
Petronas Syntium Proton Proton Impian 15 Flag of Malaysia.svg Fariqe Hairuman All
20 Flag of South Africa.svg Shaun Watson-Smith All
Works S2000 Entries
SEAT Sport UK SEAT Toledo Cupra 11 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Plato All
12 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Rob Huff All
Independent BTC-T Entries
Computeach Racing with Halfords Honda Civic Type-R 3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal All
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dan Eaves All
West Surrey Racing MG ZS 6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid All
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Turkington All
Collard Racing Vauxhall Astra Coupé 10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Rob Collard All
VXR Junior Vauxhall Astra Coupé 14 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Bentwood 1–6, 8–10
Synchro Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R 16 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Kaye All
Mardi Gras Motorsport Peugeot 406 Coupé 17 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John George 6–10
Team Sureterm Vauxhall Astra Coupé 21 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul Wallace 1–2
22 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Charlie Butler-Henderson 1–4, 6
23 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Carl Breeze 8–9
24 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Kelvin Burt 3–4
25 Flag of Ireland.svg Gavin Smith 5
26 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stefan Hodgetts 5–6
44 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gavin Pyper 10
Team Quest/Varta Peugeot 307 40 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Marsh 8–9
Kartworld Racing MG ZS 77 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Hughes All
Independent S2000 Entries
Mardi Gras Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R 17 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John George 1–3
Team Sureterm Alfa Romeo 156 23 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Carl Breeze 1–7
26 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stefan Hodgetts 8–10
Team Quest/Varta Honda Civic Type-R 40 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Marsh 2–7
41 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jay Wheals 10
Edenbridge Racing BMW 320i 46 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Justin Keen 2–4

Season Calendar

All races were held in the United Kingdom (excepting Mondello Park round that held in Ireland).

RoundCircuitDatePole PositionFastest LapWinning DriverWinning Team
1R1 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 11 April 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
R2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Plato Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Turkington Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller VX Racing
2R4 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 25 April Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Turkington Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Computeach Racing with Halfords
R5 Flag of South Africa.svg Shaun Watson-Smith Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Hines VX Racing
R6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson VX Racing
3R7 Silverstone Circuit (International), Northamptonshire 9 May Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Plato Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Computeach Racing with Halfords
R8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Turkington Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson VX Racing
R9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Chilton Team Honda
4R10 Oulton Park (Island), Cheshire 23 May Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller VX Racing
R11 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dan Eaves Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dan Eaves Computeach Racing with Halfords
R12 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller VX Racing
5R13 Mondello Park 13 June Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Turkington Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller VX Racing
R14 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R15 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Turkington West Surrey Racing
6R16 Croft Circuit, Yorkshire 25 July Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid West Surrey Racing
R17 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R18 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
7R19 Knockhill Circuit, Fife 8 August Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Turkington Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid West Surrey Racing
R20 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dan Eaves Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R21 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid West Surrey Racing
8R22 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 22 August Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal Computeach Racing with Halfords
R23 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Plato Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R24 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Robert Huff
Flag of South Africa.svg Shaun Watson-Smith
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Robert Huff SEAT Sport UK
9R25 Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk 5 September 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
R26 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Plato Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Hines VX Racing
R27 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Robert Huff SEAT Sport UK
10R28 Donington Park (National), Leicestershire 26 September Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Plato Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Plato Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R29 Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Chilton Team Honda
R30 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller VX Racing
Sources: [3] [4]

Drivers Championship

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

(key)

PosDriver THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Thompson 1*Ret3421*41*7*2535244443Ret43412*1*732*53274
2 Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller 321*53322Ret1*81*1*46265549285542721*273
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Plato 81*4RetDNSRet3*9282Ret*91*Ret*91*1*101*7*91*2*113101*62224
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid 462Ret42634*103Ret2591*861*71*12Ret6825548213
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal 2Ret91*DNS71*88342410Ret35Ret9281*542Ret4RetRetRet181
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Turkington 1410665511512465361*6734Ret3102*11*457376173
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Robert Huff 6RetRet2*114107*37RetRet8DSQRet522*Ret65731*1281*10115148
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dan Eaves 54*1288856691*8RetRet37312632*Ret9Ret6116834148
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Chilton 10Ret1036618101*117678519972RetRet61383101291*12116
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Hines Ret7591*1081411Ret911632814815565107101*8610Ret115
11 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Kaye 1397127Ret131596129157RetRet12131391146Ret9613119949
12 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Rob Collard 1158101515Ret13DNS5Ret41311Ret15Ret9811Ret15Ret97911138744
13 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Bentwood 73RetRetDNSRetRet1210131171012Ret1411111173Ret14144Ret1342
14 Flag of South Africa.svg Shaun Watson-Smith 98Ret7Ret9121114Ret141012Ret1013101078108RetRetDSQ12151412Ret28
15 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Carl Breeze RetRet11RetDNSDNS7165Ret13Ret11Ret8111314RetRetDNS13121014RetRet14
16 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Kelvin Burt 94*Ret12RetRet11
17 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Hughes Ret12Ret141212Ret19171516121413712RetRet1110121411Ret131316Ret13115
18 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stefan Hodgetts RetDNSRet10RetRetRetRetRetRetDNS9RetRet104
19 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Justin Keen 139Ret141816Ret15Ret2
20 Flag of Ireland.svg Gavin Smith Ret9Ret2
21 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Charlie Butler-Henderson 1211Ret11Ret11RetRet13Ret10RetRet15Ret1
22 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul Wallace RetRetRetRet10131
23 Flag of Malaysia.svg Fariqe Hairuman RetDNSRetRet131415171514171316Ret1116RetRetRet12Ret1714RetRet15RetNCRetDNS0
24 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John George 1513RetRetDNSDNS1720Ret17Ret15121313RetRetRet151617RetDNSDNS0
25 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gavin Pyper 12RetRet0
26 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Marsh 15141616DNSDNSRetDNSDNS17RetDNS18161614141416RetRetNC17180
27 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jay Wheals 1514DNS0
PosDriver THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts
Sources: [5] [6]

Manufacturers Championship

PosManufacturer THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts
1 Vauxhall / VX Racing 121411217151122244344245112221732
3735234211283534465556387543653
RetRet59310814RetRet911646814815Ret9510121078710Ret
2 Honda / Honda Racing &
Computeach Racing with Halfords
2491661613124833372221542104814548
5Ret103875869467105751263869831169312
10Ret128DNS8181081178RetRetRet199Ret9RetRetRet13Ret6Ret12RetRetRet
3 SEAT / SEAT Sport UK 614211437272Ret81Ret51110157111131162421
8RetRetRetDNSRet10938RetRet9DSQRet922Ret679321281010115
4 Proton / Petronas Syntium Proton 98Ret713912111414141012Ret101310107810814RetDSQ12151412Ret96
RetDNSRetRetRet14151715Ret171316Ret1116RetRetRet12Ret17RetRetRet15RetNCRetDNS
PosManufacturer THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts
Source: [6]

Teams Championship

PosTeam THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts
1 VX Racing 121411217151122244344245112221536
3735234211283534465556387543653
2 SEAT Sport UK 614211437272Ret81Ret51110157111131162360
8RetRetRetDNSRet10938RetRet9DSQRet922Ret679321281010115
3 West Surrey Racing 4626426344352511731711026425346325
14106Ret5511512106Ret3696864Ret312Ret11857578
4 Computeach Racing with Halfords 249187166312410333126221542114834303
5Ret128DNS8588948RetRetRet75Ret938Ret9Ret6Ret6RetRetRet
5 Team Honda 10Ret1036618101117678519972RetRet6138310129112111
6Synchro Motorsport1397127Ret131596129157RetRet12131391146Ret9613119954
7 Collard Racing 1158101515Ret13DNS5Ret41311Ret15Ret9811Ret15Ret97911138750
8 Team Sureterm 1211111110117451210Ret1198101314RetRetDNS13121014Ret912Ret1044
RetRetRetRetRet1391613Ret13RetRetRetRet1115RetRetRetRetRetDNSRetRetRetRet
9 VXR Junior 73RetRetDNSRetRet1210131171012Ret1411111173Ret14144Ret1326
10 Petronas Syntium Proton 98Ret713912111414141012Ret101310107810814RetDSQ12151412Ret11
RetDNSRetRetRet14151715Ret171316Ret1116RetRetRet12Ret17RetRetRet15RetNCRetDNS
11Edenbridge Racing139Ret141816Ret15Ret3
12Mardi Gras Motorsport1513RetRetDNSDNS1720Ret17Ret15121313RetRetRet151617RetDNSDNS0
13 Team Quest/Varta 15141616DNSDNSRetDNSDNS17RetDNS18161614141416RetRetNC17181514DNS0
14 Kartworld Racing Ret12Ret141212Ret19171516121413712RetRet1110121411Ret131316Ret1311-3
PosTeam THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts
Source: [6]

Independents Championship

PosDriver THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Reid 462Ret42634103Ret25918617112Ret6825548312
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Turkington 14106655115124653616734Ret310211457376300
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dan Eaves 5412888566918RetRet37312632Ret9Ret6116834254
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Neal 2Ret91DNS7188342410Ret35Ret9281542Ret4RetRetRet253
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Kaye 1397127Ret131596129157RetRet12131391146Ret96131199164
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Rob Collard 1158101515Ret13DNS5Ret41311Ret15Ret9811Ret15Ret979111387152
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Bentwood 73RetRetDNSRetRet1210131171012Ret1411111173Ret14144Ret13131
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Hughes Ret12Ret141212Ret19171516121413712RetRet1110121411Ret141316Ret131189
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Carl Breeze RetRet11RetDNSDNS7165Ret13Ret11Ret8111314RetRetDNS13121015RetRet75
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Charlie Butler-Henderson 1211Ret11Ret11RetRet13Ret10RetRet15Ret33
11 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John George 1513RetRetDNSDNS1720Ret17Ret15121313RetRetRet161617RetDNSDNS27
12 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Marsh 15141616DNSDNSRetDNSDNS17RetDNS18161614141416RetRetNC171827
13 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Kelvin Burt 94Ret12RetRet22
14 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Justin Keen 139Ret141816Ret15Ret18
15 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stefan Hodgetts RetDNSRet10RetRetRetRetRetRetDNS9RetRet1017
16 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul Wallace RetRetRetRet10139
17 Flag of Ireland.svg Gavin Smith Ret9Ret8
18 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jay Wheals 1514DNS7
19 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gavin Pyper 12RetRet5
Pos.Driver THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts
Sources: [5] [6]

References

  1. "Entry list BTCC 2004. | Crash.net". www.crash.net. 2004-03-17. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  2. "Carly Motors in BTCC - TenTenths Motorsport Forum". October 30, 2003. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  3. Wilkins, Robert (14 December 2003). "2004 BTCC calendar revised". Crash. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  4. "British Touring Car Championship Results 2004". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Championship Standings". TouringCars.net. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Championship Points" (PDF). MST World. 29 September 2004. Retrieved 6 July 2025.