James Kaye

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James Kaye
Nationality British
Born (1964-02-18) 18 February 1964 (age 60)
Harrogate, England
Related toRichard Kaye (brother)
British Touring Car Championship career
Debut season1986
Current teamAmD Tuning.com
Racing licence FIA Bronze
Car number15
Former teamsWRC Developments with Barwell
Synchro Motorsport
Honda Team MSD
Maxted Motorsport
Park Lane Toyota Junior Team
Demon Tweeks
Containerships
Starts296
Wins0
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Best finish1st in 2002 (Production class)
Previous series
2018
2010
2007
2005
2002
1998–2000
1998–2000
1998–2000
1997
1991, 1993
1983–86, 1988
Britcar
Belgian Touring Car Series
FIA GT3 European Championship
ETCC
Italian Super Production
National Saloon Cup GB
Belgian Procar
Spa 24h
FIA GT Championship
JTCC
UPSCC
Championship titles
2023–24
2023–24
1992, 1994
1985
Middle East Trophy - TCE
Middle East Trophy - TCR
BTCC Independents' Cup
UPSCC

James Peter Kaye (born 18 February 1964 in Harrogate, North Yorkshire) is a British auto racing driver. He has been a stalwart competitor of Hondas in various championships since 1995, and has had 2 lengthy spells in the BTCC. He won the BTCC independents' championship in 1992 and 1994.

Racing career[edit]

Kaye driving the Barwell Motorsport Honda Accord at Brands Hatch during the 2000 British Touring Car Championship season.
Kaye driving for Synchro Motorsport at the Brands Hatch round of the 2006 British Touring Car Championship season.

After racing in the British National Production Saloon Championship with several championship in the late 80s and early 90s, he entered the BTCC as an independent in 1992, winning the independent title in his Toyota, and again in 1994. In 1993 he raced a semi-works Toyota for the Park Lane Racing team, ineligible for the Total Cup for Independents. In 1995 he was hired by Honda for their BTCC programme, racing there for 2 seasons.

He had an assortment of sports car drives for Honda from 1997–1999, returning to touring cars in the National Saloon Championship in 2000. The same cars were eligible for the newly created Class B of the BTCC that year, and James was runner up in a Honda Accord. This was renamed the Production Class for 2001, and James again finished 2nd, before winning the Production Class title in 2002 for Synchro Motorsport, a team of Honda employees working in their spare time at the Honda factory in Swindon.

The team moved up to the Touring class of the BTCC for 2003, defined as an Independent team as they had no financial or technical backing, James classified as Independent runner-up and 14th overall. Remaining with Synchro, James was 11th overall in 2004 and 2005. He took his first series podium at Oulton Park in 2006 after 14 years of trying. For 2007 the team pulled out, leaving James without a drive.

He returned to the BTCC for the 2013 season, driving the AmD Tuning.com Volkswagen Golf in the Jack Sears Trophy.[1]

For the final round of the 2018 Dunlop Endurance Championship, Kaye raced with Matt Le Breton in an Audi RS3 TCR, finishing 11th in race one and 4th in race two.

Kaye driving the AmD Tuning Honda Civic at Snetterton during the 2013 British Touring Car Championship season.

Career highlights[edit]

  • 2006 BTCC with Synchro Racing, once again back in the Civic Type R. Scored in four of the first six races, and then at Oulton Park qualified a fine fourth and converted it into his first BTCC podium finish.
  • 2005 BTCC with Synchro Racing, Honda Civic Type R. Quietly began racking up points finishes but constantly in the wars. His best finish was at the Indy round at Brands Hatch, where he was 4th in race three. He even resorted to changing his race number (from 10 to 31) in the final round to see if it would bring a change of luck. Perhaps it worked: he finished all three races in the points, making a season total of 58, 11th in the championship.
  • 2004 BTCC with Synchro with the Civic again. A quiet year by James' high standards, but 3rd in qualifying and 4th in the first race at Brands Hatch was a high point. Ended up 11th in the championship with 49 points, 5th in the Independents.
  • 2003 BTCC with Team Synchro, Honda Civic Type R. His season seemed to lack consistency but still led to 2nd in the Independents' cup.
  • 2002 BTCC Production Class – Honda – Champion; Macau Grand Prix – 6th in second heat
  • 2001 BTCC Production Class – Honda – 2nd; Spa 24 Hours; Macau Grand Prix – 4th
  • 2000 BTCC Production Class – Honda – 2nd
  • 1999 Belgian Procar Championship
  • 1997 FIA World GT Championship
  • 1996 BTCC – Honda – 12th
  • 1995 BTCC – Honda – 18th
  • 1994 BTCC Independents' Cup – Toyota – Champion; Australian Touring Cars
  • 1993 BTCC – Toyota Junior Team – 20th; Japanese Group A Touring Cars
  • 1992 BTCC Independents' Cup – Toyota – Champion
  • 1991 British National Group N Championship – Honda Civic Vtec
  • 1990 Honda CRX Championship
  • 1989 Ford Fiesta Championship – Champion; Renault 5 Turbo Championship; Honda CRX Championship; Uniroyal Production Saloon Car Championship
  • 1988 Uniroyal Production Saloon Car Championship – Class Champion; Renault 5 Turbo Championship; Honda CRX Championship
  • 1987 Renault 5 Turbo Championship – 2nd
  • 1986 Uniroyal Production Saloon Car Championship – Class Champion
  • 1985 Uniroyal Production Saloon Car Championship – Champion
  • 1984 Uniroyal Production Saloon Car Championship – Class Champion
  • 1983 Uniroyal Production Saloon Car Championship

Personal life[edit]

James' Father Peter Kaye was a Hillclimb/Sprint driver, which was a great influence on James growing up. James is the oldest of 5 children, and his younger brother Richard Kaye, has also raced professionally. James is married and has proven his virility beyond doubt by fathering 5 children.

Racing record[edit]

Complete British Saloon / Touring Car Championship results[edit]

(key) Races in bold indicate pole position (1 point awarded – 1996–2002 all races, 2003–present just in first race, 1987–1989 and 2000–2003 in class) Races in italics indicate fastest lap (1 point awarded – 1987–1989 and 2000–present all races, 1987–1989 and 2000–2003 in class) * signifies that driver lead race for at least one lap (1 point awarded – 2001 just in feature races, 2003–present all races, 2001 for leading in class)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Overall
DC
Pts Class
1986 Containerships Vauxhall Nova Sport D SIL THR SIL DON BRH
17
SNE BRH DON SIL 15th 10 2nd
1988 Demon Tweeks Volkswagen Golf GTI C SIL
15‡
OUL
Ret
THR DON THR SIL SIL BRH SNE BRH BIR DON SIL 58th 1 8th
1989 Demon Tweeks BMW M3 B OUL
17
SIL THR DON THR SIL SIL BRH SNE BRH BIR DON SIL 51st 2 12th
1992 Park Lane Racing Toyota Carina SIL
Ret
THR
Ret
OUL
13
SNE
Ret
BRH
13
DON
1

14
DON
2

Ret
SIL
5
KNO
1

12
KNO
2

9
PEM
14
BRH
1

Ret
BRH
2

12
DON
5
SIL
8
10th 19
1993 Park Lane Toyota Junior Team Toyota Carina E SIL
13
DON
11
SNE
9
DON
Ret
OUL
Ret
BRH
1

Ret
BRH
2

DNS
PEM
Ret
SIL
10
KNO
1

DNS
KNO
2

DNS
OUL
12
BRH THR
20
DON
1

14
DON
2

Ret
SIL
14
21st 3
1994 Maxted Motorsport Toyota Carina E THR
16
BRH
1

17
BRH
2

19
SNE
13
SIL
1

18
SIL
2

15
OUL
Ret
DON
1

18
DON
2

16
BRH
1

15
BRH
2

21
SIL
15
KNO
1

12
KNO
2

18
OUL
Ret
BRH
1

18
BRH
2

Ret
SIL
1

20
SIL
2

13
DON
1

17
DON
2

17
29th 0
1995 Honda Team MSD Honda Accord DON
1

11
DON
2

10
BRH
1

19
BRH
2

14
THR
1

16
THR
2

13
SIL
1

10
SIL
2

13
OUL
1

14
OUL
2

10
BRH
1

13
BRH
2

19
DON
1

14
DON
2

10
SIL
Ret
KNO
1

Ret
KNO
2

5
BRH
1

10
BRH
2

8
SNE
1

18
SNE
2

9
OUL
1

7
OUL
2

9
SIL
1

16
SIL
2

9
18th 25
1996 Honda Team MSD Honda Accord DON
1

9
DON
2

10
BRH
1

9
BRH
2

11
THR
1

Ret
THR
2

9
SIL
1

9
SIL
2

8
OUL
1

13
OUL
2

Ret
SNE
1

Ret
SNE
2

7
BRH
1

Ret
BRH
2

14
SIL
1

Ret
SIL
2

11
KNO
1

8
KNO
2

8
OUL
1

10
OUL
2

10
THR
1

8
THR
2

9
DON
1

Ret
DON
2

10
BRH
1

DNS
BRH
2

8
12th 33
2000 Barwell Motorsport Honda Accord B BRH
1

13
BRH
2

9
DON
1

11
DON
2

11
THR
1

13
THR
2

Ret
OUL
1

10
OUL
2

10
SIL
1

11
SIL
2

8
CRO
1

NC
CRO
2

6
SNE
1

8
SNE
2

10
DON
1

12
DON
2

11
BRH
1

Ret
BRH
2

11
OUL
1

12
OUL
2

9
SIL
1

10
SIL
2

10
260 2nd
Honda Integra Type-R KNO
1

12
KNO
2

11
2001 Team Kaliber Sport with Barwell Honda Accord P BRH
1

Ret
BRH
2

7*
THR
1

7
THR
2

5*
OUL
1

2
OUL
2

Ret
SIL
1

9
SIL
2

9*
MON
1

2
MON
2

5*
DON
1

12
DON
2

Ret
KNO
1

6
KNO
2

6
SNE
1

9
SNE
2

Ret
CRO
1

6
CRO
2

10
OUL
1

13
OUL
2

10
SIL
1

Ret
SIL
2

9*
DON
1

3
DON
2

14
BRH
1

10
BRH
2

7
220 2nd
2002 Synchro Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R P BRH
1

Ret
BRH
2

NC
OUL
1

12
OUL
2

Ret
THR
1

15
THR
2

12
SIL
1

16
SIL
2

15
MON
1

17
MON
2

Ret
CRO
1

11
CRO
2

14
SNE
1

17
SNE
2

11
KNO
1

16
KNO
2

17
BRH
1

14
BRH
2

13
DON
1

16
DON
2

11
210 1st
2003 Synchro Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R T MON
1

Ret
MON
2

Ret
BRH
1

12
BRH
2

9
THR
1

11
THR
2

7
SIL
1

8
SIL
2

Ret
ROC
1

Ret
ROC
2

DNS
CRO
1

13
CRO
2

11
SNE
1

7*
SNE
2

11
BRH
1

11
BRH
2

Ret
DON
1

10
DON
2

11
OUL
1

10
OUL
2

12
14th 16
2004 Synchro Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R THR
1

13
THR
2

9
THR
3

7
BRH
1

12
BRH
2

7
BRH
3

Ret
SIL
1

13
SIL
2

15
SIL
3

9
OUL
1

6
OUL
2

12
OUL
3

9
MON
1

15
MON
2

7
MON
3

Ret
CRO
1

Ret
CRO
2

12
CRO
3

13
KNO
1

13
KNO
2

9
KNO
3

11
BRH
1

4
BRH
2

6
BRH
3

Ret
SNE
1

9
SNE
2

6
SNE
3

13
DON
1

11
DON
2

9
DON
3

9
11th 49
2005 Synchro Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R DON
1

Ret
DON
2

Ret
DON
3

Ret
THR
1

Ret
THR
2

9
THR
3

7
BRH
1

8
BRH
2

Ret
BRH
3

4
OUL
1

11
OUL
2

DNS
OUL
3

Ret
CRO
1

9
CRO
2

5
CRO
3

Ret
MON
1

8
MON
2

Ret
MON
3

11
SNE
1

8
SNE
2

6
SNE
3

6
KNO
1

10
KNO
2

Ret
KNO
3

Ret
SIL
1

8
SIL
2

Ret
SIL
3

10
BRH
1

8
BRH
2

6
BRH
3

7
11th 58
2006 Synchro Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R BRH
1

8
BRH
2

9
BRH
3

Ret
MON
1

10
MON
2

6
MON
3

DNS
OUL
1

3
OUL
2

9
OUL
3

DNS
THR
1

7
THR
2

7
THR
3

4
CRO
1

8
CRO
2

7
CRO
3

9
DON
1

10
DON
2

7
DON
3

8
SNE
1

9
SNE
2

Ret
SNE
3

8
KNO
1

Ret
KNO
2

Ret
KNO
3

DNS
BRH
1

11
BRH
2

13
BRH
3

Ret
SIL
1

DNS
SIL
2

DNS
SIL
3

Ret
12th 61
2010 WRC Developments with Barwell Honda Integra Type-R THR
1
THR
2
THR
3
ROC
1
ROC
2
ROC
3
BRH
1
BRH
2
BRH
3
OUL
1
OUL
2
OUL
3
CRO
1
CRO
2
CRO
3
SNE
1
SNE
2
SNE
3
SIL
1
SIL
2
SIL
3
KNO
1
KNO
2
KNO
3
DON
1

9
DON
2

14
DON
3

Ret
BRH
1

16
BRH
2

Ret
BRH
3

Ret
22nd 2
2013 AmD Tuning.com Volkswagen Golf BRH
1

15
BRH
2

12
BRH
3

DNS
DON
1

19
DON
2

Ret
DON
3

Ret
THR
1

Ret
THR
2

Ret
THR
3

19
OUL
1
OUL
2
OUL
3
CRO
1

Ret
CRO
2

19
CRO
3

Ret
27th 5
Honda Civic SNE
1

Ret
SNE
2

19
SNE
3

DNS
KNO
1
KNO
2
KNO
3
ROC
1
ROC
2
ROC
3
SIL
1
SIL
2
SIL
3
BRH
1
BRH
2
BRH
3

‡ Kaye won in class but was awarded no points due to less than 3 class cars starting the race.

Complete World Touring Car Championship results[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DC Pts
1987 United Kingdom Demon Tweeks Volkswagen Golf GTI MNZ JAR DIJ NÜR SPA BNO SIL
DNQ
BAT CLD WEL FJI NC 0

Complete Japanese Touring Car Championship results[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 DC Pts
1991 Team Trust Toyota Corolla Levin AE92 JTC-3 SUG SUZ TSU SEN AUT FUJ
7
76th 6
1993 Racing Project Bandoh Toyota Corolla Levin AE101 JTC-3 MIN AUT SUG SUZ AID
14
TSU TOK SEN FUJ 26th 8

Complete Bathurst 1000 results[edit]

Year Team Co-Driver Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1994 Australia Bruce Miles Racing New Zealand Greg Murphy Toyota Carina B 136 23rd 5th
1997* United Kingdom Vauxhall Sport United Kingdom John Cleland Vauxhall Vectra 32 Ret Ret

* Super Touring race

Complete 24 Hours of Spa results[edit]

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1998 Belgium Team Honda Sport Belgium United Kingdom Simon Harrison
United Kingdom Stephen Day
Honda Integra Type R SP 470 8th 8th
1999 United Kingdom ELR Belgium Philippe Tollenaire
Switzerland Philippe Favre
Honda Accord SP 518/cylinder head gasket DNF DNF
2000 United Kingdom ELR & Barwell Motorsport Scotland David Leslie
United Kingdom Mark Lemmer
Honda Accord SP ?/engine DNF DNF

Complete 24 Hours of Silverstone results[edit]

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Car No. Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2008 United Kingdom Barwell Motorsport United Kingdom Mark Lemmer
United Kingdom Jay Wheels
United Kingdom Andy Barnes (DNS)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 48 3 517 25th 5th
2011 Australia Ryan MacLeod Australia Ryan MacLeod
Australia Ashley Walsh
United Kingdom Jamie Capilleri
United Kingdom Joseph Girlin
Holden Astra 70 3 518 11th 6th
2012 Australia Ryan MacLeod Australia Ryan MacLeod
United Kingdom Jamie Capilleri
Papua New Guinea Keith Kassulke
Holden Astra 87 4 472 15th/DNF 9th/DNF
2015 Russia Team Russia by Barwell Russia Timur Sardarov
Russia Leo Machitski
United Kingdom Mark Lemmer
MARC Focus V8 92 2 327 DNF DNF

Complete Britcar results[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position in class – 1 point awarded just in first race; races in italics indicate fastest lap in class – 1 point awarded all races;-

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 DC CP Points
2018 WDC Racing Audi RS3 TCR E4I ROC
1
ROC
2
SIL
1
SIL
2
OUL
1
OUL
2
DON
1
DON
2
SNE
1
SNE
2
SIL
1
SIL
2
BRH
1

11
BRH
2

4
NC NC 0†

Complete British GT Championship results[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 DC Points
2023 Simpson Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 Gen II GT4 OUL
1
OUL
2
SIL
1

Ret
DON
1
SNE
1
SNE
2
ALG
1
BRH
1
DON
1
NC† 0†

As Kaye was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Kaye back in BTCC". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 11 March 2013. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.

External links[edit]