BTCC: TOCA changes calendar to avoid GP clash
2 November 1999
TOCA has responded to the revised 2000 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar by moving two of its previously published race weekends. This move avoids any clash with the 2000 British Grand Prix at Silverstone and allows TOCA to finalise the date of its third live BBC TV transmission. The 2000 Auto Trader British Touring Car Championship will now start at Donington Park on 25/26 March. Re-scheduling the Championship’s first visit to the Derbyshire track leaves the Easter weekend free (April 23rd-24th), and so avoids a clash with the 2000 British Grand Prix at Silverstone which is now scheduled for Easter Sunday, April 23. The second Donington Park race weekend has also moved back one week (29/30 July) to accommodate the BBC Grandstand Live TV schedule. It can now be confirmed that the second live transmission of the season will take place at Rounds 17 and 18 of the Auto Trader British Touring Car Championship around the exciting Donington Park Grand Prix configuration. The rest of the calendar as released on October 11 remains unchanged. “As soon as the FIA revised calendar was published yesterday we started work on avoiding any clashes with the British Grand Prix,” said Alan Gow, TOCA Chief Executive. “We always try to release our plans as early as possible, but with the many changes within our sport it is often necessary to revise dates to accommodate the requirements of our teams, sponsors and above all our spectators. “The need to re-examine our 2000 calendar has also provided the opportunity to finalise the three live television dates which remain at Brands Hatch on April 9 and Oulton Park on September 10 with the Donington Park race fitting nicely in the middle of the season on July 30. Finally this change to the calendar has had the positive effect of removing another back-to-back race weekend, making it easier on the teams.” Revised BTCC 2000 Calendar - Rounds Date Venue (circuit) 1 & 2 25/26 March Donington Park (National) 3 & 4 8/9 April Brands Hatch (Grand Prix) * 5 & 6 30 April/1 May Thruxton 7 & 8 13/14 May Knockhill 9 & 10 28/29 May Oulton Park (Island) 11 & 12 10/11 June Silverstone (International) 13 & 14 24/25 June Croft 15 & 16 8 July Snetterton** 17 & 18 29/30 July Donington Park (Grand Prix)* 19 & 20 12/13 August Mondello Park*** 21 & 22 27/28 August Brands Hatch (Indy) 23 & 24 9/10 September Oulton Park (Island)* 25 & 26 16 September Silverstone (International)** * BBC TV live coverage ** Night race meeting *** Subject to completion of works