BTCC 2001: Round 1 & 2 – Brands Hatch

Round 1A: Touring Car Sprint Race

A New Era Unleashed at Brands Hatch

The 2001 British Touring Car Championship kicked off at Brands Hatch with a burst of adrenaline and a showcase of technological innovation. It was the dawn of a new era in touring car racing. Gone were the days of the old Super Touring cars, replaced by a pair of revolutionary classes: BTC Touring and BTC Production.

The Cars

The BTC Touring cars come with wider, more aggressive bodywork and aerodynamic wings at both the front and rear. These cars are lighter, with 17-inch wheels, and pack around 270 horsepower.

In contrast, the BTC Production cars stick closer to their manufacturer’s design, sporting a more conventional look with 15-inch wheels, a slightly heavier chassis by about 40 kilos, and approximately 230 horsepower.

Yet, both classes are hand-built, state-of-the-art racing machines where controlled components such as gearboxes and brakes ensure that the playing field remains as level as possible, making every lap a contest of driver skill and engineering prowess.

Qualifying Drama and the Grid Battle

The excitement started long before the lights went green. In a qualifying session that had everyone on edge, the Vauxhall teams made a bold statement by seizing the first two rows of the grid. Yvan Muller clinched pole position, closely followed by James Thompson – separated by a mere thousandth of a second.

Not far behind on the second row, Jason Plato showed he was ready to pounce with his blistering times. With the new cars showing off their performance credentials, the stage was set for an electrifying sprint race.

Round 1A: Touring Car Sprint Race

The format was a short, 12-lap sprint. Muller started flawlessly and quickly built a gap, while Plato wasted no time threading his way into a prime position after a great start battling with Thompson.

Phil Bennett, in his first-ever touring car ride, clashed with Matt Neal at bottom bend – a heavy contact that sent Neal careening sideways, but managed to correct himself and stay in contention.

With a big gap opening up for the red and white works Vauxhalls, a battle raged on behind them between James Thompson and the Peugeot 406 of Steve Soper. Dan Eaves was also chasing down Phil Bennett just behind them.

But a strange moment for Phil Bennett saw him head into the gravel trap under seemingly no pressure, allowing Eaves through and costing him significant time.

Dave Pinkney in the Alfa Romeo 147 also had to retire after a mechanical failure, before Steve Soper came in for an unscheduled pit stop after he thought the front right wheel was coming loose.

With Muller, Plato, and Thompson bulding a big lead at the front, Steve Soper managed to get involved (albeit a lap down) and put the Vauxhalls through their paces, with a little bit of paint rubbing between them.

With the checkered flag in sight, it was clear that the Vauxhall dominance was paying off. Muller, ever the master of composure, maintained his lead with precision.

Plato’s brilliant start had secured him second place, and Thompson’s tenacity earned him third.

Round 1A Results

Position	Driver	Team	Car	Laps	Time	Best Lap
1	Yvan MULLER	Vauxhall Motorsport	Vauxhall Astra Coupé	12	10:02.244	49.254
2	Jason PLATO	Vauxhall Motorsport	Vauxhall Astra Coupé	12	0.71	49.254
3	James THOMPSON	Egg Sport	Vauxhall Astra Coupé	12	2.498	49.301
4	Phil BENNETT	Egg Sport	Vauxhall Astra Coupé	12	15.362	49.918
5	Dan EAVES	Peugeot Sport UK	Peugeot 406 Coupé	12	17.355	50.533
6	Matt NEAL	Peugeot Sport UK	Peugeot 406 Coupé	12	17.855	50.344
7	Steve SOPER	Peugeot Sport UK	Peugeot 406 Coupé	11	+1 lap	50.449

Round 1B: Production Sprint Race

With the Production class being given their own sprint race, the Peugeot duo of Simon Harrison and Roger Moen locked out the front row of the grid. Gavin Piper in the red Alfa 156 and James Kaye in the independent Honda joining the fray just behind.

Despite a less-than-ideal start that saw plenty of wheelspin from Pyper’s Alfa, the front group battled side-by-side over Paddock Hill Bend.

A moment of chaos ensued when Paul O’Neill slid off into the gravel trap and managed to roll his Peugeot 306, bringing out the safety car. Once the green flag waved again, Harrison exploded out of the blocks, setting the pace in a rolling start that turned into a masterclass of production-car racing.

Pyper had managed to get ahead of Moen, but it wasn’t long before Moen fought back, shoving Pyper sideways which put him out of position for the next corner. The Ford Focuses of Howell and Jackson were right behind, and pushed Pyper even further back.

Meanwhile Colin Blair flipped his Alfa into the gravel trap in a similar accident to O’Neill’s, and more bad luck for Gavin Pyper as be got spun by Collard in the Renault Clio.

After another brief safety car period, the two HTML Peugeot 306s took the first two places, with Howell in the Focus made the podium.

Round 1B Results

Position	Driver	Team	Car	Laps	Time	Best Lap
1	Simon HARRISON	HTML	Peugeot 306 GTi	30	29:33.197	51.729
2	Roger MOEN	HTML	Peugeot 306 GTi	30	2.001	52.186
3	Gareth HOWELL	GR Motorsport	Ford Focus	30	6.09	52.372
4	Mat JACKSON	GR Motorsport	Ford Focus	30	8.074	52.426
5	Toni RUOKONEN	Cranfield Automotive Management	Mitsubishi Carisma	30	15.534	52.693
6	Rob COLLARD	Collard Racing	Renault Clio	30	25.07	52.435
7	Gavin PYPER	GA-Janspeed Racing	Alfa Romeo 156	30	25.205	52.346
8	Tom BOARDMAN	Tom Boardman Racing	Peugeot 306 GTi	30	33.803	53.663
9	Peter CATE	Team Kaliber Sport with Barwell	Honda Accord	30	33.996	52.949
10	Dave ALLAN	Synchro Motorsport	Honda Accord	30	38.229	53.858
11	Nick BEAUMONT	Team B&Q/Talksport Radio	Honda Integra Type-R	30	38.332	53.346
12	Rick KRAEMER	GR Motorsport	Ford Focus	30	41.401	53.477
13	Richard MEINS	GR Motorsport	Ford Focus	30	44.312	53.611
14	Annie TEMPLETON	Tech-Speed Motorsport	Peugeot 306 GTi	30	46.323	53.792
15	John B-AND-Q	Team B&Q/Talksport Radio	Honda Integra Type-R	29	+ 1 LAP	54.936
R	James KAYE	Team Kaliber Sport with Barwell	Honda Accord	28	DNF	52.084
R	Andy NEATE	Cranfield Automotive Management	Mitsubishi Carisma	23	DNF	53.941
R	Matt KELLY	Bintcliffe Sport Racing	Nissan Primera	13	DNF	53.44
R	Jim EDWARDS Jnr	TCR/Interactive Network Solutions	Honda Accord	7	DNF	53.581
R	Colin BLAIR	GA-Janspeed Racing	Alfa Romeo 156	7	DNF	53.185
R	Paul O’NEILL	Tech-Speed Motorsport	Peugeot 306 GTi	0	DNF	N/A

Round 2: Feature Race

The main event of the day combined both production and touring classes, and it didn’t disappoint. Touring giants – Yvan Muller, Jason Plato, James Thompson, and veteran Steve Soper – lined up ahead of the determined production contenders led by Harrison and Moen.

A rolling start set the tone for a 50-lap battle where momentum, tyre grip, and precision pit stops were paramount. The Touring Cars were obliged to pit, but the Production Cars were not.

A great start for Muller meant he kept the lead ahead of Plato, with Bennett and Thompson in the two Egg Sport Vauxhalls right on their tails.

After a spin into the gravel for Annie Templeton in the Production Peugeot 306, a safety car meant the cars lined up for a rolling restart.

Steve Soper made a lunge down the inside of Bennett into Druids and made the position, with Matt Neal following through as well. With Bennett slipping down the positions, he would quickly come under pressure from the third Peugeot 406, driven by Dan Eaves.

But Bennett picked up the pace and made it back past Matt Neil, with a few scuff marks to boot. With Bennett back on the charge, he was quickly on the back of Soper, eventually making it back to fourth.

Meanwhile in the Production class, Harrison and Moen battled it out for the lead, with Harrison executing a brilliant move past his teammate.

As the race wore on, pit-stop strategies began to play a pivotal role. James Thompson’s well-timed 7.9-second stop became a benchmark for efficiency, while delays for other drivers – most notably Muller’s prolonged 13.2-second stop – turned the battle on its head.

And it got worse for Muller, as an engine problem after his delayed pit-stop meant he had to retire the stricken Astra a few laps later.

With Muller out, the tension was palpable as Plato and Thompson engaged in a relentless battle for the lead, with fractions of a second making the difference. Some incredible racing between the two as Plato rejoined after his pit stop with cold tyres.

Thompson, with warmer tyres, hassled him for a lap before making an excellent switchback through Paddock Hill Bend, giving him prime track position going into Druids where he executed the pass.

But the roles would reverse soon after as Plato got alongside Thompson through Paddock Hill, and nudged him out towards the grass on the exit of Druids, just about holding onto the position through Bottom Bend (now known as Graham Hill Bend).

Where Thompson messed up the previous lap, Plato did exactly the same the following lap as he locked up through Clearways, gifting the position back to Thompson straight away.

Back with the Production class, Harrison was leading comfortably when an unusual accident took him out of the race – his wheel flew off as he came over Paddock Hill Bend, sending him through the gravel and head-on into the barrier, with his wheel comically rolling back down the hill to meet his stricken car.

James Kaye in the Honda Accord took advantage, becoming the new Production leader, after passing Moen earlier on.

Back at the front, as the final lap approached, Thompson had built a small advantage over Plato but couldn’t afford a mistake if he wanted to take the win.

Thankfully for him he kept it neat, and took the chequered flag for a first race win for the Egg Sport Vauxhall team. Plato second, Bennett third, and Soper fourth in the Peugeot.

James Kaye won the Production class, with Moen in second and Jackson in third.

Round 2 Results

Position	Driver	Team	Car	Laps	Time	Best Lap
1	James THOMPSON	Egg Sport	Vauxhall Astra Coupé	53	46:33.620	49.261
2	Jason PLATO	Vauxhall Motorsport	Vauxhall Astra Coupé	53	0.5	49.276
3	Phil BENNETT	Egg Sport	Vauxhall Astra Coupé	53	21.889	49.906
4	Steve SOPER	Peugeot Sport UK	Peugeot 406 Coupé	53	42.429	50.316
5	Matt NEAL	Peugeot Sport UK	Peugeot 406 Coupé	53	47.727	50.404
6	Dan EAVES	Peugeot Sport UK	Peugeot 406 Coupé	52	+ 1 LAP	50.411
7	James KAYE	Team Kaliber Sport with Barwell	Honda Accord	52	+ 1 LAP	51.913
8	Roger MOEN	HTML	Peugeot 306 GTi	52	+ 1 LAP	52.108
9	Mat JACKSON	GR Motorsport	Ford Focus	51	+ 2 LAPS	52.226
10	Gavin PYPER	GA-Janspeed Racing	Alfa Romeo 156	51	+ 2 LAPS	52.052
11	Gareth HOWELL	GR Motorsport	Ford Focus	51	+ 2 LAPS	52.431
12	Paul O’NEILL	Tech-Speed Motorsport	Peugeot 306 GTi	51	+ 2 LAPS	52.416
13	Peter CATE	Team Kaliber Sport with Barwell	Honda Accord	51	+ 2 LAPS	52.494
14	Toni RUOKONEN	Cranfield Automotive Management	Mitsubishi Carisma	51	+ 2 LAPS	52.514
15	Jim EDWARDS Jnr	TCR/Interactive Network Solutions	Honda Accord	50	+ 3 LAPS	53.453
16	Rick KRAEMER	GR Motorsport	Ford Focus	50	+ 3 LAPS	52.968
17	Tom BOARDMAN	Tom Boardman Racing	Peugeot 306 GTi	50	+ 3 LAPS	53.004
18	Nick BEAUMONT	Team B&Q/Talksport Radio	Honda Integra Type-R	50	+ 3 LAPS	53.554
19	Dave ALLAN	Synchro Motorsport	Honda Accord	49	+ 4 LAPS	53.795
20	John B-AND-Q	Team B&Q/Talksport Radio	Honda Integra Type-R	49	+ 4 LAPS	54.74
R	Simon HARRISON	HTML	Peugeot 306 GTi	47	DNF	51.799
R	Yvan MULLER	Vauxhall Motorsport	Vauxhall Astra Coupé	22	DNF	49.226
R	Andy NEATE	Cranfield Automotive Management	Mitsubishi Carisma	10	DNF	54.069
R	David PINKNEY	JS Motorsport	Alfa Romeo 147	8	DNF	54.333
R	Richard MEINS	GR Motorsport	Ford Focus	1	DNF	1:01.591
R	Annie TEMPLETON	Tech-Speed Motorsport	Peugeot 306 GTi	0	DNF	N/A
NS	Rob COLLARD	Collard Racing	Renault Clio	–	DNS	N/A
NS	Colin BLAIR	GA-Janspeed Racing	Alfa Romeo 156	–	DNS	N/A
NS	Matt KELLY	Bintcliffe Sport Racing	Nissan Primera	–	DNS	N/A

A Promise of More Adrenaline

Round Two at Brands Hatch was a showcase of what the new BTCC era is all about: cutting-edge technology, strategic brilliance, and on-track drama that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

With both championships – touring and production – offering fiercely competitive action, the promise of more breathtaking battles loomed large as the season unfolds.

Next up: Round 3 & 4 at Thruxton.

Touring Car Team Championship Standings After Round 1 & 2

Team	Points
Team Egg Sport	25
Peugeot Sport UK	14
Vauxhall Motorsport	12
JSM	0

Production Car Team Championship Standings After Round 1 & 2

Team	Points
Barwell Motorsport	19
GR Motorsport	16
HTML	12
Tech-Speed Motorsport	8
Tech-Speed Motorsport	5
Cranfield Automotive	3
TCR	2
Tom Boardman Racing	1