1996 VAUXHALL / OPEL VECTRA SUPERTOURER 

The Vauxhall Vectra was the model that superseded the out dated, but hugely successful Vauxhall Cavalier in 1996. It was the new platform for supertouring racing in the European, African and Australian touring car championships under the Vauxhall brand in the UK and Australia and under Opel in the other territories.  

The 1995 British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) was won by John Cleland in a Vauxhall Sport Cavalier. He would go on to win the championship again in 1996 in the new Ray Mallock (RML) built Vectra.

This Vectra, RML chassis number 1207, was built for Opel Motorsport to compete in the AA Fleetcare South African Touring Car Championship (ZATCC) using the same specifications as the BTCC. The new Vectra model carried over the Caviler’s race proven X-trac 6 speed sequential gearbox and the 16V 290BHP Swindon Race Engines, reverse head (Cosworth special) 2 litre (1996cc) engine.

Mike Briggs drove this Vectra in the South African TCC with a result of 1 win, 1 pole and 9 podiums for the 1996 season. The car was then sent to Australia to be driven by Cameron Mclean and compete in the 1997 season of the BOC Gases Australian Supertouring Championship series by Greenfields Mowers Racing. Mike Briggs went on to compete in the BOC Australian Supertouring Championship in 1997 in a Ford Modeo.

In 1997, the car was sold to John Henderson Racing, a privateer outfit campaigning the car in the latter half of 1997 and in earnest from 1998 to 2000, earning 12 podiums in 2000. John finished a frustrating second to Paul Morris in almost every race for 2000.

The cost of a 1996 RML Vectra in was around £120,000 ($240,000AUD!) plus spares package as required.

I have compiled this website with information obtained from friends, associates, the internet and some very helpful people at Swindon Racing and X-track. Cameron McLean has also helped greatly with pics and other info from when he campaigned the car in the BOC Gases Australian Supertouring Championship in 1997 and Mike Briggs found me a photo of the Vectra from the Opel Factory Team days in South Africa.