The 1990 Esso RAC British Touring Car Championship season was the 33rd British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season and marked the last year of the Group A era. It was also the final year of the multi-class format.

Changes for 1990

  • Classes changed from four to two. Group A cars now ran alongside the all new 2 litre Touring Car Formula, with a view to a single class formula for 1991. This was to encourage new manufacturers to enter the series, with a more even field of cars and cheaper running costs. BMW and Vauxhall already entered works teams this year, with other manufacturers showing interest for future seasons.
  • One hour endurance races increased from one to two.

Season summary

The first race was won by Andy Rouse in his Ford Sierra RS500. He also won the first 1 Hour endurance race at Donington Park GP with David Sears. The next race at Thruxton was won by Robb Gravett. Gravett also won the next six races including the second 1 Hour endurance race at Brands Hatch with Mike Smith. Rouse won the Birmingham Superprix. This would be best remembered for the last lap accident between Frank Sytner and John Cleland. It would be the last time that the BTCC would race on the track. Gravett then won at Donington. The last two races, at Thruxton and Silverstone, were won by Rouse and Gravett. It was Gravett who won the championship, despite the team's struggle to run through the season on a low budget with no main sponsor.

Teams and drivers

Team Car No. Drivers Rounds Endurance Drivers
Class A
United Kingdom ICS plc Ford Sierra RS500 1 United Kingdom Andy Rouse All United Kingdom David SearsD†
United Kingdom Gary AylesB†
United Kingdom Labatt's Team Ford Sierra RS500 3 United Kingdom Tim Harvey All Sweden Slim Borgudd
10 United Kingdom Laurence Bristow All Australia Tomas MezeraD†
New Zealand Paul RadisichB†
United Kingdom FAI Auto Parts Ford Sierra RS500 4 United Kingdom Sean Walker All United Kingdom Ian Flux
United Kingdom Listerine Racing Team Ford Sierra RS500 5 United Kingdom Mike Newman 1, 3–6, 10–11, 13
United Kingdom Andy Middlehurst 9
15 United Kingdom Graham Goode All United Kingdom Mike NewmanD† Dave BrodieB†
United Kingdom Trakstar Motorsport Ford Sierra RS500 11 United Kingdom Robb Gravett All Sweden Stig BlomqvistD† Mike SmithB†
12 United Kingdom Mike Smith 1, 6, 13
14 United Kingdom Graham Hathaway 2 United Kingdom Mike SmithD†
United Kingdom Hathaway Racing Ford Sierra RS500 3–7, 9 United Kingdom Vince WoodmanB†
United Kingdom Brodie-Brittain Racing Ford Sierra RS500 20 United Kingdom Dave Brodie 8, 11–12
United Kingdom Stuart Donnan Racing Ford Sierra RS500 21 United Kingdom Stuart Donnan 10, 13
United Kingdom Judge Developments Ford Sierra RS500 22 United Kingdom Dennis Leech 4–6, 9–12
United Kingdom Crypton Engineering Ford Sierra RS500 24 Italy Amato Ferrari 9–10
Class B
United Kingdom Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Cavalier 50 United Kingdom John Cleland All United Kingdom Chris Hodgetts
70 United Kingdom Chris Hodgetts 5–8, 10 United Kingdom Bob BerridgeB†
United Kingdom David Coulthard 9
United Kingdom Bob Berridge 11
Germany Markus Oestreich 12–13
United States Hawaiian Tropic Ford Sierra Sapphire 51 United Kingdom Ray Bellm 1–4, 6, 11 United Kingdom James SheadD†
United Kingdom Chris Hodgetts 12–13
United Kingdom Ecosse Motorsport BMW M3 52 United Kingdom Ian Forrest All United Kingdom Bernard HunterD† Tony BridgeB†
53 United Kingdom Hugh Chalmers 1–2, 4–5, 7, 10 United Kingdom Jimmy McRae
United Kingdom Jimmy McRae 3, 6
United Kingdom John Llewellyn 8
United Kingdom Karl Jones 9
United Kingdom Jim McGaughay 11, 13
United Kingdom Chuck Nicholson 12
Germany BMW Team Finance BMW M3 55 United Kingdom Frank Sytner All United Kingdom Kurt Luby
56 United Kingdom Kelvin Burt 1, 13 United Kingdom Kelvin Burt
United Kingdom Kurt Luby 2–3, 6, 9–10, 12
United Kingdom Tim Sugden 4–5, 7–8, 11
United Kingdom Techspeed Motorsport BMW 318is 57 United Kingdom Nick Baird 1–6, 8, 10–13 United Kingdom David CarvellD† Nigel CorryB†
United Kingdom Robin Brundle 7
United Kingdom HWR Motorsport Vauxhall Belmont 58 United Kingdom Jeff Wilson 11–13
United Kingdom BRR Motorsport BMW M3 59 United Kingdom Ian Flux 12–13
United Kingdom John Maguire Racing Mitsubishi Starion 60 United Kingdom Mark Hales All United Kingdom Graham Scarborough
United Kingdom Pyramid Motorsport BMW M3 66 United Kingdom Nick Whale 1–3, 5–13 Netherlands Gerrit van Kouwen
77 United Kingdom Godfrey Hall 1–12 United Kingdom David Leslie
88 United Kingdom John Clark 1, 3–11, 13 United Kingdom David LeslieB†
United Kingdom David Leslie 12
Canada Arquati Racing Team BMW M3 69 United Kingdom Jerry Mahony 1–6, 8 Canada Robbie StirlingD†
Sweden BMW Team Sweden BMW M3 90 Sweden Nettan Lindgren 1–2, 5–7, 9–13 Sweden Peggen Andersson
United Kingdom Vic Lee Motorsport BMW M3 99 United Kingdom Jeff Allam 3–13 United Kingdom Vic LeeB†
United Kingdom PG Tags Racing Honda Civic 100 United Kingdom Ray Armes 1–7, 9–13 United Kingdom Jeremy Rossiter

Not eligible for points.
DDonington Park only.
BBrands Hatch only.

Calendar

All races were held in the United Kingdom. Overall winners in bold.

Round Circuit Date Pole Position Fastest Lap Class A Winner Class B Winner
1 Oulton Park (International), Cheshire 13 April United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Tim Harvey United Kingdom Andy Rouse United Kingdom Kelvin Burt
2* Donington Park (Grand Prix), Leicestershire 29 April United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Andy Rouse
United Kingdom David Sears
United Kingdom Frank Sytner
United Kingdom Kurt Luby
3 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 28 May United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom John Cleland
4 Silverstone Circuit (National), Northamptonshire 10 June United Kingdom Andy Rouse United Kingdom Tim Harvey United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Frank Sytner
5 Oulton Park (International), Cheshire 1 July United Kingdom Mike Newman United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Frank Sytner
6 Silverstone Circuit (Grand Prix), Northamptonshire 15 July United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Kurt Luby
7* Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 22 July United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Andy Rouse United Kingdom Robb Gravett
United Kingdom Mike Smith
United Kingdom Frank Sytner
United Kingdom Kurt Luby
8 Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit, Norfolk 5 August United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom John Cleland
9 Brands Hatch (Grand Prix), Kent 19 August United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom John Cleland
10 Birmingham Superprix, Birmingham 27 August United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Andy Rouse United Kingdom Kurt Luby
11 Donington Park (Grand Prix), Leicestershire 16 September United Kingdom Andy Rouse United Kingdom Andy Rouse United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Frank Sytner
12 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 23 September United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom Andy Rouse Sweden Nettan Lindgren
13 Silverstone Circuit (National), Northamptonshire 7 October United Kingdom Tim Harvey United Kingdom Andy Rouse United Kingdom Robb Gravett United Kingdom John Cleland
  • * 1 hour endurance races.

Driver Standings/Results

Overall
DC
Class
Pos
Driver Class OUL DON THR SIL OUL SIL BRH SNE BRH BIR DON THR SIL Pts
1 1 United Kingdom Robb Gravett A 12 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Ret 1 3 1 207
2 1 United Kingdom Frank Sytner B 6 6 9 6 8 Ret 4 7 8 Ret 7 10 8 180
3 2 United Kingdom Andy Rouse A 1 1 10 3 2 2 Ret 16 2 1 2 1 2 173
4 3 United Kingdom Tim Harvey A 4 Ret 2 Ret 3 3 2 2 3 4 3 2 15 132
5 2 United Kingdom John Cleland B 7 Ret 7 7 Ret 9 Ret 6 7 Ret 12 Ret 7 128
6 3 United Kingdom Jeff Allam B 8 8 11 10 8 10 9 7 9 11 9 124
7 4 United Kingdom Sean Walker A Ret 4 5 2 4 Ret 3 4 4 2 6 Ret Ret 96
8 4 United Kingdom Godfrey Hall B DNS 7 12 10 12 11 6 15 12 9 11 12 92
9 5 United Kingdom Laurence Bristow A 3 3 4 4 5 4 Ret 3 5 DNS Ret Ret 6 88
10 5 Sweden Nettan Lindgren B 8 9 Ret 13 7 11 10 10 5 Ret 82
11 6 United Kingdom Graham Goode A Ret 5 6 Ret 7 5 Ret 5 6 DNS 4 4 3 72
12 6 United Kingdom Tim Sugden B 9 9 5 8 8 67
13 7 United Kingdom Kurt Luby B Ret 11 8 10 6 16 60
14 7 United Kingdom Mike Newman A 2 Ret 11 17 Ret 3 5 4 53
15 8 United Kingdom Ian Forrest B 9 Ret 14 13 18 Ret 10 Ret 14 14 Ret 8 10 47
16 9 United Kingdom Chris Hodgetts B 15 12 Ret 11 8 7 13 46
17 10 United Kingdom Nick Whale B DSQ 8 13 14 14 13 Ret 16 11 13 Ret 14 43
18 11 United Kingdom Mark Hales B Ret Ret Ret Ret 16 17 9 9 15 12 15 17 Ret 28
19 12 United Kingdom Kelvin Burt B 5 12 26
= 8 United Kingdom Graham Hathaway A Ret 3 5 6 DNP Ret DNS 26
21 13 United Kingdom Hugh Chalmers B Ret 10 14 13 11 15 23
22 14 United Kingdom Nick Baird B 11 NC 15 15 Ret 15 14 DNS 16 18 17 16
= 15 United Kingdom Jerry Mahony B Ret 11 Ret 12 Ret 18 12 DNA 16
24 16 Germany Markus Oestreich B 6 Ret 15
25 9 United Kingdom Mike Smith A Ret 6 5 14
26 10 United Kingdom Dennis Leech A DNP 10 7 19 DNS Ret DNS 11
27 17 United Kingdom John Clark B DNS NC Ret Ret Ret NC Ret 17 13 14 16 10
28 12 Italy Amato Ferrari A Ret 5 8
= 11 United Kingdom Dave Brodie A DNS Ret 9 8
30 18 United Kingdom Ian Flux B Ret 11 8
31 19 United Kingdom Ray Armes B Ret 12 16 Ret Ret Ret Ret 18 16 17 14 Ret 7
32 20 United Kingdom Ray Bellm B 10 Ret DNS DNS DNP DNA DNS 6
33 21 United Kingdom David Coulthard B 13 4
34 22 United Kingdom John Llewellyn B 13 3
= 23 United Kingdom Chuck Nicholson B 13 3
36 24 United Kingdom Robin Brundle B 12 2
= 25 United Kingdom Jimmy McRae B Ret 16 2
38 26 United Kingdom David Leslie B 15 1
United Kingdom Jeff Wilson B DNS Ret Ret 0
United Kingdom Stuart Donnan A Ret Ret 0
United Kingdom Jim McGaughay B Ret Ret 0
United Kingdom Andy Middlehurst A Ret 0
United Kingdom Bob Berridge B Ret 0
United Kingdom Karl Jones B DNP 0
Overall
DC
Class
Pos
Driver Class OUL DON THR SIL OUL SIL BRH SNE BRH BIR DON THR SIL Pts
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenPoints finish
BlueNon-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleRetired (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)
  • Note: bold signifies pole position in class, italics signifies fastest lap in class.

Endurance drivers results

Driver Class DON BHI
United Kingdom Kurt Luby B 6 4
United Kingdom Mike Smith A Ret 1
United Kingdom David Sears A 1
United Kingdom David Leslie B 7 6/NC
Sweden Slim Borgudd A Ret 2
United Kingdom Kelvin Burt B Ret 5
Sweden Stig Blomqvist A 2
United Kingdom Ian Flux A 4 3
Netherlands Gerritt van Kouwen B 8 13
Australia Tomas Mezera A 3
Sweden Peggen Andersson B 9 7
United Kingdom Mike Newman A 5
United Kingdom Vic Lee B 8
United Kingdom Graham Scarborough B Ret 9
United Kingdom Jimmy McRae B 10 11
United Kingdom Tony Bridge B 10
Canada Robbie Stirling B 11
United Kingdom Jeremy Rossiter B 12 Ret
United Kingdom Nigel Corry B 12
United Kingdom David Carvell B NC
United Kingdom Chris Hodgetts B Ret Ret
United Kingdom James Shead B Ret
United Kingdom Bernard Hunter B Ret
United Kingdom Dave Brodie A Ret
United Kingdom Gary Ayles A Ret
United Kingdom Vince Woodman A Ret
New Zealand Paul Radisich A Ret
United Kingdom Bob Berridge B Ret
Driver Class DON BHI

Note: All endurance drivers were ineligible to score points.

References

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