2004 British Touring Car Championship season

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2004 BTCC season
Previous: 2003 Next: 2005

The 2004 Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 47th British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season.

Changes for 2004

Teams and drivers

With the admittance of Super 2000-spec cars into the championship, the BTCC welcomed with it a new manufacturer, with SEAT Sport's UK division entering a pair of Toledos identical to those used in the European Touring Car Championship, run by RML. At the wheel were Jason Plato, returning to the championship for the first time since his title victory in 2001, and youngster Rob Huff, who earned his drive through winning the inaugural SEAT Cupra UK Championship, for which Plato had acted as a driver coach.

They were joined by reigning champions of the last three seasons Vauxhall, with Triple 8 Engineering again running a trio of Astra Coupes. 2003 champion Yvan Muller remained along with runner-up and 2002 title winner James Thompson, with Luke Hines replacing Paul O'Neill in the third car on the back of claiming the Production class title in his debut season the previous year.

Honda cut its Arena Motorsport-run Civic Type-R campaign down to a single car for the returning Tom Chilton, but the Civic challenge was augmented by a pair of cars entered by Team Dynamics for Matt Neal, returning to his family team from the works Honda set-up, and Dan Eaves, who brought with him Halfords sponsorship after the withdrawal of Vic Lee Racing. Proton completed the line-up of works teams, its two Impians now driven by two newcomers to British motorsport; the experienced South African Shaun Watson-Smith and the young Malaysian Farique Hairuman.

Financial trouble forced MG Rover to pull its works backing from West Surrey Racing's MG ZS assault, but the team cut down from three to two cars and returned as an independent with young gun Colin Turkington and veteran Anthony Reid staying on board.

Ex-works Vauxhall Astra Coupes were a popular choice amongst the other independents, with Michael Bentwood stepping up from the Production ranks in a 'VXR Junior' team prepared by Tech-Speed Motorsport and 2003 Independents champion Rob Collard continuing to campaign an Astra for his self-run team.

GA Motorsport (now under the 'Team Sureterm' banner) continued to run a pair of Astra Coupes for the returning Paul Wallace and Renault Clio Cup graduate Charlie Butler-Henderson, while a Super 2000-spec Alfa Romeo 156 was also entered for Carl Breeze. Wallace was soon replaced by experienced former Ford and Volvo factory driver Kelvin Burt, then later Irishman Gavin Smith and Stefan Hodgetts (son of ex-BTCC champion Chris), the latter then stepping in to replace Butler-Henderson when his funds ran out. Hodgetts then swapped cars with Breeze, who himself was replaced by Gavin Pyper for the final round.

Synchro Motorsport again returned with an ex-works Honda Civic Type R for former works driver James Kaye. Jason Hughes stepped up from the Production class, racing an ex-WSR MG ZS for his Kartworld Racing team, and John Batchelor's 'Team Varta' also switched classes, running Richard Marsh from the second round onwards in first a Super 2000 Civic Type-R, then later an ex-Vic Lee Racing Peugeot 307. Marsh was replaced by Jay Wheals for the final round, for which the team returned to the Civic.

Mardi Gras Motorsport had an abortive campaign, entering a Super 2000 Civic and later an ex-works Peugeot 406 Coupe, both LPG-powered, for businessman John George, and Edenbridge Racing briefly entered a Super 2000 BMW 320i for Justin Keen.

Other changes

  • The number of total races was increased from 20 to 30 by holding three races at each meeting instead of two
  • The grid for the second race of each meeting was decided by the results of the first but with the top ten reversed; the grid for the third race was simply the finishing order of the second race
  • Cars built to Super 2000 specification were allowed, with an equivalency formula designed to ensure that they would have similar performance to their BTCC counterparts
  • Points penalties for engine changes now apply only to the team, not the driver
  • The "production class" and its associated championship was abolished

Teams and drivers

Team Car Car Spec. No. Drivers Class Rounds
VX Racing Vauxhall Astra Coupé BTC-T 1 France Yvan Muller M All
2 United Kingdom James Thompson M All
57 United Kingdom Luke Hines M All
Computeach Racing
with Halfords
Honda Civic Type-R BTC-T 3 United Kingdom Matt Neal I M All
4 United Kingdom Dan Eaves I M All
West Surrey Racing MG ZS BTC-T 6 United Kingdom Anthony Reid I All
8 United Kingdom Colin Turkington I All
Team Honda Honda Civic Type-R BTC-T 9 United Kingdom Tom Chilton M All
Collard Racing Vauxhall Astra Coupé BTC-T 10 United Kingdom Rob Collard I All
SEAT Sport UK SEAT Toledo Cupra S2000 11 United Kingdom Jason Plato M All
12 United Kingdom Rob Huff M All
VXR Junior Vauxhall Astra Coupé BTC-T 14 United Kingdom Michael Bentwood I 1–6, 8–10
Petronas Syntium Proton Proton Impian BTC-T 15 Malaysia Fariqe Hairuman M All
20 South Africa Shaun Watson-Smith M All
Synchro Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R BTC-T 16 United Kingdom James Kaye I All
Mardi Gras Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R S2000 17 United Kingdom John George I 1–3
Peugeot 406 Coupé BTC-T 6–10
Team Sureterm
GA Motorsports
Vauxhall Astra Coupé BTC-T 21 United Kingdom Paul Wallace I 1–2
22 United Kingdom Charlie Butler-Henderson I 1–4, 6
23 United Kingdom Carl Breeze I 8–9
24 United Kingdom Kelvin Burt I 3–4
25 Republic of Ireland Gavin Smith I 5
26 United Kingdom Stefan Hodgetts I 5–6
44 United Kingdom Gavin Pyper I 10
Alfa Romeo 156 S2000 23 United Kingdom Carl Breeze I 1–7
26 United Kingdom Stefan Hodgetts I 8–10
Team Quest/Varta Peugeot 307 BTC-T 40 United Kingdom Richard Marsh I 8–9
Honda Civic Type-R S2000 2–7
41 United Kingdom Jay Wheals I 10
Edenbridge Racing BMW 320i S2000 46 United Kingdom Justin Keen I 2–4
Kartworld Racing MG ZS BTC-T 77 United Kingdom Jason Hughes I All
Icon Class
M Manufacturer
I Independent
Icon Specification
S2000 Super 2000
BTC-T BTC Touring

Season Calendar

All races were held in the United Kingdom (excepting Mondello Park round that held in Ireland).

Round Circuit Date Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Team
1 R1 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire 11 April United Kingdom James Thompson United Kingdom James Thompson United Kingdom James Thompson VX Racing
R2 United Kingdom Jason Plato United Kingdom Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R3 United Kingdom Colin Turkington France Yvan Muller VX Racing
2 R4 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 25 April United Kingdom Colin Turkington United Kingdom Anthony Reid United Kingdom Matt Neal Computeach Racing with Halfords
R5 South Africa Shaun Watson-Smith United Kingdom Luke Hines VX Racing
R6 United Kingdom Matt Neal United Kingdom James Thompson VX Racing
3 R7 Silverstone Circuit (International), Northamptonshire 9 May United Kingdom Jason Plato France Yvan Muller United Kingdom Matt Neal Computeach Racing with Halfords
R8 United Kingdom Colin Turkington United Kingdom James Thompson VX Racing
R9 United Kingdom Anthony Reid United Kingdom Tom Chilton Team Honda
4 R10 Oulton Park (Island), Cheshire 23 May United Kingdom James Thompson United Kingdom James Thompson France Yvan Muller VX Racing
R11 United Kingdom Dan Eaves United Kingdom Dan Eaves Computeach Racing with Halfords
R12 United Kingdom James Thompson France Yvan Muller VX Racing
5 R13 Mondello Park 13 June France Yvan Muller United Kingdom Colin Turkington France Yvan Muller VX Racing
R14 United Kingdom Anthony Reid United Kingdom Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R15 United Kingdom Anthony Reid United Kingdom Colin Turkington West Surrey Racing
6 R16 Croft Circuit, Yorkshire 25 July United Kingdom Anthony Reid United Kingdom Anthony Reid United Kingdom Anthony Reid West Surrey Racing
R17 United Kingdom Anthony Reid United Kingdom Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R18 United Kingdom Anthony Reid United Kingdom Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
7 R19 Knockhill Circuit, Fife 8 August United Kingdom Anthony Reid United Kingdom Colin Turkington United Kingdom Anthony Reid West Surrey Racing
R20 United Kingdom Dan Eaves United Kingdom Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R21 United Kingdom Anthony Reid United Kingdom Anthony Reid West Surrey Racing
8 R22 Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 22 August United Kingdom Matt Neal United Kingdom Matt Neal United Kingdom Matt Neal Computeach Racing with Halfords
R23 United Kingdom Jason Plato United Kingdom Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R24 United Kingdom Robert Huff

South Africa Shaun Watson-Smith

United Kingdom Robert Huff SEAT Sport UK
9 R25 Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk 5 September United Kingdom James Thompson United Kingdom James Thompson United Kingdom James Thompson VX Racing
R26 United Kingdom Jason Plato United Kingdom Luke Hines VX Racing
R27 United Kingdom James Thompson United Kingdom Robert Huff SEAT Sport UK
10 R28 Donington Park (National), Leicestershire 26 September United Kingdom Jason Plato United Kingdom Jason Plato United Kingdom Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK
R29 France Yvan Muller United Kingdom Tom Chilton Team Honda
R30 United Kingdom James Thompson France Yvan Muller VX Racing

Drivers Championship

Points system
 1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th  Fastest Lap Lead a lap
15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1
  • No driver may collect more than one "Lead a Lap" point per race no matter how many laps they lead.
  • Race 1 polesitter receives 1 point.

(key)

Pos Driver THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts
1 United Kingdom James Thompson 1* Ret 3 4 2 1* 4 1* 7* 2 5 3 5 2 4 4 4 4 3 Ret 4 3 4 12* 1* 7 3 2* 5 3 274
2 France Yvan Muller 3 2 1* 5 3 3 2 2 Ret 1* 8 1* 1* 4 6 2 6 5 5 4 9 2 8 5 5 4 2 7 2 1* 273
3 United Kingdom Jason Plato 8 1* 4 Ret DNS Ret 3* 9 2 8 2 Ret* 9 1* Ret* 9 1* 1* 10 1* 7* 9 1* 2* 11 3 10 1* 6 2 224
4 United Kingdom Anthony Reid 4 6 2 Ret 4 2 6 3 4* 10 3 Ret 2 5 9 1* 8 6 1* 7 1* 12 Ret 6 8 2 5 5 4 8 213
5 United Kingdom Matt Neal 2 Ret 9 1* DNS 7 1* 8 8 3 4 2 4 10 Ret 3 5 Ret 9 2 8 1* 5 4 2 Ret 4 Ret Ret Ret 181
6 United Kingdom Colin Turkington 14 10 6 6 5 5 11 5 12 4 6 5 3 6 1* 6 7 3 4 Ret 3 10 2* 11* 4 5 7 3 7 6 173
7 United Kingdom Robert Huff 6 Ret Ret 2* 11 4 10 7* 3 7 Ret Ret 8 DSQ Ret 5 2 2* Ret 6 5 7 3 1* 12 8 1* 10 11 5 148
8 United Kingdom Dan Eaves 5 4* 12 8 8 8 5 6 6 9 1* 8 Ret Ret 3 7 3 12 6 3 2* Ret 9 Ret 6 11 6 8 3 4 148
9 United Kingdom Tom Chilton 10 Ret 10 3 6 6 18 10 1* 11 7 6 7 8 5 19 9 7 2 Ret Ret 6 13 8 3 10 12 9 1* 12 116
10 United Kingdom Luke Hines Ret 7 5 9 1* 10 8 14 11 Ret 9 11 6 3 2 8 14 8 15 5 6 5 10 7 10 1* 8 6 10 Ret 115
11 United Kingdom James Kaye 13 9 7 12 7 Ret 13 15 9 6 12 9 15 7 Ret Ret 12 13 13 9 11 4 6 Ret 9 6 13 11 9 9 49
12 United Kingdom Rob Collard 11 5 8 10 15 15 Ret 13 DNS 5 Ret 4 13 11 Ret 15 Ret 9 8 11 Ret 15 Ret 9 7 9 11 13 8 7 44
13 United Kingdom Michael Bentwood 7 3 Ret Ret DNS Ret Ret 12 10 13 11 7 10 12 Ret 14 11 11 11 7 3 Ret 14 14 4 Ret 13 42
14 South Africa Shaun Watson-Smith 9 8 Ret 7 Ret 9 12 11 14 Ret 14 10 12 Ret 10 13 10 10 7 8 10 8 Ret Ret DSQ 12 15 14 12 Ret 28
15 United Kingdom Carl Breeze Ret Ret 11 Ret DNS DNS 7 16 5 Ret 13 Ret 11 Ret 8 11 13 14 Ret Ret DNS 13 12 10 14 Ret Ret 14
16 United Kingdom Kelvin Burt 9 4* Ret 12 Ret Ret 11
17 United Kingdom Jason Hughes Ret 12 Ret 14 12 12 Ret 19 17 15 16 12 14 13 7 12 Ret Ret 11 10 12 14 11 Ret 13 13 16 Ret 13 11 5
18 United Kingdom Stefan Hodgetts Ret DNS Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNS 9 Ret Ret 10 4
19 United Kingdom Justin Keen 13 9 Ret 14 18 16 Ret 15 Ret 2
20 Republic of Ireland Gavin Smith Ret 9 Ret 2
21 United Kingdom Charlie Butler-Henderson 12 11 Ret 11 Ret 11 Ret Ret 13 Ret 10 Ret Ret 15 Ret 1
22 United Kingdom Paul Wallace Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 13 1
23 Malaysia Fariqe Hairuman Ret DNS Ret Ret 13 14 15 17 15 14 17 13 16 Ret 11 16 Ret Ret Ret 12 Ret 17 14 Ret Ret 15 Ret NC Ret DNS 0
24 United Kingdom John George 15 13 Ret Ret DNS DNS 17 20 Ret 17 Ret 15 12 13 13 Ret Ret Ret 15 16 17 Ret DNS DNS 0
25 United Kingdom Gavin Pyper 12 Ret Ret 0
26 United Kingdom Richard Marsh 15 14 16 16 DNS DNS Ret DNS DNS 17 Ret DNS 18 16 16 14 14 14 16 Ret Ret NC 17 18 0
27 United Kingdom Jay Wheals 15 14 DNS 0
Pos Driver THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts
  • Note: bold signifies pole position (1 point given in first race only, driver who finishes 10th in first race gets pole for race 2 and race 3 pole is for race 2 winner), italics signifies fastest lap (1 point given all races) and * signifies at least one lap in the lead (1 point given all races).

Manufacturers Championship

Pos Manufacturer THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts
1 Vauxhall / VX Racing 1 2 1 4 1 1 2 1 7 1 5 1 1 2 2 2 4 4 3 4 4 2 4 5 1 1 2 2 2 1 732
3 7 3 5 2 3 4 2 11 2 8 3 5 3 4 4 6 5 5 5 6 3 8 7 5 4 3 6 5 3
Ret Ret 5 9 3 10 8 14 Ret Ret 9 11 6 4 6 8 14 8 15 Ret 9 5 10 12 10 7 8 7 10 Ret
2 Honda / Honda Racing/Computeach Racing with Halfords 2 4 9 1 6 6 1 6 1 3 1 2 4 8 3 3 3 7 2 2 2 1 5 4 2 10 4 8 1 4 548
5 Ret 10 3 8 7 5 8 6 9 4 6 7 10 5 7 5 12 6 3 8 6 9 8 3 11 6 9 3 12
10 Ret 12 8 DNS 8 18 10 8 11 7 8 Ret Ret Ret 19 9 Ret 9 Ret Ret Ret 13 Ret 6 Ret 12 Ret Ret Ret
3 Seat / Seat Sport UK 6 1 4 2 11 4 3 7 2 7 2 Ret 8 1 Ret 5 1 1 10 1 5 7 1 1 11 3 1 1 6 2 421
8 Ret Ret Ret DNS Ret 10 9 3 8 Ret Ret 9 DSQ Ret 9 2 2 Ret 6 7 9 3 2 12 8 10 10 11 5
4 Proton / Petronas Syntium Proton 9 8 Ret 7 13 9 12 11 14 14 14 10 12 Ret 10 13 10 10 7 8 10 8 14 Ret DSQ 12 15 14 12 Ret 96
Ret DNS Ret Ret Ret 14 15 17 15 Ret 17 13 16 Ret 11 16 Ret Ret Ret 12 Ret 17 Ret Ret Ret 15 Ret NC Ret DNS
Pos Manufacturer THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts

Teams Championship

Pos Team THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts
1 VX Racing 1 2 1 4 1 1 2 1 7 1 5 1 1 2 2 2 4 4 3 4 4 2 4 5 1 1 2 2 2 1 536
3 7 3 5 2 3 4 2 11 2 8 3 5 3 4 4 6 5 5 5 6 3 8 7 5 4 3 6 5 3
2 Seat Sport UK 6 1 4 2 11 4 3 7 2 7 2 Ret 8 1 Ret 5 1 1 10 1 5 7 1 1 11 3 1 1 6 2 360
8 Ret Ret Ret DNS Ret 10 9 3 8 Ret Ret 9 DSQ Ret 9 2 2 Ret 6 7 9 3 2 12 8 10 10 11 5
3 West Surrey Racing 4 6 2 6 4 2 6 3 4 4 3 5 2 5 1 1 7 3 1 7 1 10 2 6 4 2 5 3 4 6 325
14 10 6 Ret 5 5 11 5 12 10 6 Ret 3 6 9 6 8 6 4 Ret 3 12 Ret 11 8 5 7 5 7 8
4 Computeach Racing with Halfords 2 4 9 1 8 7 1 6 6 3 1 2 4 10 3 3 3 12 6 2 2 1 5 4 2 11 4 8 3 4 303
5 Ret 12 8 DNS 8 5 8 8 9 4 8 Ret Ret Ret 7 5 Ret 9 3 8 Ret 9 Ret 6 Ret 6 Ret Ret Ret
5 Team Honda 10 Ret 10 3 6 6 18 10 1 11 7 6 7 8 5 19 9 7 2 Ret Ret 6 13 8 3 10 12 9 1 12 111
6 Synchro Motorsport 13 9 7 12 7 Ret 13 15 9 6 12 9 15 7 Ret Ret 12 13 13 9 11 4 6 Ret 9 6 13 11 9 9 54
7 Collard Racing 11 5 8 10 15 15 Ret 13 DNS 5 Ret 4 13 11 Ret 15 Ret 9 8 11 Ret 15 Ret 9 7 9 11 13 8 7 50
8 GA Motorsports 12 11 11 11 10 11 7 4 5 12 10 Ret 11 9 8 10 13 14 Ret Ret DNS 13 12 10 14 Ret 9 12 Ret 10 44
Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 13 9 16 13 Ret 13 Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 15 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNS Ret Ret Ret Ret
9 VXR Junior 7 3 Ret Ret DNS Ret Ret 12 10 13 11 7 10 12 Ret 14 11 11 11 7 3 Ret 14 14 4 Ret 13 26
10 Petronas Syntium Proton 9 8 Ret 7 13 9 12 11 14 14 14 10 12 Ret 10 13 10 10 7 8 10 8 14 Ret DSQ 12 15 14 12 Ret 11
Ret DNS Ret Ret Ret 14 15 17 15 Ret 17 13 16 Ret 11 16 Ret Ret Ret 12 Ret 17 Ret Ret Ret 15 Ret NC Ret DNS
11 Edenbridge Racing 13 9 Ret 14 18 16 Ret 15 Ret 3
12 Mardi Gras Motorsport 15 13 Ret Ret DNS DNS 17 20 Ret 17 Ret 15 12 13 13 Ret Ret Ret 15 16 17 Ret DNS DNS 0
13 Team Quest/Varta 15 14 16 16 DNS DNS Ret DNS DNS 17 Ret DNS 18 16 16 14 14 14 16 Ret Ret NC 17 18 15 14 DNS 0
14 Kartworld Racing Ret 12 Ret 14 12 12 Ret 19 17 15 16 12 14 13 7 12 Ret Ret 11 10 12 14 11 Ret 13 13 16 Ret 13 11 -3
Pos Team THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts

Independents Championship

Pos Driver THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts
1 United Kingdom Anthony Reid 4 6 2 Ret 4 2 6 3 4 10 3 Ret 2 5 9 1 8 6 1 7 1 12 Ret 6 8 2 5 5 4 8 312
2 United Kingdom Colin Turkington 14 10 6 6 5 5 11 5 12 4 6 5 3 6 1 6 7 3 4 Ret 3 10 2 11 4 5 7 3 7 6 300
3 United Kingdom Dan Eaves 5 4 12 8 8 8 5 6 6 9 1 8 Ret Ret 3 7 3 12 6 3 2 Ret 9 Ret 6 11 6 8 3 4 254
4 United Kingdom Matt Neal 2 Ret 9 1 DNS 7 1 8 8 3 4 2 4 10 Ret 3 5 Ret 9 2 8 1 5 4 2 Ret 4 Ret Ret Ret 253
5 United Kingdom James Kaye 13 9 7 12 7 Ret 13 15 9 6 12 9 15 7 Ret Ret 12 13 13 9 11 4 6 Ret 9 6 13 11 9 9 164
6 United Kingdom Rob Collard 11 5 8 10 15 15 Ret 13 DNS 5 Ret 4 13 11 Ret 15 Ret 9 8 11 Ret 15 Ret 9 7 9 11 13 8 7 152
7 United Kingdom Michael Bentwood 7 3 Ret Ret DNS Ret Ret 12 10 13 11 7 10 12 Ret 14 11 11 11 7 3 Ret 14 14 4 Ret 13 131
8 United Kingdom Jason Hughes Ret 12 Ret 14 12 12 Ret 19 17 15 16 12 14 13 7 12 Ret Ret 11 10 12 14 11 Ret 14 13 16 Ret 13 11 89
9 United Kingdom Carl Breeze Ret Ret 11 Ret DNS DNS 7 16 5 Ret 13 Ret 11 Ret 8 11 13 14 Ret Ret DNS 13 12 10 15 Ret Ret 75
10 United Kingdom Charlie Butler-Henderson 12 11 Ret 11 Ret 11 Ret Ret 13 Ret 10 Ret Ret 15 Ret 33
11 United Kingdom John George 15 13 Ret Ret DNS DNS 17 20 Ret 17 Ret 15 12 13 13 Ret Ret Ret 16 16 17 Ret DNS DNS 27
12 United Kingdom Richard Marsh 15 14 16 16 DNS DNS Ret DNS DNS 17 Ret DNS 18 16 16 14 14 14 16 Ret Ret NC 17 18 27
13 United Kingdom Kelvin Burt 9 4 Ret 12 Ret Ret 22
14 United Kingdom Justin Keen 13 9 Ret 14 18 16 Ret 15 Ret 18
15 United Kingdom Stefan Hodgetts Ret DNS Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNS 9 Ret Ret 10 17
16 United Kingdom Paul Wallace Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 13 9
17 Republic of Ireland Gavin Smith Ret 9 Ret 8
18 United Kingdom Jay Wheals 15 14 DNS 7
19 United Kingdom Gavin Pyper 12 Ret Ret 5
Pos. Driver THR BHI SIL OUL MON CRO KNO BHI SNE DON Pts

External links