EVENTS // BTCC MEDIA DAY @ BRANDS HATCH

With just seven days to go before the start of the 2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, this week saw the series launch day at Brands Hatch Circuit. Despite most major race series suffering from a drop in grid numbers the British tin top championship confirmed a healthy 23 car entry for the upcoming season.

With official manufacturer entries from both Honda and Chevrolet, in total this years grid will see seven different makes line up at Thruxton on April 4th for the opening rounds. Further interest will see the debut of the new NGTC turbo charged engine a year before it was due to enter the series along with the debut of LPG engines installed in the Team Aon Ford Focus's.

Follow the link for a full entry list and a few images from the Brands Hatch BTCC Media Day... [read more]

The man behind the recent success of Britian's most popular motor racing championship BTCC Series Director Alan Gow gave his thoughts for the new season.

“This is a fantastic start to our new season and a new decade for the BTCC,” commented BTCC Series Director Alan Gow. “Globally, motor sport has really felt the pinch of late following what has been a very cruel recession, yet the BTCC continues to buck that trend and set an example for many other high-profile series around the world, as shown by our 2010 entry list.

“I’m immensely proud of the huge efforts made by the teams, drivers and sponsors during the winter to ensure they are here, but the fact they continue to want to compete and succeed in the BTCC speaks volumes for this great championship’s ability to excite, inspire and reward at the very highest level in the UK. No doubt, as normal, even more teams and drivers will join the championship during the course of the season – which is further testament to the BTCC as being Britain’s biggest drawcard for teams, drivers and sponsors.

“Just to remind people of a few facts: our trackside crowds are often bigger than many Premiership football games; we are watched by many millions on TV, in both the UK and right around the world, thanks to our truly terrific broadcast partner ITV; we enjoy the tremendous support of a hugely passionate title sponsor in Dunlop; plus, the free admission for children and unrivalled interaction between the public and the stars all make the BTCC a unique sporting attraction.

“The BTCC remains way ahead of all other motor racing series in Britain in terms of public profile, variety, action, competitive rivalry, unpredictability, popularity and levels of professionalism… and our entry list again underlines its stature. In fact, many other international series look at our championship with real envy. I look forward to what promises to be another phenomenal season in the BTCC’s illustrious history.”

2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Official Entry List.

2 Jason Plato British Silverline Chevrolet Chevrolet Cruze (M)
4 Matt Neal British Honda Racing Team Honda Civic (M)
5 Mat Jackson British Airwaves BMW BMW 320si E90 (I)
6 Robert Collard British WSR BMW 320si E90 (I)
11 Steven Kane British Airwaves BMW BMW 320si E90 (I)
20 Alex MacDowall British Silverline Chevrolet Chevrolet Cruze (M)
21 Tom Onslow-Cole British Team Aon Ford Focus ST (I)
22 Tom Boardman British Special Tuning UK SEAT Leon (I)
23 Tom Chilton British Team Aon Ford Focus ST (I)
27 Martin Johnson British Boulevard Team Racing Vauxhall Astra Coupe (I)
28 John George British Sunshine.co.uk with Tech-Speed Motorsport Honda Integra (I)
29 Paul O'Neill British Sunshine.co.uk with Tech-Speed Motorsport Honda Integra (I)
30 Martin Depper British Forster Motorsport BMW 320si E90 (I)
37 Arthur Forster British Forster Motorsport BMW 320si E90 (I)
43 Lea Wood British Central Group Racing Honda Integra (I)
44 Andy Neate British WSR BMW 320si E90 (I)
52 Gordon Shedden British Honda Racing Team Honda Civic (M)
55 David Pinkney British Pinkney Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra (I)
77 Andrew Jordan British Pirtek Racing Vauxhall Vectra (I)
88 Philip Glew British Triple Eight Race Engineering Vauxhall Vectra (I)
98 Matt Hamilton British TH Motorsport Honda Civic Type R (I)
99 Shaun Hollamby British AmD Milltek Racing.com VW Golf MK5 (I)
888 TBA Triple Eight Race Engineering Vauxhall Vectra (I)

Cars 2, 4, 20 & 52 are Manufacturer entrants within the Manufacturers/Constructors Championship.

Cars 21 & 23 are Independent Constructor entrants, within the Manufacturers/Constructors Championship.

(M) Manufacturer (I) Independent







Photo/Editorial: Neil Tozer