Bigger and better BTCC heads for Irish curtain raiser

Mondello Park, near Dublin, Ireland, plays host to the opening rounds of the 2003 BTCC season over Easter weekend, in what is sure to be a weekend of thrills and spills all-round.

The touring class looks set to be more competitive than ever this year, with Vauxhall, MG and Honda all fielding 3-car works teams. Proton, impressive in their first season in 2002, continue with a strong 2-car line-up in the form of David Leslie and Phil Bennett. The Hilton Independents Cup also sees an increased field, with Vic Lee’s Team Halfords 307s looking to make a speedy impact on the championship. Rob Collard is the first of the graduates from the production class this year, with new personnel and a new car (Vauxhall Astra Coupe) bringing an altogether new challenge. The second independent Astra on the grid at Mondello Park will be that of Gavin Pyper, who remains with GA Motorsports, in the touring class for the first time. Synchro Motorsport also make the step up, running James Kaye in a Honda Civic Type-R.

Pre-season testing at Brands Hatch suggests that the racing could be even closer than in 2002, with little more than half a second separating the entire class. Vauxhall Racing’s James Thompson will undoubtedly be looking to get his title defence off to a winning start in Ireland, whilst his rivals will be going all out to stop him. In terms of championship chances, it is very difficult to make predictions at this stage in the year. The Triple Eight Race Engineering prepared Vauxhall Astra Coupe has proved its worth over the past two seasons and clearly starts the season as the car to beat. However, both the MG ZS and Honda Civic Type-R are race winners, whilst the Proton Impian is just one podium step away.

Arena Motorsport made impressive progress with the Civic Type-R towards the end of 2002, and start the new season with an improved suspension package, amongst other improvements. In the hands of Alan Morrison and Matt Neal, both of whom have the experience needed to deliver consistent top-end performances, Honda could well be a force to be reckoned with from the moment the lights go to green.

MG Sport & Racing also look set to field an impressive package once more. Their driver line-up sees a blend of youth and experience, with Colin Turkington joining the ranks of the works team alongside Warren Hughes and Anthony Reid. The three drivers are all capable of race victories, and on 2002 form, Turkington may just be the one to watch at Mondello Park this weekend. He impressed in qualifying last year, only to go down with food poisoning the night before the race, leading to him spending race-day in hospital. Turkington, Paul O’Neill & Tom Chilton may all be the youngest drivers in their respective teams, but none should be under-estimated in terms of ability!

The Peugeot 307 will join an elite club the moment it hits the track, becoming only the second model of car to compete in both the Touring & Production classes of the BTCC, alongside the Honda Civic Type-R. Vic Lee’s team built & ran a production spec 307 in the 2002 Macau Guia event, and with support for a second consecutive season from car parts specialists, Halfords, will be hoping to reap rewards. The car has impressive credentials, having been designed by former Formula 1 designer, Sergio Rinland. The car was not ready as early as would have been liked, and as such, the model which takes to the track will be very much an interim design, ahead of further developments in time for the second meeting of the season at Brands Hatch. Vic Lee will be hoping that young drivers Dan Eaves & Carl Breeze will be able to make the most of a car which is full of potential!

Rob Collard is hoping to put the engine nightmares of the previous two seasons firmly behind him in 2003. With the ex Aaron Slight Astra Coupe, which has been back to Triple Eight over the winter months, the former hot-rod racer hopes to trouble the front-runners. Gavin Pyper is another young driver with something to prove. Budget constraints permitting, Gavin will be getting tough with fellow independents throughout the season, and do not be surprised to see him up the front with the works boys either! Synchro Motorsport are about as professional as an ‘amateur’ team can get. Their cars are always perfectly turned out and engineered to the highest of standards. 2003 will see a different car, but the same levels of workmanship. Expect James Kaye to feature prominently in the championship!

So, who’s left?

The only continental European driver in the championship this year, never fazed by what happens around/beside/to him on the track, and runner-up to his team-mate for the past two seasons, the question that Yvan Muller has to be asking is “Is 2003 going to be my year?”. Muller has been responsible for some of the most sensational races in championship over the past couple of years and has become a much-admired figure within the paddock since his arrival in the UK with Audi in the mid-nineties. Frustration has been the name of the game though, with the Frenchman losing out in the final race for the last two years. He starts the season as one of the favourites and will surely be going all out to claim the title this time around.

There may be a smaller grid for the Production class this year, but it’s important that it’s not forgotten! Edenbridge Racing return with a BMW 320i for Michael Bentwood, whilst the GA Alfa Romeos are also back once again, with drives for Paul Wallace and Graham Saunders. Barwell Motorsport runs Honda Civics for Luke Hines and Alan Blencowe. However it is perhaps the quirky John Batchelor’s team who have most reason to be optimistic ahead of the start of the season. Renowned for his often unusual methods of attracting sponsors, Batchelor has recently announced a deal worth £1million with battery giants Varta. The team starts the season with Tom Boardman in a Peugeot 307 and Jim Edwards Jnr in a Honda Accord, but Edwards should himself be in a 307 by the time the championship reaches Thruxton. If the consistency is there, Team Varta could prove a force to be reckoned with over the course of the year.

There are as many changes off track as on, this year. The consistent factor is the ITV 1 highlights package, to be aired the Saturday afternoon after each meeting. As well as this, satellite viewers can watch all BTCC race action LIVE on Motors TV (starting 12:25 on Easter Monday). 2003 also sees the return of the very popular Grid Girls, provided by Car Lube Triple R. All of this plus the ever present excitement of the BTCC is sure to another season of drama and enjoyment. And it all starts this weekend.