1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:18,990 Stories from Super Touring. Hello and welcome to this week's 2 00:00:18,990 --> 00:00:21,190 episode of Stories from Super Touring. 3 00:00:21,750 --> 00:00:24,790 I'm your host Levi Riley and this week we're heading back to 4 00:00:24,790 --> 00:00:28,390 one of the most unforgettable race weekends of the 1995 5 00:00:28,390 --> 00:00:31,750 season, the early season meeting at Froxton. 6 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:36,440 This race was packed with drama and it started early with one of 7 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:38,480 the most shocking moments of the season. 8 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:43,080 Australian independent driver Charlie Cox's massive crash that 9 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,480 left fans gasping as is Mondeau, was left in a crumpled heat. 10 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,520 Thankfully Cox survived, but the crash became a stark reminder of 11 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:52,640 just how dangerous the sport could be. 12 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,560 Joining us today for the first time in a series is one of our 13 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:58,600 favourite regulars, Andrew Charlin. 14 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:02,640 As a seasoned journalist who's covered countless races, Andrew 15 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:05,319 brings a unique perspective on the drama and action. 16 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:09,560 His first hand experiences and keen eye for the stories behind 17 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:12,800 the headlines will give us an insider's views of the highs and 18 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,000 lows of this meeting at Froxton in 1995. 19 00:01:17,320 --> 00:01:18,920 Andrew, how are you this evening? 20 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:23,760 Good evening. How am I overworked? 21 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:28,280 Don't tell me underpaid. And well, yeah, that as well. 22 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,480 Unfortunately, I write about the business of new car sales these 23 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:34,240 days, and there's an orange idiot across the Atlantic that 24 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:37,240 is keeping me much busier than I want to be for a man of my 25 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:40,040 advance. So yes. 26 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,880 So this, this tonight is a welcome diversion. 27 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:45,440 Fantastic. So to keep you on that 28 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:48,200 diversion, we'll stick with you. First for our usual opening 29 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,520 question, what first comes to your mind when you think about 30 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:55,360 this meeting in 95? Well, clearly it's that 31 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:56,840 accident. I mean, we're going to talk 32 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,880 about it more later, but it certainly dominated that 33 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:02,440 meeting, especially at the end of the day. 34 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:05,520 I remember we went to have a look at what was left of Cox's 35 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:12,600 car because Alfa Romeo's, Alfa Romeo's UK press officer, he was 36 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:16,240 buoyed by the successor that in 94 and he'd set up this little 37 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:18,200 motorhome that he took to all the meetings. 38 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:22,640 And one of two of us press used to go and work in it rather than 39 00:02:22,640 --> 00:02:26,280 work in the main media centre because it was a lot quieter 40 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:28,840 than certain press offices, especially the one at Fraxen 41 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:31,960 which was quite small and it had an espresso machine. 42 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:33,720 So it was really nice place to work. 43 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:36,520 And on this particular day it was parked right at the end of 44 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:40,080 the outer paddock at Fraxen. So when we were working, at the 45 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,640 end of the day we all decided to have an expedition and it was 46 00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:47,400 quite a walk to find what was left of a very much a scrap 47 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:49,920 Mondeo. I always thought Alphas press 48 00:02:49,920 --> 00:02:52,040 officer, by the way, he could have been an IndyCar driver. 49 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,520 His name was Robert Woverstone. I thought you know Bobby 50 00:02:54,520 --> 00:03:01,440 Woverstone. Adam coming to you next. 51 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,000 What jumps into your mind when you think about this race at 52 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:05,920 Froxton? I think similar to Andrew 53 00:03:05,920 --> 00:03:08,880 really, I think you can't really obviously catch your mind that 54 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:10,440 far back. And if you were there or you're 55 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,200 watching it, it's it was a massive shunt like that don't 56 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:16,640 come much bigger than that. But I think you sort of he 57 00:03:16,640 --> 00:03:20,280 overlooked the fact that was it Williams Renault's first pole. 58 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,720 Yeah, You know, so that that was that was obviously a big thing, 59 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,000 really. But then it wasn't the time 60 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,200 until the following day where Harvesley Cox had his accident 61 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:30,800 and obviously he got Thompson that also had his first pole as 62 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:35,160 well, I believe. So for a young 21 year old, that 63 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:36,880 was quite an achievement. But yeah, I think the shunt 64 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:39,840 itself, I mean, he's lucky to to to survive that really. 65 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:41,000 They don't come much bigger than that. 66 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,720 And finally coming to you, Alex, what are your memories from the 67 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,640 meeting? Actually not. 68 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:52,080 This is the obvious one. Obviously it's Charlie's 69 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:56,520 accident, but one memory that will always sort of be etched on 70 00:03:56,520 --> 00:04:02,200 my mind is towards the end of in fact, the last lap of the first 71 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:06,120 race, which which menu had LED pretty much all the way from 72 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:10,760 pole position and the Vauxhalls came on strong in the 73 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:15,000 second-half of the race. And coming into the last 74 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:19,560 chicane, Cleland is literally sat on menus boot lid and just 75 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,760 the way he flies over the chicane, he's just straight 76 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:26,240 lines in it. It it, it it's mad because 77 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,600 people use people at the time were saying, oh, these new front 78 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:31,760 splitters, they're going to stop people curb hopping. 79 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:36,760 So he didn't stop John that day. It was flew over it and it was 80 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:40,520 just, it's always been an image that's I've remembered fondly 81 00:04:40,840 --> 00:04:44,400 ever since. And yeah, that's one memory, but 82 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:47,600 there's obviously another incident that happened at that 83 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:52,240 corner later on in the day, which which gets most of the 84 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:54,000 headlines. Yes, yeah. 85 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,000 I mean, I think on that note, there are quite, I think that 86 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:58,200 there is a bit, isn't there where they're following Cleland 87 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:01,880 through the chicane on board and he he does hit the curb pretty 88 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:06,200 hard, doesn't he? Yeah, considering they're told 89 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,360 to generally stay away, especially club, because those 90 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:15,800 curves are monsters yeah, he he he didn't seem bothered about 91 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:16,920 them at all. No. 92 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,400 And it was just it was it was great to watch. 93 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,680 I I recommend anyone if they can watch it to try because it's 94 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:26,120 just a visual. It's a great it's great to watch 95 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:29,560 it's brilliant. So that's genuinely one thing 96 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:31,200 that does stick in mind. You've obviously you've got 97 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:35,520 there the headlines of Thompson and Williams and and and 98 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:38,680 Charlie, but that's something that's always stuck with me. 99 00:05:38,840 --> 00:05:41,680 And of course, a podium for Patrick Watts in the Peugeot. 100 00:05:42,280 --> 00:05:46,800 Not to spoil it for anyone. As always, we also asked our 101 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,920 faithful listeners what they thought of this race meeting and 102 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:51,560 they've come up with some of the following. 103 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:56,120 Unsurprisingly, as we've already touched on, the vast majority of 104 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:59,880 the comments are about Charlie Cox's horrific accident, with 105 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:03,920 Alistair Sloane, Daniel Parker, Alex Dowling, Andy Taylor and 106 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:08,040 Ash Preston all recalling the unsettling moments as the crash 107 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:11,360 unfolded. We had one particularly vivid 108 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:14,480 memory being shared by Nick Mann, who was part of Charlie's 109 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,960 team and witnessed the aftermath first hand. 110 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:20,320 He says he remembers going down from the pit lane towards the 111 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:22,440 chicane. Charlie was still in the car and 112 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:25,840 being dealt with by the medical team, an image that he'll never 113 00:06:25,840 --> 00:06:29,320 forget. Andrew Price was marshalling the 114 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,760 event and remembers rushing to the scene only till later hear 115 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:36,440 Cox joking about finding a spare car to get back into the race of 116 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:41,120 the restart. Which I think sums Charlie up. 117 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:42,520 You can hear it already and can't. 118 00:06:43,840 --> 00:06:47,600 There's a story that was told to me first hand by Doctor Paul 119 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:50,600 Trafford, we'll talk about the medical team a little bit later, 120 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:54,080 who swore blind to me that while he was treating him in the 121 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:59,320 medical centre, the second race got underway and Charlie sat up 122 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:02,080 straight and said the bastards are starting without me. 123 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,840 Tony Flynn has a different memory, one of meeting Hamish 124 00:07:08,840 --> 00:07:13,560 Irvine whilst on his way out of the circuit, whilst Ben Keating 125 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:17,200 remembers Thompson's first win and Peter Perrin remarked it was 126 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,720 a weekend of thirst wins with Williams also taking the first 127 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:28,240 triumph in the BTCC. Heading into the meeting, Volvo 128 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:31,760 were the top dog having won three out of the four races so 129 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:35,280 far in the season. John Cleland had won the opener 130 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:39,080 for Vauxhall, failed to score in both races at Brands Hatch. 131 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:43,040 Let's hear what he had to say about that to BBC Grandstand 132 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:45,960 prior to the meeting. In the first race I made a bad 133 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:48,680 choice and I think 15 years of racing at Brands High I 134 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:51,520 discovered when I looked back on it I'd never raced and I went 135 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:53,080 there. So I didn't know how long it 136 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:55,040 took for the track to dry and I made a mistake. 137 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:58,440 I put intermediate tyres on. That was my fault, and I pushed 138 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:00,280 probably a little too hard too soon. 139 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:02,000 I fell off. Simple as that. 140 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:07,640 That was that was my fault. Second race I felt that we had a 141 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:09,480 better balance of the car. Everything was good. 142 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:12,640 You know it's going to be hard between Rick and I and when we 143 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:16,120 disputed the corner at Kidney when I went off. 144 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:19,000 The. Front spoiler pushed one of the 145 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:23,400 brake ducks back and pushed around the brake pipe and what 146 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:27,120 that then did was it started to leak fluid and with me going 147 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,600 back and forward to sort of get out of the position I was in in 148 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:32,559 the gravel. When I got back on the circuit 149 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,679 there was no brakes but I had no reason to touch the pedal until 150 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:36,760 I arrived. Had it. 151 00:08:39,039 --> 00:08:42,000 It was just it was doing 130 odd miles an hour as I arrived at 152 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,400 Paddock and even I wouldn't try to take the corner at that 153 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:46,640 speed. But my foot in the brake and 9 154 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:50,480 and I hit it again to try to bring at least some brakes in 155 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:51,840 the rear of the car and force it. 156 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:54,400 The car then spun round because it was, I mean it was heading 157 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:58,440 for the Channel Tunnel nil plan. I said at brands before the 158 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:01,480 races you must bank points all the time. 159 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:05,640 You must put points in the bag at every race and I shot myself 160 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,360 in the foot. Adam heading up into paddock 161 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:11,200 with no brakes. That's probably quite a scary 162 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:14,880 full full speed, isn't it? Yeah, I think he, he certainly 163 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:17,040 had limited brakes because I think he, the, the car sort of 164 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:18,480 the rear end sort of came out, didn't it? 165 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:21,520 So I think he, it sort of went sideways. 166 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:25,200 But yeah, I mean, extremely scary with the limited braking 167 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:29,040 that he did have. But I think what always wowed me 168 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,600 whenever, whenever I was racing anywhere in any category, 169 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:34,200 whenever I did a trap walk. It's amazing when you when your 170 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:36,280 feet on the timer because everything just looks so much 171 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:39,040 different when you're in the car and you look at some corners and 172 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:41,440 you think, God, this, this looks daunting just looking at this. 173 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:42,840 I can't believe how fast we come through here. 174 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,400 And I'd say that to myself, and I'm the one that's going through 175 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:48,160 that. It's also obviously also very 176 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:53,320 steep, as I remember because I spent 10 years as a photographer 177 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:56,120 at Brands Hatcher. Up panic at the end of the day 178 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,640 with your camera bag trying to get to the Kent again for a pint 179 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:04,280 was a snackering in the extreme. Alfa Romeo's lack of performance 180 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:07,880 was one of the big talking points at the start of 1995. 181 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:13,120 The reigning champions, now run by Prodrive, had only registered 182 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,720 a lowly 9th as their best result of the season so far. 183 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:21,120 We have a plan of action, David Richards told Autos Bought ahead 184 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:23,840 of the event. We are working in close 185 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:27,600 cooperation with Alpha Course but it will take several months 186 00:10:27,680 --> 00:10:32,240 rather than weeks. Andrew Alpha was still winning 187 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:36,280 in Italy and Richard said this was down to the BTCC being a far 188 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:39,240 more competitive series. Was he right? 189 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:42,680 Or was there also something that Pro Drive and Alpha hadn't quite 190 00:10:42,680 --> 00:10:46,720 got incorrect? He he was absolutely right. 191 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:50,120 The Italian series was a touring car championship. 192 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:53,280 The BTCC was basically Formula One with roofs. 193 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:57,840 I mean I exaggerate but you had 9 manufacturers in Britain with 194 00:10:57,840 --> 00:10:59,800 around half of them likely winners. 195 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:04,880 In Italy it was basically ALDI versus AR with BMW hanging in 196 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:08,960 there. Yes, Prodrive struggled in the 197 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:15,160 early 70s to get back into the BTCCC, but it was basically 198 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:20,440 Alpha not having the huge advantage they'd had in the 199 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:22,640 previous year. And it's a shame that when 200 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:28,680 Gabrielli Tarquini eventually came back he replaced Simoni 201 00:11:28,680 --> 00:11:31,560 because they weren't about to start drop their big star in 202 00:11:31,560 --> 00:11:34,360 Derek Warwick. But it became clear he wasn't 203 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:37,080 finding it at all easy adapting to the BTCC. 204 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:40,000 He wasn't the first Formula One driver to find that out, and 205 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:43,640 with a year's experience, Simoni generally got the best out of a 206 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:45,600 car that had been overtaken by its rivals. 207 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:49,320 Rumours was circulating that Tarquini was going to come in 208 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:53,800 test and race for the BTCC team, which were roundly denied by 209 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:57,200 sources close to Alpha Course, which claimed the Alpha were 210 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:00,560 unwilling to cause embarrassment by sending in the reigning 211 00:12:00,560 --> 00:12:05,400 champion as a troubleshooter. Alex, that sounds lasted long, 212 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:10,320 didn't it? Yes, because by Alton Park, 213 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:16,640 Gabrielli was in the third car, the spare car, and that was just 214 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:23,120 as a one off initially. But Gabrielli soon came back 215 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:26,440 after the Silverstone Grand Prix support race. 216 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:29,240 I believe that was Simone swan song. 217 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:34,320 And yeah, it's, it's, as Andrew said, it is a shame that Simone 218 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:39,000 was the one that that had to make way because he really was 219 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:44,760 doing really well in a car that really, really wasn't at the 220 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:47,720 front of the pack. Simone got a few fifth places in 221 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:49,800 the car. And when Gabrielli came in, I 222 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:51,680 think he got three fourth places. 223 00:12:51,680 --> 00:12:55,280 So it's, you know, the what he did wasn't doing that much 224 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:56,960 better. In fact, I think Simone really 225 00:12:56,960 --> 00:13:00,520 impressed in 95 in what wasn't a performing car. 226 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:04,920 Warwick really struggled, Really, really struggled. 227 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:10,640 And yeah, just the style of racing I don't really think 228 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:14,880 suited Derek all that well. Also the style of car, the front 229 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:18,800 wheel drive car. He'd grown up obviously and had 230 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:22,080 been in Formula One with. We are, we've we've gone around 231 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:25,640 this about why so many F1 drivers struggled in tin tops 232 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:27,880 before. He was just another one. 233 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:33,000 And they probably lacked a little bit of direction as well 234 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:38,120 because their star driver was Warrick, who had zero experience 235 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:42,360 in Tin Tops. So but as Andrew said, the the 236 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:46,120 155 was just overtaken. Lots of people thought it was 237 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:50,360 the arrow, Gabrielli insists to this day it was the DIF. 238 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:54,320 I suppose we'll never know the truth, really. 239 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:58,960 But yeah, the car had just been overtaken on the development 240 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:00,640 front and was just not a front runner. 241 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:04,480 And yeah, Pro Drive really struggled with it. 242 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:09,200 Nissan's European motorsport boss Han Jan hadn't ruled out a 243 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:13,920 return to the BTCC for the four wheel drive Premiera Racing in 244 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:17,160 Germany for selected rounds in 1995. 245 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:20,400 When the four wheel drive programme is up to speed. 246 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:24,120 It would be good for publicity if we came back and TIF Nidel 247 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:26,680 could drive the car for us, he told Autosport. 248 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:30,960 TIF was reportedly keen to get back into a Nissan as well. 249 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:35,120 Andrew, we now know that this never happened, but did you know 250 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:38,640 much about us at the time? And how do you think the four 251 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:41,160 wheel drive version of the Premiera would have fed in the 252 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:45,480 BTCC? Well, it was a strong rumour, 253 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:51,360 but only a rumour at the time. It would have been great to see 254 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:56,080 them racing. I reckon in 95 they could have 255 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:59,760 been fairly good and in 96 they would have taken on the four 256 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:01,680 wheel drivers cars. We're going to talk about in a 257 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:06,200 minute the Niston's racing in Germany, which is where the cars 258 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:08,960 were, which was the closest series in terms of 259 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:12,440 competitiveness to the BTCC. They got better and better as 260 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:15,920 the season went on and of course later in the year Kiefer Dorr 261 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:20,120 took a win for them at Arvas just hours before Saturday. 262 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:24,640 He was killed in the second race there, so I think that probably 263 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:28,040 upended their programme a bit. But we did eventually see them 264 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:33,280 back in the BTCC, but that wasn't until 97 and it was a 265 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:36,880 completely different operation. Another 4 wheel drive entry 266 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:41,040 being rumoured at the time was the talk of an ALDI BTCC attack 267 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,400 after Doctor Wolfgang Ulrich, head of ALDI Sport, hinted. 268 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:48,600 I'd like us to do one or two races towards the end of the 269 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:52,240 season, but only with one of our existing works teams. 270 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:57,560 Alex, we obviously know that the 1996 entry happened, but do you 271 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:00,960 think talk of one off appearances at the end of 95 272 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:05,760 were real? It wasn't towards the end of 95 273 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,400 that I mean the rumours were that it would. 274 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:12,800 So the German series had this middle of season, mid season 275 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:16,120 break in July and August. So the thought was that maybe 276 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,440 the German team might come over and run the cards during that 277 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:23,600 break because there were no clashes. 278 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,560 Then there was talk of maybe the Italian team was going to come 279 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:31,040 over and then the the Piro was going to drive it. 280 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:36,280 And that, that made more sense because originally it was going 281 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:39,200 to be them that we're going to be running this 95 programme 282 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:44,120 that never happened. And then, yeah, obviously we now 283 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:48,000 know that none of it happened. But there were, I think they 284 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,560 were more than just rumours. They were sort of like solid 285 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:53,960 ideas to, to, to, to come and, and race. 286 00:16:54,480 --> 00:17:00,040 Of course the, the other bizarre 1 is that originally it was 287 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:03,120 thought that Paul Stewart Racing would run the Audi Sport 288 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:08,440 programme in 96, which they, they obviously were quite keen 289 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:10,720 to get into touring cars because they also tried to get the 290 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:14,720 forward contract. That's where Surrey Racing ended 291 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:18,960 up with. So yeah, Paul Stewart and Jackie 292 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,079 were obviously quite keen on getting into the series. 293 00:17:21,079 --> 00:17:25,800 They never did, but I think it was more more than just rumours. 294 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:28,079 But obviously as we know, it never happened. 295 00:17:28,079 --> 00:17:30,920 And let's be honest, by the time 96 came, they didn't need the, 296 00:17:31,120 --> 00:17:33,680 they didn't need the experience in 95 anyway, didn't they? 297 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:36,920 I mean, God help us if they did have the experience as well. 298 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:41,800 The the Audi programme wasn't actually officially announced 299 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:44,160 right until the FIA World Cup at the end of the year. 300 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:47,520 I remember sitting in a little room of Paul Ricard with all the 301 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:50,960 rest of the journals with Doctor Ulrich making the announcement, 302 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:54,080 me not realising just how many times I'd be interviewing him in 303 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:56,360 the following year and enjoying his vice spear. 304 00:17:56,800 --> 00:17:58,600 She was. Oh dear, Oh dear. 305 00:17:59,120 --> 00:18:02,120 But so by then we all knew it was going to happen. 306 00:18:02,120 --> 00:18:06,240 He had been rumours for three or four weeks back in May at 307 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:10,200 Fraxton. It was only speculation, but in 308 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:14,120 Super Touring magazine, the issue that covered that Fraxton 309 00:18:14,120 --> 00:18:18,600 race in May, we ran a story that the former GB Motorsport 310 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:23,240 workshops in Buckingham had been purchased for the 1996 Audi 311 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:28,400 team, and that story proved to be completely correct back in 312 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,720 March. I should have dug that that 313 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:34,080 episode that copy out when when I was researching there, 314 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:35,920 shouldn't I really? Yes. 315 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:40,160 Yeah. Here's a question for the room. 316 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:42,440 Based on what Alex said about them not needing that 317 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:46,560 preparation necessarily in 96 or Audi, do you think if they'd 318 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:49,760 come over for a couple of races, wipe the floor with everyone, 319 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:53,840 that might have then led the championship to put some weight 320 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:58,200 penalties in ahead of the 96 season and actually hurt them? 321 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:01,120 So God, Can you imagine the moaning? 322 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:06,360 It was bad enough with rear wheel drive, never mind with 323 00:19:06,360 --> 00:19:08,600 four wheel drive as well. And we know what it was like for 324 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:11,280 the next two years before they banned it for 98. 325 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:14,560 I think one thing it might have done and is it might have 326 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:17,000 spurred on this Nissan programme. 327 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:21,280 If if Audi had come in and shown, shown them as it could be 328 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:25,240 done with four wheel drive, then maybe, maybe just maybe Nissan 329 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:27,520 would have pushed ahead. Maybe someone else might have 330 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:30,680 done it as well. Well Ford racing with four wheel 331 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:33,360 drive in the in the German series as well. 332 00:19:33,360 --> 00:19:37,320 Weren't they in the STW? They had Patrese in a in a 333 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:40,200 Mondeo that was 4 wheel drive so. 334 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:42,920 And they were absolutely bombing. 335 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:44,880 Yes, they were. Yeah, they were, weren't they? 336 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:46,880 Yeah. I remember we went to the newer 337 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:50,160 burgering and one of my fellow journalists came up to me. 338 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:52,000 He said betrays. He was just sitting in the 339 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:53,720 paddock. He had a face like Thunder. 340 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:57,040 And this young kid came up and asked for his autograph and 341 00:19:57,040 --> 00:19:59,200 Patras, he looked at him and said have you got a pen? 342 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:01,880 And the little kid shook his head. 343 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:04,000 Patras. He went well then and stopped 344 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:08,480 off. They were having such a bad time 345 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:09,520 in Germany. The Fords. 346 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:16,600 Wow. After four straight poles for 347 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:20,760 Volvo's Ricard Riedel, Frauxton saw two new names on the top of 348 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:25,160 the time sheets, Alan Menu and Vauxhall's James Thompson. 349 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:31,280 In 1994, Menu halted Alfa Ray Mayo's run of poles and the 350 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:34,840 Swiss did the same for Volvo Streak in 1995. 351 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:38,800 I got stuck in second gear exiting the last chicane, he 352 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:41,240 said. But it's still the pole, so I'm 353 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:45,080 happy enough. Significantly, it was the first 354 00:20:45,120 --> 00:20:49,200 ever pole for Williams Touring Car Engineering and the icing on 355 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:51,680 the cake for the team's strongest qualifying showing 356 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:55,160 yet, Andrew. It took Williams just three 357 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:58,320 meetings to secure their first touring car pole position. 358 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:02,280 Was it a surprise in and amongst the paddock that they'd taken to 359 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:04,080 the touring car waters so quickly? 360 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:07,920 Not at all. In issue 2 of Super Touring 361 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:11,880 magazine, after the Donnington and the Brands races, I'd 362 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:13,920 written that no one doubted Renault anymore. 363 00:21:14,120 --> 00:21:18,680 But they did fear them. This was the most top level of 364 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:21,960 F1 teams. You had a team manager, Ian 365 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:25,840 Harrison, later to become one of the founders of the BTCC 366 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:30,240 powerhouse AAA a year. Just a year earlier he'd been 367 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:32,760 overseeing a couple of drivers called Ayton Centre and Damon 368 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:36,480 Hill. It was absolutely clear from the 369 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:42,400 start, look, everyone at Williams was by no means playing 370 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:46,640 at going Tory guard races. They were deadly serious and so 371 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:49,200 the fact that they were right up the front and competitive was 372 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:51,600 probably the least surprising aspect of the weekend. 373 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:55,960 Muni's teammate Will Hoy had the left side drive shaft pelant on 374 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:59,280 his Laguna during the first session and continued to a 375 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:02,640 circumspect 10th on the grid after a temporary fix. 376 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:05,800 It felt spooky, he said after the session. 377 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:10,560 In the second session, Hoy took his first front row position 378 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:15,800 since 1993's Silverstone finale, missing out on the pole by just 379 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:20,560 0.017 seconds. We'd changed the engine 380 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:24,320 ancillaries between sessions and it started misfiring at the end 381 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,680 of the first session and it become felt brilliant. 382 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:32,480 Alex, After a tough few years with Toyota, was it good to see 383 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:35,840 Hoy back fighting at the front? Yes, it was wasn't. 384 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:41,440 It was brilliant actually. Fix a few results around and Hoy 385 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:43,600 could easily have been a double champion right at the start of 386 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:47,920 the era, you know, if Silverstone had gone 387 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:50,240 differently. You know, I know it's all if 388 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:54,160 buts and maybes, but I do think that you just switch a few 389 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:58,600 results, just two or three races and Hoy, you probably look back 390 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:03,240 at Will's career very differently than than people do. 391 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:07,160 Now. Yeah, yeah. 392 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:08,800 It was great to see Will. Great driver. 393 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:13,240 And he'd had, he'd had the sort of the the Jean Alesi effect of 394 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:16,040 just going to the wrong place at the wrong time or making the 395 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:17,400 wrong decision at the wrong time. 396 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:22,000 You know, I really felt that Will deserved a good bit of 397 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:24,120 luck. And he was another one that he 398 00:23:24,120 --> 00:23:27,400 did have a lot of bad luck in his touring car career. 399 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:33,280 So yeah, great because that he had a couple of a couple of 400 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:35,200 Toyotas that were quite competitive. 401 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:39,960 Then the 94 Castrol car, which sadly didn't go anywhere as good 402 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:45,480 as it looked because it was a beautiful car, but it was it was 403 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:50,240 dog and and obviously he got his move to Renault, which was a 404 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:54,160 competitive car. And I was so, so thrilled that 405 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:57,600 he had that excellent run at the end of 95. 406 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:02,080 And and yeah, this, this showed that he still had the speed out 407 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:04,960 qualifying menu and getting the getting himself back on the 408 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:06,400 front row of the touring car grid. 409 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:09,200 Brilliant. Heading Hoy Vauxhall rookie 410 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:14,000 Thompson rewrite the BTCC record books my becoming it's youngest 411 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:18,120 ever pole sister just ten days after his 21st birthday. 412 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:22,320 I made a mistake in the morning session of finished fourth, so 413 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:25,600 for this afternoon I disengaged my brain around the back of the 414 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:29,520 circuit and gave it large. I made a small mistake at 415 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:33,400 Goodwood but just kept it all together, he told Autosport 416 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:37,840 after the session. Talking of talking of that lap, 417 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:42,440 one of my favourite anecdotes when when we did the pod with 418 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:47,400 with Jimmy was Patrick Head was actually at you. 419 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:51,360 Talk of Andrew talks about all these Williams sort of well 420 00:24:51,360 --> 00:24:55,160 known Williams figures and senior senior figures at 421 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:58,200 Williams. Patrick Head was at Thruxton 422 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:04,760 this weekend watching, and apparently Jimmy told us that 423 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:07,880 after his qualifying lap, Patrick was suitably impressed. 424 00:25:08,360 --> 00:25:11,200 Unimpressed enough to go and actually congratulate him and 425 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:15,280 tell him how impressed he was. Which, for anyone who knows, 426 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:18,720 Patrick Head is not. Out of. 427 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:19,760 Him. Yeah, exactly. 428 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:21,960 Yeah. It takes a lot for him to give 429 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:25,160 such high praise. So that that's one of my 430 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:30,120 favourite anecdotes from from, from, from James's weekend here. 431 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:33,680 And. And something that clearly 30 432 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:36,480 years later still means a heck of a lot to him. 433 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:41,040 Yeah. After Volvo had dominated 434 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:46,320 qualifying so far in 1995, it was hardly disaster time, but 435 00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:50,400 only 5th and 4th for Eidel was still a journey into the unknown 436 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:53,600 for the Swede. I'm not happy with the set up, 437 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:56,200 he explained. But that's not surprising with 438 00:25:56,200 --> 00:26:00,800 only 255 minute test sessions. It feels quite bad on the bumps 439 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:03,920 around the back. Meanwhile, Rydell's teammate Tim 440 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:07,400 Harvey found himself starting at the back with a 10 second 441 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:10,920 penalty for the first race after missing the Weybridge. 442 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:13,680 This place has got us foxed, he said. 443 00:26:14,120 --> 00:26:16,600 I didn't think we could have a worse set up than we had in the 444 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:19,520 first session, but we managed it for the second. 445 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:23,240 Let's hear what Tim had to say about his penalty. 446 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:27,240 The regulations say that you must stop for the red light on 447 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:29,920 the during the practise session to be weighed, which is fair 448 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:33,000 enough to stop people you know, doing a practise time with the 449 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:35,080 car underweight. But at the beginning of the 450 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:38,960 session I went out on cold tyres, went once round the track 451 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:41,400 and straight into the pits without ever crossing the line. 452 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:44,480 So I hadn't set a lap time and apparently I missed the weighing 453 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:46,040 scales when I should have stopped. 454 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:49,160 So I don't understand it. You know, if if you fail the 455 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:51,760 ride height check when they check you in the pits, you're 456 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:55,400 allowed to readdress the wide height and your time's dis loud 457 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:57,880 up to that point, but if you fail the weight check, you're 458 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:00,120 excluded from the whole session? Doesn't make sense. 459 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:04,400 Anyway, there we go. Adam, did the punishment fit the 460 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:07,080 crime in this situation or do you think it was a harsh 461 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:12,560 decision on the 1992 champion? I do think it was harsh but I'm 462 00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:16,520 sure the rules just state that. And whenever you come into the 463 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:18,920 pit lane, if the red lights only you call to the white bridge, 464 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:21,240 the white scales and you you you go on it. 465 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:24,800 His argument, Tim's argument was the fact that he only went out 466 00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:25,960 the pits and come straight back in. 467 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:30,280 So he hasn't set a time. I understand that as well, like 468 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:31,600 I really do. And it is harsh. 469 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:35,280 But to actually, yeah, give him the give him that punishment I 470 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:38,040 think was. But they're treating it the same 471 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:40,760 as whether you've just put a pole lap in or whether you 472 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:42,960 you've entered the pits. It doesn't matter what you've 473 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:44,160 done. You've entered the pits. 474 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:48,640 And yeah, I can see both sides, but I'd certainly be screwing 475 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:50,240 the same as Tim. To be honest, I'd I'd have been 476 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:52,520 having a a bitch and a moan about it as well. 477 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:56,480 But rules are rules. But I can just seriously imagine 478 00:27:56,480 --> 00:28:00,280 this now with the FIA currently with Formula One and you can 479 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:03,520 change it made a lot clearer because it's a bit grey, but but 480 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:05,800 you could say it was a bit grey. But the same time they'll just 481 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:08,320 say, well, he says if the lights on when you come in the pit 482 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:10,880 lane, then you go on, but that is it. 483 00:28:11,480 --> 00:28:14,640 Yeah, unfortunately for Tim, rules are rules. 484 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:19,200 However, it is very harsh and I can see why he feels hard done 485 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:23,600 by, but I guarantee if his championship rival had done the 486 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:25,920 same thing he'd be screaming for them to be sent. 487 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:29,000 Yeah. And plus, there's nothing more 488 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:31,320 frustrating than when you're in a rush and you're trying to get 489 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:33,720 in the pits to get a change done and then get back out and then 490 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:35,760 all of a sudden those bloody lights are on. 491 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:39,160 When you've got to go on the way scales, you're like, no, like 492 00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:42,360 you just so I can imagine. I mean, did he see the lights? 493 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:44,960 You know, and you know, did he not see the lights? 494 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:47,240 Did he just drive past and then he's obviously have to suffer 495 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:49,800 the consequence afterwards? Or did he see them and ignore 496 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:51,840 them and think I'll be all right? 497 00:28:52,120 --> 00:28:54,320 But unfortunately rules are rules. 498 00:28:54,320 --> 00:28:56,720 And I'm saying this from obviously this side. 499 00:28:56,720 --> 00:28:58,840 We don't know how we are. I'd have been screwing. 500 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:05,680 Yeah, exactly that it's a, it's a very harsh, I mean you can say 501 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:06,920 rule. Harsh penalty, you think? 502 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:09,160 It's a harsh penalty. Yeah, you can. 503 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:12,200 You can still have a, you can still be penalised for it, but I 504 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:16,120 don't think it needs to be such a hard penalty. 505 00:29:17,640 --> 00:29:25,600 So as Tim said in his, in his interview there, it's not, it's 506 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:30,280 not the most ideal penalty for that offence, you know, but 507 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:33,280 there we go. It was all written down in the 508 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:35,960 rules. So sadly nobody can argue. 509 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:39,160 But yeah, I I did feel for Tim on this one because it ruins 510 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:42,040 your weekend, doesn't it? Yeah, yeah, she just starts, 511 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:44,240 just starts bad then then it just changed the mood to 512 00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:45,440 everything. Yeah, exactly. 513 00:29:46,080 --> 00:29:49,360 But the shock of the session wasn't Volvo's minor fall from 514 00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:52,560 grace. Instead it was a privateer doing 515 00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:56,000 amazing things. At Brands Hatch we had Charlie 516 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:59,080 Cox take in his Mondeo to a fifth place finish in the wet. 517 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:03,960 Here we had Matt Neil taking his similar car to 7th in the first 518 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:07,360 qualifying. I had a couple of brave pills, 519 00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:11,120 chuckled Neil after the session. Three of the corners I'd dumped 520 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:14,800 the brakes for in testing. I just lifted slightly instead 521 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:20,760 and surprise, it gripped. I'm chuffed Andrew, 1995 really 522 00:30:20,760 --> 00:30:23,800 seemed to be the year for the privateers to start mixing it up 523 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:29,960 with the works boys, haven't it? Well, some of them, yeah, I'll 524 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:32,640 be Matt Neil's dynamics operation. 525 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:36,480 So that was a step above the rest For much of the Super 526 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:38,400 Touring era. It was a step above the rest, as 527 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:41,320 we know, especially later in the era. 528 00:30:42,120 --> 00:30:44,440 The others had flashes of brilliance, but they were only 529 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:47,480 flashes. And also it tended to happen 530 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:53,360 early in the season because they made hay why they could, because 531 00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:55,920 as the work squads developed their cars and obviously the 532 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:58,400 privateers had enough money to run a season, they didn't have 533 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:02,160 money to throw at development. They tended to they they just 534 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:04,640 couldn't keep up the work squads and ended up fighting amongst 535 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:06,960 themselves. So you tended to see the 536 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:09,920 privateers doing really well in the sort of earlier part of the 537 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:15,360 season and then realising that they, as, as Matt Neil would 538 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:18,320 find out to his cost in this race that, you know, mixing it 539 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:21,000 with the work squads was not really normally a very good 540 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:23,840 idea. Yeah, they tended to Well, 541 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:27,640 that's it's all this. We're going off topic slightly, 542 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:30,520 but it is the story of 98 in the Independence Cup, isn't it? 543 00:31:30,520 --> 00:31:33,080 Is that Matt? Neil was by far the quickest of 544 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:35,760 the of the Independence, but because he was mixing it with 545 00:31:35,760 --> 00:31:39,640 the likes of Derek Warwick and Johnny Will be Daily and Peter 546 00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:43,280 Cox, quite often he ended up in the wall or up a tree. 547 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:47,080 Yeah. And Tommy Rushdad, I don't want 548 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:49,600 to discredit, Yeah, I don't want to discredit his championship 549 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:52,320 win because obviously he did a great job as well in a good car. 550 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:57,800 But yeah, he didn't have the outright speed of Neil, but he 551 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:02,800 had the consistency of finishing when Matt, you know, sometimes a 552 00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:06,320 lot of the time actually got caught up in incidents because 553 00:32:06,320 --> 00:32:10,400 he was mixing it with yeah, the good old boys and and various 554 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:13,760 other characters at the mid grid of the BTCC at the time. 555 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:21,960 At the lights, menus slotted into the lead ahead of Cleland, 556 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:25,160 with Paul Radicich's Ford Mondeaux maintaining the grid 557 00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:28,160 order as the field streamed through the complex without 558 00:32:28,160 --> 00:32:31,080 incident. Into the club chicane for the 559 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:34,920 first time, Riedel tried to take third from Radisitch with a dive 560 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:38,480 down the outside, but the pair made contact and the Volvo 561 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:42,120 schlewed off the track. Riedel was furious. 562 00:32:42,440 --> 00:32:46,240 He had me off and after that my car wasn't so good, he said 563 00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:48,240 after the race. Randisich. 564 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:52,720 Counted. Randisich counted. 565 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:55,760 He went across my bow and spun himself out. 566 00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:58,680 What do we think of this song, guys? 567 00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:04,000 We'll come to you first, Alex. Something or nothing. 568 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:07,880 Racing incident. Both angry because they both 569 00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:12,120 thought they were right. But yeah, just I, I didn't think 570 00:33:12,120 --> 00:33:15,160 anything of it. It's one of the few, I agree. 571 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:17,920 It's one of the few places where you can overtake Rant Throgston 572 00:33:17,920 --> 00:33:20,200 and we see it time and time again where the manoeuvre can be 573 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:25,760 done, but it involves the agreement of both parties. 574 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:29,080 But. So you put, and what I mean by 575 00:33:29,080 --> 00:33:31,120 that is there's another scenario where someone goes on the 576 00:33:31,120 --> 00:33:33,600 outside, you've got it, you're taking that risk of being pushed 577 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:36,160 wide, you end up going over the chicane, ripping you from bumper 578 00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:38,560 off and your race is over. And we all know he can end up 579 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:40,400 badly. But with that one, well, I've 580 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:44,120 watched the footage back quite a bit now on that piece and here 581 00:33:44,120 --> 00:33:48,120 he's done the manoeuvre, but it's just as he's about to then 582 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:51,440 go from the right to turn left, that's where he he turns in a 583 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:53,120 bit too tight and makes contact Radisic. 584 00:33:53,480 --> 00:33:56,520 Radisic doesn't run in wide Radisic just staying in that 585 00:33:56,520 --> 00:33:59,400 position like you're going in there maximum attack. 586 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:02,000 So you're trying to keep the the car as stable as you can as 587 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:04,920 you're braking, you change it down the gears you're turning at 588 00:34:04,920 --> 00:34:08,880 the same time. And it's just it's just the 589 00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:12,800 timing of it of of ride down just turning a bit too much and 590 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:15,679 squeezed him a bit too much. And that's where he, you know, 591 00:34:15,679 --> 00:34:18,560 another half a second later, he'd have had a left hand lock 592 00:34:18,560 --> 00:34:21,000 on to go through the middle of the scan and then he got away 593 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:23,040 with it and they'd have just probably just brushed panels. 594 00:34:23,320 --> 00:34:26,920 But yeah, he, he tried his luck and unfortunately it, it didn't 595 00:34:26,920 --> 00:34:29,920 work on this occasion. So it's certainly, but he 596 00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:31,159 certainly wasn't Radisich's fault. 597 00:34:31,840 --> 00:34:35,639 No, six of one, well, probably nine of one and three of 598 00:34:35,639 --> 00:34:37,960 another. The Volvos, they were struggling 599 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:40,600 at fracs and compared to how they've been in the season so 600 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:44,760 far, so the tempers were short to start with even before that 601 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:49,520 happened, so. Yeah, yeah, it's they both could 602 00:34:49,520 --> 00:34:51,000 have given each other a bit more room. 603 00:34:51,520 --> 00:34:53,840 Well, watch it back. And Radish couldn't have done 604 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:55,960 any more. Like he couldn't, he couldn't. 605 00:34:56,159 --> 00:34:59,520 Like he was just in the position he was in, in that he's been in 606 00:34:59,520 --> 00:35:01,600 every lap. Then Rydell just pushed his 607 00:35:01,600 --> 00:35:05,080 luck. She's trying to get a car that's 608 00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:06,680 the size of a tank through there as well. 609 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:07,760 Yes, there is. Isn't. 610 00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:10,120 It discipline how big they were, isn't it? 611 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:12,200 It's massive. When you look at them, they just 612 00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:14,080 look huge, don't they? Compared to everything else, 613 00:35:14,520 --> 00:35:17,760 yes. Thompson was soon passed 614 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:21,600 Stratosich and into third and set about chasing down team mate 615 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:24,720 Cleland. At the end of lap 4, Watts had 616 00:35:24,720 --> 00:35:28,240 now passed Stratosich, with the Keely soon succumbing to power 617 00:35:28,240 --> 00:35:32,880 steering failure in his Mondeo. By half distance Thompson was 618 00:35:32,880 --> 00:35:36,920 closing in on Cleland and slowly but surely the pair began to 619 00:35:36,920 --> 00:35:40,560 reel in the Renault ahead. I pulled out the gap in the 620 00:35:40,560 --> 00:35:43,600 opening laps. Explain menu but the tyres began 621 00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:47,440 to go off around mid distance. After that I had to be smooth 622 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:52,080 and tried to save the tyres. Adam, tell us a bit about 623 00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:55,200 Froxton and tyres. It's the tail as old as Tyne it 624 00:35:55,200 --> 00:36:00,040 seems in the BTCCM. Is it as bad as it seems to keep 625 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:02,560 hold of the tyres over the course of the race distance? 626 00:36:03,080 --> 00:36:06,600 Yeah, it certainly can be. And we've seen this particularly 627 00:36:06,640 --> 00:36:10,200 like during my era of the toilet cars, the Hondas struggled. 628 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:12,840 They struggled with punctures with the left front. 629 00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:17,880 And I remember Dunlop telling everybody to to stay off the, 630 00:36:17,880 --> 00:36:21,280 the chicane that left-handed in the middle, particularly for the 631 00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:23,840 first sort of, you know, two or three laps, try and build some 632 00:36:23,840 --> 00:36:26,160 temperature up there, build some strength into the tyre wall 633 00:36:26,160 --> 00:36:28,560 before you start. Because it was a humongous curb. 634 00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:31,560 I think I've changed it now compared to what it was, but it 635 00:36:31,560 --> 00:36:35,160 was massive. So yeah, it, it's always been a 636 00:36:35,160 --> 00:36:36,840 tough one. But I think it's a combination 637 00:36:36,840 --> 00:36:40,800 of car set up where teams are pushing their luck to get the 638 00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:43,760 maximum out of it and just running that bit of a risk, but 639 00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:46,160 also in terms of chassis and just the way they're designed. 640 00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:48,360 And if they're just particularly harder on the front tyres. 641 00:36:49,960 --> 00:36:52,160 But I I didn't struggle for punctures around there, but I 642 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:54,600 was one of the the four ones. I could make a race distance. 643 00:36:54,600 --> 00:36:57,600 But there's plenty when I did it that that couldn't finish it. 644 00:36:57,600 --> 00:37:01,800 I remember the Hondas vividly having continual problems there 645 00:37:01,800 --> 00:37:06,000 with dynamics. But yeah, it's it's tough, you 646 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:10,760 know, it is a tough, tough circuit because just the rest of 647 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:12,720 the circuit, although it's a really high speed circuit, it's 648 00:37:12,720 --> 00:37:14,680 all in a bowl. Like you constantly got right 649 00:37:14,680 --> 00:37:16,560 hand lock on pretty much you've got the left hand of the 650 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:19,600 chicane, you've got the one in the in the first complex and 651 00:37:19,600 --> 00:37:22,120 that's your lot. So yeah, it's quick as well. 652 00:37:22,120 --> 00:37:25,040 But I think it's a combination of things. 653 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:27,760 But I remember seeing, I might have been in the second race 654 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:31,560 where I can't remember the on board footage was of this one, 655 00:37:31,560 --> 00:37:35,080 but you could see Cleland ahead and I think it was, I don't know 656 00:37:35,080 --> 00:37:36,200 if it's a bit I'm doing it behind. 657 00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:38,480 I can't remember, but Cleland was ahead and he completely 658 00:37:38,480 --> 00:37:40,560 avoids the curb through the chicane. 659 00:37:41,120 --> 00:37:43,680 But the car, the in car footage that I was watching was 660 00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:46,040 clattering the curves. Like generally you would unlike, 661 00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:48,760 you know, a qualifying lap or something to try and keep up. 662 00:37:48,760 --> 00:37:52,040 But he could see Purb and you do gain some time by by taking it. 663 00:37:52,040 --> 00:37:54,600 That's why we all take it. But that that middle, that 664 00:37:54,600 --> 00:37:57,080 middle curb. But I could see Cleland just 665 00:37:57,080 --> 00:38:00,320 avoiding it, knowing what what the dangers were. 666 00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:02,800 And it was always a risk. It was always a risk if you 667 00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:04,040 started to take that inside curb. 668 00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:10,800 By lap 14, the lead trio had transformed itself into a loose 669 00:38:10,800 --> 00:38:14,800 gaggle with a growing gap to Watts, who in turn was well 670 00:38:14,800 --> 00:38:20,400 clear of sudden David Brabham's BMW and GM Pierre Simoni putting 671 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:23,520 up Alfa Romeo's most competitive showing of the season. 672 00:38:24,440 --> 00:38:27,200 Alex, we've touched on it already, but this really was a 673 00:38:27,200 --> 00:38:31,440 fall from grace for Alfa Romeo after their dominance of 1994. 674 00:38:32,600 --> 00:38:36,720 Yeah, I mean, it was, but you mentioned there David Brabham's 675 00:38:36,720 --> 00:38:38,960 BMW. It was a fall from grace for BMW 676 00:38:38,960 --> 00:38:42,320 too. Dominated from, well, they won 677 00:38:42,320 --> 00:38:47,000 9192 and 93 and suddenly, you know, they were competitive 678 00:38:47,000 --> 00:38:50,200 eventually in 94 once they dropped the weight and put the 679 00:38:50,200 --> 00:38:54,680 wings on. So, yeah, it's it was a fall 680 00:38:54,680 --> 00:38:58,760 from grace for a few people. And David Brabham probably 681 00:38:58,760 --> 00:39:04,000 wasn't expecting to be fighting 12th, 13th, 14th places in the 682 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:08,600 BTCC when he signed up from Formula One for BMW. 683 00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:12,680 But you know, as I said earlier, Simone, I thought was superb in 684 00:39:12,680 --> 00:39:18,200 95 and and that alpha really hit a lot of his excellent drives. 685 00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:23,120 And because that car was not great, not great at all. 686 00:39:23,120 --> 00:39:28,520 And yeah, it's, it's a shame really, because that's some big 687 00:39:28,520 --> 00:39:31,520 names and some big manufacturers with some big history. 688 00:39:31,520 --> 00:39:35,840 I mean, BMW, there's very few marks with more history and 689 00:39:35,840 --> 00:39:37,760 touring car racing than absolutely. 690 00:39:37,760 --> 00:39:41,760 Yeah, than BMW is there, you know, and but yeah, a fall from 691 00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:44,120 grace for a few and some newcomers. 692 00:39:44,480 --> 00:39:47,240 You know, Volvo, I know they had this stint in the 80s with the 693 00:39:47,240 --> 00:39:50,680 European touring cars, but Volvo were very new. 694 00:39:50,880 --> 00:39:55,160 Renault were quite new to this, so certainly was a shuffling of 695 00:39:55,160 --> 00:39:57,720 the of the the sort of the pecking order, as it were. 696 00:39:58,120 --> 00:40:02,240 Suddenly, on lap 16, Thompson went off at Goodwood, A tyre 697 00:40:02,240 --> 00:40:04,520 blown. It was odd, he said. 698 00:40:04,840 --> 00:40:08,320 I'd been keeping it tidy, so maybe I picked up some debris. 699 00:40:08,320 --> 00:40:11,720 At the complex. Without his wingman, Clend 700 00:40:11,720 --> 00:40:16,080 continued his attack on Menu in his Laguna ahead, attacking down 701 00:40:16,080 --> 00:40:20,040 the outside into the chicane as Menu diligently defended his 702 00:40:20,040 --> 00:40:23,560 pace. But down to the chicane for the 703 00:40:23,560 --> 00:40:26,760 last time, Charlotte is charging a desperate effort that gets 704 00:40:26,760 --> 00:40:29,280 through in this last complex of corners. 705 00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:34,040 Left, right. He doesn't make it and Ella Menu 706 00:40:34,080 --> 00:40:37,120 went for Renault. Jubilation all round. 707 00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:40,960 Through the chicane for the last time and the Vauxhall virtually 708 00:40:40,960 --> 00:40:44,200 pushed the Renault through it, but menu was not going to give 709 00:40:44,200 --> 00:40:46,680 this one up. Under breaking. 710 00:40:46,680 --> 00:40:50,080 John was a bit better so the remarkably cool, almost 711 00:40:50,080 --> 00:40:54,480 nonchalant menu afterwards, but I always had the inside covered. 712 00:40:54,840 --> 00:40:57,480 I'm just glad it wasn't another two or three laps. 713 00:40:58,680 --> 00:41:01,320 Cleland was pleased to be back on the podium after Brands 714 00:41:01,320 --> 00:41:05,120 Hatch, whilst a surprised Watts to round up the podium for the 715 00:41:05,120 --> 00:41:08,600 first race. We worked hard on rebuilding the 716 00:41:08,600 --> 00:41:10,480 car since the brand's shunt, he said. 717 00:41:10,880 --> 00:41:13,920 But it was all guest setups that just happened to be perfect. 718 00:41:14,480 --> 00:41:18,520 I think this has shown our potential, Andrew. 719 00:41:18,520 --> 00:41:21,680 It's not a trip to Patrick. What's sympathy corner this 720 00:41:21,680 --> 00:41:24,560 time? It's a decent result for Peugeot 721 00:41:24,560 --> 00:41:27,480 after that huge shunt that Patrick have at Ramsutch. 722 00:41:27,840 --> 00:41:32,680 Yeah, Peugeot looked close to the top in 94 and for a while in 723 00:41:32,680 --> 00:41:35,840 95. That continued despite all the 724 00:41:35,840 --> 00:41:39,200 issues with the lack of factory support that we've documented 725 00:41:39,480 --> 00:41:44,120 many times in the past on the pod and when Watts kept his 726 00:41:44,120 --> 00:41:50,920 enthusiasm at manageable levels. He was a very good driver and 727 00:41:51,040 --> 00:41:54,680 actually so was his new teammate, young Simon Harrison, 728 00:41:54,680 --> 00:41:57,800 who is one of those talents that sort of disappeared. 729 00:41:57,880 --> 00:42:00,080 He was also one of the really nice guys in the paddock. 730 00:42:00,080 --> 00:42:03,400 We had a lot of laughs with him. So, yeah, Peugeot, you know, 731 00:42:03,640 --> 00:42:06,560 they were there and thereabouts. Unfortunately, from here it all 732 00:42:06,560 --> 00:42:10,200 started to go downhill. Yeah, Harrison I felt really 733 00:42:10,200 --> 00:42:14,240 sorry for because he didn't really have a fair chance at the 734 00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:17,440 at the championship really. He just had that one year in a 735 00:42:17,440 --> 00:42:19,760 works capacity. I know he came back and did 736 00:42:19,760 --> 00:42:23,440 those dreadful Class B things in 2001. 737 00:42:23,520 --> 00:42:27,080 But yeah, he didn't seem to have a fair crack of the whip at the 738 00:42:27,080 --> 00:42:29,680 championship and. I do amazing. 739 00:42:29,680 --> 00:42:32,440 Not the only one you can say that about in the history of the 740 00:42:32,440 --> 00:42:33,960 BTC. That is very true. 741 00:42:33,960 --> 00:42:35,960 That is very true. I just remember him being a 742 00:42:35,960 --> 00:42:38,000 very, very nice man. He was. 743 00:42:38,280 --> 00:42:40,040 St Autograph. So ah. 744 00:42:40,480 --> 00:42:42,640 Yeah, no, he was. He was always a nice guy. 745 00:42:42,640 --> 00:42:48,680 He had a lot of laughs. As the cars were lining up on 746 00:42:48,680 --> 00:42:52,080 the grid for the second race of the day, James Thompson found 747 00:42:52,080 --> 00:42:55,880 himself all alone on the front row as the damage to Wilhoy's 748 00:42:55,880 --> 00:42:59,080 Renault meant he wasn't able to take his position alongside him. 749 00:42:59,800 --> 00:43:04,200 Thompson was into the lead, followed by Menu Riedel Cleland 750 00:43:04,200 --> 00:43:07,200 and Kelvin Burt. His lead was to prove short 751 00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:11,200 lived, however, as privateer Charlie Cox had a huge accident 752 00:43:11,200 --> 00:43:14,160 at the club chicane which brought the red flags out. 753 00:43:14,480 --> 00:43:17,960 Building up to 145 miles an hour and down to the club chicane. 754 00:43:17,960 --> 00:43:21,560 Second gear, 60 miles an hour. Thompson loves his right rear 755 00:43:21,800 --> 00:43:23,440 venue second, right down his third. 756 00:43:23,520 --> 00:43:25,240 No, it is 4th. Bert is fifth. 757 00:43:25,360 --> 00:43:27,280 What's his think? Wow, look at that. 758 00:43:27,480 --> 00:43:29,520 Look at that. Who's that? 759 00:43:29,840 --> 00:43:33,360 I think it was a Mondeo. Out go the Marshalls, Somebody 760 00:43:33,360 --> 00:43:39,080 off in a very, very big way. Oh, I hope, I hope everything's 761 00:43:39,080 --> 00:43:41,760 OK. They don't realise of course, up 762 00:43:41,760 --> 00:43:44,240 front the that's happened. They're still racing. 763 00:43:46,280 --> 00:43:49,040 Thompson's leading menu second, but surely they're going to have 764 00:43:49,040 --> 00:43:50,880 to stop this race. Yes, they are. 765 00:43:51,480 --> 00:43:55,240 Out goes the red flag. Well guys, it's the big one that 766 00:43:55,240 --> 00:43:59,080 we all remember. Does it still make you wince to 767 00:43:59,080 --> 00:44:03,080 watch that one back now? Yeah, it's, it's a horrible 768 00:44:03,080 --> 00:44:07,800 shunt, horrible, horrible shunt. And really, really did worry 769 00:44:07,800 --> 00:44:12,160 that that Charlie was going to be seriously injured or or even 770 00:44:12,160 --> 00:44:15,160 worse. Charlie was very, very lucky to 771 00:44:15,160 --> 00:44:17,320 get out of this one relatively unscathed. 772 00:44:17,320 --> 00:44:20,360 But we do know he still suffers from this accident even to this 773 00:44:20,360 --> 00:44:22,040 day. They don't they don't get much 774 00:44:22,040 --> 00:44:24,400 bigger than that at all. Yeah, you watch it back all 775 00:44:24,400 --> 00:44:27,560 these years later, like if that happened, you know, last weekend 776 00:44:28,080 --> 00:44:31,920 live event that you're watching, you'd think wow, like it's I 777 00:44:31,920 --> 00:44:34,280 think it could have been a whole lot worse. 778 00:44:34,280 --> 00:44:37,080 I don't just mean for Charlie. I mean the fact that there's a 779 00:44:37,160 --> 00:44:40,320 bloody grandstand right there. The fact that he pitched he 780 00:44:40,320 --> 00:44:43,120 pitched to the left as early as he did when you hit the brake 781 00:44:43,120 --> 00:44:44,920 pedal, he's gone off into the gravel. 782 00:44:44,920 --> 00:44:47,400 If that'll have happened a little bit later and then barrel 783 00:44:47,400 --> 00:44:48,600 rolled. We know what happens when you 784 00:44:48,600 --> 00:44:51,520 start gaining air and you and you're losing you're not 785 00:44:51,520 --> 00:44:53,520 scrubbing off speed and you're in the air some sorting. 786 00:44:53,520 --> 00:44:56,160 You can end up over the barriers and and beyond. 787 00:44:56,160 --> 00:44:59,200 So I think, you know, from a Marshall's perspective and 788 00:44:59,200 --> 00:45:02,760 everything, you know, you, you know, that was, that could have 789 00:45:02,760 --> 00:45:10,120 been really, really, really bad. Fraxton has a subsidiary press 790 00:45:10,120 --> 00:45:14,320 box and it's on the inside of the chicane and quite a lot of 791 00:45:14,320 --> 00:45:17,880 the journalists, they like to watch the races from there, even 792 00:45:17,880 --> 00:45:21,760 today, even in the BTCC today. So I was there and I had a front 793 00:45:21,760 --> 00:45:25,640 row view of the shunt and it was every bit as shocking as as it 794 00:45:25,640 --> 00:45:31,480 looks on TV. The other odd thing was that one 795 00:45:31,480 --> 00:45:35,600 of the features we did for the issue that I was working on at 796 00:45:35,600 --> 00:45:39,720 that time of Super Touring magazine was on Doctor Trafford 797 00:45:39,720 --> 00:45:43,720 and his medical team and that included the Toca helicopter. 798 00:45:43,720 --> 00:45:47,400 Now this was flown by a guy called James McAlpine, who I'd 799 00:45:47,400 --> 00:45:51,600 got to know quite well. In the previous series. 800 00:45:51,600 --> 00:45:54,240 I covered Thunder salons because he came racing in Thunder salons 801 00:45:54,240 --> 00:45:58,240 with for a short while with a guy called Jerry, Jerry Marney, 802 00:45:58,240 --> 00:46:02,040 who we don't talk a lot about. And I always remember because 803 00:46:02,040 --> 00:46:04,760 when James first turned up in Thunderstoons at the media day, 804 00:46:04,760 --> 00:46:06,960 we were all having lunch and the other drivers were talking to 805 00:46:06,960 --> 00:46:08,000 him. And they said to him, well, what 806 00:46:08,000 --> 00:46:10,240 does your family do? And he said, Oh, well, we build 807 00:46:10,240 --> 00:46:13,880 things. And he went and he said, build 808 00:46:13,880 --> 00:46:16,440 things. And James said, yeah, Wembley 809 00:46:16,440 --> 00:46:18,920 Stadium is one of ours. And they all went, oh, you're 810 00:46:18,920 --> 00:46:23,240 one of those Macalpines. And yeah. 811 00:46:23,640 --> 00:46:27,080 So James piloted to take a medical helicopter. 812 00:46:27,080 --> 00:46:30,200 And just before the Fraxton meeting, he married Heather 813 00:46:30,200 --> 00:46:32,360 Bailey, who was a female racing driver. 814 00:46:32,360 --> 00:46:37,200 And she's a terrible aside who had a few years earlier been 815 00:46:37,200 --> 00:46:41,680 teaching my wife to, to race. Well, my, my fiancee, she was 816 00:46:41,680 --> 00:46:46,560 there So and in doing this feature, Doctor Trafford told me 817 00:46:46,560 --> 00:46:49,040 that they'd always had this medical helicopter on standby, 818 00:46:49,040 --> 00:46:52,720 but they'd never had to use it to evacuate a driver from the 819 00:46:52,720 --> 00:46:54,680 circuit. And this meeting was the first 820 00:46:54,680 --> 00:46:57,960 time that a driver was evacuated from the circuit because Charlie 821 00:46:58,120 --> 00:47:00,080 was taken off to the local hospital in it. 822 00:47:00,920 --> 00:47:03,560 But looking back at the issue, I wrote that time, I always had a, 823 00:47:04,280 --> 00:47:07,360 a thing in the news called touring talk, which was quotes 824 00:47:07,360 --> 00:47:10,440 from drivers. And I got a quote from Charlie 825 00:47:10,440 --> 00:47:14,000 straight after qualifying. And you we all know church 826 00:47:14,000 --> 00:47:17,680 corner at Fraxen. He's really a scary corner for a 827 00:47:17,680 --> 00:47:20,640 driver because it's full speed. Get it slightly wrong. 828 00:47:20,640 --> 00:47:22,600 You're you're halfway to Andover. 829 00:47:23,240 --> 00:47:27,760 And Charlie said to me that he had a big spin at church in 830 00:47:28,440 --> 00:47:31,800 during qualifying and he went, that's the closest I've ever 831 00:47:31,800 --> 00:47:34,600 come to God. And then he went and had his 832 00:47:34,600 --> 00:47:36,920 accident in the race. Yeah. 833 00:47:37,640 --> 00:47:43,880 And then he met Alex Clark. The race was quickly stopped 834 00:47:44,040 --> 00:47:47,400 with the rescue crews quickly on the scene to extract the still 835 00:47:47,400 --> 00:47:51,080 conscious cocks. Miraculously, he escaped of 836 00:47:51,080 --> 00:47:54,280 little more than bruises and shock and was taken to 837 00:47:54,280 --> 00:47:57,520 Basingstoke Hospital to remain under observation. 838 00:47:58,520 --> 00:48:03,080 His Mondeo, however, was destroyed in the 135 mile an 839 00:48:03,080 --> 00:48:06,560 hour barrel roll just weeks after he scored the best ever 840 00:48:06,560 --> 00:48:10,400 result for an independent in the championship after 5th place at 841 00:48:10,400 --> 00:48:13,560 France Hatch. Charlie told us about the shunt 842 00:48:13,560 --> 00:48:16,760 a few weeks ago, so let's listen back to what he had to say. 843 00:48:17,240 --> 00:48:21,360 In fact, if I'd actually written Thames on the roof and Ford on 844 00:48:21,360 --> 00:48:24,080 the underside of the car, it would have been brilliant. 845 00:48:24,440 --> 00:48:27,040 Thames Forward. Whoa, let me down, Let me down. 846 00:48:27,960 --> 00:48:30,440 Who's that? It would have been epic 847 00:48:30,440 --> 00:48:33,120 advertising, but I didn't have the width for that and somebody 848 00:48:33,120 --> 00:48:35,720 else suggested I actually could have had Thames and Ford on the 849 00:48:35,720 --> 00:48:38,560 soles of my boots for when I was stretching it off. 850 00:48:38,920 --> 00:48:42,400 Anyway, I was knocked out and I finished up in these bloody Rd 851 00:48:42,400 --> 00:48:46,000 works which were going on outside the circuit because the, 852 00:48:46,160 --> 00:48:48,960 the car went down a bank and out through the the circuit and 853 00:48:48,960 --> 00:48:51,280 landed and all these great big piles of dirt. 854 00:48:52,160 --> 00:48:55,280 And I came to, I couldn't see anything out of that eye at all. 855 00:48:55,280 --> 00:48:57,320 And I could just see something out of this one eye, like 856 00:48:57,760 --> 00:49:00,600 looking down a toilet roll tube, which I did a lot when I was 7. 857 00:49:00,600 --> 00:49:05,680 And I was thinking, wow, I was, I'm dead and there was just 858 00:49:05,680 --> 00:49:07,320 dirt. And because I'm looking up at 859 00:49:07,320 --> 00:49:11,320 45° into the sun, I was waiting for God, but all I could see was 860 00:49:11,320 --> 00:49:16,200 dirt and and it turned out I was in these Rd works and all I 861 00:49:16,200 --> 00:49:20,160 could see was a busted windscreen and but it destroyed 862 00:49:20,160 --> 00:49:24,480 the car and and went once again Ford and Carphone Warehouse and 863 00:49:24,480 --> 00:49:27,880 those guys all chipped in and we needed another 100 grand to 864 00:49:27,880 --> 00:49:30,880 build a new car. You might remember Mika Hakkinen 865 00:49:30,880 --> 00:49:34,560 had he wasn't in the same race because hacking it had a crash I 866 00:49:34,560 --> 00:49:37,920 think in Adelaide and suffered the same injury where basically 867 00:49:38,320 --> 00:49:41,440 you drop your inner ear. It's like it's like dropping a 868 00:49:41,440 --> 00:49:45,120 Santa snow globe and all the fibres in it start floating 869 00:49:45,120 --> 00:49:47,560 around and it makes you constantly dizzy and it takes 870 00:49:47,560 --> 00:49:50,240 can take a couple of years for all the fibres to settle down 871 00:49:50,240 --> 00:49:53,040 South. It may go into bed very 872 00:49:53,040 --> 00:49:55,520 exciting. Around 30 minutes later, 873 00:49:55,680 --> 00:49:59,480 Thompson did it all again in a restarted race, now reduced to 874 00:49:59,480 --> 00:50:04,600 17 laps from the original 20. Menu again latched onto the 875 00:50:04,600 --> 00:50:09,320 voxels tale with Burt third ahead of Riedel Radisich, Watts, 876 00:50:09,400 --> 00:50:12,200 Sugden and Simon Harrison's Peugeot. 877 00:50:12,880 --> 00:50:16,200 Cleland was only 9th after a dreadful start. 878 00:50:17,360 --> 00:50:21,440 Alex Kelvin Burt was making a strong stunt his BTCC career 879 00:50:21,440 --> 00:50:24,960 here, running ahead of Radisich a few races in, in a team that 880 00:50:24,960 --> 00:50:27,800 was very clearly Radisich is at this point as well. 881 00:50:28,600 --> 00:50:31,680 Yes, Kelvin had started the season very strong in his first 882 00:50:31,680 --> 00:50:34,880 full season in in British touring cars, in touring cars 883 00:50:34,880 --> 00:50:39,200 because he was the reigning Formula 3 champion and was test 884 00:50:39,200 --> 00:50:41,720 driver at Jordan for the Formula One team. 885 00:50:41,720 --> 00:50:46,800 But he certainly hadn't hadn't done much in touring cars and it 886 00:50:46,800 --> 00:50:48,520 was very impressive what he was doing. 887 00:50:49,400 --> 00:50:51,960 Radicich of course. Double wheel champion, no slouch 888 00:50:52,440 --> 00:50:55,640 and outperforming him so early on in his career was very 889 00:50:55,640 --> 00:50:58,440 impressive. Cleland was beginning to make a 890 00:50:58,440 --> 00:51:01,640 move and was on what's his tale by lap 8. 891 00:51:02,280 --> 00:51:06,080 The pair clashed on the next lap 3 Seagrave, with what's breaking 892 00:51:06,080 --> 00:51:09,160 a wheel in the process. They touched again as they 893 00:51:09,160 --> 00:51:12,680 continued through the complex, and Watts was spun off by the 894 00:51:12,680 --> 00:51:16,120 second impact. One's in the red white carve as 895 00:51:16,160 --> 00:51:20,120 well, and not before when when John's telling now and suddenly 896 00:51:20,120 --> 00:51:23,800 the position he's attending from points and he's attacking once 897 00:51:23,960 --> 00:51:26,680 once locks up his left rear into the whole legs. 898 00:51:26,840 --> 00:51:33,520 There's twenty seats once fell and 5th, 6th, 7th me to the left 899 00:51:33,520 --> 00:51:35,160 hand. Well now the right-hander at sea 900 00:51:35,160 --> 00:51:37,160 grave. Hey, Cleland is going through. 901 00:51:37,480 --> 00:51:40,520 I'll be the sixth position for this contact. 902 00:51:41,760 --> 00:51:45,080 Get off, says Cleland, and that's goodbye to another 903 00:51:45,080 --> 00:51:46,480 John's. Have a mirror and that's what's 904 00:51:46,480 --> 00:51:48,880 going through and off talented him. 905 00:51:49,880 --> 00:51:53,120 Bang off goes the Peugeot cloud of dust. 906 00:51:53,240 --> 00:51:55,320 It's on four wheels. Sir Patrick Watts will be 907 00:51:55,320 --> 00:51:57,840 perfectly OK. You'll be undoing the bells 908 00:51:57,840 --> 00:52:01,320 furiously, I bet. The door opens and out against 909 00:52:01,320 --> 00:52:06,160 the lanky Patrick Watts, safe and sound, but very sorry. 910 00:52:06,160 --> 00:52:09,320 Slam. Cleland said he was slow through 911 00:52:09,320 --> 00:52:13,080 the left-hander in the complex. We went through side by side and 912 00:52:13,080 --> 00:52:15,680 touch wheels. Then he seemed to just stop dead 913 00:52:15,680 --> 00:52:18,280 for the next part and I hit him square in the back. 914 00:52:19,280 --> 00:52:22,200 What's retaliated with? I was a little slow there, but 915 00:52:22,200 --> 00:52:25,760 he forced me wide, whacked into me and broke my wheel. 916 00:52:27,000 --> 00:52:30,240 Adam, from your side as a driver, are you siding with 917 00:52:30,240 --> 00:52:33,880 Cleland or what's on this one? It was a complete racing 918 00:52:33,880 --> 00:52:35,480 incident, you know, when you look at it. 919 00:52:36,560 --> 00:52:40,080 Watts initially slowed himself down by challenging Raditic, 920 00:52:40,080 --> 00:52:43,160 which I'm not sure he meant to initially because when you look 921 00:52:43,160 --> 00:52:46,560 at the footage, he locks up a wheel and you can see the smoke 922 00:52:46,560 --> 00:52:47,800 coming off it going into the complex. 923 00:52:47,800 --> 00:52:51,400 So I think he's then gone wide, which then then you know when 924 00:52:51,400 --> 00:52:53,640 you go through the right and you can dive at the inside for the 925 00:52:53,640 --> 00:52:55,320 left, it's sort of put him in that position. 926 00:52:55,640 --> 00:52:58,800 But when he's attempted to do it, didn't pull it off, he's 927 00:52:58,800 --> 00:53:02,160 then slowed himself down. That's then brought Cleland into 928 00:53:02,160 --> 00:53:05,080 the frame that then gone through the the the right-hander going 929 00:53:05,080 --> 00:53:08,000 back out onto the straight. They've touched naturally, as 930 00:53:08,000 --> 00:53:11,640 you do from time to time. You know, unfortunately what's 931 00:53:11,640 --> 00:53:13,800 came off worse there with with the piece of his wheel coming 932 00:53:13,800 --> 00:53:15,480 off. I don't think at that point you 933 00:53:15,480 --> 00:53:17,960 then realise that there's a obviously he's broken his wheel 934 00:53:17,960 --> 00:53:20,560 and then obviously he's lost the pressure in the in the tyre. 935 00:53:21,120 --> 00:53:22,800 He's then gone into the flat out left-hander. 936 00:53:22,800 --> 00:53:26,240 He just, you know, to the left of Cleland, but then realise 937 00:53:26,240 --> 00:53:29,000 actually I can't, I can't turn into the corner as as much as I 938 00:53:29,000 --> 00:53:30,360 need to realise there's a problem. 939 00:53:30,640 --> 00:53:32,680 Obviously Cleland has had nowhere to go and and just 940 00:53:32,680 --> 00:53:34,080 tagged him, you know, on the back. 941 00:53:34,080 --> 00:53:37,360 So you know, his race was done when the wheel was broken but 942 00:53:37,360 --> 00:53:39,800 didn't realise it until the flat out left-hander. 943 00:53:39,800 --> 00:53:43,440 And by that point, luckily he didn't ruin Cleland's race. 944 00:53:43,840 --> 00:53:45,760 You know, he tagged him and nerved him off but he was 945 00:53:45,760 --> 00:53:47,680 already going off and watched his race was already done. 946 00:53:48,480 --> 00:53:50,720 But yeah, it was, it was unfortunate for him, really 947 00:53:50,720 --> 00:53:55,160 unfortunate. But you know, Cleland got away 948 00:53:55,160 --> 00:53:56,600 lightly, really, because it could have been a whole lot 949 00:53:56,600 --> 00:54:01,960 worse for him. Moving past the 10 lap mark and 950 00:54:01,960 --> 00:54:04,840 suddenly Thompson was edging out a little over the Renault. 951 00:54:05,480 --> 00:54:07,960 It was a good battle at first, said Thompson. 952 00:54:08,280 --> 00:54:11,160 But I edged away and concentrated on looking after my 953 00:54:11,160 --> 00:54:13,760 tyres and keeping a reasonable pace. 954 00:54:14,720 --> 00:54:18,360 Menu admitted his overall title chances became a factor in the 955 00:54:18,360 --> 00:54:21,560 later lapse. I thought maybe he'd gone too 956 00:54:21,560 --> 00:54:26,000 hard too soon but he hadn't, so I saved my tyres and fought of 957 00:54:26,000 --> 00:54:30,040 the championship. Andrew, at this early point in 958 00:54:30,040 --> 00:54:32,440 the season, is this a wise choice for Menu? 959 00:54:32,440 --> 00:54:35,240 He was clearly one of the favourites for the title at the 960 00:54:35,240 --> 00:54:38,040 time and this helped him get into the lead of the 961 00:54:38,040 --> 00:54:43,880 Championship leave in Fruxton. Yeah, as I said earlier, F1 team 962 00:54:43,880 --> 00:54:48,120 quality, Williams had won many an F1 title by this time. 963 00:54:48,400 --> 00:54:51,200 They knew the right way to go about BTCC racing. 964 00:54:51,440 --> 00:54:54,600 So if Allan hadn't have thought about doing this for himself, he 965 00:54:54,600 --> 00:54:57,840 would have very firmly been told by Mr Harrison on the pit Wolf. 966 00:54:58,280 --> 00:55:01,600 So, yeah, yeah. Clellan's charged stalled with 967 00:55:01,600 --> 00:55:05,520 5th after he disposed of Ratasich, with Harvey 7th 968 00:55:06,520 --> 00:55:08,960 behind. All Hell had periodically broken 969 00:55:08,960 --> 00:55:13,040 loose as a train with the likes of David Babin's BMW, Derek 970 00:55:13,040 --> 00:55:17,320 Warwick's Alpha Simoni, both Hondas and even Nigel Smith's 971 00:55:17,320 --> 00:55:21,320 Privateer Cavalier got involved. Alex. 972 00:55:21,400 --> 00:55:24,200 It was quite a battle in the midfield with some previous big 973 00:55:24,200 --> 00:55:27,440 hitters in there as well. Yeah, some big names at that end 974 00:55:27,440 --> 00:55:32,440 of the grid that year, obviously Brabham and Warwick, both ex F1 975 00:55:32,440 --> 00:55:36,080 drivers. Simoni was a BTCC race winner so 976 00:55:36,560 --> 00:55:39,640 so yeah, they were really, really big names and probably 977 00:55:39,640 --> 00:55:42,040 were a little bit miffed that they were down that end of the 978 00:55:42,040 --> 00:55:44,280 grid fighting rather than at the front. 979 00:55:48,040 --> 00:55:49,760 Come on. The outside made off. 980 00:55:50,840 --> 00:55:53,320 Oh, that's where Charlie Cox went off. 981 00:55:53,880 --> 00:55:56,480 But Brabham's gone straight into the tower wall. 982 00:55:57,120 --> 00:56:00,200 He unclips the safety net. Let's just stop their arms 983 00:56:00,200 --> 00:56:02,240 coming out. If the car rolls and the windows 984 00:56:02,240 --> 00:56:05,120 open and David's obviously perfectly all right. 985 00:56:05,280 --> 00:56:10,200 Well, physically anyway. Mentally, he won't be ways to 986 00:56:10,200 --> 00:56:12,560 the crowds. They'll be glad to see he's OK. 987 00:56:12,560 --> 00:56:16,960 He's a replay, so look at Warwick in possibly trying to go 988 00:56:16,960 --> 00:56:21,400 through closing to 60 miles an hour from 145. 989 00:56:22,560 --> 00:56:26,600 Brabham's got nowhere to go except onto the grass and into 990 00:56:26,600 --> 00:56:30,080 the tyre wall. And Derek keeps going. 991 00:56:30,560 --> 00:56:33,960 Oh, there's justice for you. Inevitably, things ended in 992 00:56:33,960 --> 00:56:36,840 tears when Brabham and Warwick clashed at the chicane. 993 00:56:37,440 --> 00:56:41,160 Brabham ended his race broadside in the tyre wall, with Warwick 994 00:56:41,160 --> 00:56:43,320 hobbling around to eventually retire. 995 00:56:46,000 --> 00:56:47,800 Adam, what are your thoughts on this one? 996 00:56:49,280 --> 00:56:52,720 Completely Derek's fault. I've watched it. 997 00:56:52,800 --> 00:56:55,080 I watched it again just in case I made a mistake. 998 00:56:55,080 --> 00:56:56,800 And then I thought I'll just watch it for a third time. 999 00:56:56,800 --> 00:57:02,840 But yeah, this was just one of many moments that Derek had that 1000 00:57:03,800 --> 00:57:07,320 obviously said before that he wasn't, you know, a particular 1001 00:57:07,600 --> 00:57:10,120 fond time of his life being in the BTCC. 1002 00:57:10,120 --> 00:57:12,680 And this is one of the reasons he he's got it completely wrong. 1003 00:57:12,680 --> 00:57:16,560 One in there too hot, locked up, hit the side of Brabham, ruined 1004 00:57:16,560 --> 00:57:19,320 his race and and that was it being embarrassing really. 1005 00:57:19,320 --> 00:57:23,400 But the fact that he apologised afterwards to Brabham, you know, 1006 00:57:23,440 --> 00:57:26,720 says it all, doesn't it? Couldn't hide with that one and 1007 00:57:26,720 --> 00:57:28,880 try and make out there was a racing manoeuvre. 1008 00:57:29,200 --> 00:57:33,760 It was, it was, wasn't it wasn't blatant in terms of he did it 1009 00:57:33,760 --> 00:57:35,920 deliberately. He just got it really wrong. 1010 00:57:37,000 --> 00:57:39,120 He was on the inside, said Brabham. 1011 00:57:39,360 --> 00:57:43,000 Locked up and hit me. He's apologised now but it's 1012 00:57:43,000 --> 00:57:47,960 damage I could have done without Adam Andrew. 1013 00:57:48,000 --> 00:57:51,160 A real baptism of fire in the championship for David Brabham 1014 00:57:51,520 --> 00:57:53,680 in a car that he would have assumed would be more 1015 00:57:53,680 --> 00:57:57,760 competitive than it was. He would have done when he 1016 00:57:57,760 --> 00:58:01,800 signing the contract. Yeah, BMW dropped the ball in 1017 00:58:01,800 --> 00:58:05,160 1995 and they did it by changing teams. 1018 00:58:05,520 --> 00:58:09,640 They sent Schnitzer back to Germany and they signed up Team 1019 00:58:09,640 --> 00:58:13,160 Warthoffer to come and do the BTCC. 1020 00:58:13,160 --> 00:58:16,320 Now, later in that year we actually went to visit Wartopher 1021 00:58:16,320 --> 00:58:19,840 in Bavaria and they were in OK outfit, but they weren't Team 1022 00:58:19,840 --> 00:58:22,840 Schnitzer. Schnitzer's bar. 1023 00:58:22,840 --> 00:58:25,520 So absolutely lovely guy called Charlie Lamb. 1024 00:58:25,520 --> 00:58:28,200 He would have rung better results out of the car. 1025 00:58:28,440 --> 00:58:32,120 And poor David Brabham and Johnny Cicotto for that matter, 1026 00:58:32,120 --> 00:58:34,000 who was actually quite a good driver. 1027 00:58:34,560 --> 00:58:36,880 They were simply in the wrong team at the wrong time. 1028 00:58:37,760 --> 00:58:41,920 Reading off the final laps, Thompson Judy became the BTCC's 1029 00:58:41,920 --> 00:58:47,440 youngest ever winner, 2.85 seconds ahead of Menu Alex. 1030 00:58:47,440 --> 00:58:50,400 A really impressive drive from James Thompson there, wasn't it? 1031 00:58:51,360 --> 00:58:53,960 Yeah, very impressive. He literally didn't put a foot 1032 00:58:53,960 --> 00:58:58,880 wrong all weekend and certainly in this race LED from the front, 1033 00:58:58,960 --> 00:59:03,520 took pole position, obviously LED twice from the front because 1034 00:59:03,520 --> 00:59:07,240 obviously that that that shunt at the start for Charlie Cox 1035 00:59:07,240 --> 00:59:11,120 meant that we had a second race start and he could easily have 1036 00:59:11,120 --> 00:59:14,680 folded under that pressure. But no, he's shown and a well 1037 00:59:14,680 --> 00:59:17,960 deserved first of many BTCC victories. 1038 00:59:18,320 --> 00:59:20,680 Yeah, I think James Thompson is still underrated today. 1039 00:59:20,680 --> 00:59:24,440 I think he was one of the true stars of the BTCC. 1040 00:59:26,080 --> 00:59:29,360 Probably didn't always have the lap when he needed it. 1041 00:59:29,360 --> 00:59:32,480 I mean, that first season would be ruined halfway through with 1042 00:59:32,480 --> 00:59:36,560 his big shunt at Noch Hill. And so yeah, yeah, no. 1043 00:59:36,840 --> 00:59:40,200 Absolute star of the Super Touring era, James Thompson. 1044 00:59:40,600 --> 00:59:42,160 And he shows as well just back to Tomo. 1045 00:59:42,160 --> 00:59:44,520 He like just how much loved, how loved he still is by the 1046 00:59:44,520 --> 00:59:46,440 feedback. And obviously we got him on the 1047 00:59:46,440 --> 00:59:48,040 pod, didn't we? And it was brilliant. 1048 00:59:48,040 --> 00:59:50,640 Everyone loved it and it was a little bit reluctant to begin 1049 00:59:50,640 --> 00:59:53,440 with, but the feedback from everyone I know, I don't know 1050 00:59:53,440 --> 00:59:55,920 how the same with people that have fed back to you as well. 1051 00:59:55,920 --> 00:59:59,240 I like, I really like the really wanted him on and we're really 1052 00:59:59,240 --> 01:00:03,240 pleased that we had him on And and I think that that proves. 1053 01:00:03,720 --> 01:00:06,440 Just what a start he was and how much he was loved in the touring 1054 01:00:06,440 --> 01:00:13,680 cars, you know, championship. Now it's time for one of our 1055 01:00:13,680 --> 01:00:16,240 favourite segments on stories from Super Touring. 1056 01:00:16,480 --> 01:00:20,360 It's time for Matt's Facts. In this segment, our very own 1057 01:00:20,360 --> 01:00:24,160 producer Matt takes us through a series of intriguing, lesser 1058 01:00:24,160 --> 01:00:26,320 known facts about the race we're diving into. 1059 01:00:27,120 --> 01:00:30,960 Whether it's behind the scenes trivia, forgotten details, or 1060 01:00:30,960 --> 01:00:34,640 fun tidbits that didn't make it into the headlines, Matt always 1061 01:00:34,640 --> 01:00:36,760 has something that will surprise and impress. 1062 01:00:37,200 --> 01:00:41,080 So sit back and enjoy as we dig into the history with some facts 1063 01:00:41,080 --> 01:00:45,360 that only Matt could uncover. Thank you very much. 1064 01:00:46,560 --> 01:00:48,160 It's about the same round of pressure on us. 1065 01:00:48,160 --> 01:00:52,320 James Thompson do. You know what I think? 1066 01:00:52,320 --> 01:00:53,800 I think you've actually got more there, Matt. 1067 01:00:53,800 --> 01:00:57,240 To be fair, that was a bigger builder than Murray could have. 1068 01:00:57,240 --> 01:01:01,720 Ever done Well, as we know, this was James Thompson's first BTCC 1069 01:01:01,720 --> 01:01:05,040 win, so let's take a look at his other successes in the Super 1070 01:01:05,040 --> 01:01:09,400 Touring era of the BTCC. So James scored twelve wins in 1071 01:01:09,400 --> 01:01:12,320 Super Touring, and these came at as many as seven different 1072 01:01:12,320 --> 01:01:15,040 circuits across 9 different configurations. 1073 01:01:15,520 --> 01:01:19,600 He won at Setterton twice, Croft twice, Silverstone International 1074 01:01:19,600 --> 01:01:23,520 twice, and then Thruxton Brands Indy, Alton Park, Fosters, 1075 01:01:23,520 --> 01:01:26,440 Donaton National, Donaton International, and Alton Park 1076 01:01:26,440 --> 01:01:30,360 Island all once. In total, James was on the 1077 01:01:30,360 --> 01:01:34,720 podium 38 times with twelve wins, 15 second places and 11 1078 01:01:34,720 --> 01:01:39,000 third place finishes. Like his wins, James's podiums 1079 01:01:39,000 --> 01:01:41,240 came at a large variety of circuits standing on the 1080 01:01:41,240 --> 01:01:43,920 rostrum. 8 different tracks across 12 different 1081 01:01:43,920 --> 01:01:48,200 configurations. Knock Hill is the only venue 1082 01:01:48,200 --> 01:01:50,640 James raced at in Super Touring without winning. 1083 01:01:51,160 --> 01:01:56,160 He actually never won at Knock Hill, not even in BTCT or S 2000 1084 01:01:56,160 --> 01:01:59,520 days, and I think bearing in mind how many races he must have 1085 01:01:59,520 --> 01:02:02,640 done there, it was a bit of a bogey track for him. 1086 01:02:03,840 --> 01:02:10,080 Right from the start. Yes, I think I seem to remember 1087 01:02:10,080 --> 01:02:13,280 in 2004 he pretty much wrote the car from qualifying as well. 1088 01:02:13,280 --> 01:02:18,480 So he he never had luck there for whatever reason, but quite 1089 01:02:18,480 --> 01:02:19,880 surprising he never took a victory. 1090 01:02:20,320 --> 01:02:22,840 So as already mentioned, this wasn't only James Thompson's 1091 01:02:22,840 --> 01:02:25,320 first win. Race 1 was also the first win 1092 01:02:25,320 --> 01:02:27,560 for Williams. So let's take a look at their 1093 01:02:27,560 --> 01:02:29,160 other successes in Super Touring. 1094 01:02:29,640 --> 01:02:32,200 Renault scored the most amount of victories in Super Touring as 1095 01:02:32,200 --> 01:02:36,760 a whole, with 38 wins. 33 of these came with Williams. 1096 01:02:37,280 --> 01:02:41,520 Amazingly, this means as a team, Williams scored more wins in 1097 01:02:41,520 --> 01:02:45,120 five years than any manufacturer across the entire Super Touring 1098 01:02:45,120 --> 01:02:50,400 period as a manufacturer, but across multiple teams, BMW 1099 01:02:50,400 --> 01:02:54,680 scored 32 wins in six years and Vauxhall won 31 times in 10 1100 01:02:54,680 --> 01:02:59,080 years. Renault also secured a total of 1101 01:02:59,080 --> 01:03:02,800 102 podium finishes, with Williams claiming 86 of them. 1102 01:03:04,280 --> 01:03:06,720 There were a few other people celebrating smaller successes 1103 01:03:06,720 --> 01:03:09,600 this weekend as well. We've already mentioned Simon 1104 01:03:09,600 --> 01:03:13,160 Harrison and this was the only meeting in his BTCC career where 1105 01:03:13,160 --> 01:03:17,200 he scored points in both races with a 10th in race 1 1/9. 1106 01:03:17,200 --> 01:03:22,600 In race 2, Nigel Smith got his best overall result of the 1107 01:03:22,600 --> 01:03:25,320 season with P11 in race one on route to winning both 1108 01:03:25,320 --> 01:03:29,560 Independence races this weekend. In 1994 he did manage to get an 1109 01:03:29,560 --> 01:03:31,800 outright point by finishing 10th at Brandt Hatch. 1110 01:03:34,120 --> 01:03:36,840 Tim Sumden's fourth place in race 1 was his best ever finish 1111 01:03:36,840 --> 01:03:39,080 for Toyota in a tough couple of years. 1112 01:03:39,080 --> 01:03:42,040 His next best set of results was a trio of 6th places. 1113 01:03:44,360 --> 01:03:46,600 One team not celebrating too much was Ford. 1114 01:03:47,160 --> 01:03:49,200 Race one saw both their cars retire. 1115 01:03:49,200 --> 01:03:51,960 The only team to have a double retirement in one race this 1116 01:03:51,960 --> 01:03:54,360 weekend. This is, let's call it an 1117 01:03:54,360 --> 01:03:58,440 experience that Ford suffered 4 times in 1995, which is more 1118 01:03:58,440 --> 01:04:03,040 than any other team. However, they didn't have the 1119 01:04:03,040 --> 01:04:04,960 most retirements in total during the year. 1120 01:04:05,520 --> 01:04:09,200 The Ford either didn't start or retired 15 times, the same as 1121 01:04:09,200 --> 01:04:14,600 Toyota, but Peugeot was 17 along with AR and BMW both with 18 1122 01:04:14,600 --> 01:04:17,120 retirements had the most. Which comes back to what you're 1123 01:04:17,120 --> 01:04:20,600 saying earlier about the Alfa Romeo and BMW, and therefore 1124 01:04:20,600 --> 01:04:24,320 from Grace. Having 18 retirements across 2 1125 01:04:24,320 --> 01:04:28,720 drivers from 25 races, but 18 out of 50 is a pretty shocking 1126 01:04:28,720 --> 01:04:34,200 rate to their credit. Quite surprisingly, new Team 1127 01:04:34,200 --> 01:04:37,440 Honda tied with Volvo for the fewest retirements, logging just 1128 01:04:37,440 --> 01:04:45,600 six each. As we wrap up today's look back 1129 01:04:45,600 --> 01:04:50,320 at the 1995 BTCC meeting at Thruxton, it's impossible not to 1130 01:04:50,320 --> 01:04:54,040 reflect on the highs and the lows that define that weekend. 1131 01:04:54,840 --> 01:04:58,640 James Thompson's break free first win marked a new chapter 1132 01:04:58,640 --> 01:05:02,240 for him in the championship, whilst Williams triumphs also 1133 01:05:02,240 --> 01:05:06,040 left their mark. Of course, the huge accident 1134 01:05:06,040 --> 01:05:09,840 involving Charlie Cox served as a stark reminder of the dangers 1135 01:05:10,000 --> 01:05:12,320 that are always present on the racetrack. 1136 01:05:13,480 --> 01:05:16,560 I'd like to thank Andrew Charmin for once again joining us today 1137 01:05:16,880 --> 01:05:19,280 and we look forward to seeing you on the pod again soon. 1138 01:05:19,280 --> 01:05:22,040 Andrew. I certainly look forward to 1139 01:05:22,040 --> 01:05:24,440 coming back again. As you know, I always enjoy 1140 01:05:24,480 --> 01:05:27,080 these. Our thanks also as ever, go to 1141 01:05:27,080 --> 01:05:28,720 you guys for listening to the show. 1142 01:05:28,920 --> 01:05:31,560 And if you enjoyed today's episode, please make sure to 1143 01:05:31,560 --> 01:05:35,200 give us a review, five star rating and subscribe to the 1144 01:05:35,200 --> 01:05:37,960 podcast feed on your podcast act of choice. 1145 01:05:38,720 --> 01:05:41,000 In the meantime, we will see you next week. 1146 01:05:41,240 --> 01:05:41,720 Goodbye.