BLCKBOX ~ BTCC 1992 BMW 318i

With the road going equivalent out of production by 1992 the following season saw BMW, still with Prodrive and VLM, move to the 318is based on the E36 design, though the M3 continued as the mainstay of the independent teams.

The new car lost the BMW teams the five years of development on the M3. The opening of the season saw the Vauxhalls and Toyota dominate as Rouse, Cleland and Hoy (now driving a Toyota) shared the opening six races between them.

The 318’s first win finally came in round seven, when Tim Harvey won at Donington, and never looked back. In the next seven races (including a now distant sounding BTCC round at Pembrey) Harvey won five races in his VLM run car, and set up a three way battle for the title at the final round at Silverstone.

The final laps of 1992 are something of BTCC folklore.

Harvey’s teammate Steve Soper charging though the field after first lap clash with David Leslie and Robb Gravett saw him last with the rear of his car severely damaged, the title contenders – Hoy, Cleland and Harvey – a handful fo points between them racing each other on track with Soper gaining on them.

As the laps wound down Harvey forced Hoy’s Carina off after Copse, the Toyota dropping back, while Harvey saw Cleland and Soper go past. Through Club Soper dived past the Vauxhall, and by the time the trio dropped into Bridge to begin the complex both Vic Lee cars were climbing all over (metaphorically (for now)) the Vauxhall, Harvey passing both his teammate and rival through the right-hander.

Then Cleland lunged up the inside of Soper into Brooklands, the Cavalier rising onto two wheels and into the side of the BMW, both cars shedding trim as they slewed across the track. At Luffield Cleland had the place but Soper was (to quote Murray Walker’s commentary) “up over the curb and the grass” and slammed into the side of the Vauxhall, taking them both out, securing Harvey the title and prompting Cleland to label his aggressor “an animal”.