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| rowspan=4| {{flagicon|UK}} [[United Kingdom]]<ref>[http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=2893 ]{{dead link|date=January 2016}}</ref>
| rowspan=4| {{flagicon|UK}} [[United Kingdom]]<ref>[http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=2893 ] {{wayback|url=http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=2893 |date=20130723051354 |df=y }}</ref>
| rowspan=2| [[ITV4]] / [[ITV4 HD]]
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Revision as of 20:33, 12 February 2016

"BTCC" redirects here. For other uses, see BTCC (disambiguation).
British Touring Car Championship
File:Btcc logo.PNG
CategoryTouring cars
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Inaugural season1958
ClassesIndependents
Drivers32 (2014)
Teams17 (2014)
ConstructorsAudi, BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz, MG, Proton, Toyota, Volkswagen
Note: The constructors in bold are currently represented in the Manufacturers/Constructors Championship.
Tyre suppliersDunlop
Drivers' championUnited Kingdom Gordon Shedden
Makes' championUnited Kingdom Honda Racing Team
Teams' championHonda Yuasa Racing Team
Official websitebtcc.net/
Current season

The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom, currently organized and administered by ToCA. It was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and was renamed as the British Touring Car Championship in 1987.[1] The championship has been run to various national and international regulations over the years including FIA Group 2, FIA Group 5, FIA Group 1, FIA Group A, FIA Super Touring and FIA Super 2000. A lower-key Group N series for production cars ran from 2000 until 2003.

The championship was initially run with a mix of classes, divided according to engine capacity, racing simultaneously. This often meant that a driver who chose the right class could win the overall championship without any chance of overall race wins, thereby devaluing the title for the spectators – for example, in the 1980s Chris Hodgetts won two overall titles in a small Toyota Corolla prepared by Hughes Of Beaconsfield, at that time a Mercedes-Benz/Toyota main dealer when most of the race wins were going to much larger cars; and while the Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500s were playing at the front of the field, Frank Sytner took a title in a Class B BMW M3 and John Cleland's first title was won in a small Class C Vauxhall Astra.

After the domination (and expense) of the Ford Sierra Cosworth in the late 1980s, the BTCC was the first to introduce a 2.0 L formula, in 1990, which later became the template for the Supertouring class that exploded throughout Europe. The BTCC continued to race with Supertouring until 2000 and for 2001 adopted its own BTC Touring rules. However, the Super 2000 rules were observed for the overall championship from the 2007 season. The 2000s saw cheaper cars than the later Supertouring era, with fewer factory teams and fewer international drivers.

In 2009, the BTCC released details of its Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC) specification, to be introduced from 2011. The introduction of these new technical regulations were designed to dramatically reduce the design, build and running costs of the cars and engines as well as reducing the potential for significant performance disparities between cars. The NGTC specification also aimed to cut costs by reducing reliance on WTCC/S2000 equipment, due to increasing costs/complexity and concerns as to its future sustainability and direction.[2]

Type of cars

2006 BTCC Race at Brands Hatch

Currently, the cars used are a mix of 2.0 L saloons (sedans) such as the BMW 320si E90 and Chevrolet Cruze and hatchback cars such as the Honda Civic and Ford Focus, based on models from a variety of manufacturers, using NGTC regulations. The S2000 cars were used in the Jack Sears Trophy until the 2014 season. The series launched its own BTC Touring specification for 2001, a year before the WTCC began in its current form, however car counts were low. Super 2000 cars were allowed to enter from 2004 to encourage cars to be built for both championships, and became the only cars eligible to win the main title – although several independent teams still run BTC Touring-spec cars.

BTCC teams are a mixture of "works" teams from manufacturers (currently Honda and MG) and independent teams such as Team RAC, 888, and Motorbase. However, in 2010 there were two new works teams, following Vauxhall's decision to pull out of the series: Chevrolet, run by RML; and Honda, run by Team Dynamics.[3] In 2005, Team Dynamics became the first independent outfit to win the BTCC drivers and team championships; Matt Neal won the overall and independent drivers contests in his Team Dynamics Honda Integra. This included finishing all 30 championship races that year, something no other driver has achieved before or since. This ended Vauxhall's run of 4 victories in the drivers and teams championships between 2001 and 2004. Neal and Dynamics were also victorious in 2006, before Vauxhall won the 2007 title with Italian Fabrizio Giovanardi. Team Dynamics also achieved the first overall independents race win in the 'Supertouring' era when Neal won a round of the 1999 BTCC at Donington park, earning the team prize-money of £250,000.

As a result of Matt Neal's championship victories, and the fact that Team Dynamics were designing and building their own S2000 Honda Civic Type R(with unofficial support from Honda), they were no longer entered into the Independents category, and were classed as neither an "independent" or "works" team until the 2009 season, when the Manufactures championship was renamed Manufactures/Constructors Championship to allow both Team Aon and Team Dynamics to compete with the now sole works entry of Vauxhall.

There are strict limits to the modifications which can be made to the cars, which are intended to reduce the cost of running a competitive team, which had become prohibitive in the final years of the Super Touring rules. These cost reductions have seen a rise in independent entries – teams or individuals entering cars purchased from the manufacturer teams when they update their chassis. These so-called "ex-works" cars have enjoyed some success. To further keep costs in check, the BTCC uses a "control tyre", with Dunlop the current supplier of rubber to all the teams.

The rules allow for a variety of different fuels in a bid to encourage more efficient cars. In 2004 Mardi Gras Motorsport independently entered a Liquified petroleum gas powered Super 2000 Honda Civic Type-R (which was subsequently replaced by a more competitive BTC-Touring Peugeot 406 Coupé, still LPG powered), and in 2005 Tech-Speed Motorsport converted an ex-works Vauxhall Astra Coupé to run on bio-ethanol fuel. In the middle of 2006, Kartworld's owner-driver Jason Hughes converted his 4-cylinder MG ZS to run on Bio-Ethanol, soon followed by the West Surrey Racing cars of championship contender Colin Turkington and Rob Collard, and for the final event at Silverstone, Richard Marsh converted his Peugeot 307 to run on bio-ethanol fuel. Only Hughes continued on this fuel in 2007 and 2008.

The regulations also permitted cars to run on diesel; attempted first in the 2007 season by Rick Kerry in a BMW 120d E87 run by Team AFM Racing. In 2008 SEAT Sport UK entered two Turbo Diesel Power SEAT Leons – the first diesel powered manufacturer entered cars.

At the start of the 2010 season, it was announced that Team AON racing had converted both of their Ford Focus ST cars to run on LPG.

Car regulations

VXRacing Vectra being checked by the scrutineers

Current regulations

As of the 2014 British Touring Car Championship season, all cars are built to the same regulations:

  • Next Generation Touring Car. New set of regulations specifically developed for the BTCC as a way of moving the sport forward and cut costs for competitors. Introduced from 2011, these new technical regulations were designed to dramatically reduce the design, build and running costs of the cars and engines as well as reduce reliance on WTCC/S2000 equipment. NGTC cars initially maintained performance parity with S2000 cars until the 2013 season when full NGTC cars became the main championship class with Hybrid S2000/NGTC cars running in a secondary class. From the 2014 season, only NGTC cars are eligible to compete the BTCC.

Previous regulations

The following regulations have been applied to the championship:

  • 1958 - unique BTCC regulations[1]
  • 1959 - FIA Appendix J Category C[1]
  • 1960 - ‘silhouette’ special saloon cars (1000cc)[1]
  • 1961 to 1965 - FIA Group 2[1]
  • 1966 to 1969 - FIA Group 5[1]
  • 1970 to 1973 - FIA Group 2[1]
  • 1974 to 1983 - FIA Group 1[1]
  • 1983 to 1990 - FIA Group A[1]
  • 1991 to 2000 - 2 Litre Touring Car Formula, later becoming FIA Super Touring
  • 2001 to 2011 - BTC Touring. The BTCC developed and introduced this specification in 2001, in response to the spiraling costs of the Super Touring specification. However, with the Super 2000 specification being used in the newly reformed World Touring Car Championship, the popularity of the BTC-T spec with top teams and manufactures was short lived. Therefore, from the 2007 season, BTC-T spec cars were no longer allowed to win the championship outright. The 2010 season was meant to be the last year BTC-T cars would be eligible to enter the championship, however Series Director Alan Gow announced a one-year extension to allow BTC-T to compete in 2011 (with their base-weight +50 kg on the 2010 season). Only cars that competed in 2010 would be eligible to race in 2011.[4]
  • 2004 to 2013 - Super 2000. Regulations first introduced to the BTCC in 2004, allowing teams to build cars eligible to race in several different Touring Car Championships, including the World Touring Car Championship. Car built to this specification were eligible to compete until the end of the 2013 season, however the last fully S2000 cars were entered in the 2011 season.
  • 2010 to 2013 - S2000/NGTC Hybrid. From the 2010 season, teams with S2000 chassis were allowed to use an NGTC engine with their car. As of the 2012 season, all teams with S2000 chassis, used NGTC turbo charged engines. This hybrid specification was eligible until the end of the 2013 season.

Circuits

Circuits for the 2013 season

Being a national championship, the British Touring Car Championship has visited circuits throughout the United Kingdom over its long history. Currently the series visits nine different tracks in England and Scotland. These tracks are: Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Thruxton Circuit (the fastest track ever visited by the BTCC, with an average speed of 111.31 mph, set by Andrew Jordan during qualifying in 2014), Oulton Park, Croft Circuit, Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit, Knockhill Racing Circuit, Rockingham Motor Speedway and Silverstone Circuit.

In the past, the BTCC has visited Mondello Park in Ireland and Pembrey Circuit in Wales. A street race around the city of Birmingham, England, known as the Birmingham Superprix, was held in 1989 and 1990. Aintree Motor Racing Circuit, Crystal Palace circuit and Goodwood Circuit have all hosted rounds in the past.

Current season

Main article: 2015 British Touring Car Championship season

The 58th British Touring Car Championship will once again consist of 10 rounds with three races at each round, making it a thirty round competition in total. The racetracks used for the 2015 season will be the same as used for the 2012 season in identical order. The season began on 24 March at Brands Hatch – using the circuit's Indy configuration – and will conclude on 11 October at the same venue, utilising the Grand Prix circuit. This will be the fifth season that cars conforming to the Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC) specification will be allowed to compete. The Jack Sears Trophy, which was introduced in 2013 for the top S2000 finisher over the duration of the season, awarded to the Independent driver who achieved the greatest improvement from their respective grid positions over the entire season in 2014 and for 2015 it will be awarded to the top rookie.[5]

Race format

Championship contenders Jason Plato (SEAT) and Fabrizio Giovanardi (Vauxhall) collide during a BTCC race at Snetterton in July 2007. The BTCC is known for being a high-contact series.[6]

On the Saturday of a race weekend there are two practice sessions followed by a 30-minute qualifying session which determines the starting order for the first race on the Sunday, the fastest driver lining up in pole position.

Each race typically consists of between 16 and 25 laps, depending on the length of the circuit. A race may be extended by three laps if three or more laps have been run behind a safety car.

The grid for race two is based on drivers’ fastest lap results from race one.[7] For race three, a draw takes place to decide at which place the grid is 'reversed'. This means drivers finishing 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th or 10th in race two could take pole position for race 3 depending on the outcome of the draw. For example, if ball number 7 is drawn, the driver finishing in 7th position in race two starts on pole, 6th place starts in second place, 5th place starts in third etc. Drivers finishing in 8th place and beyond would start race three in their finishing order for race two. The draw is normally conducted by a celebrity or VIP, live on TV. For 2014, this was changed so that the driver who finished Race 2 in 10th position made the draw. Fabrizio Giovanardi has twice[8][9] managed to put himself on pole position by drawing out number 10.

Before 2006, the driver finishing in 10th place in race two took pole position for race three. This initiated deliberate race 'fixing', whereby some drivers attempted to finished in 10th place during race two to gain pole position in race three. This "reverse grid" rule polarised opinion: some fans enjoy the spectacle afforded by having unlikely drivers on pole position while faster ones have to battle through the field; others feel it detracts from the purity of the racing. For example, some drivers might decide to slow down and let others pass them, thereby improving their own starting position for the "reverse grid" race, which is contrary to the spirit of motor racing – which is to try to come first in every race. It also led to some safety concerns as drivers would slow dramatically on the approach to the finish line, with cars behind forced to take evasive action to avoid collecting slower cars ahead. These factors contributed the rule change for the 2006 season.

Points system

Current points system

Points are awarded to the top fifteen drivers in each race as follows:

Current BTCC points system (2012–Present)
Race  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th   11th   12th   13th   14th   15th  Pole Position Fastest Lap Lead A Lap
R1 20 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 1
R2 20 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1
R3 20 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1
  • No driver may collect more than one "Lead a Lap" point per race no matter how many laps they lead.

Previous points system

Points are awarded to the top ten drivers in each race as follows:

BTCC points system
Race  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th  Pole Position Fastest Lap Lead A Lap
R1 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 1
R2 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1
R3 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1
  • No driver may collect more than one "Lead a Lap" point per race no matter how many laps they lead.

Television coverage

The BBC screened highlights of every race from 1988 to 2001. The F1 commentator at the time, Murray Walker, commentated. From 1997, some races were screened live with Charlie Cox joining Murray Walker. After 1997 the commentary team was Charlie Cox and John Watson with Murray Walker dedicating his time to Formula 1.

In the UK, ITV covered the series from 2002, with commentary from Ben Edwards and former champion Tim Harvey, with Toby Moody replacing Edwards after he replaced Martin Brundle on the BBC's F1 coverage in 2012 and David Addison replaced Toby Moody[10] for the 2013 season. In 2006 the ITV coverage included highlights from the first and second race of the day and live coverage of the third and final race. This returned in the second half of 2007, after the first five meetings had been on ITV3 (a digital channel with fewer viewers), with a half-hour late-night highlights show. ITV also has a Sunday night show called Motorsport UK, featuring many of the supporting races. From 2008, the races were screened live on ITV4, along with the support races. ITV has a one-hour highlights programme on the Monday night following the race.

The series is screened in other countries. In Australia, Fox Sports Australia have been covering the BTCC championship since 2000. From 2009 the ITV coverage has screened on ONE HD. Speed TV screened several seasons in the USA over the winter, but this ended when the network became Fox Sports 1 in 2013. BTCC returned to the air in the US with the 2015 season, being aired on CBS Sports Network in condensed, one-hour packages like those aired on Speed. Unlike Speed's offering as the series being winter programming filling the void after the American racing season, CBSSN airs events a week or so after their actual running.

Motors TV used to show all the races live, including some support races, both in the UK and across Europe.[11] In 2007 Setanta Sports showed all the races live, including the support races; this ceased when the entire day's coverage moved to ITV4.

TV coverage

TV Coverage of 2012 season
Country TV Network Language Qualifying Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Notes
United Kingdom United Kingdom[12] ITV4 / ITV4 HD English No Live Live Live[N 1] Up to 7 Hours of coverage per meeting (also shows live and delayed coverage of support races). Simulcast High Definition coverage on ITV4 HD
No
Highlights
90 minute highlight show of all 3 races and qualifying
ITV Sport Website English Live Live Live Live Live video stream. Highlights available to watch anytime after the race via the Race Archive
ITV / ITV HD English No
Highlights
90 minute highlight show of all 3 races and qualifying. Simulcast High Definition coverage on ITV HD
  1. ^ Race 3 from Oulton Park was only shown live on the ITV Website. On ITV 4 the race was delayed until the evening due to a schedule clash with the French Open Final.[13]
The Austin A105 with which Jack Sears won the 1958 British Saloon Car Championship

Live timing

Live timing for the BTCC and its support races, as well as testing, is provided by Timing Solutions Ltd from their website. This service allows you to follow free practice and qualifying as well as race day action via a timing screen from your computer or mobile phone.

Previous champions

Main article: List of BTCC champions

Currently, five championships are awarded per season. The overall driver's championship is the driver gaining the most points overall throughout the season. Since 1992, the Independents driver championship has also been awarded to the leading non-manufacturer-backed driver. There are also awards for the best overall team, leading manufacturer and, since 2005, the top independent team. Previous championship titles were awarded to the leading "Production" (or "Class B") driver and team between 2000 and 2003.

Season Overall Independent Secondary Class
Drivers' Champion Manufacturers / Makes
Champion[17] 		Teams' Champion[17] Drivers' Champion Teams' Champion Drivers' Champion Teams' Champion
1958 United Kingdom Jack Sears none none
1959 United Kingdom Jeff Uren none none
1960 United Kingdom Doc Shepherd none none
1961 United Kingdom Sir John Whitmore none none
1962 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland John Love none none
1963 United Kingdom Jack Sears(2) none none
1964 United Kingdom Jim Clark none none
1965 United Kingdom Roy Pierpoint none Weybridge Engineering Company[18]
1966 United Kingdom John Fitzpatrick none Team Lotus[19]
1967 Australia Frank Gardner none none
1968 Australia Frank Gardner none none
1969 Republic of Ireland Alec Poole none none
1970 United Kingdom Bill McGovern none none
1971 United Kingdom Bill McGovern none none
1972 United Kingdom Bill McGovern(3) none none
1973 Australia Frank Gardner(3) none none
1974 United Kingdom Bernard Unett none none
1975 United Kingdom Andy Rouse Chevrolet[20]
Triumph[20] 		none
1976 United Kingdom Bernard Unett none none
1977 United Kingdom Bernard Unett(3) none none
1978 United Kingdom Richard Longman none none
1979 United Kingdom Richard Longman(2) BL Mini[21] none
1980 United Kingdom Win Percy none none
1981 United Kingdom Win Percy none none
1982 United Kingdom Win Percy(3) none none
1983 United Kingdom Andy Rouse none none
1984 United Kingdom Andy Rouse Rover none
1985 United Kingdom Andy Rouse(4) Ford none
1986 United Kingdom Chris Hodgetts Toyota none
1987 United Kingdom Chris Hodgetts(2) Toyota none
1988 United Kingdom Frank Sytner BMW none
1989 United Kingdom John Cleland Vauxhall none
1990 United Kingdom Robb Gravett Ford none United Kingdom Frank Sytner
1991 United Kingdom Will Hoy BMW none United Kingdom Will Hoy
1992 United Kingdom Tim Harvey Vauxhall none United Kingdom James Kaye
1993 Germany Joachim Winkelhock BMW(2) none United Kingdom Matt Neal
1994 Italy Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Romeo none United Kingdom James Kaye
1995 United Kingdom John Cleland(2) Renault Vauxhall United Kingdom Matt Neal
1996 Germany Frank Biela Audi Audi Sport United Kingdom Lee Brookes
1997 Switzerland Alain Menu Renault(2) Williams Renault Dealer Racing(2) United Kingdom Robb Gravett
1998 Sweden Rickard Rydell Nissan[17] Vodafone Nissan Racing[17] Norway Tommy Rustad Production Class
1999 France Laurent Aiello Nissan(2) Vodafone Nissan Racing(2) United Kingdom Matt Neal Drivers' Champion Teams' Champion
2000 Switzerland Alain Menu'(2) Ford Ford Team Mondeo United Kingdom Matt Neal(4) United Kingdom Alan Morrison
2001 United Kingdom Jason Plato Vauxhall Vauxhall Motorsport none United Kingdom Simon Harrison GR Motorsport
2002 United Kingdom James Thompson Vauxhall Vauxhall Motorsport(2) United Kingdom Dan Eaves United Kingdom James Kaye Synchro Motorsport
2003 France Yvan Muller Vauxhall VX Racing United Kingdom Rob Collard United Kingdom Luke Hines Barwell Motorsport
2004 United Kingdom James Thompson(2) Vauxhall VX Racing United Kingdom Anthony Reid West Surrey Racing
2005 United Kingdom Matt Neal Vauxhall Team Halfords United Kingdom Matt Neal Team Halfords
2006 United Kingdom Matt Neal SEAT Team Halfords(2) United Kingdom Matt Neal(6) Team Halfords
2007 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Vauxhall SEAT Sport UK United Kingdom Colin Turkington Team RAC
2008 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi(2) Vauxhall VX Racing United Kingdom Colin Turkington Team RAC
2009 United Kingdom Colin Turkington Vauxhall(9) VX Racing(4) United Kingdom Colin Turkington Team RAC
2010 United Kingdom Jason Plato(2) Honda Honda Racing Team United Kingdom Tom Chilton Team Aon
2011 United Kingdom Matt Neal(3) Honda Honda Racing Team United Kingdom James Nash Triple 8 Race Engineering Jack Sears Trophy
2012 United Kingdom Gordon Shedden Honda Honda Yuasa Racing Team United Kingdom Andrew Jordan Pirtek Racing Drivers' Champion Teams' Champion
2013 United Kingdom Andrew Jordan Honda Honda Yuasa Racing Team(2) United Kingdom Andrew Jordan(2) Pirtek Racing United Kingdom Lea Wood Not awarded
2014 United Kingdom Colin Turkington(2) MG eBay Motors United Kingdom Colin Turkington eBay Motors United Kingdom Dave Newsham
2015 United Kingdom Gordon Shedden(2) Honda(5) Team BMR RCIB Insurance United Kingdom Colin Turkington(5) Team BMR RCIB Insurance United Kingdom Josh Cook

Manufacturers'/Constructors' championship winners

Year Make Nat. Car Wins
1975 Chevrolet
Triumph 		United States
United Kingdom 		Chevrolet Camaro[22]
Triumph Dolomite [22]
1991 BMW Germany BMW M3 8/14
1992 Vauxhall United Kingdom Vauxhall Cavalier 5/15
1993 BMW Germany BMW 318i 8/17
1994 Alfa Romeo Italy Alfa Romeo 155 9/21
1995 Renault France Renault Laguna 10/25
1996 Audi Germany Audi A4 8/26
1997 Renault France Renault Laguna 14/24
1998 Nissan Japan Nissan Primera 9/26
1999 Nissan Japan Nissan Primera 13/26
2000 Ford United States Ford Mondeo 11/24
2001 Vauxhall United Kingdom Vauxhall Astra Coupé 25/26
2002 Vauxhall United Kingdom Vauxhall Astra Coupé 15/20
2003 Vauxhall United Kingdom Vauxhall Astra Coupé 11/20
2004 Vauxhall United Kingdom Vauxhall Astra Coupé 11/30
2005 Vauxhall United Kingdom Vauxhall Sport Hatch 8/30
2006 SEAT Spain SEAT León 11/30
2007 Vauxhall United Kingdom Vauxhall Vectra 10/30
2008 Vauxhall United Kingdom Vauxhall Vectra 8/30
2009 Vauxhall United Kingdom Vauxhall Vectra 6/30
2010 Honda Japan Honda Civic 10/30
2011 Honda Japan Honda Civic 13/30
2012 Honda Japan Honda Civic 13/30
2013 Honda Japan Honda Civic 9/30
2014 MG United Kingdom MG 6 7/30
2015 Honda Japan Honda Civic Type R 7/30

Series sponsors

The BTCC has had several championship sponsors over the years.

Year Sponsor
1960 SupaTura
1972 Wiggins Teape Paperchase
1974 Castrol Anniversary
1975 Southern Organs
1976 Keith Prowse
1977–82 Tricentrol
1983–85 Trimoco
1987–88
2005–07
2010-		 Dunlop
1989–92 Esso
1993–2000 Auto Trader
2001 theAA.com
2002–04 Green Flag
2008–09 HiQ

Support races

Each BTCC race meeting, the crowds are kept further entertained by the appearance of high profile supporting championships, known as the ToCA Support Package, from the manufacturers Ford, Ginetta, Porsche and Renault.[23]

2013 ToCA support package

Further information: British Formula Ford Championship, Ginetta GT Supercup, Ginetta Junior Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup GB, and Renault Clio Cup United Kingdom
A Ginetta G50 Supercup car.
Porsche Carrera Cup GB Race at Donington Park

The 2013 ToCA Support Package will consist of five main support championships, which will support the championship at almost every round, along with several smaller championships supporting one or two events. All the support championships are either Single Make Championships or Formula racing.

After previously supported the BTCC in the late 1990s and sporadically since, the British Formula Ford Championship announced its return to the ToCA support package full-time for 2013, supporting all ten rounds of the championship.[24] For 2013, the championship will undergo several major changes. The biggest change will be the adoption of the new Formula Ford EcoBoost 200 regulations, which will include an increase in the EcoBoost engine power from the previous season, along with the new addition of a fully adjustable aerodynamic package which includes front and rear wings previously never seen before in the British Formula Ford Championship.[25]

The Ginetta GT Supercup is a GT style, multi class championship. The main class is the G55 class, utilising Ginetta's G55 car. The second class, known as the G50 class, utilises the older and less powerful Ginetta G50. Most weekends in 2013 see three Supercup races with a few rounds hosting only two races. Ginetta also run a championship on the support package that caters for up and coming young talent in the form of the Ginetta Junior Championship. These 14- to 17-year-olds race in identical Ginetta G40J cars with strict regulations which help keep costs down. In 2013, the championship with run two races at all BTCC weekends.

Out of all the current support series, the Porsche Carrera Cup GB is the longest serving support championship. Drivers compete in identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Type 997) cars which produce 450 bhp. The three tier championship splits drivers according to their racing experience. Professional drivers compete in the Pro class, with semi-professional and amateur drivers racing in either Pro-Am1 or Pro-Am2. In 2013, the Carrera Cup will hold two races at each BTCC meeting.

Finally, the Renault Clio Cup UK allows aspiring touring car drivers to showcase their talent in this single make series, utilising Clio Renaultsport 200 cars. The championship awards three different titles for drivers. Along with the overall drivers’ championship, younger rookie drivers can chase points for the Graduate Cup and older gentlemen drivers can seek points for the Masters Cup. During 2013, the Clio Cup will hold two races at all BTCC weekends except the rounds at Croft and Knockhill.

Several other championships will also support the BTCC throughout 2013 at one or two meetings. As in 2012, the finale of the Protyre Formula Renault (BARC) Championship will support the BTCC at Silverstone.[26]

Previous support races

A SEAT Cupra Championship race, at Croft during 2008.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i BTCC History 1958-1990 Retrieved from www.btcc.net on 13 August 2012
  2. ^ "Technical overview: NGTC". btcc.net. British Touring Car Championship. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  3. ^ A BTCC.NET Article.
  4. ^ Hudson, Neil. "BTC-spec cars get another year". touringcartimes.com. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  5. ^ Inside BTCC. "Gow confirms Jack Sear Trophy plans". Insidebtcc.com. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  6. ^ Briggs, Gemma (30 August 2009). "Herbert goes back to his roots after horror crash". The Independent. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  7. ^ "Key rules and regulations". BTCC. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  8. ^ "British Touring Car Championship Croft - Race 2 Report - 29/6/14".
  9. ^ "Turkington wins tough third Thruxton race".
  10. ^ Addison named new BTCC commentator | BTCC News
  11. ^ "Motors TV".
  12. ^ [1] Archived 2013-07-23 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "ITV revises Oulton broadcast". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
  14. ^ BTCC.net
  15. ^ BTCC.net
  16. ^ BTCC.net
  17. ^ a b c d BTCC Champions Retrieved from www.touring-cars.net on 15 August 2012
  18. ^ 1965 British Saloon Car Championship Retrieved from touringcarracing.net on 15 August 2012
  19. ^ 1966 British Saloon Car Championship Retrieved from touringcarracing.net on 15 August 2012
  20. ^ a b 1975 Southern Organs British Saloon Car Championship Retrieved from touringcarracing.net on 9 September 2012
  21. ^ "1979 Tricentrol British Saloon Car Championship", touringcarracing.net Retrieved on 7 February 2014
  22. ^ a b 1975 Southern Organs British Saloon Car Championship Retrieved from touringcarracing.net on 10 September 2012
  23. ^ BTCC.net
  24. ^ "Formula Ford returns in 2013". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  25. ^ "2013 Formula Ford Championship Brochure" (PDF). RacingLine Limited. British Formula Ford Championship. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  26. ^ "Protyre Formula Renault expands to 16 rounds for 2013". Renaultsport UK. Renault Sport. 14 December 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  27. ^ Paice, Simon (19 March 2012). "Formula Renault UK Axed for 2012". The Checkered Flag. Black Eagle Media Network. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  28. ^ Bradley, Charles, ed. (27 September 2012). "No TOCA return for Renault". Autosport. Vol. 209, no. 13. Teddington, Middlesex: Haymarket Publications. p. 79. The decision to end Formula Renault UK brings down the final curtain on a series that ran continuously in Britain from 1989 until the end of 2011 – with a number of Formula 1 drivers, including world champions Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Räikkönen, racing in the championship early in their careers. {{cite magazine}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
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