Brands Hatch saw the Honda Integra embark on it’s final race weekend in the British Touring Car Championship as the BTC-spec cars become ineligible in the new year when the series begins it’s switch-over to the New Generation Touring Car regulations.

The BTC spec regulations ran from 2001 till 2007 before being proceeded by the Super 2000 regulations. Next year will see the introduction of Next Generation Touring Cars which will see 2.0L turbo’s used along with more factory parts in a bid to increase participation by decreasing the running costs for teams. Next year will see full NGTC, S2000 with NGTC engines and full S2000 specification cars running in the series.

The Honda Integra made it’s first appearance in the British Touring Car Championship nearly 6 years ago at the start of the 2005 season at Donington Park with Matt Neal taking two out of the three race wins. Neal would be partnered by Dan Eaves for the duration of the season with Gareth Howell joining them for the final three races at Team Halfords, run by Team Dynamics.

Neal would go on to win the title in 2005 after finishing all of the 30 races inside the points position’s, a great achievement for a new car to the series. Overall the Honda Integra, with the three drivers at the helm took twelve wins, three pole positions and a further twelve fastest laps.

Since 2005 a total of 13 different drivers have driven the Honda Integra Type-R with up to 5 on the track at any one time (during the 2006 season). Those 13 drivers are Matt Neal, Dan Eaves, Gareth Howell, Gordon Shedden, Dave Pinkney, Mike Jordan, Alan Taylor, Simon Blanckley, John George, Andrew Jordan, Martyn Bell, Paul O’Neill, Lea Wood and finally James Kaye.

In that time the Honda Integra Type-R has amassed 27 wins, 7 pole positions and 31 recorded overall fastest laps. Notably Paul O’Neill managed 3 podium finishes in 2010 aswell as 2 fastest laps with a car which has endured six seasons of racing. That’s a testament to the car which has become an icon of the British Touring Car Championship due to its competitiveness throughout.

Photo Credit: Chris Gurton

James Mappin is the editor-in-chief covering the British Touring Car Championship. You can contact him at james@btcccrazy.co.uk, on twitter @BTCCCrazy or on his personal twitter account @jamesmappin.