Frank Williams as soon as mentioned: “Subsequent to Formulation One, the BTCC is crucial collection on the planet outdoors America.” He was proper.

With over 1,000,000 individuals tuning in on a Sunday to look at their favorite drivers battle it out within the British Touring Automotive Championship, few different stay sporting applications got here shut.

To have Williams run Renault’s works workforce confirmed simply how critical the French automaker was about profitable. Williams had loads of driver and constructor championships to their title in Formulation 1 at this level, and the extent of development they delivered to touring automobile racing – at each a technical and industrial stage – pressured the remainder of the BTCC subject to play catch up. Previous to this, Renault had little success with the R19 and first 12 months of the Laguna, so Williams’ involvement was desperately wanted.

Having two ex-BTCC Willams-Renault Lagunas on the latest Manufacturers Hatch Tremendous Touring Energy occasion supplied an alternative to not solely try the vehicles up shut and soak up all the main points, but additionally see what it might have been like to look at them racing in interval towards their rivals.

Whereas the rules had some limitations, Williams took the rulebook and developed a automobile proper on the restrict. First showing in 1994, the brand new Lagunas had been fast out the field, however fragile. Nonetheless, Williams-Renault managed second total within the championship.

Over the subsequent few years, Renault had been persistently within the high half of the sector, with the Lagunas excelling on quick, flowing circuits. Success lastly got here knocking in 1997 when Williams-Renault was so dominant they gained 14 of 24 races and had the championship all wrapped up with six rounds to go. Alain Menu was answerable for 12 of these victories, whereas the opposite two went to Jason Plato, who was only a rookie on the time.

A glance beneath the automobile exhibits simply how totally different the suspension is from unique. The pick-up factors and geometry have been radically altered to permit for scalpel-sharp dealing with.

With the automobile up on air jacks, you’ll be able to see simply how little suspension journey they’ve.

Given the tucked nature of the wheels, steering lock was additionally minimal. This meant that after the vehicles went previous a reasonably shallow level, the drivers had been simply alongside for the journey.

Sodemo Moteurs, a provider of Renault race motors for numerous motorsport disciplines, had the dry-sump-equipped 1,998cc engines making making effectively in extra of 300hp. That energy discovered its approach to the 19-inch magnesium OZ Racing wheels via a Hewland sequential gearbox.

A essential sponsor change to Nescafé resulted in a very new color scheme for Renault’s 1998 season. By this level the competitors was way more fierce, leading to what many individuals regard because the highpoint of the Tremendous Tourer period. Sadly for Renault, success was more durable to come back by they usually solely ended up profitable 4 rounds.

Come 1999, Renault solely managed one spherical win, main to a whole withdrawal on the finish of the season. Nissan and Volvo did the identical. The writing was on the wall, and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than the Tremendous Tourer period was resigned to the historical past books. By 2001, the TOCA ruleset modified dramatically, bringing an abrupt finish to what many now look again on because the golden period of touring automobile racing.

Chaydon Ford
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