Richard then takes a Ford Sierra Cosworth onto the Top Gear track saying “everyone agrees that Ford brought motorsport to the working man, and some say they did it through rallying”. “Even though they were racing at much slower speeds than in F1, that didn’t stop them crashing”, and more crash compilations are shown. Richard lists famous names such as Graham Hill, Jim Clark, and Nigel Mansell.
The British Touring Car Championship wasn’t just known for the close racing and crashes, it was also the place that Formula 1 drivers were able to be seen driving cars you would buy from the showroom. Naturally, the Mini’s were involved on a lot of the David verse Goliath battles, “and in their over eagerness demonstrated that other great trait of touring cars… crashing”. But, whilst the American cars were very quick down the straights, the smaller British cars were able to keep up quite well with a major advantage in the corners.
It sounds most unfair when you put them up against the roaring 5L V8’s from the American muscle cars. Your typical British touring car at the time was the small, but agile, Escort’s and Mini’s. But the Yank invasion did bring about one of the best and most unique aspects of British touring car racing, we call it the David and Goliath effect”. “Their massive V8’s were a most un-welcome intrusion into this British sport.
Roy James, the get-away driver from the great £2.6 million train robbery in 1963, was a particular fan of the Mk1 Jaguar’s and always made a point of acquiring one that had been prepared for touring car racing.ĭuring the mid 60’s, the Jaguar’s were soon pushed aside by the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Falcon. Tires were very skinny and were cross-ply, providing little grip and causing the cars to often be side ways around corners. Richard takes a Mk1 Jaguar out onto the Top Gear test track and claims it to be one of the first real stars of touring car racing. Touring car racing was created to help the motor industry sell cars after the recession in the post war years, “every car on the track looked like the one your Dad drove”. Many clips are shown of highlights of the Touring Cars over the years with Richard saying “show me another sport, where there’s been more close racing, more overtaking and more amazing driving. Richard tells us that the BTCC (British Touring Car Championship) is celebrating its 50th birthday. Richard opens the show with a birthday tribute to Top Gear’s favourite motorsport, the British Touring Car Championship.