Charlie Cox

1999 in the British Touring Car Championship saw the multi-million pound factory teams of Ford, Honda, Nissan, Renault, Vauxhall and Volvo battle it out over the 13 rounds at eight different tracks. However, it was a drive by privateer Matt Neal in a 1998 Nissan Primera that grabbed the headlines early on the season and highlighted why BTCC is so special. Matt picked up a cheque for £250,000 from series organiser Alan Gow for being the first privateer to take the chequered flag against the might of the big factories! Once the leading teams got over the shock it was Nissan (Laurent Aiello and David Leslie), Volvo (Rickard Rydell) and Honda (James Thompson) who would carry the fight through the season. Night racing added extra spice to the show during the summer - and proved popular with drivers and fans alike.

Anticipation and excitement filled the air as the world’s premier tin-top race series revved into action for another season. Few were willing to predict the winner of the 1997 British Touring Car Championship. With entries from eight different manufacturers including Renault, Volvo, Honda, and Audi, steered by top drivers such as Rydell, Menu, Biela, Tarquini, Radisich, Harvey, Leslie and Warwick, there was only ever one certainty - everyone was going to fight until the final chequered flag, including the independent drivers who staged a thrilling year-long battle for their championship. With top speeds of up to 160mph, these war-painted roadsters were race-tuned and ready to roar into action - bumper to bumper!

The 1998 BTCC season saw one of the most potentially explosive competitions ever, with eight manufacturers, five former champions and three ex-F1 drivers lined up to battle for the title. After five rounds there were five different winners in five different cars. In all, nine drivers won races, representing six different manufacturers. Like all the best championships, this one went ‘down-to-the-wire’. As Rydell and Reid lined up on the grid for the final round at Silverstone, the record crowd were anticipating a dramatic and thrilling season finale.