The Vauxhall Cavalier in the BTCC (1990–1995)
A Touring Car Titan.
Between 1990 and 1995, the Vauxhall Cavalier carved out a legacy in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) that still resonates with motorsport fans and Vauxhall enthusiasts alike. This era marked the Cavaliers’ transformation from a family saloon into a fierce competitor on the racetrack, culminating in a championship win and a lasting impression on the Super Touring era.
The Cavalier’s Debut: 1990–1991
- 1990: Vauxhall introduced the Cavalier GSi 2000 to the BTCC, replacing the Astra GTE. John Cleland, already a fan favourite, led the charge. Although the season was dominated by the Ford Sierra RS500, Cleland’s consistency laid the groundwork for future success. Cleland was joined by Chris Hodgetts for some of the races, with Chris also driving the RWD version of the Cavalier. A young David Coulthard also competed at a race also with Bob Berridge and German racer Markus Oestreich.
- 1991: The BTCC adopted the new 2.0-litre Super Touring regulations. Cleland was joined by Jeff Allam and for a couple of rounds, again by Bob Berridge. The Cavalier adapted well, and Cleland finished second overall, narrowly missing out on the title to BMW’s Will Hoy. The car’s balance and reliability began to shine through.
The Man’s an Animal: 1992–1993
- 1992: The Cavalier was now a proven contender. Cleland and Allam were joined by David Leslie and Bobby Verdon-Roe (later replaced by Alex Portman) in a semi-works car run by Ecurie Ecosse (Ray Mallock Ltd). The season ended in heartbreak for Cleland after a dramatic final-race collision with BMW’s Steve Soper, handing the title to Tim Harvey. It remains one of the most iconic moments in BTCC history and brought about one of the most iconic interviews after the race, where John Cleland came out with “The Man’s an Animal” in reference to Soper.
- 1993: Vauxhall updated the Cavalier and retained Cleland and Allan, but despite strong performances, including multiple podiums, the title eluded them again. Cleland finished fourth overall, Ecurie Ecosse was still present with Leslie, this time joined by Harry Nuttall, while privateers like Ian Khan, Ian Ashley, and Chris Goodwin began making waves in older Cavaliers.
The Final Push: 1994–1995
- 1994: The Cavalier remained competitive, but the arrival of Alfa Romeo’s aerodynamically enhanced 155 shook up the grid. Vauxhall and other teams protested, leading to rule changes mid-season. Cleland and teammate Jeff Allam kept the Cavalier in the hunt, but the title went to Alfa’s Gabriele Tarquini. The works team was now run by RML (Ray Mallock Ltd); previously, it was run by Dave Cook Engineering. The Cavalier was present in the TOCA Cup for Privateers with cars run by Nigel Smith under Team HSMO and Roy Kennedy Racing for Chris Goodwin.
- 1995: The Cavalier’s swan song. With the model set to be replaced by the Vectra, Vauxhall gave it one last push. Cleland, now partnered with rising star James Thompson, delivered a masterclass in consistency. Thompson suffered a season-ending crash in testing at Knockhill, where his sight was affected, and missed the rest of the season, being replaced by Jeff Allam for one round and South African Mike Briggs. Nigel Smith in his Team HMSO Cavalier and ex-champion Rob Gravett, who completed in the first two rounds in a Roy Kennedy Racing Cavalier, were present in the TOCA Cup for Privateers. Despite fierce competition from Volvo and Renault, Cleland clinched the Drivers’ Championship, and Vauxhall secured the Teams’ title a fitting farewell for the Cavalier.
1996 and 1996 the Privateers.
- By 1996 Vauxhall Works' efforts had turned to the New Vectra B. However, the Cavalier lived on for two more years in the British Touring Car Championship in the TOCA Cup for Privateers. The last Cavalier to be produced by RML (Ray Mallock Limited) was used as a test car before racing in the 1995 FIA Touring Car World Cup, driven by Anthony Reid under the Opel Team Japan name and badged as a Vectra A. This car was passed to Mint Motor Sport in 1996 and was raced by Richard Kaye. Promotor -Sport also ran a Cavalier for Ian Heward. In 1997 Jamie Wall took over the Mint Motor Sport Cavalier, and Ian Heward was also present again in his Promotor-Sport run car. Jan Brunstedt made two appearances in a Opel Vectra A badged car, this being run by Janco Motorsport.
Current Day – HSCC Super Touring
Car Challenge and Super Touring Car Power.
Over the years, various cars have
passed into the hands of private individuals and have competed over the last
few years in various events, including the HSCC Super Touring car Challenge,
Super Touring car Power, races at Silverstone Festival, Carfest and The Goodwood
Festival of Speed. These have included
the 1990 Cavalier, the first ever Cavalier Touring Car, the 1995 Cavalier John’s
Championship Car, the Mint Motor Sport Car, which was the last Cavalier Touring
Car Produced, and the 1993 David Leslie Ecurie Ecosse Car.
Legacy
