A history flashback on Alain Menu in the BTCC

Alain Menu, the only driver to take two BTCC titles during the Super Touring era, is back. The Swiss driver has joined Team BMR for the 2014 season. As preparation for his return, join us for a look back at Menu’s previous BTCC career.

Menu’s first ever BTCC race was at Silverstone in 1992, finishing tenth in a Prodrive BMW 318iS. The circle was closed eight years later at Silverstone, driving for Prodrive again, this time in a Ford Mondeo and finishing third in what was his last BTCC race in a Super Touring car.

The Swiss only drove half the 1992 season, claiming one podium finish at Snetterton. His season came to an abrupt end at Knockhill after he fell off a paddock quad bike, breaking his leg. Kris Nissen took over his seat for the remaining races and the BMW team chose not to renew Menu’s contract ahead of the 1993 season as he was the last driver to join the team.

Menu joined Renault for 1993, the start of what was to become a successful six-year partnership.

His first season with the French manufacturer was turbulent. The Renault 19 model was competitive in wet conditions, but off pace compared to the front runners of BMW, Ford and Vauxhall in dry conditions. Renault even opted out of the Knockhill race in order to further develop the car.

His team mate Tim Harvey beat him to the first victory, but Menu was stronger over the season and finished 10th overall with three podium finishes and his first ever BTCC victory in the penultimate race of the year at Donington Park.

1994 meant the introduction of the new Renault Laguna and Menu was instantly a championship front runner. After a tough season start, Menu racked up two victories and ten podium finishes, only being beaten by the dominating Alfa Romeo 155 of Gabriele Tarquini in the drivers championship.

The next big step came ahead of the 1995 season when the Formula One team Williams took over Renault’s BTCC programme. Menu was once again the main challenger to the title, but was beaten by Scottish Vauxhall driver John Cleland. The Swiss driver managed to score a whopping seven victories, more than champion Cleland, and stood on the podium 13 times.

1996 looked to be the year for Menu. Williams had further developed the Laguna model and pre-season testing looked promising. But a combination of technical gremlins and incidents, such as the one with team mate Will Hoy at Thruxton in the main article picture above, meant that Menu again had to settle for second overall in the championship. Instead it was Frank Biela in the all-conquering Audi A4 Quattro who claimed the title.

The third year with the Renault Laguna turned out to be Menu’s best ever BTCC season.

He started the season by winning the first four races and he did not miss the podium for the first seven races. Audi’s Biela was closest to Menu in the championship standings after the season, but the German was never close. Menu claimed the title by a full 110 points after winning half of the races in the 1997 season, making Biela and Audi’s Quattro dominance of 1996 look bleak.

1998 was Menu’s last season with Renault. The Laguna looked to be the car to beat as the season started. But technical problems and a pace not matching the Volvo S40 of Rickard Rydell and Nissan Primera of Anthony Reid meant that Menu had to settle for fourth in the championship, his worst overall finish since he joined Renault in 1993.

The Swiss driver joined Ford and Prodrive for the 1999 season. The team started fresh with the Mondeo model, meaning a struggling season for Menu with a lot of technical gremlins in the development process. Menu scored ”only” one victory that season and finished 11th overall, with new team mate Reid right behind in 12th position.

2000, which was Menu’s as of yet last full-time BTCC season, saw the Ford team fielding an impressive driver line-up with Reid and Rydell alongside Menu. The title fight turned out to mainly be an internal Ford deal. Menu fought hard with team mates Reid and Rydell.

The Swiss driver started the season strongly with three victories in the first four races and kept command of the championship lead. Reid emerged as the main contender for the title, with the fight going to the wire in the season finale at Silverstone. A nail-biting final two races saw Menu emerging as champion, beating Reid by a mere two points, with Rydell a further 15 points behind.

Menu’s career in the BTCC during the Super Touring era is unprecedented. Two titles, 36 victories and 85 podium finishes was the result after battles with drivers like Frank Biela, Rickard Rydell, Anthony Reid, John Cleland, Gabriele Tarquini and many more.

There is no doubt that a true touring car ace is back in the 2014 BTCC. What kind of results can we expect this year? Time will tell, but Menu will have a tough time to beat the opposition this year in a car which has not been consistently in the top.

So far.

Statistics – Alain Menu

BTCC seasons: 1992 – 2000
Victories: 36
Podium finishes: 85
Pole positions: 33
Fastest laps: 28
Cars driven: BMW 318iS, Renault 19, Renault Laguna, Ford Mondeo
Championship finishing position from 93 to 00:: 9, 10, 2, 2, 2, 1, 4, 11, 1
Average championship finishing position: 4,7
Average victories per season: 4
Average podiums per season: 9