John Cleland (racing driver)
| John Cleland | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British |
| Born |
15 July 1952 Wishaw, Scotland |
| BTCC record | |
| Teams | Vauxhall |
| Drivers championships |
2 |
| Wins | 17 outright, plus 15 more in class |
| Podium finishes | 98 |
| Poles | 19 |
| Fastest laps | 11 |
| Debut season | 1989 |
| First win | 1991 (outright), 1989(class) |
| Best championship position | 1st (1989, 1995) |
| Final season (1999) position | 13th |
John Cleland (born 15 July 1952 in Wishaw, Scotland) is a retired British auto racing driver. He raced and hillclimb in the 1970s, and won his class in the Scottish Rally Championship in 1976 driving a Mitsubishi Colt. He switched to circuit racing, achieving success in British Production Car and Thundersaloon championships in the 1980s, before joining Vauxhall for the 1989 British Touring Car Championship. He is currently a co-commentator alongside Martin Haven on the English world feed of the World Touring Car Championship which is used by Eurosport.
In the mid-1980s, Cleland's father Jim purchased the 1984 Bathurst 1000 winning Holden VK Commodore (an Australian car) from Peter Brock's Holden Dealer Team for his son to race in Thundersaloons. During this time the Commodore ran as a Vauxhall Senator.
Cleland adapted quickly to touring car racing and won the BTCC at his first attempt, in the days when the championship consisted of four separate classes, each in their own races but scoring points for the same title. John won 11 of his 13 races in class C for 1.5l cars. The 2-litre Cavalier was introduced the next year, in readiness for the single 2-litre format in 1991. Cleland finished 2nd in class to his rival Frank Sytner in 1990 after a fierce season long battle, and 5th overall. The following year he won three races and finished second in the championship to Will Hoy, taking Vauxhall's first ever overall BTCC win. In 1992 John battled with Hoy and Tim Harvey for the title, but was denied at the last round by a controversial collision with Steve Soper, the teammate of eventual champion Harvey. In 1993 and 1994 the championship was dominated by BMW and Alfa Romeo respectively, and John had to make do with fourth overall in both years.
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