BTC-T Lexus IS200
Encyclopedia
With the new low cost BTC Touring
rules encouraging private teams to build their own cars, Cheshire
-based ABG Motorsport decided to construct a Lexus IS200 for 2001.
Converted from a roadcar into a racing machine, the car missed the first meeting at Brands Hatch
, but appeared at Thruxton
for the second event of the season and made an instant impression with its striking all black paintjob. Initially driven by Kurt Luby
, he stepped down to be replaced by Brazilian Thomas Erdos
, who was supposed to have driven a second car, which never got beyond the rolling shell stage. The Lexus was a competitive machine, taking several top six finishes behind the works Vauxhall
s and giving the factory Peugeots a run for their money. Erdos didn't take part in the final rounds at Brands Hatch
, instead Autocar
magazine journalist Steve Sutcliffe
drove, but struggled to impress in the appalling wet conditions.
Despite numerous rumours nearly every winter since that solitary season, there has always been talk of the car making a comeback, but it has never happened.
Car 1
BTC Touring
In motor racing, BTC Touring was the set of new regulations for the British Touring Car Championship introduced in 2001 BTCC, after the demise of the Supertouring category....
rules encouraging private teams to build their own cars, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
-based ABG Motorsport decided to construct a Lexus IS200 for 2001.
Converted from a roadcar into a racing machine, the car missed the first meeting at Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
, but appeared at Thruxton
Thruxton Circuit
Thruxton Circuit is a motor racing circuit located near the village of Thruxton in Hampshire, England which is used to host a number of motorsport events including British Touring Cars and Formula 3 racing....
for the second event of the season and made an instant impression with its striking all black paintjob. Initially driven by Kurt Luby
Kurt Luby
Kurt Luby was a British auto racing driver who now works as a motorcycle dealer in his home town of Bolton. He first entered racing through karting in 1978, winning seven championships up to 1987. In 1987 he won the British Formula Ford 1600 series, winning the championship that year and then...
, he stepped down to be replaced by Brazilian Thomas Erdos
Thomas Erdos
Thomas "Tommy" Erdos is a Brazilian auto racing driver. He has raced for most of his career in Great Britain and Europe, where he currently resides in Buckinghamshire England with his wife and two children.-Early career:...
, who was supposed to have driven a second car, which never got beyond the rolling shell stage. The Lexus was a competitive machine, taking several top six finishes behind the works Vauxhall
Vauxhall
-Demography:Many Vauxhall residents live in social housing. There are several gentrified areas, and areas of terraced townhouses on streets such as Fentiman Road and Heyford Avenue have higher property values in the private market, however by far the most common type of housing stock within...
s and giving the factory Peugeots a run for their money. Erdos didn't take part in the final rounds at Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
, instead Autocar
Autocar
Autocar is a weekly British automobile magazine published by Haymarket Motoring Publications Ltd. It refers to itself as "The World's oldest car magazine".-History:...
magazine journalist Steve Sutcliffe
Steve Sutcliffe
Steve Sutcliffe is a former British auto racing driver who works as a motoring journalist. His first serious racing took place in 1993 in the Caterham K Series Championship, where he finished the season second in points. In 1998 he raced in the TVR Tuscan Challenge, finishing eighth...
drove, but struggled to impress in the appalling wet conditions.
Despite numerous rumours nearly every winter since that solitary season, there has always been talk of the car making a comeback, but it has never happened.
Car 1
- 2001 - Kurt LubyKurt LubyKurt Luby was a British auto racing driver who now works as a motorcycle dealer in his home town of Bolton. He first entered racing through karting in 1978, winning seven championships up to 1987. In 1987 he won the British Formula Ford 1600 series, winning the championship that year and then...
/Thomas ErdosThomas ErdosThomas "Tommy" Erdos is a Brazilian auto racing driver. He has raced for most of his career in Great Britain and Europe, where he currently resides in Buckinghamshire England with his wife and two children.-Early career:...
/Steve SutcliffeSteve SutcliffeSteve Sutcliffe is a former British auto racing driver who works as a motoring journalist. His first serious racing took place in 1993 in the Caterham K Series Championship, where he finished the season second in points. In 1998 he raced in the TVR Tuscan Challenge, finishing eighth...
| Luby: Rounds 3-12, Erdos: Rounds 13-24, Sutcliffe: Rounds 25-26