1997
Four-wheel drive was banned, Volvo traded in the heavy 850 for a nimble S40, and Gabriele Tarquini made a bold move to Prodrive Honda.
1998
BTCC reinvented its race weekend. Double headers shifted to a sprint race followed by a feature race, and compulsory pit stops. Yvan Muller joined the fray and Nigel Mansell made selective appearances in a Mondeo.
1999
The grid was redefined as major manufacturers Renault, Volvo, and Nissan announced their final season, citing rising costs. Alain Menu and Anthony Reid moved to Ford, while Renault added Plato and Bullion. Yvan Muller also joined Vauxhall.
2000
The last year of the famed super tourers, with a depleted field due to major manufacturer exits. Plato joined Vauxhall following John Cleland’s retirement, while a new production-based Class B was introduced.
2001
BTCC was radically transformed by new, cost-cutting BTC Touring regulations. With Ford stepping aside, Vauxhall led the charge. The season was split into two classes: the BTC-Touring machines and production-based challengers.
2002
With a major driver reshuffle and Vauxhall’s pioneering Astra Coupés suffering recurring reliability issues, emerging entries from MG, Honda, and Proton added a new layer of competition.
2003
Vauxhall go all-in, expanding to three factory-backed Astra Coupés. With a key driver jumping ship to Honda, the dynamic shifted, and the battle within the team became just as intense as the fight against MG and Honda.