Frank Williams as soon as mentioned: “Subsequent to System One, the BTCC is crucial collection on the earth outdoors America.” He was proper.
With over one million individuals tuning in on a Sunday to look at their favourite drivers battle it out within the British Touring Automotive Championship, few different dwell sporting packages got here shut.
To have Williams run Renault’s works workforce confirmed simply how critical the French automaker was about successful. Williams had loads of driver and constructor championships to their title in System 1 at this level, and the extent of development they delivered to touring automobile racing – at each a technical and business stage – pressured the remainder of the BTCC discipline to play catch up. Previous to this, Renault had little success with the R19 and the primary yr of the Laguna, so Williams’ involvement was desperately wanted.
Having two ex-BTCC Willams-Renault Lagunas on the current Manufacturers Hatch Tremendous Touring Energy occasion offered a chance to not solely try the automobiles up shut and soak up all the small print, but additionally see what it could have been like to look at them racing in interval in opposition to their rivals.
Whereas the laws had some limitations, Williams took the rulebook and developed a automobile proper on the restrict. First showing in 1994, the brand new Lagunas have been fast out of the field, however fragile. Nonetheless, Williams-Renault managed second general within the championship.
Over the subsequent few years, Renault have been constantly within the high half of the sphere, with the Lagunas excelling on quick, flowing circuits. Success lastly got here knocking in 1997 when Williams-Renault was so dominant they received 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 reveals simply how totally different the suspension is from the 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 may see simply how little suspension journey they’ve.
Given the tucked nature of the wheels, steering lock was additionally minimal. This meant that when the automobiles went previous a reasonably shallow level, the drivers have been simply alongside for the experience.
Sodemo Moteurs, a provider of Renault race motors for varied motorsport disciplines, had the dry-sump-equipped 1,998cc engines making properly in extra of 300hp. That energy discovered its technique to the 19-inch magnesium OZ Racing wheels via a Hewland sequential gearbox.
A major sponsor change to Nescafé resulted in a completely new coloration scheme for Renault’s 1998 season. By this level the competitors was way more fierce, leading to what many individuals regard because the excessive level of the Tremendous Tourer period. Sadly for Renault, success was more durable to return by they usually solely ended up successful 4 rounds.
Come 1999, Renault solely managed one spherical win, main to an entire 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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