BTCC

BTCC: Snetterton Ford Racing Report

Round Venue Date 15-16 of 26 Snetterton July 17 IMPROVED FORM SEES MENU IN PODIUM CONTENTION SNETTERTON, July 17, 1999: Ford Team Mondeo saw a certain top three finish swiped from its grasp in the inaugural night race of the ...

Edited: Apr 10, 2006, 6:41 AM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Round        Venue      Date
15-16 of 26  Snetterton July 17

IMPROVED FORM SEES MENU IN PODIUM CONTENTION

SNETTERTON, July 17, 1999: Ford Team Mondeo saw a certain top three finish swiped from its grasp in the inaugural night race of the Auto Trader BTCC at Snetterton circuit, Norfolk, with only an on-track altercation preventing Alain Menu from securing a podium place.

The team had a troubled One Shot Showdown qualifying session with both drivers making mistakes which were reflected in their relatively low qualifying positions.

Swiss ace Menu made an impeccable startline getaway in his Mondeo in the Sprint Race stealing into ninth by the end of the first lap, then making up a further two by the end of the second lap.

He finished eighth after a tight race with Muller and Thompson culminated in a dash for the line after the safety car intervened just two laps before the end of the race. A pleased Menu said, "I must be very pleased to finish eighth after starting so far down the grid. The car felt good throughout the race. My lap times were consistently on the pace. I hope I can gain this many places in the Feature Race!"

Mondeo teammate Reid had no such luck in the Sprint Race. Reid gained two places from his lowly grid position by the second lap, but was forced to retire nine laps later with an oil leak in the engine.

A solid qualifying lap from Alain Menu put him in an encouraging sixth spot on the grid for the Feature Race. Teammate Reid did not get to grips with the oversteer in the session, leaving him in 12th position on the grid.

Menu pulled away from the line well, working up to lead the race for three laps during the pitstops. A strong pit stop from the Ford Team Mondeo pit crew allowed Menu to rejoin the race in third place. However, his bid for a podium finish was effectively halted when nudged by Muller, forcing him to spin off the track. He rejoined the race lapping quicker than the rest for much of the remaining laps, finally finishing in ninth spot.

Menu commented, "I am bitterly disappointed not to have finished in the top three. I lost 25 seconds when I span, but the race went very well apart from that. There is no doubt this weekend's new format has been a great success. It certainly drew the crowds and it seems like the spectators really enjoyed the racing."

Fellow Ford Mondeo driver Reid started the Feature Race from 12th position and made steady progress throughout the race, but his tyre choice lost balance. The team made an excellent pit stop on lap 13 allowing Reid to rejoin the race in eighth place, but he soon found the headlights of Aiello in his mirrors. Aiello eventually took his opportunity at Riches Corner on lap 22 after several earlier attempts. Reid lost a further two places in the closing stages to Neal and then Menu as the three all pushed hard for the finishing line.

Reid commented, "I am disappointed with my final placings, but the day has been a real spectacle for the crowd. The two races were very exciting and I think the first BTCC night race has been a real success."

1999 AUTO TRADER BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP PROVISIONAL RESULTS (ROUND 15/16)

Round 15 (Sprint Race)

1 David Leslie Nissan Primera 2 Rickard Rydell Volvo S40 3 Vincent Radermecker Volvo S40 8 Alain Menu Ford Mondeo DNF Anthony Reid Ford Mondeo

Round 16 (Feature Race)

1 Peter Kox Honda Accord 2 David Leslie Nissan Primera 3 Yvan Muller Vauxhall Vectra 9 Alain Menu Ford Mondeo 11 Anthony Reid Ford Mondeo

Championship Points           
Drivers Championship Total           Manufacturers    Total
1. Laurent Aiello    147         1. Nissan      312
2. David Leslie      135         2. Honda       198
3. James Thompson    120         3. Renault     162
11. Alain Menu       45          6. Ford        88
12. Anthony Reid     40

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article ASTC: Two New Classes for BOC Gases Australian Super Touring

Next article NA-F2000: All Drivers Released from Hospital

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

Maverick Vinales: “If I stay at home, I don’t get paid”

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Australian GP

24 min

Maverick Vinales: “If I stay at home, I don’t get paid”

The unexpected problem Honda encountered despite its second F1 power unit upgrade

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

55 min

The unexpected problem Honda encountered despite its second F1 power unit upgrade

MotoGP Australian GP: Full starting grid as four riders forced out of Phillip Island race

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Australian GP

56 min

MotoGP Australian GP: Full starting grid as four riders forced out of Phillip Island race

Red Bull identifies two "key focus" areas after Max Verstappen's promising start in Austin

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

2 h

Red Bull identifies two "key focus" areas after Max Verstappen's promising start in Austin

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts