1997 British Touring Car Championship season

The 1997 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship was won by Alain Menu of the Williams Renault Laguna Dealer Racing team, who drove a Renault Laguna. The runner up was Frank Biela of Audi Sport UK in an Audi A4 Quattro. Third place was Menu's teammate, Jason Plato. In the independent class the championship was won by Robb Gravett in a Honda Accord.

Entry List

BTCC

Team Car No. Drivers Class Rounds Audi Sport UK Audi A4 quattro 1 Frank Biela M All 7 John Bintcliffe M All Williams Renault Dealer Racing Renault Laguna 2 Alain Menu M All 22 Jason Plato M All Volvo S40 Racing Volvo S40 3 Rickard Rydell M All 11 Kelvin Burt M All Vodafone Nissan Racing Nissan Primera GT 4 David Leslie M All 23 Anthony Reid M All Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Vectra 8 John Cleland M All 88 Derek Warwick M All Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo 9 Will Hoy M All 15 Paul Radisich M All Team Honda Sport Honda Accord 10 James Thompson M All 20 Gabriele Tarquini M All Esso Ultron Team Peugeot Peugeot 406 12 Tim Harvey M All 14 Patrick Watts M All Brookes Motorsport Peugeot 406 17 Lee Brookes I All Janco Motorsport Opel Vectra 18 Jan Brunstedt I 2 Team DCRS BMW 318i 19 Colin Gallie I All Mint Motorsport Vauxhall Cavalier 25 Jamie Wall I All ProMotor Sport Vauxhall Cavalier 28 Ian Heward I 6, 9-10, 12 Rock-It Cargo Honda Accord 29 Robb Gravett I 2-12 Team Dynamics Ford Mondeo 77 Matt Neal I 1-5 Nissan Primera eGT 6-12

Icon Class M Manufacturer I Independent

RAC Tourist Trophy

Team Car No. Drivers Class Williams Renault Dealer Racing Renault Laguna 1 Alain Menu M 3 Jason Plato M Audi Sport UK Audi A4 quattro 2 Frank Biela M 7 John Bintcliffe M Audi A4 18 Yvan Muller M Volvo S40 Racing Volvo S40 4 Rickard Rydell M 14 Armin Hahne M Vodafone Nissan Racing Nissan Primera GT 8 David Leslie M 11 Anthony Reid M 17 Paula Cook M Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Vectra 12 John Cleland M Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo 15 Paul Radisich M 16 Will Hoy M Team Honda Sport Honda Accord 21 Aaron Slight M 22 Jonny Kane M Abt Sportsline Audi A4 quattro 23 Christian Abt I 24 Kris Nissen I Mint Motorsport Vauxhall Cavalier 25 Tim Sugden I Janco Motorsport Opel Vectra 27 Jan Brunstedt I Tord Linnerud Opel Vectra 28 Tord Linnerud I Team Dynamics Ford Mondeo 77 Matt Neal I Nissan Primera eGT 78 Kari Mäkinen I

Icon Class M Manufacturer I Independent

Calendar

Round		Circuit	Date	Pole Position	Fastest Lap	Winning Driver	Winning Team	Winning Independent
1	R1	Donington Park (Grand Prix), Leicestershire	March 31	Jason Plato	Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Williams Renault Dealer Racing	Colin Gallie
	R2			Jason Plato	Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Williams Renault Dealer Racing	Colin Gallie
2	R3	Silverstone Circuit (International), Northamptonshire	April 20	Jason Plato	Jason Plato	Alain Menu	Williams Renault Dealer Racing	Robb Gravett
	R4			Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Williams Renault Dealer Racing	Robb Gravett
3	R5	Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire	May 5	Alain Menu	James Thompson	Frank Biela	Audi Sport UK	Matt Neal
	R6			Alain Menu	James Thompson	Gabriele Tarquini	Team Honda Sport	Matt Neal
4	R7	Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent	May 18	Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Williams Renault Dealer Racing	Robb Gravett
	R8			Gabriele Tarquini	Alain Menu	James Thompson	Team Honda Sport	Robb Gravett
5	R9	Oulton Park (Fosters), Cheshire	May 26	Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Williams Renault Dealer Racing	Colin Gallie
	R10			Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Williams Renault Dealer Racing	Lee Brookes
6	R11	Donington Park (National), Leicestershire	June 15	Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Frank Biela	Audi Sport UK	Lee Brookes
	R12			Alain Menu	Gabriele Tarquini	Alain Menu	Williams Renault Dealer Racing	Lee Brookes
7	R13	Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire	June 29	Alain Menu1	Gabriele Tarquini	Alain Menu	Williams Renault Dealer Racing	Matt Neal
	R14			Alain Menu1	Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Williams Renault Dealer Racing	Lee Brookes
8	R15	Knockhill Racing Circuit, Fife	August 3	John Bintcliffe	Frank Biela	John Bintcliffe	Audi Sport UK	Robb Gravett
	R16			Frank Biela	Frank Biela	Frank Biela	Audi Sport UK	Robb Gravett
9	R17	Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit, Norfolk	August 10	Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Williams Renault Dealer Racing	Lee Brookes
	R18			Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Jason Plato	Williams Renault Dealer Racing	Matt Neal
10	R19	Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire	August 25	Rickard Rydell	Gabriele Tarquini	John Bintcliffe	Audi Sport UK	Lee Brookes
	R20			James Thompson	Frank Biela	Frank Biela	Audi Sport UK	Lee Brookes
11	R21	Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent	September 7	Frank Biela2	Anthony Reid	Frank Biela	Audi Sport UK	Lee Brookes
	R22			Anthony Reid3	Rickard Rydell	Rickard Rydell	Volvo S40 Racing	Lee Brookes
12	R23	Silverstone Circuit (International), Northamptonshire	September 21	Jason Plato	Anthony Reid	Alain Menu	Williams Renault Dealer Racing	Matt Neal
	R24			Alain Menu	Alain Menu	Jason Plato	Williams Renault Dealer Racing	Matt Neal

¹Qualifying cancelled. Grids set by championship standings.
²Qualifying cancelled. Grid set by fastest times in Sunday warm-up.
³Qualifying cancelled. Grid set by fastest laps in race 1.

Drivers' Championship

Drivers top 22 results count towards the championship.

Pos. Driver DON SIL THR BHI OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BHI SIL Pts 1 Alain Menu 1 1 1 1 3 3 1 4 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 Ret 1 2 17 2 3 3 1 2 281 2 Frank Biela Ret 3 7 Ret 1 Ret 9 6 3 Ret 1 3 4 17 2 1 3 9 2 1 1 5 8 15 171 3 Jason Plato 2 Ret 10 3 Ret 7 3 5 2 4 4 Ret 2 4 Ret 5 4 1 7 6 2 Ret 3 1 170 4 Rickard Rydell Ret 2 2 2 5 5 7 16 6 3 5 7 3 9 4 7 5 5 Ret 7 15 1 18 7 137 5 James Thompson Ret 6 Ret 9 6 Ret 2 1 Ret 2 6 11 5 2 6 Ret 2 4 3 3 Ret Ret 7 4 132 6 Gabriele Tarquini 7 4 5 15 2 1 6 2 Ret Ret Ret 6 17 Ret 7 3 Ret 3 4 4 Ret 7 4 3 130 7 John Bintcliffe 5 5 Ret Ret 4 8 Ret 12 4 5 3 4 9 6 1 2 12 11 1 5 4 11 11 Ret 118 8 David Leslie 4 11 3 Ret 7 11 4 3 10 6 9 Ret Ret 3 11 Ret 9 6 8 10 6 8 6 6 87 9 Tim Harvey 10 Ret 11 4 9 2 Ret 10 Ret 8 7 2 10 7 14 9 8 15 6 13 5 9 13 Ret 66 10 Kelvin Burt 3 9 4 Ret Ret 13 8 8 9 Ret 8 Ret 12 12 8 4 Ret 8 Ret 16 14 6 5 8 60 11 Anthony Reid Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 4 5 14 7 Ret 11 Ret Ret 8 5 Ret Ret 10 13 Ret Ret 2 2 Ret 56 12 John Cleland 11 Ret 6 6 14 9 11 9 5 12 12 8 6 5 10 6 7 16 19 11 13 12 12 11 44 13 Paul Radisch 6 7 Ret Ret 10 10 Ret 7 8 7 Ret Ret Ret 11 Ret Ret 6 Ret 14 12 Ret 4 10 5 41 14 Derek Warwick 9 8 8 5 15 6 10 11 11 Ret Ret 10 7 10 9 13 11 Ret 9 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret 33 15 Will Hoy Ret DNS 12 7 11 12 DSQ 17 DNS DNS 13 9 8 Ret 12 14 10 7 5 9 7 Ret Ret 10 27 16 Patrick Watts 8 Ret 9 8 12 Ret Ret Ret Ret 15 10 5 11 16 18 8 Ret Ret 12 Ret 8 10 9 9 26 17 Lee Brookes Ret Ret 14 11 Ret DNS 13 15 16 9 14 12 NC 13 17 15 13 Ret 10 14 9 13 15 16 5 18 Robb Gravett 13 10 16 16 12 13 14 13 17 Ret 15 14 13 10 14 13 16 Ret 10 14 16 14 3 19 Colin Gallie 12 10 15 12 17 15 DNS DNS 12 10 15 15 16 15 15 11 15 14 15 17 11 15 17 13 2 20 Jamie Wall 13 Ret 16 13 18 17 14 Ret 13 11 18 14 14 Ret 16 12 Ret DNS 18 15 12 17 19 17 0 21 Matt Neal Ret 12 Ret DNS 13 14 15 DNS 15 14 16 13 13 Ret Ret DNS Ret 12 11 Ret Ret 16 14 12 0 22 Jan Brunstedt 17 14 0 23 Ian Heward Ret 16 DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 Privateers' Championship 1 Robb Gravett 13 10 16 16 12 13 14 13 17 Ret 15 14 13 10 14 13 16 Ret 10 14 16 14 236 2 Lee Brookes Ret Ret 14 11 Ret DNS 13 15 16 9 14 12 NC 13 17 15 13 Ret 10 14 9 13 15 16 225 3 Colin Gallie 12 10 15 12 17 15 DNS DNS 12 10 15 15 16 15 15 11 15 14 15 17 11 15 17 13 225 4 Jamie Wall 13 Ret 16 13 18 17 14 Ret 13 11 18 14 14 Ret 16 12 Ret DNS 18 15 12 17 19 17 168 5 Matt Neal Ret 12 Ret DNS 13 14 15 DNS 15 14 16 13 13 Ret Ret DNS Ret 12 11 Ret Ret 16 14 12 166 6 Jan Brunstedt 17 14 12 7 Ian Heward Ret 16 DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 6 Pos. Driver DON SIL THR BHI OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BHI SIL Pts

Colour Result Gold Winner Silver 2nd place Bronze 3rd place Green Finished, in points Blue Finished, no points Not classified (NC) Purple Did not finish (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Withdrew (WD) Race cancelled (C) Blank Did not participate Excluded (EX)

Note: bold signifies pole position (1 point awarded all races), italics signifies fastest lap.

Manufacturers Championship

Pos Manufacturer DON SIL THR BHI OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BHI SIL Pts 1 Renault / Williams Renault Dealer Racing 1 1 1 1 3 3 1 4 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 5 1 1 7 2 2 3 1 1 278 2 Audi / Audi Sport UK 5 3 7 Ret 1 8 9 6 3 5 1 3 4 6 1 1 3 9 1 1 1 5 8 15 210 3 Honda / Team Honda Sport 7 4 5 9 2 1 2 1 Ret 2 6 6 5 2 6 3 2 3 3 3 Ret 7 4 3 209 4 Volvo / Volvo S40 Racing 3 2 2 2 5 5 7 8 6 3 5 7 3 9 4 4 5 5 Ret 7 14 1 5 7 191 5 Nissan / Vodafone Nissan Racing 4 11 3 Ret 7 4 4 3 7 6 9 Ret Ret 3 5 Ret 9 6 8 10 6 2 2 6 155 6 Peugeot / Esso Ultron Team Peugeot 8 Ret 9 4 9 2 Ret 10 Ret 8 7 2 10 7 14 8 8 15 6 13 5 9 9 9 118 7 Ford / Team Mondeo 6 7 12 7 10 10 DSQ 7 8 7 13 9 8 11 12 14 6 7 5 9 7 4 10 5 113 8 Vauxhall / Vauxhall Sport 9 8 6 5 14 6 10 9 5 12 12 8 6 5 9 6 7 16 9 8 13 12 12 11 106 Pos Manufacturer DON SIL THR BHI OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BHI SIL Pts Teams Championship Pos Team DON SIL THR BHI OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BHI SIL Pts 1 Williams Renault Dealer Racing 1 1 1 1 3 3 1 4 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 5 1 1 7 2 2 3 1 1 422 2 Ret 10 3 Ret 7 3 5 2 4 4 Ret 2 4 Ret Ret 4 2 17 6 3 Ret 3 2 2 Audi Sport UK 5 3 7 Ret 1 8 9 6 3 5 1 3 4 6 1 1 3 9 1 1 1 5 8 15 283 Ret 5 Ret Ret 4 Ret Ret 12 4 Ret 3 4 9 17 2 2 12 11 2 5 4 11 11 Ret 3 Team Honda Sport 7 4 5 9 2 1 2 1 Ret 2 6 6 5 2 6 3 2 3 3 3 Ret 7 4 3 254 Ret 6 Ret 15 6 Ret 6 2 Ret Ret Ret 11 17 Ret 7 Ret Ret 4 4 4 Ret Ret 7 4 4 Volvo S40 Racing 3 2 2 2 5 5 7 8 6 3 5 7 3 9 4 4 5 5 Ret 7 14 1 5 7 191 Ret 9 4 Ret Ret 13 10 16 9 Ret 8 Ret 12 12 8 7 Ret 8 Ret 16 15 6 18 8 5 Vodafone Nissan Racing 4 11 3 Ret 7 4 4 3 7 6 9 Ret Ret 3 5 Ret 9 6 8 10 6 2 2 6  ? Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 11 5 14 10 Ret 11 Ret Ret 8 11 Ret Ret 10 13 Ret Ret 8 6 Ret 6 Esso Ultron Team Peugeot 8 Ret 9 4 9 2 Ret 10 Ret 8 7 2 10 7 14 8 8 15 6 13 5 9 9 9  ? 10 Ret 11 8 12 Ret Ret Ret Ret 15 10 5 11 16 18 9 Ret Ret 12 Ret 8 10 13 Ret 7 Team Mondeo 6 7 12 7 10 10 DSQ 7 8 7 13 9 8 11 12 14 6 7 5 9 7 4 10 5  ? Ret DNS Ret Ret 11 12 Ret 17 DNS DNS Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 Ret 14 12 Ret Ret Ret 10 8 Vauxhall Sport 9 8 6 5 14 6 10 9 5 12 12 8 6 5 9 6 7 16 9 8 13 12 12 11  ? 11 Ret 8 6 15 9 11 11 11 Ret Ret 10 7 10 10 13 11 Ret 19 11 Ret Ret Ret Ret 9 Brookes Motorsport Ret Ret 14 11 Ret DNS 13 15 16 9 14 12 NC 13 17 15 13 Ret 10 14 9 13 15 16 5 10 Rock-It Cargo 13 10 16 16 12 13 14 13 17 Ret 15 14 13 10 14 13 16 Ret 10 14 16 14 3 11 Team DCRS 12 10 15 12 17 15 DNS DNS 12 10 15 15 16 15 15 11 15 14 15 17 11 15 17 13 2 11 Mint Motorsport 13 Ret 16 13 18 17 14 Ret 13 11 18 14 14 Ret 16 12 Ret DNS 18 15 12 17 19 17 0 12 Team Dynamics Ret 12 Ret DNS 13 14 15 DNS 15 14 16 13 13 Ret Ret DNS Ret 12 11 Ret Ret 16 14 12 0 13 Janco Motorsport 17 14 0 14 ProMotor Sport Ret 16 DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 Pos Team DON SIL THR BHI OUL DON CRO KNO SNE THR BHI SIL Pts RAC Tourist Trophy Results Pos. Driver DON 1 Alain Menu 4 1 1 2 Jason Plato 2 ? 2 3 Rickard Rydell 3 5 3 4 Frank Biela ? ? 4 5 Yvan Muller ? ? 5 6 Anthony Reid 1 ? 6 7 Will Hoy ? 3 7 8 Armin Hahne ? ? 8 9 John Bintcliffe ? ? 9 10 Kris Nissen ? ? 10 11 Matt Neal ? ? 11 12 Christian Abt ? ? 12 13 Paula Cook ? ? 13 14 Jonny Kane ? ? 14 15 Tim Sugden ? ? 15 16 Kari Makinen ? ? 16 17 Jan Brunstedt ? ? 17 - David Leslie ? 2 Ret - John Cleland ? ? Ret - Paul Radisich ? ? Ret - Tord Linnerud Ret DNS DNS - Aaron Slight Ret DNS DNS External links BTCC Pages Touring-Cars.net Super Touring Register 1997 Teams Championship Results v t e British Saloon/Touring Car Championship 1958 • 1959 • 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012