John Cleland to return in Super Touring Vauxhall Vectra

Former double BTCC champion John Cleland is set to return to racing with one of his old Super Touring Vauxhall Vectras in the 2013 HSCC Super Touring Car Trophy.
“This is proper Super Touring era. I’m going to get in touch with my old engineer to pick his brains and see if he still has any set-up sheets,” said Cleland to Autosport.

Cleland is planning to take part in two races at Brands Hatch and Oulton Park this season.
“I don’t want to come out with it until it’s absolutely right. I’m hoping the series really takes off this year. It’s got legs,” said Cleland.

The Scot has bought a Triple Eight Vauxhall Vectra with chassis number one, the very one he raced in the 1997 BTCC and Bathurst 1000, which later was sold to Sweden.
“It and a sister car went to Sweden and Alex Schooledge bought them back. His preparation company Outpace has restored it in Bathurst colors and he’s done an excellent job. It’s original right down to the seat,” said Cleland.

Another former BTCC racer to take part in the series is Patrick Watts who has bought two 1998 Peugeot 406s from Australia.
“I saw the Super Touring cars at the Silverstone Classic last July and they looked so good. Paul Grimm still had the cars so I phoned him up in Australia and he said he’d love to see them out again. He bought the entire team at the end of the ’98 season and they were still sitting in his showroom. It’s a little bit of history and they are classics in touring car terms. It is the first car my daughter Aimee remembers me driving and she’s now 18,” said Watts to classiccarmag.net.

HSCC Super Touring Car Trophy Calendar

30-31 Mar – Thruxton Easter Revival
13-14 Jul – Brands Hatch Historic Superprix
26-28 Jul – Silverstone Classic
25-26 Aug – Oulton Park Gold Cup