BTCC: Britain's best enters dawn of a new era
18 August 2000
Britain's premier motor racing series, the British Touring Car Championship, is at the dawn of a new era as organiser British Motorsport Promoters (BMP) today announces an exciting format for the 2001 season. The current Super Touring cars, which reached the height of popularity in the late-1990s, attracting Premiership Football-size crowds at every meeting, will be replaced next year by new models designed to give closer, more action-packed racing. The 2001 regulations will also enable evenly-matched family saloon cars to compete in Britain's best motor racing series on a more cost-effective basis. While manufacturers will be saving money, BMP will spare no expense to promote the championship through increased marketing and improved television coverage. In devising the new-look BTCC, BMP sought the opinions of many experts in the motorsport industry to ensure the new formula receives the maximum support and approval from everyone involved, from the paying spectator to the world's largest car manufacturers. BMP's Chairman Robert Fearnall says: "Never before, when considering the future of a major championship, has such a broad spectrum of opinion been sought and considered. "Now it is vital that promoters, manufacturers, drivers and teams all move forward together. The public loves this championship and we intend to repay that affection." Machines in next season's BTCC will be two-litre-powered saloons pushing out about 270bhp and manufacturers will be able to use four, five or six-cylinder powerplants. They will have less grip than current cars and will require longer braking distances - aspects designed specifically to raise the entertainment on the track by providing closer and more exciting racing. Rob Bain, a Director of BMP, says: "All-in-all the entire package represents both a radical and rational proposal for a new, vibrant championship, designed specifically to reduce costs while ensuring the BTCC remains the most exciting and entertaining series of its type in the world. "BMP's aim is to bring more manufacturers and independent racers into the championship than ever before. We are committed to investing heavily in both the marketing of the championship and television production with the intention of bringing the racing to a wider audience. "We want to see a return of cars that are more equal to provide more entertainment and closer racing. I firmly believe the new championship will provide that while significantly reducing the cost of participation to competitors," adds Bain. The new regulations have won praise from manufacturers who predict a drastic reduction in budgets. Mike Nicholson, Motorsport Manager of BTCC stalwart Vauxhall, says: "We believe costs will be reduced by up to 50 per cent with these new rules. "I think next year we will see full grids and good racing. I'm looking forward to seeing other manufacturers joining us to get the championship back to those dizzy heights of a few years ago." Earlier this year BMP secured the rights to run the BTCC from 2002 and has now taken over the championship with immediate effect from TOCA Ltd, the company, formed in 1991, that turned the series into a major international sporting spectacle. PROVISIONAL 2001 BTCC CALENDAR Sun/Mon 15th/16th April Brands Hatch Sun/Mon 6th/7th May Thruxton Sat/Sun 19th/20th May Oulton Park (Island) Sat/Sun 2nd/3rd June Donington Park (National) Sat/Sun 16th/17th June Knockhill Sat/Sun 30th June/1st July Silverstone (International) Sat/Sun 14th/15th July Mondello Park ** Sat/Sun 28th/29th July Croft Sat 11th August Snetterton - Night Race Sun/Mon 26th/27th August Oulton Park (Island) Sat/Sun 8th/9th September Silverstone (International) Sat/Sun 15th/16th September Donington Park (International) Sat/Sun 6th/7th October Brands Hatch (Indy) ** Subject to the satisfactory completion of Track/Paddock facilities Provided by Dan Mayo