2011 British Touring Car Championship

The 2011 Dunlop[1] MSA British Touring Car Championship was the 54th British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season.

Matt Neal (pictured in 2012), the 2011 Drivers' Champion
Neal's teammate, Gordon Shedden (pictured in 2007), finished the season in second
Jason Plato, finished third, 13 points behind Gordon Shedden
Gordon Shedden's Honda Civic.

Cars conforming to the Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC) specification were allowed to compete in the championship for the first time, in a phased transition from Super 2000 specification to the NGTC specification. The season was also the final time that cars built to the BTC Touring specification were allowed to compete, ending the specification's decade of competition in the BTCC.[2]

Team Dynamics' Matt Neal claimed his third BTCC title after finishing 8th in the final round of the season, two places ahead of teammate and rival Gordon Shedden, who was beaten to the title by eight points. Reigning Champion Jason Plato finished third after suffering a puncture in the first race of the final meeting at Silverstone. With the Hondas claiming a 1–2, this all but eliminated Plato from the title fight.

Joint fourth in the outright championship were Independents' title protagonists Mat Jackson and James Nash, with Jackson finishing fourth on merit of race wins, four to Nash's one. Nash, however, claimed the Independents' title in the first race at Silverstone after Jackson also suffered a puncture. Both however had torrid races after, failing to score points in both races. Nash's team, Triple 8 Race Engineering also claimed the Independents Teams' championship.

With Neal and Shedden first and second in the Drivers' championship, Honda easily clinched both the Teams' and Manufacturers' championships.

Teams and drivers edit

The entry list for the 2011 season was revealed at the championship's Media Day held at Silverstone on 24 March 2011.[3]

TeamCarEngineNo.DriversRounds
Constructor S2000 Entries
Silverline ChevroletChevrolet Cruze LTChevrolet/RML1 Jason PlatoAll
20 Alex MacDowallAll
Constructor S2000 Entries (NGTC Engine)
Honda Racing TeamHonda CivicHonda/Neil Brown2 Matt NealAll
52 Gordon SheddenAll
Independent Constructor S2000 Entries (NGTC Engine)
Team AonFord Focus ST Mk.IIIFord/Mountune4 Tom Onslow-Cole5–10
5 Tom ChiltonAll
44 Andy NeateAll
Independent NGTC Entries
DynojetToyota AvensisToyota/XCtechR11 Frank WrathallAll
Rob Austin RacingAudi A4Audi/Ric Wood12 David Pinkney1
13 Rob Austin2–3
Audi/Lehmann4–10
31 Chris Swanwick9–10
Welch AutomotiveProton GEN•2TOCA/Swindon42 Daniel Welch6–10
Speedworks MotorsportToyota AvensisTOCA/Swindon50 Tony Hughes1–2, 4, 6, 9–10
Thorney MotorsportVauxhall InsigniaTOCA/Swindon67 John Thorne10
Independent S2000 Entries (NGTC Engine)
Airwaves RacingFord Focus ST Mk.IIFord/Mountune6 Michael Caine8–9
James Thompson10
7 Mat JacksonAll
66 Liam GriffinAll
888 Racing with
Collins Contractors
Vauxhall VectraTOCA/Swindon14 James NashAll
34 Tony Gilham1–6
48 Ollie Jackson9–10
88 Árón Smith7
Special Tuning RacingSEAT LeónSEAT/Lehmann17 Dave Newsham4–10
22 Tom BoardmanAll
Geoff Steel RacingBMW 320siTOCA/Swindon34 Tony Gilham10
Pirtek RacingVauxhall VectraTOCA/Swindon55 Jeff SmithAll
77 Andrew JordanAll
AmD Milltek Racing.comVolkswagen GolfVolkswagen/Lehmann99 Tom Onslow-Cole1–4
Shaun Hollamby5
Martin Byford6–10
Independent S2000 Entries
WSRBMW 320siBMW/Schnitzer8 Rob CollardAll
18 Nick FosterAll
Geoff Steel RacingBMW 320siBMW/Schnitzer17 Dave Newsham1–2
34 Tony Gilham8–9
GoMobileUK.com
with tech-speed
Chevrolet Cruze LTChevrolet/RML28 John GeorgeAll
29 Paul O'NeillAll
Team ES RacingChevrolet LacettiChevrolet/RML78 Chris JamesAll
Independent BTC-T Entries
Central Group RacingHonda Integra Type-RHonda/Neil Brown43 Lea Wood4–6, 8–10

Driver changes edit

Changed teams
Entering/re-entering BTCC
Leaving BTCC
  • Shaun Hollamby will revert to a team principal role within the AmD Milltek Racing with YourRacingCar team.
  • Steven Kane will move into sportscars, racing in the SPEED EuroSeries with HMR.

Team changes edit

  • Rob Austin will enter the series, with his own team running two Audi A4s to NGTC specification.
  • Dynojet will enter the series, running a single NGTC Toyota Avensis.
  • Speedworks Motorsport will enter the series, becoming the first team to commit to the new Next Generation Touring Car, running two cars.
  • Motorbase Performance will switch from BMWs to Fords, running under the Airwaves Racing banner.[4]
  • Geoff Steel will enter the series running a BMW for Dave Newsham.[5]

Mid-season changes edit

Driver changes
Team changes
  • Geoff Steel Racing were absent from Truxton to Rockingham after failing to secure a replacement for the departed Newsham. From Rockingham Tony Gilham was the sole entry for the team, including NGTC engine swap for the final round.
  • Welch Motorsport entered a single NGTC Proton Gen-2 in the second half of the 2011 season, with a debut at Snetterton. The car was driven by Daniel Welch.[9]
  • Triple 8 entered a single car for James Nash at Rockingham.
  • Thorney Motorsport entered the series at the Silverstone round, running NGTC Vauxhall Insignia for the team owner John Thorne.

Race calendar and results edit

All races were held in the United Kingdom. The calendar was announced by the championship organisers on 8 September 2010, with no major changes from 2010.[10]

RoundCircuitDatePole PositionFastest LapWinning driverWinning team
1R1Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent3 April Matt Neal James Nash Jason PlatoSilverline Chevrolet
R2 Matt Neal Jason PlatoSilverline Chevrolet
R3 Matt Neal Matt NealHonda Racing Team
2R4Donington Park (National), Leicestershire17 April Matt Neal Matt Neal Matt NealHonda Racing Team
R5 Tom Boardman Andrew JordanPirtek Racing
R6 Mat Jackson Mat JacksonAirwaves Racing
3R7Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire1 May Gordon Shedden Mat Jackson Gordon SheddenHonda Racing Team
R8 Alex MacDowall Matt NealHonda Racing Team
R9 Jason Plato Jason PlatoSilverline Chevrolet
4R10Oulton Park (Island), Cheshire5 June Gordon Shedden Dave Newsham Gordon SheddenHonda Racing Team
R11 Gordon Shedden Jason PlatoSilverline Chevrolet
R12 Matt Neal Mat JacksonAirwaves Racing
5R13Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire19 June Jason Plato Mat Jackson Matt NealHonda Racing Team
R14 Matt Neal Matt NealHonda Racing Team
R15 Rob Collard Mat JacksonAirwaves Racing
6R16Snetterton (300) Circuit, Norfolk7 August Jason Plato Jason Plato Jason PlatoSilverline Chevrolet
R17 Rob Austin Gordon SheddenHonda Racing Team
R18 Mat Jackson Mat JacksonAirwaves Racing
7R19Knockhill Racing Circuit, Fife4 September Tom Chilton Tom Chilton Tom ChiltonTeam Aon
R20 Mat Jackson Gordon SheddenHonda Racing Team
R21 Frank Wrathall Tom BoardmanSpecial Tuning Racing
8R22Rockingham Motor Speedway, Northamptonshire18 September Jason Plato Frank Wrathall Jason PlatoSilverline Chevrolet
R23 Gordon Shedden Gordon SheddenHonda Racing Team
R24 Jason Plato James Nash888 Racing with Collins Contractors
9R25Brands Hatch (GP), Kent2 October Jason Plato Jason Plato Jason PlatoSilverline Chevrolet
R26 Jason Plato Jason PlatoSilverline Chevrolet
R27 Matt Neal Matt NealHonda Racing Team
10R28Silverstone (National), Northamptonshire16 October Matt Neal Mat Jackson Matt NealHonda Racing Team
R29 Mat Jackson Gordon SheddenHonda Racing Team
R30 James Thompson Tom ChiltonTeam Aon

Championship standings edit

Points system
 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th Fastest LapLead a lap
151210865432111
  • No driver may collect more than one "Lead a Lap" point per race no matter how many laps they lead.
  • Race 1 polesitter receives 1 point.

Drivers' Championship edit

(key)

PosDriverBHIDONTHROULCROSNEKNOROCBHGPSILPts
1 Matt NealRet71*1*372*1*58*Ret41*1*71817422*44361871*1*28257
2 Gordon Shedden624DSQ6Ret1*2*61*6*254631*731*561*211982*21*10249
3 Jason Plato1*1*518Ret6Ret81*21*114Ret111*3377Ret*1*4*51*1*6Ret72236
4 Mat Jackson4325101*652Ret91*251*661*19RetRetRetRet13225202621191
5 James Nash2463*23864421381155266815961*46331517191
6 Andrew Jordan1662021*2337104363412914997Ret138DNS168755143
7 Tom Chilton38844Ret44Ret17107769912131*4*61311187541281*135
8 Rob Collard179765Ret1214135314323231012552Ret103822Ret82323108
9 Alex MacDowall51316994*1078351814Ret824512Ret101215113RetRet594100
10 Paul O'Neill7538Ret8131114137Ret9RetRet7521314Ret27464RetRetRet1291
11 Tom BoardmanRetRet107RetRet593RetNC510RetRetRetDNSDNS861*8Ret10Ret119Ret6376
12 Frank WrathallRetDNSDNS16NCNCRetDNSRetRet13Ret12RetRet4RetDNS433329Ret13Ret1025965
13 Tom Onslow-Cole13Ret12117Ret7DNS101116DNS1110138811Ret1181912Ret53743761
14 Nick Foster12141412Ret1015161768913721311911109551210101013Ret1647
15 Dave Newsham101111Ret15Ret12178198101078*151211RetRet15Ret171164Ret31
16 Rob AustinRetRet13RetDNSDNSRet1216RetNCRet15Ret10RetRetRet792*131413Ret12626
17 Jeff Smith916131013591211RetRet1015Ret141116171618141487Ret241417162519
18 Andy Neate1112151411Ret1613129156Ret9Ret16RetRet14151311RetDNS99Ret911Ret15
19 Tony Gilham8109158Ret1110914Ret12Ret1212Ret13151514171523RetRet191912
20 Lea Wood71115161519Ret1518DNSDNSDNSRet21Ret1817204
21 Liam GriffinRet181813Ret91417151518Ret18Ret161714RetRetRet161616191619151514132
22 Daniel Welch221819NC1612RetRet14RetRetDSQ1110141
23 Michael Caine10Ret201212121
24 Árón Smith1013Ret1
25 James ThompsonRetRet181
26 Ollie Jackson1118171613110
27 John George141517Ret1211171516RetRetRetRet141719RetRet17RetRet1719221420201420220
28 Chris James15171917141218Ret18RetRetDNSRetRet1820DNSRet1817171817232025182122240
29 Shaun Hollamby1713150
30 Martin Byford14Ret16RetRetRet201816221516Ret24150
31 Tony HughesRet19211916Ret16141721RetDNS2126211921Ret0
32 Chris Swanwick1727192218Ret0
John ThorneRetDNSDNS0
David PinkneyDNSDNSDNS0
PosDriverBHIDONTHROULCROSNEKNOROCBHGPSILPts
  • Note: bold signifies pole position (1 point given in first race only, and race 2 and 3 poles are based on race results), italics signifies fastest lap (1 point given all races) and * signifies at least one lap in the lead (1 point given all races).

Manufacturers'/Constructors' Championship edit

PosManufacturer/ConstructorBHIDONTHROULCROSNEKNOROCBHGPSILPts
1Honda / Honda Racing Team6211371151621163142144161871118621
Ret74DSQ6Ret2268Ret454718177325632119822210
2Chevrolet / Silverline Chevrolet115994107121114Ret81337710145116572496
5131618Ret6Ret88351814Ret1124512RetRet1215113RetRetRet94
3Ford / Team Aon38844Ret441291067698811146111118534431438
1112151411Ret1613Ret171571191391213141181312Ret757987
PosManufacturer/ConstructorBHIDONTHROULCROSNEKNOROCBHGPSILPts

Teams' Championship edit

PosTeamBHIDONTHROULCROSNEKNOROCBHGPSILPts
1Honda Racing Team6211371151621163142144161871118464
Ret74DSQ6Ret2268Ret454718177325632119822210
2Silverline Chevrolet115994107121114Ret81337710145116572295
5131618Ret6Ret88351814Ret1124512RetRet1215113RetRetRet94
3888 Racing with
Collins Contractors
24632386442128115526681596146331311203
8109158Ret1110914Ret13Ret1212Ret13151013Ret111817161517
4Team Aon38844Ret441291067698811146111118534431192
1112151411Ret1613Ret171571191391213141181312Ret757987
5Airwaves Racing4325101652159125166119Ret16101613225151413183
Ret181813Ret9141715Ret18Ret18Ret161714RetRetRetRet16Ret19121212202618
6WSR12976510121413539322131095525538101082316156
17141412RetRet1516176814137323111211109Ret10121022Ret13Ret23
7Pirtek Racing96132123371043634119149971487Ret168755151
1616201013591211RetRet1015Ret14121617161814Ret138DNS2414171625
8GoMobileUK.com with
tech-speed
7538128131114137Ret914177521314Ret274642014201291
141517RetRet11171516RetRetRetRetRetRet19RetRet17RetRet1719221420RetRetRet22
9Special Tuning RacingRetRet107RetRet593121751081010788618Ret10Ret11964383
RetNC819RetRetRetDNSDNS151211RetRet15Ret1711Ret6Ret
10DynojetRetDNSDNS16NCNCRetDNSRetRet13Ret12RetRet4RetDNS433329Ret13Ret1025955
11Rob Austin RacingDNSDNSDNSRetRet13RetDNSDNSRet1216RetNCRet15Ret10RetRetRet7921314132212624
172719Ret18Ret
12AmD Milltek Racing.com13Ret12117Ret7DNS101116DNS17131514Ret16RetRetRet201816221516Ret24159
13Central Group Racing71115161519Ret1518DNSDNSDNSRet21Ret1817204
14Welch Automotive221819NC1612RetRet14RetRetDSQ1110141
15Geoff Steel Racing101111Ret15Ret1514171523RetRet19191
16Team ES Racing15171917141218Ret18RetRetDNSRetRet1820DNSRet1817171817232025182122240
17Speedworks MotorsportRet19211916Ret16141721RetDNS2126211921Ret0
Thorney MotorsportRetDNSDNS0
PosTeamBHIDONTHROULCROSNEKNOROCBHGPSILPts

Independents' Trophy edit

PosDriverBHIDONTHROULCROSNEKNOROCBHGPSILPts
1 James Nash24632386442138115526681596146331517268
2 Mat Jackson4325101652Ret9125166119RetRetRetRet13225202621236
3 Andrew Jordan16620212337104363412914997Ret138DNS168755209
4 Tom Chilton38844Ret44Ret17107769912131461311187541281197
5 Rob Collard179765Ret1214135314323231012552Ret103822Ret82323157
6 Paul O'Neill7538Ret8131114137Ret9RetRet7521314Ret27464RetRetRet12147
7 Tom Onslow-Cole13Ret12117Ret7DNS101116DNS1110138811Ret1181912Ret537437123
8 Tom BoardmanRetRet107RetRet593RetNC510RetRetRetDNSDNS8618Ret10Ret119Ret63117
9 Nick Foster12141412Ret1015161768913721311911109551210101013Ret16104
10 Frank WrathallRetDNSDNS16NCNCRetDNSRetRet13Ret12RetRet4RetDNS433329Ret13Ret1025996
11 Dave Newsham101111Ret15Ret12178198101078151211RetRet15Ret171164Ret77
12 Andy Neate1112151411Ret1613129156Ret9Ret16RetRet14151311RetDNS99Ret911Ret54
13 Jeff Smith916131013591211RetRet1015Ret141116171618141487Ret241417162549
14 Rob AustinRetRet13RetDNSDNSRet1216RetNCRet15Ret10RetRetRet792131413Ret12645
15 Tony Gilham8109158Ret1110914Ret12Ret1212Ret13151514171523RetRet191942
16 Lea Wood71115161519Ret1518DNSDNSDNSRet21Ret18172011
17 Daniel Welch221819NC1612RetRet14RetRetDSQ11101411
18 Michael Caine10Ret201212129
19 Liam GriffinRet181813Ret91417151518Ret18Ret161714RetRetRet161616191619151514138
20 Ollie Jackson1118171613118
21 Árón Smith1013Ret5
22 John George141517Ret1211171516RetRetRetRet141719RetRet17RetRet1719221420201420225
23 Chris James15171917141218Ret18RetRetDNSRetRet1820DNSRet1817171817232025182122242
24 Shaun Hollamby1713150
25 Martin Byford14Ret16RetRetRet201816221516Ret24150
26 Tony HughesRet19211916Ret16141721RetDNS2126211921Ret0
27 Chris Swanwick1727192218Ret0
28 James ThompsonRetRet180
John ThorneRetDNSDNS0
David PinkneyDNSDNSDNS0
PosDriverBHIDONTHROULCROSNEKNOROCBHGPSILPts

Independent Teams' Trophy edit

PosTeamBHIDONTHROULCROSNEKNOROCBHGPSILPts
1888 Racing with Collins Contractors24632386442128115526681596146331311293
2Airwaves Racing4325101652159125166119Ret16101613225151413262
3Team Aon38844Ret441291067698811146111118534431250
4Pirtek Racing96132123371043634119149971487Ret168755225
5WSR12976510121413539322131095525538101082316218
6GoMobileUK.com with tech-speed7538128131114137Ret914177521314Ret2746420142012177
7Special Tuning RacingRetRet107RetRet593121751081010788618Ret10Ret119643152
8DynojetRetDNSDNS16NCNCRetDNSRetRet13Ret12RetRet4RetDNS433329Ret13Ret1025986
9Rob Austin RacingDNSDNSDNSRetRet13RetDNSDNSRet1216RetNCRet15Ret10RetRetRet7921314132212667
10AmD Milltek Racing.com13Ret12117Ret7DNS101116DNS17131514Ret16RetRetRet201816221516Ret241553
11Team ES Racing15171917141218Ret18RetRetDNSRetRet1820DNSRet18171718172320251821222434
12Central Group Racing71115161519Ret1518DNSDNSDNSRet21Ret18172031
13Geoff Steel Racing101111Ret15Ret1514171523RetRet191925
14Welch Automotive221819NC1612RetRet14RetRetDSQ11101414
15Speedworks MotorsportRet19211916Ret16141721RetDNS2126211921Ret9
Thorney MotorsportRetDNSDNS0
PosTeamBHIDONTHROULCROSNEKNOROCBHGPSILPts

Notes edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Dunlop returns as title sponsor in 2010". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 27 November 2009. Archived from the original on 2012-03-04. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  2. ^ Hudson, Neil (26 February 2011). "BTC-spec cars get another year". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  3. ^ "Record entry list for BTCC". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 24 March 2011. Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  4. ^ Hudson, Neil (8 December 2010). "Airwaves BMW switches to Ford". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  5. ^ "Steel & Bell planning return". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 23 February 2011. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  6. ^ "Austin to race at Donington". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 8 April 2011. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  7. ^ "Onslow-Cole joins Aon". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 6 June 2011. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  8. ^ Mappin, James (26 April 2011). "Newsham To Switch To STR". BTCC Crazy. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  9. ^ "New team plans Proton entry". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 16 February 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  10. ^ "BTCC issues 2011 dates". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 8 September 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2010.

External links edit