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Here at Top Gear, we like the BTCC, and occasionally borrow some of its drivers. So it's with slight sadness that we report its death. Sort of.
On Sunday, Vauxhall took this season's manufacturer's title, then quit the series. That means there are no more official, full-blown, factory-backed manufacturer teams left in the championship. And that makes us sad. Remember the days of Mansell in his Mondeo, with Murray getting all excited in the commentary box? What happened to all that?
Still, things aren't all bad. Sunday's races at Brands were as frenetic as ever, with Colin Turkington taking the drivers' title. Behind him, a man from something called Fifth Gear finished second, while Vauxhall's Fabrizio Giovanardi had to make do with his team's championship victory after he, erm, didn't win enough to take the driver's title.
So it's an end of an era. And if that's got you feeling a little sad and nostalgic, watch Richard’s affectionate look at more than five decades of lightly organised crashing:
Vauxhall bows out of BTCC
VX Racing clinches constructors' title at Brands Hatch before quitting the series
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What do you think?
Want to comment on this?
Ben27 commented on this article
at 10:03 pm on 05 October 2009
The races on Sunday were awesome, but boo! Vauxhall boo! It should be a rule that ever major car company in Britain should have to enter into the BTCC. Let's have Astra vs Focus vs Golf vs Megane vs 308 vs C'eed, how ace would that be?
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JES0381 commented on this article
at 11:34 pm on 05 October 2009
Please can the Beeb get the rights to broadcast the BTCC!! Racing yesterday was fantastic - proper edge of the seat stuff. More overtaking in 1 race than the whole of the F1 season!
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Holy.Cat commented on this article
at 06:55 am on 06 October 2009
JEs, so right. swap btcc for f1 anyday.
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rustymx5 commented on this article
at 01:59 pm on 06 October 2009
That last race was so much more exciting than anything F1 has produced recently. The lead swapping, Turkington pulling out the drive of his life to keep Giovanardi behind him - even with his BMW which was a little worse for wear after a crash and was driving along sideways!
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febgo189 commented on this article
at 03:42 pm on 06 October 2009
IS THE BTCC GOING TO END
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