Tag: BTCC

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is primed and ready for another memorable year after officially launching its 2021 season at Silverstone today (April 22), announcing a capacity 29-car entry list.

After an unprecedented yet entertaining 2020 campaign, which ended with Ashley Sutton clinching the Drivers’ crown for a second time, Britain’s premier motorsport series is set to return with a bumper grid and to its traditional ten round, 30-race format.

Kicking the season off behind closed doors at Thruxton next month, the series will then head to Snetterton, Brands Hatch, Oulton Park and Knockhill before making a second visit to Thruxton. Visits to Croft, Silverstone and Donington Park will follow before the traditional finale at back at Brands Hatch in late October.

Donning the mantel of defending champion and running the famed number one on his Infiniti Q50, Sutton sticks with Laser Tools Racing for the new season as he bids to retain his titles in both the overall championship and Independents’. Aiden Moffat and Carl Boardley will partner Sutton at the rear-wheel-drive squad.

West Surrey Racing and Team BMW proved to be the closest challengers to Sutton last year and the reigning Teams’ & Manufacturer champions have swelled to three cars once again with Colin Turkington, Tom Oliphant and Stephen Jelley tasked with piloting the 330i M Sport to glory.

It is an all-new line-up at Halfords Racing with Cataclean however with Dan Cammish returning to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and Matt Neal taking a step back from driving duties. Whilst one three-time champion steps back, another returns in the shape of Gordon Shedden as the Scotsman rejoins Team Dynamics to partner Daniel Rowbottom.

Another driver to make a popular return to this grid after a year on the sidelines is Jason Plato. Electing to sit out 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the double champion is back at Power Maxed Car Care Racing in the Vauxhall Astra and gunning to tally his 100th victory in the series. Daniel Lloyd, a race-winner in the BTCC, gets a full-time drive to partner Plato.

Toyota Gazoo Racing UK steps up its BTCC programme this year as it expands to two cars. Rory Butcher fills the void left by Tom Ingram in the Speedworks Motorsport-run Corolla and he is joined by Sam Smelt, who last competed in the series in 2018.

Ingram’s departure from Toyota sparked a frenzy during the off-season and the former Independents’ champion has found a new home at Excelr8 Trade Price Cars. Armed with the Hyundai i30N, Ingram has his tail in the air and is hungry for success. He’s joined at the four-strong squad by Chris Smiley, Jack Butel and former British GT champion Rick Parfitt Jnr.

Elsewhere, Ciceley Motorsport have acquired the services of Tom Chilton to partner Adam Morgan and they have parted ways with the Mercedes Benz A-Class. In its place are a pair of West Surrey Racing-built BMW 330i M Sport’s and hopes are high for the Car Gods-backed outfit.

BTC Racing are another to have high hopes for the season ahead and with good reason as Josh Cook has remained with the team to drive their Honda Civic Type R. Michael Crees, Jack sears Trophy champion last year, has also inked a new deal to stay whilst Jade Edwards will get a full-season after debuting at Silverstone in 2020.

Motorbase Performance and MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square are another two teams to have joined forces over the winter to field a quartet of Ford Focus’, and they will run as Manufacturer/Construtors entrants. Sam Osborne and Andy Neate will run out of the Motorbase side of the garage whilst Jake Hill and Ollie Jackson will do the same for MB Motorsport.

Rounding off this years grid is Team HARD. Racing, which is bringing four brand-new Cupra Leon’s to the grid. In what has been a busy few months for the Tony Gilham’s team, there is plenty of excitement about what can be achieved. Jack Goff, Aron Taylor-Smith, Glynn Geddie and Nicolas Hamilton will take on driving duties.

2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Entry List

Car No.	Driver	Team	Car	Team/Driver Status
1	Ashley Sutton	Laser Tools Racing	Infiniti Q50	Independent
2	Colin Turkington	Team BMW	BMW 330i M Sport	Manufacturer
3	Tom Chilton	Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport	BMW 330i M Sport	Independent
4	Sam Osborne	Racing with Wera & Photon Group	Ford Focus ST	Manufacturer/Constructor/JST
6	Rory Butcher	Toyota Gazoo Racing UK	Toyota Corolla	Manufacturer
11	Jason Plato	Power Maxed Car Care Racing	Vauxhall Astra	Independent
12	Stephen Jelley	Team BMW	BMW 330i M Sport	Manufacturer
15	Tom Oliphant	Team BMW	BMW 330i M Sport	Manufacturer
16	Aiden Moffat	Laser Tools Racing	Infiniti Q50	Independent
22	Chris Smiley	Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com	Hyundai i30N	Independent
23	Sam Smelt	Toyota Gazoo Racing UK	Toyota Corolla	Manufacturer/JST
24	Jake Hill	MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square	Ford Focus ST	Manufacturer/Constructor
28	Nicolas Hamilton	ROKIT Racing with iQuoto Online Trading	Cupra Leon	Independent/JST
31	Jack Goff	Team HARD. with Autobrite Direct	Cupra Leon	Independent
32	Daniel Rowbottom	Halfords Racing with Cataclean	Honda Civic Type R	Independent/JST
33	Adam Morgan	Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport	BMW 330i M Sport	Independent
40	Aron Taylor-Smith	Team HARD. with HUB Financial Solutions	Cupra Leon	Independent
41	Carl Boardley	Laser Tools Racing	Infiniti Q50	Independent/JST
44	Andy Neate	Racing with Wera & Photon Group	Ford Focus ST	Manufacturer/Constructor/JST
48	Ollie Jackson	MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square	Ford Focus ST	Manufacturer/Constructor
52	Gordon Shedden	Halfords Racing with Cataclean	Honda Civic Type R	Independent
62	Rick Parfitt Jnr	EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com	Hyundai i30N	Independent/JST
66	Josh Cook	BTC Racing	Honda Civic Type R	Independent
80	Tom Ingram	Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com	Hyundai i30N	Independent
88	Glynn Geddie	Team HARD. with Autobrite Direct	Cupra Leon	Independent/JST
96	Jack Butel	EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com	Hyundai i30N	Independent/JST
99	Jade Edwards	PHSC with BTC Racing	Honda Civic Type R	Independent/JST
123	Daniel Lloyd	Power Maxed Car Care Racing	Vauxhall Astra	Independent
777	Michael Crees	BTC Racing	Honda Civic Type R	Independent

The 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is scheduled to begin on May 8/9 at Thruxton Circuit. Due to current government guidelines, this event will take place behind closed doors and without spectators.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has announced further date changes to its 2021 calendar, in particular the second and third events which are being held at Snetterton and Brands Hatch Indy respectively.

Revisions to the schedule now sees Rounds 4, 5 & 6 at Snetterton move to the weekend of June 12/13, whilst Rounds 7, 8 & 9 at Brands Hatch Indy take place two weeks later than originally planned on the weekend of June 26/27.

In accordance with the government’s roadmap to gradually ease lockdown restrictions, the changes to the calendar further maximise the opportunity for spectators to return to race meetings.

As previously confirmed, the 2021 season-opener at Thruxton on May 8/9 will take place behind closed doors and without spectators.

No further changes have been made to the previously issued calendar with the series visiting Oulton Park and Knockhill before returning to Thruxton in later August. Events at Croft, Silverstone and Donington Park will follow before Brands Hatch’s legendary Grand Prix circuit brings the curtain down on the 2021 season.

2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Calendar

May 8/9 – Thruxton

June 12/13 – Snetterton

June 26/27 – Brands Hatch Indy

July 31/August 1 – Oulton Park

August 14/15 – Knockhill

August 28/29 – Thruxton

September 18/19 – Croft

September 25/26 – Silverstone National

October 9/10 – Donington Park

October 23/24 – Brands Hatch Grand Prix

The 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Season Launch is scheduled to take place at Silverstone on April 22, and like Thruxton it will be without spectators in attendance.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has confirmed that it will stage its official 2021 Season Launch at Silverstone on April 22.

All 29 cars will be in attendance at the Home of British Motor Racing as teams and drivers take to the track together for the first time this year for the only official pre-season test.

Six hours of testing will take place over the course of the day around the National Circuit in total, with the opening session between 10:00-13:00, before the afternoon segment runs from 14:00-17:00.

Official championship photography and ITV filming will be carried out at the venue, as well as other media interviews and activities.

Following the UK Government’s latest directives surrounding COVID-19, spectators will not be permitted to attend the event.

As of midday on February 26, Series Organisers TOCA have confirmed that the deadline for entries has closed, with all 29 participants signed up for the forthcoming 2021 campaign. The official BTCC entry list will be published either on or just before the Season Launch.

Goodyear Tyres and TOCA, Series Organisers of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, have confirmed that Goodyear will continue its long-standing partnership with the BTCC for a further five years, through to the end of the 2026 season and into the introduction of hybrid power.

This extended partnership for Goodyear brings with it a number of accolades including owning the bragging rights to entering a third decade of continuous partnership in 2025, as well as continuing its non-stop development of tyres. 

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “The BTCC having a strong technical tyre partner is a key component of our success. As well, being the first major touring car championship to confirm its pathway for introducing hybrid technology, Goodyear is a hugely significant part of it.

“This is a very exciting period for the championship, and I’m pleased that we will continue our partnership with Goodyear through to the end of 2026. Goodyear has been an incredibly proactive and engaged partner of the BTCC for so many years and their ongoing commitment will help the championship continue to thrive into the future.”

Ben Crawley, Director Motorsport Goodyear Europe, added: “We are thrilled to have signed yet another extension to our partnership with the BTCC, continuing as tyre supplier and retaining the naming rights to the championship. We were really drawn to the contract extension as we wanted to be part of the next exciting chapter of the championship.

“With the introduction of hybrid power, new demands will be put onto the tyres and we are able to bring a lot of knowledge and expertise to the programme thanks to our experience working with leading OEMs where we are shod on some of their hybrid and electric vehicles.

“The fact that this contract also brings us fantastic milestones, such as entering a third decade of partnership, makes us feel really proud as we reflect on all of the fantastic things we have done as a company to promote and develop the championship, not only for the teams and drivers, but also the fans. We look forward to entering this new chapter with the UK’s leading racing championship.”

 

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has announced a revised calendar for the forthcoming 2021 campaign.

In order to maximise the opportunity to have spectators and guests in attendance at events this year, a decision by Series Organisers TOCA has been made to push back the start of the season by five weeks.

The shift in the schedule means that Thruxton will now play host to the opening event of the season for the first time since 2010.

Snetterton will immediately follow before Brands Hatch Indy stages the third event on the calendar. Late July and August will see Britain’s premier motorsport series visit Oulton Park and Knockhill before Thruxton’s second race meeting of the year.

Back-to-back weekends at Croft and Silverstone follow in September before Donington Park welcomes the series to Leicestershire for the penultimate event of the 2021 season.

Brands Hatch’s Grand Prix circuit will hold the Season Finale – as originally planned – albeit at the slightly later date of October 23/24.

2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Calendar

May 8/9 – Thruxton

May 15/16 – Snetterton

June 12/13 – Brands Hatch Indy

July 31/August 1 – Oulton Park

August 14/15 – Knockhill

August 28/29 – Thruxton

September 18/19 – Croft

September 25/26 – Silverstone National

October 9/10 – Donington Park

October 23/24 – Brands Hatch Grand Prix

TOCA, Series Organisers of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, has announced that a maximum 29-car entry list has been confirmed for the 2021 season.

Following the entry approval deadline, the maximum number of TOCA BTCC Licences (TBLs) have been submitted by competing teams. Each team must hold a TBL for each car entered, with 29 being held between teams and a further three by TOCA.

As has been the case in recent years, TOCA has chosen not to allocate any of its TBLs to either existing teams or new entrants in keeping with its previously stated policy of wishing to gradually reduce the size of the BTCC grid.

Notable allocations amongst the grid include a second entry for Speedworks Motorsport, a third car for Laser Tools Racing and the return to three cars for West Surrey Racing.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “Although we are all going through this most incredibly gruelling period, it’s enormous testament to the strength and popularity of the BTCC that we have a full entry.

“Even more remarkable is the fact that a third of the grid will be new-build cars that have been constructed in the off-season. All of which means that we have yet another fabulous, and even more unpredictable, season in store.”

2021 TOCA BTCC LICENSE ALLOCATION

Aiden Moffat Racing – 1

BMR Racing – 1

Boardley Motorsport – 2

BTC Racing – 3

Ciceley Motorsport – 2

Excelr8 Motorsport – 2

Motorbase Performance – 4

Power Maxed Racing – 2

Speedworks Motorsport – 2

Team Dynamics – 2

Team HARD – 3

Trade Price Cars Racing – 2

West Surrey Racing – 3

Teams will announce full details regarding their respective entries (drivers, team names and sponsors) over the coming weeks and months, prior to the release of the finalised entry list for the forthcoming season in March.

The 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season is scheduled to begin at Brands Hatch on April 3/4.

Despite having to run behind closed doors and cram a nine-event, 27-race season into just over three months, the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship delivered another nail-biting year of entertainment in 2020 which culminated in Ashley Sutton being crowned champion for a second time.

Jam-packed with the usual twists and turns that fans have become accustomed to, the battle to lift the most coveted prize in British motorsport once again went down to the wire, with Sutton ultimately reigning supreme.

Rising to the challenge of staging a season in what has been an unprecedented year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the BTCC boasted bumper grids and in return served up a feast of tin top thrills and spills.

Making the switch to Laser Tools Racing and armed with a brand-new Infiniti Q50, 2017 champion Sutton underlined his credentials as a true touring car superstar by piecing together a sensational title challenge.

Going toe-to-toe with four-time champion Colin Turkington throughout the season, Sutton tallied no less than five wins as well as a further five podium finishes to topple the Northern Irishman and secure his second title in four seasons.

Some of the most memorable moments over the course of the year came from Sutton himself as he staged a number of stunning comeback drives to carve his way through the field and recover valuable points.

Overcoming a nine-point deficit on the final day of the season, Sutton mastered the challenging wet conditions to become the first Independent entrant to lift the title since Andrew Jordan in 2013.

Halfords Yuasa Racing’s Dan Cammish, Speedworks Motorsport’s Tom Ingram and Motorbase Performance’s Rory Butcher all staked their claim to the big prize during the year but none could ultimately stop Sutton’s charge.

Elsewhere, the quartet of Josh Cook, Ollie Jackson, Adam Morgan and Tom Oliphant were race winners along the way too.

The 2020 season also saw the history books rewritten as Jade Edwards became the first female driver to race in the series since Fiona Leggate in 2007. Edwards competed at Silverstone for Power Maxed Racing Jessica Hawkins made her BTCC bow at Snetterton.

In addition to clinching the biggest prize in UK motorsport, Sutton also wrapped up the BTCC Independent Drivers’ Championship and helped guide Laser Tools Racing to a maiden BTCC Independent Teams’ Championship title as well.

Team BMW wrapped up the BTCC Teams’ Championship and BTCC Manufacturers’ Championship titles. BTC Racing’s Michael Crees meanwhile was the victor of the Jack Sears Trophy, much to his delight.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has confirmed a number of regulation and procedural changes ahead of the 2021 season.

Following on from an end-of-season meeting between Series Organisers TOCA and all participating teams, tweaks to the qualifying format, tyre options, success ballast and fan enhancements have all been ratified.

Having been trialled at Snetterton in 2020, the ‘Top Ten Showdown’ qualifying session will return next year; this time at Donington Park, Snetterton and Silverstone.

Those three events will see the traditional 30-minute session replaced by a marginally reduced window of 25 minutes for drivers to record their lap times. After a short five-minute break, the fastest ten competitors will then progress into a ten-minute session to determine the top ten places on the grid.

Competitors will use variety of tyre compounds during the season as well as the ‘Option’ tyre is phased back-in at four of the ten scheduled events.

Oulton Park, Croft and Snetterton will see the Goodyear soft tyre used as the ‘Option’ whilst the Goodyear medium compound is the selected ‘Option’ tyre at Knockhill.

Over the course of those four events the ‘Option’ tyre must be used in one of the three races. Teams do not have to specify which race they will use the compound in before qualifying, with all choices being declared upon the cars leaving the pit-lane on their way to the grid.

Events at Brands Hatch, Donington Park and Silverstone will see only the Goodyear medium compound allocated, whilst both visits to Thruxton will see only the hard compound used.

Success ballast will be increased for the forthcoming campaign with the maximum weight of 75kgs being reintroduced, an increase from the current 60kgs. Ballast will be issued throughout the top ten as follows for 2021: 75kgs-66kgs-57kgs-48kgs-39kgs-33kgs-27kgs-21kgs-15kgs-9kgs.

Finally, following the initiative’s successful introduction at Silverstone in 2019, pit garages will again be reversed for the benefit of fans at events at those venues where it is practical to do so.

Pit garages will face into the paddock area, rather than the pit-lane, meaning teams and drivers will carry out a majority of their preparation work in clear view of spectators and adding a further dimension to the fan experience during a race weekend.

The 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will commence at Brands Hatch on April 3/4.

Ashley Sutton has admitted that it is an ‘absolute dream’ to have become a two-time champion of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship after wrapping up the crown at Brands Hatch this past weekend.

The Laser Tools Racing driver had entered the season finale with ground to make up on Colin Turkington and he did just that as he powered his Infiniti Q50 to second place in race one before scoring an empathic win in race two.

Sitting in the box seat heading into the final contest of the campaign, the rear-wheel-drive ace battled his way to sixth place amidst the tricky conditions to seal the most coveted prize in UK motorsport for the second time, having previously won it in 2017 in a Subaru Levorg.

In addition, Sutton made it a year to remember by also clinching the BTCC Independent Drivers’ Championship and helped guide Laser Tools Racing to a maiden BTCC Independent Teams’ Championship.

Commenting on his success, Sutton said: “Two-time British Touring Car Champion – what a feeling! This one feels even sweeter than back in 2017 and it’s an absolute dream; it’s been a while since an Independent team won the overall championship and huge credit has to go to everyone at Laser Tools Racing, BMR Engineering, all of the teams sponsors, my own personal sponsors, my family and friends – none of this would have been possible without them.

“They say that the second title is easier to win than the first but I can tell you that isn’t the case at all. We came into the weekend as prepared as we could have been and I was feeling confident we would be strong in those wet conditions – I love them.

“I said I was going to come all guns blazing and I did that to a point, however I’ve learnt the lesson at Croft and knew that we had to be smart. Scoring a podium in the first race was a great start and then the car came alive in race two, it surprised me a bit. In race three I wasn’t willing to make a move on Colin until he made a mistake or left the door open, which he did and I made the most of it. I’d like to think that we won the championship in that last race with the inner racer showing.

“Back in March at Media Day we rolled out this brand new car but because of the pandemic we basically had to put it back on the shelf. We’ve had our ups and downs but everyone has pulled together to achieve three titles is phenomenal; not bad at all for a first year.

“Standing on that podium wasn’t the same without the fans, they really make the BTCC what it is. Hopefully we’ve been able to put on a show for everyone this season during what has been a difficult year and fingers crossed we will be able to welcome them back trackside in 2021.

“We’ll savour this moment but I’m really looking forward to what lies ahead. I want to make my mark on the BTCC, keep racking up the wins, podiums, championships and achieve the sort of things like Lewis [Hamilton] has done in F1.”

As the dust settles on the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Thruxton Circuit is already giving fans plenty to cheer about by putting tickets for its two 2021 events on-sale.

Coming off the back of an unprecedented season which saw Ashley Sutton crowned champion for a second time, Britain’s premier motorsport series will enjoy a double dose of touring car thrills around the fastest circuit in the UK next year – the first coming on May 8/9 before a visit later in the season on August 28/29.

With Christmas just around the corner, the Hampshire venue is offering fans a discount until the end of December that can see them save more than 30% compared to ‘on the gate’ prices.

In addition to the BTCC, tickets for the return of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship on June 4/5/6 are also now on-sale at special pre-Christmas prices.

Ticket options for all three blockbuster events can be found by visiting https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/news/1057/btcc-bsb-christmas-tickets-2021.

Should Thruxton be unable to have spectators at a race meeting in 2021, customers will have the option of either a full refund or to transfer their tickets.

Stringent measures are in place to ensure that Thruxton operates a COVID safe environment, ensuring that spectators remain safe whilst soaking up the on-track action.

To find out more information on Thruxton’s COVID protocols, as well as all of the latest information regarding its 2021 race meetings, head to https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/.