The BTCC 's points system during this era awarded points to drivers in their car's class meaning that as far as overall Championship points were concerned, each race had four winners, one each from categories A to D. Vauxhall correctly reasoned that while the spectacular Class-A 500bhp Sierra Cosworths would be battling at the front their diminutive 2-litre Astra GTE could do well in Class-C for cars between 1601cc and 2000cc.

An Astra won Class C at every round with Louise Aitken-Walker taking two wins, Ian Flux one and Cleland eleven. However, James Weaver driving a Class-B BMW M3 was equally dominant and, after the last race, had scored 109 points to Cleland's 110.  Cleland was Champion.

Did you know?

1989 was Vauxhall's first ever overall victory in the British Touring Car Championship although the series had been run under a variety of names every year from 1958. 1989 was just the start because Vauxhall have since won the Championship a further seven times, with Cleland again taking the honours aboard a Vauxhall Cavalier in 1995