Touring Car Racing, a feast of nostalgia, celebrates the 60-year
heritage of the British Touring Car Championship. From the era of Mini
Coopers and Lotus Cortinas to the Vauxhall Astras and Honda Civics of
recent years, all the highlights of Britain's ever-spectacular touring
car scene are captured in a year-by-year visual extravaganza with over
600 photos and expert commentary. Compiled by long-time touring car
journalist Matt James, the book has a chapter for each year featuring a
summary of the season, 10 photos showing all the top cars and drivers in
action, key statistics and a profile of the champion driver. Anyone who
has ever enjoyed touring car racing as a participant, spectator or
television viewer will treasure this book.
- The 1950s. The British Saloon Car Championship was inaugurated in
1958 and from the start it was super-competitive, ending in a tie that
was resolved by a shoot-out in favour of Jack Sears.
- The 1960s. There were three Mini champions but mainly this was a
Ford era, epitomised by Lotus Cortinas (with Jim Clark ever
spectacular) and big Falcons, Galaxies and Mustangs from America.
- The 1970s. Smaller classes came to the fore in this decade, with
three drivers sharing seven titles -- Bill McGovern took three in
Sunbeam Imps while two apiece went to Bernard Unett (Chrysler Avenger
GT) and Richard Longman (Mini 1275GT).
- The 1980s. Three drivers also bestrode this decade but in a wider
range of cars, including Mazda RX-7, Alfa Romeo GTV, Rover Vitesse and
Ford Sierra XR4i; Win Percy and Andy Rouse each took three titles,
Chris Hodgetts two.
- The 1990s. Overseas drivers arrived in force to mix it with
home-grown stars during the highly competitive Super Touring years,
the decade's champions including Joachim Winkelhock (BMW
- 318is), Frank Biela (Audi A4 quattro), Alain Menu (Renault Laguna),
Rickard Rydell (Volvo S40) and Laurent Aïello (Nissan Primera).
- The 2000s. Vauxhalls were the star cars, taking six titles, while
the decade brought three double champions in the form of James
Thompson (Vauxhall Astra), Matt Neal (Honda Integra) and Fabrizio
Giovanardi (Vauxhall Vectra VXR).
- The 2010s. Yet more variety and brilliant racing has characterised
the current decade, with Gordon Shedden becoming the winningest driver
with three titles in Honda Civics.
