Double British Touring Car Champion John Cleland plans to race his Vauxhall Vectra at Brands Hatch when Super Touring Power debuts this summer (1/2 July).
The iconic Scottish tin top legend intends to race the Triple Eight Engineering built Vauxhall which he first raced in the latter part of the 1997 BTCC season. Cleland raced Vauxhall Vectras for the final four years of his storied BTCC career following his championship successes for the British manufacturer in an Astra and Cavalier.
Cleland was one of the defining characters of the BTCC’s Super Touring era, often leading the charge of homegrown hopefuls against an increasingly international field of superstar drivers. His sole title of the era came right at the height of Super Touring when he saw off Alain Menu and Rickard Rydell to win the 1995 crown.
The chassis in question was later driven at Bathurst by Peter Brock and Derek Warwick before being used in continental Europe. Cleland bought the car in 2013 and has raced it numerous times over subsequent years, most recently at Knockhill last season.
Cleland’s planned participation in the event is confirmed following the news that 1993 and 1994 FIA Touring Car World Cup winner and ‘90s BTCC stalwart Paul Radisich will return to Brands Hatch in a Ford Mondeo.
Other high profile entrants include late ‘90s BTCC frontrunner Anthony Reid and current tin top ace Jake Hill, whilst former V8 Supercars stars Greg Murphy and Steven Richards are lined up to race too.
Discounted advance tickets for Super Touring Power at Brands Hatch on 1/2 July are available from £25 with free entry for under-13s. For more information click here.