2018 British Touring Car Championship

61st season of the British Touring Car Championship

2018 British Touring Car Championship

Previous

2017

Next

2019

Support series:
2018 Ginetta Junior Championship
2018 Ginetta GT4 Supercup
2018 F4 British Championship
2018 Porsche Carrera Cup GB
2018 Renault UK Clio Cup

Colin Turkington, the 2018 Drivers' Champion

Start of a race at Brands Hatch.

The 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (commonly abbreviated as BTCC) was a motor racing championship for production-based touring cars held across England and Scotland. It was sponsored by Dunlop.^[1] The championship featured a mix of professional motor racing teams and privately funded amateur drivers competing in highly modified versions of family cars which were sold to the general public and conform to the technical regulations for the championship. The 2018 season was the 61st British Touring Car Championship season and the eighth season for cars conforming to the Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC) technical specification. The 2018 season also marked the 60th anniversary since the series’ introduction.^[2]

The thirty races held during the season saw seventeen different drivers win a race, setting a new championship record. Six drivers won their first race, but Jason Plato went through a season without winning a race for the first time since his debut in 1997. Colin Turkington claimed his third BTCC title and his first since 2014.

Teams and drivers

All teams and drivers competed under British racing licenses.

Driver changes

Changed teams

• Matt Simpson moved from Halford Yuasa Racing to Eurotech Racing.^[53]
• Tom Chilton moved from Power Maxed Racing to Motorbase Performance.^[15]
• Josh Cook moved from Triple Eight Racing back to Power Maxed Racing.^[10]
• James Cole moved from Team BMR to Motorbase Performance.
• Rory Butcher moved from Motorbase Performance to AmDTuning.com.

Entering/re-entering BTCC

• 2017 VW Cup champion Bobby Thompson will make his series début, with Team HARD.^[44]
• 2014 & 2017 Renault UK Clio Cup champion Mike Bushell will return to the series with Team HARD, having last raced in the championship in 2015.^[41]
• Michael Caine will return to series with Team HARD Brisky Racing, having last raced with the team in 2016.^[46]
• 2017 British F4 driver Sam Smelt will make his debut in the series with AmDTuning.com.^[28]
• 2015 Ginetta GT4 Supercup champion Tom Oliphant will make his series debut, with Ciceley Motorsport.^[35]
• 2016 runner-up Sam Tordoff returned to the series after a year racing in the British GT Championship, driving a third car for Motorbase Performance under the GardX Racing banner.
• 2015–16 Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain champion Dan Cammish, will make his debut in the series with Halfords Yuasa Racing.^[14]
• Former race winner Tom Boardman will return to the series with AmDTuning.com, having last raced in 2011.

Leaving BTCC

• Árón Taylor-Smith announced on 27 November 2017 that he would be stepping away from the series to pursue a career in GT Racing.
• Dave Newsham announced on 9 January 2018 that he would retire from the BTCC to focus on his sons racing.^[32]
• Gordon Shedden announced on 22 January 2018 that he would be leaving the BTCC, eventually joining Team WRT to race in the World Touring Car Cup.^[55]
• Mat Jackson left the series after splitting with Motorbase Performance and failing to secure a vacant seat with another team.^[56]
• Stewart Lines and Maximum Motorsport left the series, having sold their car and TBL to Ciceley Motorsport.^[57]
• Michael Epps will leave the series and join the 2018 Renault UK Clio Cup.^[58]
• Jeff Smith will miss the 2018 season as he continues to recover from injuries sustained in his 2017 crash.^[59]
• Ant Whorton-Eales left AmDTuning.com and switched to the Mini Challenge UK driving for JamSport.^[60]
• Unable to secure drives, Will Burns and Martin Depper both left the series.^[61]

Team changes

• Handy Motorsport will change its name to HMS Racing and also switch to running the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, having run the Toyota Avensis, since their début in 2014.^[29]
• Team HARD will expand from a three-car to a four-car squad.^[38]
• Eurotech Racing will expand from a two-car to a three-car squad.^[53]
• BTC Norlin Racing will switch from running the Chevrolet Cruze to run the Honda Civic Type R (FK2).^[30]
• Motorbase Performance will switch from running the Ford Focus ST to run the Ford Focus RS.^[16]
• AmDTuning.com will expand from a two-car to a four-car squad, after having agreed a deal to run the MG6 GTs, which were previously run by Triple Eight Racing.^[20]
• Team Dynamics will switch from running the Honda Civic Type R (FK2) to run the newer Honda Civic Type R (FK8).^[13]
• For the first time since 1996, Triple Eight Racing did not field a racing team in the BTCC. The MG6 GT race cars were acquired by AmD. Triple Eight was one of the most successful teams to race in the BTCC, firstly fielding the works Vauxhall team from 1997-2009 in which time the team achieved eight manufacturer titles for Vauxhall (2001-05, 2007-09) and a further title with MG in 2014. The team also won the drivers championship in 2001-04, 2007-08. The team officially folded in November 2018.

Race calendar

Circuit locations for the 2018 season

The championship calendar was announced by the championship organisers on 26 May 2017. All the circuits from the 2017 season will host rounds again with the only change being the rounds at Rockingham Motor Speedway and Knockhill Racing Circuit switching places.^[62] In October 2017, the BTCC bosses announced that Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit will play host to a special extended race this season as part of the series’ 60th anniversary celebrations.^[63]

Results

Championship standings

Notes

• No driver may collect more than one point for leading a lap per race regardless of how many laps they lead.
• A special 60 mile race 3 at Snetterton with standalone qualifying, no ballast and double points^[64]

Drivers' Championship

(key)

Manufacturers' Championship

(key)

Teams' Championship

(key)

Independents Drivers' Trophy

Independent Teams' Trophy

Jack Sears Trophy

Notes

1. Team run by Eurotech Racing for rounds 1-7.

References

1. "Dunlop Continue Strong Partnership With BTCC". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
2. "60th anniversary BTCC calendar announced". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
3. "Plato to Remain With BMR". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
4. "Champion Sutton Confirmed at BMR". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
5. "BTCC Brands Hatch: Goff takes pole after Cammish gets penalty". British Touring Car Championship. Autosport. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
6. "Price to contest second BTCC season in Subaru, completes 2018 grid". British Touring Car Championship. Autosport. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
7. "Josh Price completes BMR trio with Autoglym Academy Racing". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
8. "WSR to Field Unchanged Line-up in 2018". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
9. Salisbury, Matt (7 August 2018). "Ricky Collard replaces father Rob at West Surrey Racing". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
10. "Josh Cook rejoins Power Maxed Racing to drive Vauxhall Astra". BTCC Crazy. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
11. Salisbury, Matt (23 January 2018). "Senna Proctor retains Power Maxed Racing drive". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
12. James, Matt (22 January 2018). "Three-time champion Shedden exits BTCC". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
13. Salisbury, Matt (27 February 2018). "Honda's new BTCC challenger hits the track in Spain". Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
14. "Halfords Yuasa Racing signs Dan Cammish". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
15. Salisbury, Matt (20 December 2017). "Motorbase confirms Tom Chilton for 2018". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
16. Salisbury, Matt (11 January 2018). "Motorbase brings iconic RS brand back with new Focus". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
17. "Motorbase Performance and Mat Jackson Part Company". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
18. "Sam Tordoff makes BTCC return with Motorbase Performance - TouringCarTimes". TouringCarTimes. 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
19. "RCIB Insurance, AutoAid Teams With AmDTuning.com For 2018 BTCC Season". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
20. Salisbury, Matt (11 January 2018). "AmDTuning.com adds MGs to expanded BTCC programme". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
21. "Rory Butcher Completes AmDTuning.com Line-up". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
22. Salisbury, Matt (25 July 2018). "Ant Whorton-Eales secures AmD return at Snetterton". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
23. "Race Winner Boardman Makes BTCC Return With AmD". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
24. "AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing to replace Tom Boardman - The Checkered Flag". The Checkered Flag. 2018-07-04. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
25. Salisbury, Matt (8 August 2018). "Glynn Geddie makes BTCC return in AmD MG". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
26. Salisbury, Matt (11 September 2018). "Sportscar racer Josh Caygill joins BTCC grid at Silverstone". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
27. Ashby, Chris (26 October 2017). "AmDTuning targeting Independent titles in 2018 after re-affirming BTCC commitment". BTCC Crazy. James Mappin. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
28. "AmDTuning.com Names Ollie Jackson And Sam Smelt For 2018". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
29. Salisbury, Matt (27 August 2017). "Handy Motorsport brings Alfa Romeo back to the BTCC". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
30. "TCR UK leader Dan Lloyd to make surprise BTCC return". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 3 January 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
31. Salisbury, Matt (10 February 2018). "James Nash will make his BTCC return with BTC Norlin Racing". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
32. "BTC Norlin Racing Names Smiley For 2018 as Newsham Retires". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
33. Salisbury, Matt (6 June 2018). "TCR UK leader Dan Lloyd to make surprise BTCC return". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
34. "Ciceley Confirms Morgan Return". BTCC. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
35. "Ciceley Motorsport Announces Expansion With Signing of Oliphant". BTCC. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
36. "Aiden Moffat Announces Laser Tools Racing's 2018 BTCC Campaign". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
37. "Trade Price Cars Joins Team HARD Racing As 2018 Title Partners". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
38. Salisbury, Matt (1 December 2017). "Team HARD expands to four cars for 2018". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
39. Salisbury, Matt (11 July 2018). "Jake Hill announces Team HARD departure". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
40. "Welch Makes BTCC Return". TouringCarTimes. BTCC. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
41. "Clio Cup champion Mike Bushell returns to BTCC with Team HARD". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
42. "Hill Focussed on BTCC Success With Team HARD Brisky Racing". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 28 December 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
43. Salisbury, Matt (8 August 2018). "Ollie Pidgley replaces Dan Welch at Team HARD". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
44. Abbott, Andrew (3 November 2017). "Team HARD sign VW Cup racer Bobby Thompson for 2018 BTCC". TouringCars.Net. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
45. Salisbury, Matt (15 August 2018). "Ginetta front-runner Carl Boardley to debut at Knockhill". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
46. "Caine Completes Team HARD Line-up". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 3 January 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
47. "WIX Filters Unveiled as Eurotech Racing Title Sponsors". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
48. "Eurotech Racing Announces New Engine Supplier and Lubricant Partnership". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
49. "Eurotech Re-signs Goff For 2018". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
50. "Eurotech Racing Confirms Brett Smith". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
51. "Jelley to Jump Into Team Parker Racing's New BMW". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
52. "Ingram Gunning For British Motorsport's Biggest Prize With Speedworks". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
53. "Matt Simpson Joins Eurotech Racing". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
54. Salisbury, Matt (13 August 2018). "Matt Simpson splits with Eurotech Racing". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
55. "Honda and Team Dynamics Pay Tribute as Gordon Shedden Departs For Pastures New". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
56. "Jackson parts ways with Motorbase BTCC team". Motorsport.com. Motorsport.com. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
57. "Maximum Motorsport bows out with TCR programme possible". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
58. "BTCC racer Epps moves to Renault UK Clio Cup with new Matrix team". Renault Sport UK. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
59. Waring, Bethonie (7 December 2017). "Operation rules Jeff Smith out of 2018 line-up". thecheckeredflag.co.uk.
60. "Ant Whorton-Eales to contest 2018 MINI Challenge". TheCheckeredFlag. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
61. "BTCC officially unveils 32-car field for 60th anniversary season". TouringCarTimes. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
62. "BTCC reveals 60th anniversary calendar". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
63. "Snetterton to host 'Diamond Double' BTCC race". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
64. "BTCC On ITV – The Diamond Double – Snetterton". btcc.net. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2018.

External links

• Official website
• TouringCarTimes