Johnny Cecotto

Twelfth overall in 1995

Venezuelan Johnny Cecotto only raced in the BTCC for one season – 1995 – when it was at its most competitive. He drove for BMW as part of the factory team, alongside David Brabham.

The former motorcycle racer was a promising F1 prospect, having finished as runner-up in F2 in 1982. He progressed to grand prix racing with Theodore and then Toleman, but a huge crash during qualifying at Brands Hatch left him with two broken legs, ending his single-seater career.

He was adopted into the BMW family in the late 1980s, and remained with the firm for almost a decade. He was a regular in the DTM and tackled the German Tourenwagen contest for four seasons, winning the title twice.

The BMW was not the force it had been when Cecotto came to the UK, and he only broke into the top six on five occasions on his way to 12th in the points. Team-mate Brabham recalls: “He was very demanding of the team. Because of his position within BMW – the boss Paul Rosche got on well with him – he could ask for what he wanted. He was also very, very fast.”