1990 cavalier GSI Touring car

[Oddball]

I'm looking for engine specs and engine pics for the 1990 vauxhall cavalier gsi from British Touring Car Championship, can anyone help ?

This is the car in question....

[Swoxy]

Vauxhall opened the 1991 season with the pairing of stalwart John Cleland and Jeff Allam behind the wheel of two 'works' Cavaliers. It was a much fancied set up and the team were expected to do well in the run up to the season. When the racing finally started the pair were always in contention for podium placings with both cars scoring well. During the first half of the year Allam was the more consistent of the two drivers, although he didn't actually win a race. Cleland, however came strong in the latter part of the championship and was in a position to win it , with the title being decided by the last race of the season. Cleland finally finished in second place, the championship going to Will Hoy in a BMW M3. The same pairing was kept for the following year in the 'works' team, and Vauxhall were again much fancied to lift the trophy.

For 1992 the 'works' team were joined on the grid by a second team also running the Vauxhall Cavalier GSi. The Scottish based team of Ecurie Ecosse entered a two car outfit with David Leslie and Bobby Verdon-Roe (replaced by Alex Portman later in season) driving. Although privately entered the team were supported by manufacturer, Vauxhall, and were strong contenders in every way. The first two races of the year went to Cleland and he quickly became the favourite to win the title. Vauxhall dominated most of the season, consistently finishing in the top three. Cleland scored another win, and Allam won at Knockhill and Silverstone. Everything appeared to be going to plan for Vauxhall with Leslie also achieving good results for the Ecurie Ecosse team. Vauxhall's grip on the trophy began to slip however as the BMWs of Tim Harvey and Tony Soper made a late resurgence towards the seasons end. As in the previous season the outcome of the championship would be decided by the final race of the year. Three drivers were in contention, Cleland (Vauxhall), Harvey (BMW) and Hoy (Toyota). The final race at Silverstone was full of incident and eventually finished with Harvey as champion, after Cleland had been 'taken off' by Soper. Vauxhall consoled themselves by taking the manufacturers title with Cleland and Allam finishing 3rd and 4th, respectively, in the drivers table.

The same set up was kept for 1993 by the 'works' team but at Ecurie Ecosse, headed by Ray Mallock, Harry Nuttall was drafted in as the no. 2 driver. Both teams started well with the works entrants achieving consistent top five finishes courtesy of both drivers, although the first win didn't arrive until round 9, with Cleland, at Knockhill. Despite some good results Cleland and Allam once again saw themselves overhauled by BMW who eventually went on to win the championship. John Cleland eventually finished the season in 4th position as the highest placed 'works' driver. Leslie achieved some fantastic qualifying times for the Ecurie Ecosse team to take four pole positions during the season but only managed one race win at Thruxton in round 14. Nuttall managed mid table mediocrity for most of the season but gained 6th place at Pembrey and looked on for a podium place at Brands Hatch, until he was taken out of the race by his team mate... David Leslie.

Ray Mallock took the reins of the works outfit for the '94 season, and Vauxhall were again much fancied for great things. The season started well with Cleland gaining consistent podium finishes early on in the year. Unfortunately for Vauxhall, despite a very respectable season, Alfa wiped the floor with the rest of the field and claimed most of the silverware during the championship. Allam's season was best described as mediocre, finally finishing 10th, but Cleland managed two race wins during rounds 8 & 9, at the double header meeting at Oulton Park. He eventually ended the year in 4th. The Cavaliers were known not to be the quickest cars on the track but their reliability usually saw them finish the distance. Of more concern for Vauxhall was the fact that they only managed 5th in the manufacturers table.

1995 was the Cavalier's 'swansong' as a 'works' concern, with the new Vectra ready to take the field the following year. It finally all fell into place for the Vauxhall squad after many previous seasons of promise. James Thompson became the youngest driver to take the seat in a factory sponsored car, aged 20, replacing Allam as the No. 2 driver. Cleland started the season as he meant to carry on and took 1st and 2nd in the first two rounds at Donington Park. After a bad weekend at Brands Hatch, where he ended up in the gravel at Paddock twice, he went on to take another 5 race wins on his way to the drivers title. Thompson scored his first BTCC pole position, and race win in the same meeting at Thruxton. Vauxhall, Volvo, Ford and Renault all pushed for the manufacturers title throughout the season, with Renault finally grabbing the laurels from Vauxhall by 5 points. Otherwise it was Vauxhall's year, Cleland as champion, Thompson a very creditable 7th in his first 'works' season and the factory outfit also took the Team title. The Cavalier bowed out in style.

A picture of this impressive car is available at http://freespace.virgin.net/tjl.thegrove/btcc9504.jpg.

More information on this and other touring cars is available at http://www.lawsworld.co.uk.