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BTCC Proud Proton: Keep Rollin' On The Tarmac
Image Credit: PSP Images
The latest news to come swirling from the dazzling world of the BTCC sees the Welch Motorsport team continuing to use their own engines over the standard TOCA unit. Proton has always been the car of choice for the team, which slots them perfectly into the brief yet determined history of Proton in the British championship. Since their debut into the series in 2002, Proton may not have enjoyed a glittering career, but through their recent resurrection at the hands of the Welch Motorsport Crew the Malaysian manufacturer lives on.
Chances are, when you think back to the big names of the BTCC from the past and present you will hear names such as Honda, MG, Ford, Nissan, Volvo or Toyota to name but a few. For those more extreme fans, they would also mention Peugeot, Alfa or possibly Mazda. However, one name that has often been left out is that of Proton. The Malaysian manufacturer missed out on the glitz and glamour of the Super Touring, first entering the championship in 2002 as part of the revamped BTC Regulations.
It is fair to say that from their inception, lady luck never really sided with Proton. To maximise performance, most teams would take only the body shell of a car and quite literally build their race car from the ground up. For the Proton team this was but a wistful dream just too far to achieve. Due to the difficulties of importing the body shells from Malaysia, the team had to buy road cars from the local dealership and then work to transform them into the BTC spec Proton Impian.
Proton however was not completely void of hope. One arrow in their quiver came in the shape of the Mountune Racing engines, whose strength, performance and abilities were credited throughout testing. Furthermore, they were able to bring on board returning driver Phil Bennett who had previously raced for the Egg Sport Vauxhall team as well as Scottish legend David Leslie. Leslie was a man famous for taking relatively new teams and bringing out the best in their cars, something he had done for the Ecurie Ecosse Vauxhall in 1992, Honda in 1995 and most notably Nissan in 1997 onwards.
The Proton team of the early 2000s never really hit the big time
The 2002 season was arguably quite successful for the Proton team, with Leslie achieving multiple podium finishes and finishing 7th overall in the championship. Phil Bennett on the other hand failed to repeat his successes of 2001 and ended the year well down the order. A full overhaul for 2003 predicted strong results, yet the reality could not have been further from the hopes. The highest position achieved across 2003 was a single 5th at Mondello Park for David Leslie. Phil Bennett once again failed to impress, probably due in the most part to his inherent lack of ability to hack it in the BTCC field.
The final year of Proton as a manufacturer in the BTCC can be described as nothing short of an embarrassment. Leslie and Bennett were replaced by South African Shaun Watson-Smith and Malaysian driver Fariqe Hairuman. Whether it was a stunning absence of talent, an underpowered car or just a team that is not suited to racing, the two drivers finished 14th and 23rd in the standings. To put this into perspective, 2004 was Proton’s 3rd year in the championship yet they still finished stone dead last in the manufacturers championship, a whopping 325 points behind the Seat team (who by the way, were competing in their first ever season in the BTCC). It came as no surprise that Proton pulled out after 2004, probably due to the abject misery that surrounded them throughout the year.
For 7 years, Proton lay dormant having seemingly slipped into the pages of history. But all was not lost, for in 2011 Welch Motorsport announced their plans to rejuvenate the Proton name with an independent entry for Dan Welch. The 2011 part entry in the Gen-2 was more of a sighting season than an intended competitive year. In the penultimate race of the year at Silverstone, Welch gained his first point for the team with a 10th place finish.
It was in 2012 that the Proton wheels truly started turning when they entered the Persona, with the new backing of Sopp and Sopp. The highlight of the year came at Oulton Park when Welch finished 4th following a truly epic battle with the Honda of Matt Neal. That even won him the Champagne Moment of the Year Award. In 2013, Welch Motorsport became a strong midfield runner, finishing 10th at the end of the year.
Image Credit: PSP Images
Ten years after a truly woeful season in the BTCC, it seemed history was going to repeat itself in an almost anniversary fashion. Welch announced that they would be running their own engine instead of the standard TOCA unit, which turned out to be a mistake. As soon as they submitted their homologation to TOCA, there was nothing they could change about their power unit. This was a shame, considering their engine was (self-admitted by them) all kinds of awful. For Welch and new boy Ollie Jackson, 2014 was a year spent trailing at the back of the grid struggling to even remain on the same lap as the leaders let alone challenge for position.
It therefore came as a bit of a surprise when Welch Motorsport announced that they would continue with the use of their own engines for Welch and new man Wilmot for the 2015 season. They have announced that they have focused ‘140%’ on the engine across the close season. Now considering that engines are all about balance of power, performance and efficiency, focusing an impossible percentage on their development does cast some doubt over their abilities for this year. But seriously, the team seem optimistic about their chances of advancing through the field. What I am most impressed with is the fact that the Welch boys are sticking with their own power unit. I have a lot of respect for anyone with the determination and perseverance to go against the norm (and the easier option) so as to introduce some variety into the BTCC.
Image Credit: BTCC.net
In the early 2000s I will admit that I did not have that much of an opinion about the Proton team. What I do have however is a piece of broken Proton that I collected from Thruxton from 2004 I believe it was. As soon as Dan Welch entered his independent Proton into the championship, my attention, my respect and my heart was stolen. I will always have a great deal of respect and fondness for the Welch prepared Proton team, hence the inception of my affectionate ‘Squelch’ nickname that I often use.
Proton has never been a front runner in the British Touring Car Championship; they are the true underdog manufacturer whose time will one day come. Proton has enjoyed success in Asian based touring car series, but never in Britain. If anyone can take Proton to the top, it could only be Welch Motorsport. Their persistence even against all adversity put before them is admirable and eventually their hard work will pay off.
I wish them all the best for their 2015 BTCC Season!
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BTCC Memorable Drives: Final Naval Battle in Vauxhall War
Image Credit: BTCC.net
While I was walking to work this morning, I came across a navy blue Vauxhall Astra parked on the side of the road. For the others passers-by, there was neither a flicker of recognition nor even a glimpse of acknowledgement. However, for a diehard fan of the BTCC such as myself I was instantly transported to a cold, windy and astronomically wet Kentish winter nearly 14 years ago. You see for me, that blue Astra represents a thrilling finale to a championship filled with change, battles and scandal. For this issue of BTCC Drives, I would like to take you back to 2001 and the thrilling finale of a season long grudge match between two of the biggest names in touring cars.
The 2001 British Touring Car Championship was somewhat of a landmark year; the Super Touring era had made way for new BTC-Regulations which significantly downsized the grid, while adding a new ‘production’ element. The start of the year saw cars as few as 6 or 7 take the start, with Vauxhall the only returning manufacturer. Peugeot, Alfa and Lexus all entered but a severe lack of testing was matched by a debilitating absence of performance. Only when MG turned up at the end of the year did they take a race win away from the Vauxhalls. As a result, 2001 was an all-out dog fight between Jason Plato and Yvan Muller.
Watch that titanic final battle between Muller and Plato at Brands Hatch here!
The year had been dominated solely by the rivalry of Plato and Muller, which had slowly turned sourer as each race rolled by. Things had come to a head at Silverstone when Plato appeared to ‘spin’ Muller which cost him the race win, when it turned out Muller had suffered a mechanical problem and tried to make Plato lose out as a result. On the podium, Muller refused to acknowledge Plato, like a truly petulant child. So when it came to the final rounds at Brands Hatch, the garage was almost literally split down the middle. Two drivers with equal status, two drivers who could win the title but only one title; it was always going to be a good one.
A thrilling championship decider is one thing, but when the scene is set at weather battered Brands Hatch, it was always a contender for an entry in BTCC Drives. Speaking as a spectator at that race weekend, my abiding memory will forever be that final race and THAT rain. Of the years I have been attending race meetings at Brands Hatch, Sunday will go down as possibly the worst conditions there have ever been. On a darkening track, the rain battered the teams, track and spectators with a vicious intensity. But worrying about the weather was the least of anyone’s’ worries; there was a championship to sort out.
The first race of the day was won by the returning Anthony Reid in the late MG entry, with Plato and Muller finishing 3rd and 4th respectively. Therefore, going into the final race of the year there were 6 points separating the top two drivers; Plato on 324 and Muller on 318. Muller would need at least one car between him and Plato to take the title. As the flag dropped on the final race, the weather conditions had deteriorated even further. As Muller charged towards the front of the field, in a cloud of spray and mud Plato spun his car on the entrance to Clearways. Somehow, he managed to merely brush the barrier, get the car moving and power back into the race. Just a few laps later, Muller almost repeats the pirouette Plato pulled, by going straight on at Clearways and collecting a load of mud in the process, just managing to hold it together and retain the lead.
Meanwhile in the production class, Moen chucked his Peugeot off into the gravel, bringing out the safety car and giving the luck-filled Plato a chance to march his way back up the field again, helped by both MGs pulling off at the side of the track with mechanical problems. Thompson took a pot shot at the production Proton and came off second best with a broken suspension, while Graves threw it off on the entrance to Druids. It was all falling into place for Plato, especially with Muller straight lining Clearways again and collecting even more rubbish in his car.
It would be Plato that would come out of Brands as champion. Image Credit: PSP Images/ touringcartimes.com
It would turn out to be the famous John B&Q that would be the deciding factor in the outcome of the championship. Having beached his car on track, the safety car came out again to close Plato up once again. But as the cars coasted around behind the safety car, the cameras caught a glimpse of the underside of Muller’s car. A fire had broken out which forced Muller to pull off and retire. The mixture of track conditions and Muller’s multiple forays into rally cross ruined the engine and of course his championship.
For me, what made that race so memorable was the potent combination of factors that came together to produce Plato as the outright champion. At no point was the outcome set for any driver on the grid. Plato went from losing control of his Vauxhall to finishing 2nd and taking the title, while Muller drove a masterful race and slight mistakes cost him his propulsion abilities. No one could have possibly predicted anything that happened. This level of unpredictability truly characterises the magic of the BTCC.
In a season filled with scandal in the Vauxhall garage, it was fitting that the championship went down to the wire in a race filled also filled with drama and revelation. I remember sitting at the Paddock Hill grandstand, shivering under the majesty of the winter wind, rain and darkness transfixed on the action on track. I will never forget the gasps from the crowd when Muller’s car spontaneously combusted. Even in truly awful conditions, the fans were united in suspense.
Rivalry. Suspense. Action. This is what the BTCC is all about!
Remember to keep your suggestions coming for your BTCC Memorable Drives!
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WTCC 2015: Return of the World Touring Citroen Championship
Nothing really has changed.. Image Credit: mascoche.net
After months of waiting the World Touring Car Championship has returned with the opening round at the Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina. The 2014 season was utterly dominated by the all-conquering Citroens, echoing the same consistent superiority as the Mercedes in F1. Towards the middle part of the season I had albeit given up on the WTCC. The close season filled me with a fools hope that 2015 would take the mistakes from 2014 and transform them into a thrilling year. As I sat ready to enjoy the return of touring cars for 2015, little did I know the massive disappointments that lay ahead.
Qualifying
While I was growing up, my parents would often tell me that I should not knock something until I have tried it. When it comes to motorsports, this is very much a mantra that I endeavour to follow. The close season promised that intense testing and new developments would bring the WTCC field closer together; I was adamant that these changes would bring results. It was when I saw the qualifying results that my new found hope came crashing down around me. The reigning champion Lopez took pole position, by a gargantuan 1.2 seconds. I can remember a time when entire grids of touring car series were separated by a similar margin. And if only to pour salt into the wound, the next three cars on the grid were all Citroens.
The reverse grid for the second race did put British hero James Thompson on pole in the new look Lada. Post-qualifying comments from Honda gave the impression that they were happy that they have managed to close to gap to Citroen. At first this may seem positive, but in reality the fact that they still have to close such a massive gap is somewhat depressing. But with race day still to come, perhaps the other teams were waiting to strike.
There was some drama even before the start of the first race due to the blistering temperatures at the circuit. With track temperatures reaching upwards of 60 degrees, tyres were going to become a deciding factor in the outcome of the races. Not only that, the exhausting heat created highly treacherous conditions that somewhat mirrored a wet track. By going off the racing line speed and handling were very much compromised. Well, for everyone except the factory Citroen’s that is.
Race One
Bennani made a name for himself over the opening weekend. Image Credit: fiawtcc.com
Usually when I construct these post-race reports, I like to focus on the races themselves while providing my own insight into the action. The trouble is that this is rather difficult to do this when there really isn’t much action to speak of. The first race took processional to an almost new low with the Citroen’s driving out into a lead they would never lose. The gap covering the top 3 was around 5 seconds; at the chequered flag it would take 14 seconds before the 4th place Monteiro would appear. Criticisms aside for just a minute, it must be something special to return to your home track as reigning world champion and take a commanding victory in the first race of the season; Jose Maria Lopez has often been described as the people’s driver and this was very much evident on the podium following the first race. It was as much his victory as it was the 40,000 strong fans’ victory.
The first race was a harrowing start to the season for the new Lada Vesta, with both cars involved in collisions that would end their races prematurely. In the case of Rob Huff, his spearing by Bennani gave the Citroen privateer a drive-through and an infamous reputation that may last all season. My biggest sympathy in the first race has to go to Hugo Valente, who had only just repaired his car for the start of the race following a previous incident, only to crash out once more; this very much spelt the end to a miserable start to the year for the Chevrolet driver.
Race Two
Kind of sums up a disappointing weekend for Lada.. Image taken from: Eurosport
The second race had a superficial sense of anticipation; could Thompson take the new Lada to victory from pole? However, as the revs began to build it my usual predictions came flooding out. By the end of the 1st lap there would be a Citroen leading, even though the closest Citroen was starting 7th. Low and behold, barely half way around the first lap there were two Citroen’s leading in the form of Loeb and Ma. After making a mistake in lap 2, Ma gave the lead to Loeb who never looked back and shot off to his first victory of 2015. How very exciting.
For some time Tarquini was holding his own from the rampaging Citroens, until finally succumbing to Lopez down the back straight. There was nothing else Tarquini could have done; the sheer brutality of the Citroen straight line speed makes defence an impossible task. Some of the only talking points of the race were provided by Muller and of course Mr Bad Man himself Bennani in his privateer Citroen. Following collision between the two, Muller was forced to pit and would finish the race last.
My Verdict
Monteiro is fast becoming my favourite driver in the WTCC. Image Credit: fiawtcc.com
If I was to pick not only the driver of the race but of the whole weekend, it would have to be Monteiro. Dazzling consistency was the name of the game for the Honda man, who managed to keep himself out of trouble to finish the first race in 4th and the second in 3rd. Many people would give such an award to Lopez or Loeb, but for me I look for true driving skill over superior technology. Credit should also be given to returning Rydell who managed two solid points finishes across the weekend despite suffering with numerous problems. Finally, this may be a little out of character for me but I am developing a considerable soft spot for the pantomime villain of the WTCC field; Bennani may not always driver as cleanly as I would hope from a true touring car driver, but hey at least he provides some entertainment.
The World Touring Car Championship used to be the beacon in every aspect of tin top motorsport; the days of Priaulx, the Mullers, Farfus Jnr and Giovanardi contained nail biting action, drama and edge of the seat racing. Since the introduction of the Citroen team last year (but the fault does not lie entirely with them), it has become nothing more than a dull, lacklustre and highly predictable excuse for a championship with very little to offer the viewer; except perhaps the distant hope that Citroen might go the way of Mercedes in Formula One and begin an all-out civil war, paving the way for other teams to come through.
Part of the problem stems from the obsession of the FIA to take its championships to tracks that are simply too big; one of the reasons Argentina provided no excitement was a track so wide it made the Grand Canyon green with jealousy. If the WTCC followed the idea of the BTCC and had tighter, narrower tracks it would at least slow the relentless march of the Citroens through the field. Those I feel most for are the other non-Citroen teams who can do nothing but watch the Citroens drive off into the distance. This is what happens when you give FIA control of well, anything and secondly give one team a whole years extra development over everyone else.
The only way for WTCC to fix the mess it has put itself in is to quite simply start again. New rules, new regulations which would mean everyone start again from a clean slate. As it stands, the WTCC is set to lose a great deal of support from sponsors, fans and teams alike. Our only hope now rests on Honda and Lada to provide any form of resistance against the Citroens. It is almost like playing a racing simulator with the difficulty set to novice when it comes to the Citroens. Honestly, as it stands I could find more shock and excitement from the next X Factor winners single.
Welcome back everyone, to the 2015 World Touring Citroen Championship!
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BTCC Dream Teams: The Sensation of Silly Season
Although silly season is drawing to a close, there is still a month of rumour, conjecture and speculation regarding the construction of the BTCC field for 2015. As such I decided to take what may be my final plunge into the silly season swimming pool. Across the close season on the various tin top communities, a common conversation topic is who people would like to see in teams. Therefore, what better way to end the silly season than to present my ideas for some BTCC dream teams!
Super Touring Super Group
Last time Menu and Rydell raced together, they dominated all before them. Image Taken From: TouringCarTimes.com
Similar to those rock groups of years gone by that are formed by a selection of stars from across the music world, my first proposal would see the same thing done with icons of the BTCC. Most specifically, I would have a team comprised of some of the biggest names from the 90s. If we take a team the size of BMR it gives four slots to work with. Along the same lines as BMR from 2014, the team would run two makes of car; Volvo and Renault. What better way to bring back two classic manufacturers than in the ultimate super touring team? And why not have the cars built and engineered by Andy Rouse, who would of course fill in if ever a driver could not take part in a meeting.
For the drivers, only thorough-bred champions are right for this team. My favourite driver of all time is Alain Menu, so there is no doubt that he would get a place on the squad, followed closely by the Swedish superhero Rickard Rydell. Give that man a chance to return to the BTCC and I would hedge my bets that he would leave the WTCC in an instant! Next up, it is the animal himself Mr John Cleland. Part of me would feel strange putting him in a car that wasn’t a Vauxhall, but for the purposes of this I am willing to overlook that. My final choice may surprise a few, but the remaining slot in this team would go to Paul Radisich. He may never have won a championship, but he always drove like a champion. After all, in 1993 he only competed in the latter part of the season yet still managed to finish 3rd in the championship. It’s probably safe to say that if the Ford team had been ready for the start of the year, Paul would have taken the title in ’93.
The return of two legendary manufacturers? A team made up entirely of legends of the BTCC? An icon of touring car engineering?
That would be a dream team.
Bringing the Rock to Touring Cars
What a sponsorship deal this would be. Imagine this on a jet black car.
Across the many years of the BTCC, there have been all manner of companies that have taken up sponsorship of race teams. However, the one area that I have always thought could expand into racing is strangely, music. In 2002 there was the one-off Team Atomic Kitten that entered with the then rookie Colin Turkington and Gareth Howell. But speaking as a Queen fan, you can see where I may be going with this. I would love to see a Queen branded car take to the grid. Perhaps with Queen Sponsorship involved, the warm up lap music can be improved. Over the last few years, I have always found the dodgy dance track at the start of each race to be somewhat annoying.
Bringing in sponsorship from another successful sector would inevitably bring with it a growth in fans to the sport. In addition, it would be great to combine the race weekend with amazing musical entertainment. Do you remember the Queen’s Golden Jubilee where Brian May stood atop Buckingham Palace and played the national anthem? Imagine Brian May standing on the roof of the Queen entry, rocking out a solo to the fans around the circuit. And just in general, if more music was integrated into the BTCC then perhaps we would start seeing our favourite machines appearing in more music videos and more adverts.
If you have any funny band/artist based team names I would love to hear them!
Guest Drive
Remember the last time a guest car ran in the BTCC? Image Credit: Motorsportretro.com
One of the aspects of the Porsche Carrera Cup that I admire is their ‘guest drive’ addition to each round of the championship. Along with the usual contenders in the field, there is a driver running who does not compete for championship points as a one-off type deal. There was a time when this guest drive was often Tim Harvey who would then go on to enter the championship fully. Would this not be a great addition to the BTCC? Let us not forget last time Ford ran a guest car and a certain Nigel Mansell created one of the best touring car races there has ever been.
This would give drivers from across the motorsport spectrum a chance to race in what is now officially one of the best touring car series in the world (second only to DTM don’t you know). The ever increasing popularity of the sport will without doubt attract a whole new audience including other drivers. As the BTCC field is already at capacity it may not always be feasible to bring in more international or even celebrity talent for a full seasons’ drive, but having them compete in rounds throughout the year could work. Furthermore, it would give a whole range of drivers the opportunity to compete. I can imagine stars from the WTCC and V8SC in particular wanting in on the action.
After all throughout the 90s the BTCC did attract some big international talent such as Aiello, Biela, Tarquini and even F1 teams like Williams Touring Car Engineering. Personally, having a one off driver would definitely mix it up for the whole field; nothing to lose apart from a few wing mirrors and body panels. It could be a whole lot of fun. In 1998, Mansell only ran in select races, but if this became a recurring feature of the championship it could bring massive audience figures and sensational entertainment.
What or who would you like to see in your ultimate BTCC team?
Or on the flip side, what would be a hilariously explosive team would you have? Having Neal and Plato as team mates with equal number one driver status comes to mind…
Send your suggestions in!
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