Supertouring Power: tribute to Supertourism

• Welcome to a world that has marked generations of motorsport enthusiasts. The Supertouring Cars are back with their unique sound and a devastating look. In the 90s, a simple Renault Laguna, an Opel Vectra or a Ford Mondeo were at the cutting edge of what was being done in circuit racing. Renowned championships like the British BTCC, the German STW or even the French Supertouring championship were the leaders in their respective countries. 

• In England, the BTCC was the promised land of Supertourism. Manufacturers spent thousands of pounds Sterling to allow the stars of the time to come and compete against each other. Yvan Muller (champion in 2003), Laurent Aiello (champion in 1999), Jean-Christophe Bouillon came to face local heroes such as Jason Plato, Antony Reid, Tim Harvey, Matt Neal and John Cleland. 

• Big names in Formula 1 and motorsport even came to participate in these races made popular by prime time broadcasts on the BBC. Nigel Mansell, Derek Warwick, Gabriele Tarquini or Gianni Morbidelli and even Tom Kristensen came to scrub their bodies with the specialists of the discipline. 

Supertouring Power is the largest gathering in history 

• More than thirty of these old cars are gathered this weekend in Kent! This event is exceptional because it is not just cars that drive in Great Britain that made the trip. Owners from New Zealand and Australia made the trip to allow the public of enthusiasts to delight in the captivating sound of these 2-liter naturally aspirated engines.

• Thus Greg Murphy, three-time winner of the Bathurst 1000 KM, traveled to take the wheel of an old Nissan Primera GT that belonged to Matt Neal (the only private driver to have beaten the factory drivers). Paul Radisich, another legend of the southern hemisphere, also made the trip to drive his 1993 Ford Mondeo.  

• These cars are very expensive to run. Jack Wheeler is the owner of the 3 official ex-Nissans (including that of Laurent Aiello in 1999), he knows the value of these cars well. “It takes €10 per car to run them on a weekend like this, we don't do this every day, but it's an honor to be able to put these cars on a circuit and make them run like in the old days.

• On the paddock side, the stars of the discipline came with great pleasure to take a walk in the crowd. This weekend, it is possible to meet Alain Menu (1997 and 2000 champion), Tim Harvey who drove the famous 406 Supertourisme in particular. Legend Steve Soper takes part in the festivities by driving a Ford Sierra Cosworth with the iconic livery of a major tobacco company. 

• On the track, Jake Hill won the first race this Saturday at the wheel of the ex-Laurent Aiello Nissan Primera. 

• This first edition will obviously call for others. David Wiley, the manager of the event, promises: “Our intention is to make this meeting the biggest moment of the year as far as cars are concerned. tourism, we already have a lot of ideas for next year, but it was important to be able to count on everyone's passion. Thank you to all the drivers and owners for their presence for this first edition. »