Well, I've had a look through the Auto Actions and this is what the search turned up:
Quote:
Auto Action, Issue No. 491, January 26, 1990 (p.7)
BRIEFLY
ANDY Rouse has been declared Class A Champion for the Esso British Touring Car Championship. It was alleged that the material Rouse added to the turbocharger was illegal because it had been added as a modification. The RAC MSA tribunal determined that the material was added as a repair and not a modification.
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In an earlier issue, Rouse said that the turbocharger housing had cracked and had been welded up to repair it, and that this is where the added material had come from. He also said that if this repair was declared illegal then every other car out there was also illegal, as they would all have endured similar repairs over time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jesper OH
From my interpretation he stands to loose points for a victory and a second and 2x2 maximum score penalties, described in the article as loosing 56 points from his current 55 tally.
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The earlier issue also quotes the "56 points from his current 55 tally." I'm wondering how that works? Tell me if this is right: 9 for the victory; plus 6 for the second; a maximum score is 10 (9 for win, +1 for fastest lap), so 2x2 means plus 40 points; plus his 1 point for fastest lap in Rd.7? Equals 56 for me!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jesper OH
Given that the official BTCC site seems to recognise these disqualifications by 2010 but that Rouse ran #1 on his car in 1990, I'm a little confused.
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It looks like the BTCC site is a little confused, too! The points table carries Rouse's 56-point penalty, but the History, 1958-1990 page says that, "...Rouse, with his six wins, retained the class title..." I looked in the issues beyond No. 491 and saw no mention of any further appeals so, unless anything appears in Autosport to the contrary, I think we can safely assume that Rouse was indeed the 1989 Class A champion.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jesper OH
Round 11 of 13 of the 1989 Esso RAC British Touring Car Championship held on Monday August 28th 1989 over 20 laps of the 3.975 kms Birmingham street circuit.
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Graham Goode only allowed to start when Mike Jordan withdrew.
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Looking at the review video - I believe the same footage is on YouTube - Goode is nowhere to be seen at the start of the race, so I assume he either started at the back of the field, or that he started from pit lane. There is, however, a Listerine car starting inside the top 10, and it is also seen behind Mike Smith when Mike is interviewed in the pits after his retirement.
So, Mike Newman, started 8th, retired early?