West Surrey Racing have long been stalwarts of the BTCC since their introduction in 1996, and have since become one of the modern day’s most successful Independent touring car entries having claimed 20 outright wins and the overall title on one memorable occasion.

Originally founded in 1981, Dick Bennett’s squad started their racing life in single-seater motorsport, the New Zealander responsible for more than 70 race wins in Formula 3, masterminding the careers of drivers such as Mika Hakkinen, Jonathon Palmer, Mauricio Gugelmin, Eddie Irvine, Rubens Barrichello, and a certain Ayrton Senna.

The team’s BTCC bow came with Ford in 1996, the first of four manufacturers the team would be involved with. That particular season was a baptism of fire, with Paul Radisich only able to claim a highest race result of fifth as WSR finished seventh overall. The team’s improved Mondeo again finishing seventh overall in 1997 before the late Will Hoy claimed a superb maiden win at Silverstone the following year on his way to a top 10 championship finish.

The team switched backing to Honda for the following two seasons in an Accord, James Thompson finishing fourth with four wins in 1999 as the squad finished second in the team and manufacturer titles. 2000 saw Gabriele Tarquini and Tom Kristensen joined for a star 2000 line-up, the pair claiming three wins apiece as they finished behind Vauxhall and team champions Ford and their dominant Mondeo.

For BTC regulations, and MG ZS then became WSR’s weapon of choice between 2001-2006, the team debuting the car with Anthony Reid (200 runner-up) and Warren Hughes, were Reid won the team’s fifth of their six contested races. The duo continued in 2002 to finish second overall, before expanding to three cars with Irishman Colin Turkington – a pivotal name in the team’s future. Three wins went their way, before claimed the 2004 Independent driver’s championship thanks to Reid, the Scot then leaving the series.

2005 saw the team narrowed significantly with Rob Collard in a sole MG entry, claiming two wins before RAC sponsorship took over, Turkington returning from Vauxhall to finish third overall, the team finishing fourth before moving to BMW machinery, Turkington and Tom Onslow-Cole claiming four wins between them, the former then finishing fourth in 2008 – claiming the Independent title as well as WSR winning the Indie team title also.

Then came 2009, and an emotional, hard-fought first overall title success came the way of Turkington and WSR, the Independent squad beating the giants of Vauxhall to the crown, narrowly missing out on team title glory. RAC backing left in 2010 however, Turkington even more shockingly left unable to race also, Rob Collard returning for a winless two seasons partnered by Andy Neate and then Nick Foster as the team name switched to eBay Motors, Collard finally giving WSR the winning feeling again with a Knockhill double in 2012 despite just missing out on Independent glory.

# Driver Specification Car Pos. Pts.
1996 – Valvoline Team Mondeo
6 Paul Radisich  Supertouring Ford Mondeo 13 27
16 Steve Robertson Ford Mondeo 20 2
Manufacturers Championship 7 22
Teams Championship 7 74
1997 – Team Mondeo
9 Will Hoy  Supertouring Ford Mondeo 15 27
15 Paul Radisich Ford Mondeo 13 41
Manufacturers Championship 7 133
Teams Championship 7
1998 – Ford Mondeo Racing
32 Will Hoy  Supertouring Ford Mondeo 10 69
33 Craig Baird Ford Mondeo 18 7
55 Nigel Mansell Ford Mondeo 20 6
Manufacturers Championship 7 117
Teams Championship 7 44
1999 – Team Honda Sport
3 James Thompson  Supertouring Honda Accord 4 174
33 Peter Kox Honda Accord 7 113
55 Gabriele Tarquini Honda Accord 14 17
Manufacturers Championship 2 296
Teams Championship 2 132
2000 – Redstone Team Honda
4 James Thompson  Supertouring Honda Accord 8 129
7 Peter Kox Honda Accord 13 2
18 Gabriele Tarquini Honda Accord 6 149
77 Tom Kristensen Honda Accord 7 143
Manufacturers Championship 2 411
Teams Championship 3 176
2001 – MG Sport & Racing
2 Anthony Reid BTC MG ZS * *
20 Warren Hughes MG ZS * *
*Not eligible for points in 2001
2002 – MG Sport & Racing
11 Anthony Reid BTC MG ZS 4 136
12 Warren Hughes MG ZS 6 110
Manufacturers Championship (-5 Penalty Points) 2 320
Teams Championship (-5 Penalty Points) 2 107
2003 – MG Sport & Racing
4 Anthony Reid BTC MG ZS 6 211
5 Colin Turkington MG ZS 8 97
6 Warren Hughes MG ZS 7 98
Manufacturers Championship (-70 Penalty Points) 3 243
Teams Championship (-70 Penalty Points) 3 216
2004 – West Surry Racing
6 Anthony Reid BTC MG ZS 4 213
Independents Championship 1 312
8 Colin Turkington MG ZS 6 137
Independents Championship 2 300
Teams Championship (-50 Penalty Points) 3 325
2005 – West Surry Racing
21 Rob Collard BTC MG ZS 7 173
Independents Championship 3 256
Teams Championship 4 172
Independent Teams Championship 2 256
2006 – Team RAC
6 Colin Turkington BTC MG ZS 3 240
Independents Championship 2 290
7 Rob Collard MG ZS 9 97
Independents Championship 4 174
Teams Championship 4 332
Independent Teams Championship 2 469
2007 – Team RAC
3 Colin Turkington S2000 BMW 320si E90 5 184
Independents Championship 1 285
33 Tom Onslow-Cole BMW 320si E90 10 109
Independents Championship 4 226
Teams Championship 4 277
Independent Teams Championship 1 386
2008 – Team RAC
5 Colin Turkington S2000 BMW 320si E90 4 212
Independents Championship 1 323
50 Stephen Jelley BMW 320si E90 15 14
Independents Championship 8 118
Teams Championship 4 227
Independent Teams Championship 1 340
2009 – Team RAC
4 Colin Turkington S2000 BMW 320si E90 1 275
Independents Championship 1 314
14 Anthony Reid BMW 320si E90 20 5
Independents Championship 18 13
44 Stephen Jelley BMW 320si E90 7 137
Independents Championship 5 165
Teams Championship 2 404
Independent Teams Championship 1 348
2010 – West Surrey Racing
6 Rob Collard S2000 BMW 320si 8 144
Independents Championship 6 201
44 Andy Neate BMW 320si 18 6
Independents Championship 11 45
Teams Championship 5 146
Independent Teams Championship 3 250
2011 – West Surrey Racing
8 Rob Collard S2000 BMW 320si 8 108
Independents Championship 5 157
18 Nick Foster BMW 320si 14 47
Independents Championship 9 104
Teams Championship 6 156
Independent Teams Championship 5 281
2012 – West Surrey Racing/eBay Motors
8 Rob Collard S2000 Chassis with NGTC Engine BMW 320si 5 303
Independents Championship 2 356
18 Nick Foster BMW 320si 11 164
Independents Championship 7 239
38 Tom Onslow-Cole BMW 320si 6 281
Independents Championship 3 343
Teams Championship 2 607
Independent Teams Championship 3 461
2013 – eBay Motors
5 Rob Collard NGTC BMW 125i M Sport
18 Nick Foster BMW 125i M Sport
29 Colin Turkington BMW 125i M Sport