European Touring Car
Championship 1985

1985 was a year, which mirrored the '83 season n a way, with its silly discussions about what's legal - and what's not. This time however, it was not Walkinshaw who was suspected of illegal tricks, it was Volvo who happened to homologate the 240 turbo in an evolution version - which a rear spoiler, big turbo, intercooler and water injection. After production of the 500 cars and subsquent homologation (with close inspection of 23 cars), the other 477 cars were robbed of their competition equipment and sold as standard 240 turbo roadcars. Not illegal by any means, but it left a bad taste in the mouth of their competitors. The FISA reacted in July, after trying to buy an Evolution car in a few European countries (which failed): Volvo had to release the names of the 500 owners of the evolution cars. Volvo didn't react, so the "evolution" homologation would end on September 1, 1985. Later (after the factory holiday!) Volvo could manage to reveal a few evolution cars in Sweden, so the ban was lifted.

On a sporting note, the withdrawal of Jaguar was no surprise, with group C in the wings. They had nothing left to proove. Rover did, however, and with partner Walkinshaw they liked to continue the TWR successes. On the other side, BMW almost threw the towel, thinking the 635 CSi would be uncompetitive. After rejecting to build a 635 CSi evolution (an exciting 80's batmobile with 365 HP), Schnitzer made a late-moment effort with a two-car team. The field usually consisted of a great number of (semi) privateer cars, but the only win was Spa with Schnitzer.

Eggenberger defected to Volvo, acompanied by the Swedish Magnum team. After a strong start by TWR, the Volvo's come on strong and Brancatelli/Lindström took the driver's championship at the penultimate round. Perhaps decisive was Walkinshaw's first-lap error in Zolder.

The makes' championship was yet again an Alfa Romeo walkover. But 4 victories for BMW's 323i, and some strong performances for Snobeck's Mercedes meant that the Alfa time was almost over. Alfa would go turbo with the 75. Division 1 rarely figured in the headlines, but had entertaining fights between Toyota, VW and Audi.

Another shape of things to come was the debut of the Ford Sierra XR4 TI. A few works-supported outings made clear the car had a lot of potential. And who better than Eggenberger could make it work in 1986?

The cars of 1985


Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV/6 Luigi
Engine Alfa Romeo V6
Bore and stroke 88,0 x 68,3
Size 2491 cc
Cams 2 OHC
Valves per cilinder 2
Power
Details Fuel injection
Transmission Alfa Romeo 5-speed
Weight
Brakes f/r disc / disc
Wheels f/r
Tyres Pirelli?

BMW 323i Linder
Engine BMW 6 in line
Bore and stroke 80,6 x 76,8
Size 2350 cc
Cams 1 OHC
Valves per cilinder 2
Power 214 HP/7200
Details Bosch fuel injection
Transmission Getrag 5-speed
Weight 962
Brakes f/r disc / disc
Wheels f/r 9 x 16 / 9 x 16
Tyres Pirelli

Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 Snobeck
Engine Mercedes 4 in line
Bore and stroke 96,0 x 80,25
Size 2323 cc
Cams 2 OHC
Valves per cilinder 4
Power 244 HP/7300
Details fuel injection
Transmission 5-speed
Weight 1035 kg
Brakes f/r disc / disc
Wheels f/r
Tyres Michelin

BMW 635 CSi Schnitzer
Engine BMW 6 in line
Bore and stroke 92,6 x 86,0
Size 3475 cc
Cams 1 OHC
Valves per cilinder 2
Power 300 HP
Details Bosch fuel injection
Transmission Getrag 5-speed
Weight
Brakes f/r disc / disc
Wheels f/r
Tyres Pirelli

Ford Sierra XR4 TI Works prototype
Engine Ford Merkur 4 in line
Bore and stroke 96,48 x 79,3
Size 2320 cc
Cams 1 OHC
Valves per cilinder 2
Power 300 HP/6250
Details 1 Garrett turbo
Transmission Getrag 5-speed
Weight 1135 kg
Brakes f/r disc / disc
Wheels f/r 9,5 x 16 / 9,5 x 16
Tyres Goodyear

Rover Vitesse TWR
Engine Rover V8
Bore and stroke 89,4 x 71,1
Size 3532 cc
Cams 1 OHV
Valves per cilinder 2
Power
Details Lucas fuel injection
Transmission Getrag 5-speed
Weight
Brakes f/r disc / disc
Wheels f/r x 17 / x 17
Tyres Dunlop

Volvo 240 Turbo Eggenberger/works
Engine Volvo B21ET 4 in line
Bore and stroke 92,3 x 80,0
Size 2141 cc
Cams 1 OHC
Valves per cilinder 2
Power 340 HP/
Details 1 Garrett turbo, water injection
Transmission Getrag 5-speed
Weight 1040 kg
Brakes f/r disc / disc
Wheels f/r x 17 / x 17
Tyres Dunlop

Championship table

Drivers
Final classification
Points
Monza
Valle-lunga
Doning-ton
Anderstorp
Brno
Zeltweg
Salzburg
Nürburg-ring
Spa
Silver-stone
Nogaro
Zolder
Estoril
Jarama
1 Brancatelli
253 (289)
-
21
(13)
29
21
29
29
29
16
(16)
(7)
29
29
21
Lindström
253 (289)
-
21
(13)
29
21
29
29
29
16
(16)
(7)
29
29
21
3 Walkinshaw
198
29
29
29
-
3
-
21
-
-
29
29
-
-
29
Percy
198
29
29
29
-
3
-
21
-
-
29
29
-
-
29
5 Drovandi
184 (208)
21
12
20
20
20
16
20
(12)
-
20
15
(12)
20
-
6 Lombardi
161
21
12
20
20
20
16
20
12
-
20
-
-
-
-
7 Hahne
139
16
16
21
16
2
-
10
-
-
-
16
16
13
13
8 Müller Jr
137
-
-
-
-
-
21
13
16
16
13
-
21
21
16
9 Dieudonné
134
-
-
-
-
-
21
13
16
13
13
-
21
21
16
10 Allam
134
16
16
16
16
2
-
10
-
-
-
16
16
13
13
11 Cremer
129
12
20
-
-
12
-
15
-
20
-
20
15
-
15
Tilke
129
10
10
12
-
10
10
12
20
-
10
20
15
-
-
Schumacher
129
10
10
12
-
10
10
12
20
-
10
20
15
-
-
14 Ripolles
121
-
-
20
-
20
-
4
3
20
12
15
12
15
-
15 Høyer
120 (122)
-
12
15
20
-
-
6
6
2
15
12
10
12
12
Nielsen
120 (122)
-
12
15
20
-
-
6
6
2
15
12
10
12
12
17 Cipriani
120
10
10
12
15
8
8
10
-
15
-
-
12
20
-
18 Francia
112
12
-
15
-
15
-
-
-
20
-
20
15
-
15
19 Vogt
107
15
-
-
-
-
22
-
20
-
-
-
20
10
20
20 Ravaglia
104
-
10
-
-
16
-
3
13
29
-
-
13
16
4

Manufacturers
Final classification Div.
Points
Monza
Valle-lunga
Doning-ton
Anderstorp
Brno
Zeltweg
Salzburg
Nürburg-ring
Spa
Silver-stone
Nogaro
Zolder
Estoril
Jarama
1 Alfa Romeo 2
200 (257)
20
20
20
20
20
(15)
20
(12)
20
20
20
(15)
20
(20)
2 Toyota 1
185 (232)
(10)
20
15
20
(10)
15
20
20
15
(15)
20
20
(12)
20
3 Volkswagen 1
185 (226)
20
15
20
(10)
20
20
(4)
15
20
20
15
(12)
20
(15)
4 Volvo 3
182 (210)
-
15
(10)
20
20
20
20
20
(12)
12
(6)
20
20
15
5 Rover 3
174 (187)
20
20
20
12
(3)
(-)
15
15
(-)
20
20
12
(10)
20
6 BMW 2
139
15
-
-
-
6
20
8
20
-
12
8
20
10
20
7 BMW 3
114 (140)
10
8
(6)
10
12
12
(6)
10
20
(6)
10
10
12
(8)
8 Audi 1
83
15
8
-
-
8
-
8
12
-
-
6
6
10
10
9 Volkswagen 2
55
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6
12
15
-
6
6
10
10 Peugeot 1
27
2
-
6
12
-
3
-
-
-
4
-
-
-
-
11 Ford 1
19
-
-
4
-
-
12
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
12 Opel 2
19
-
-
-
-
3
-
6
-
10
-
-
-
-
-
13 Mitsubishi 3
8
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
-
-
-
-
14 Fiat 2
6
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Mazda 2
6
-
-
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
16 Audi 2
2
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Ford 3
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
18 Honda 1
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
Alfa Romeo 1
1
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

 

Many thanx to Frank de Jong for the information! If you want more information go to Frank de Jong his website

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