Ten things to watch in the 2017 BTCC

The British Touring Car Championship blasts into life at Brands Hatch this weekend. Thirty-two drivers will go toe-to-toe for the UK's most high-profile trophy and the backdrop to the closed season has thrown up some intriguing plotlines.

With new manufacturer teams, and a host of top drivers swapping outfits for this campaign, the order should feature a significant shuffle for 2017.

Autosport looks at some of the major storylines that are likely to unfold over the next seven months.

HONDA'S STEP FORWARD

This is the first year for five seasons that Team Dynamics drivers Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden are going into a season with a known quantity under them.

Varying engine formats and the switch to the Tourer model in 2014 have meant that the drivers have had plenty to learn - but not for '17.

That means that the testing mileage in the Civic Type R has been used up by assessing new Dunlop tyres and, according to Shedden, "tickling" the set-up.

That should strike fear in the hearts of rivals, because the cars had title-winning pace last year. They will only get better.

COLIN TURKINGTON'S BACK HOME

The Northern Irishman parted ways from the Team BMR Subaru squad at the end of 2016 to, as he put it, give himself the best chance to win the title in '17.

By landing at his former home WSR, now with new BMW backing, he certainly has that. A new engine in the promising BMW 125i M Sport means he will be a title favourite.

He has acclimatised to the car in testing, and has high hopes.

"I am better prepared than I have ever been, but I don't underestimate the work that lies ahead," says Turkington.

JASON PLATO'S NEW DAWN

Jason Plato will lead the line for the works Subaru assault this season in his Team BMR rear-wheel-drive car. He has a new engineer, the experienced Paul Ridgway, to work with too.

The Levorg was fast at the end of last season, and the team has done multiple simulation developments with the dampers to move the programme forward.

There is a change to the centre of gravity of the boxer-style motor, which carries its weight low down, to bring it into line with other cars on the grid. How much this will slow the car remains to be seen.

ANDREW JORDAN'S SWITCH

The 2013 champion Andrew Jordan has secured a drive at WSR this season, and is fizzing with excitement about the programme ahead.

Although he has no experience of racing a rear-wheel-drive BTCC car, he has had plenty of testing to get to grips with the layout and has declared himself comfortable with the configuration.

He may take a while to get to grips with racing the 125i M Sport, but he is eager for success.

He is desperate to win, and he is in a good place to do so. But he will have to beat team-mate Turkington first...

ASH SUTTON IN A SUBARU

Ashley Sutton was a sensation in the BTCC last season, taking pole in only his second meeting at Donington Park and then winning the 15th round at Croft in the MG.

Now he has been promoted to the full factory Subaru team, he has a launch pad for even more success.

He is familiar with rear-wheel drive, having been brought up in single-seaters, and will be keen to give Levorg team-mate and performance benchmark Plato a hard time.

VAUXHALL'S RETURN

The deal for a factory-blessed return to the BTCC was ambitious for both Power Maxed Racing and Vauxhall.

Firstly, Vauxhall is used to running with an established team and also, Power Maxed Racing has never built a brand new car before.

PMR has gathered an experienced group of engineers, led by Martin Broadhurst, and the new Astra has looked good in testing so far with a top-10 time at the official pre-season media day.

Immediate podiums will be a stretch, but Tom Chilton will give the team maximum commitment on the circuit.

BTC NORLIN RACING

BTC Racing is not new to the BTCC, having run Lexus, SEATs and Chevrolets before, but its tie up with Norlin has taken the programme to a new level.

The 2013 Mini Challenge champion Chris Smiley has yet to show the BTCC what he can do, but he has a well-funded platform to do so.

Two-time race winner Dave Newsham, in the sister car, has the experience to help develop the reworked Chevrolet Cruzes too.

NEW TYRES

Dunlop's rubber for 2017 has a new construction, and it has also increased in width by 20mm.

This will lower lap times and will also mean the durability of the tyres will change. Reports from drivers suggest that the drop-off on the rubber is less dramatic over longer runs.

Also new for this year, the 'option' tyre, which each driver must use once over the course of a race weekend unless it is wet, will alter. It will be a harder option tyre at Donington Park, Croft, Rockingham and Silverstone.

At the other venues, with the exception of the unusually abrasive Thruxton, the soft tyre will be the option.

JACK GOFF BACK IN FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE

While the 2016 season wasn't kind to Jack Goff in the rear-wheel-drive WSR BMW 125i M Sport, the '12 Clio champion and one-time BTCC race winner is back in his natural habitat this season in a front-wheel-drive Eurotech Racing Honda Civic Type R.

The car is fitted with a strong BTCC TOCA-spec engine, and the chassis is one of the finest on the grid. This is a real dark horse for multiple race wins.

BATTLE FOR THE JACK SEARS TROPHY

The class for rookie drivers will contain five drivers, and the favourite for the honours has to be reigning Renault UK Clio Cup champion Ant Whorton-Eales, who has joined the AmD Tuning team to race an Audi S3 saloon.

He will have to defeat Will Burns (Team Hard VW CC), Luke Davenport (Motorbase Performance Ford Focus), Josh Price (Team BMR Subaru) and Senna Proctor (Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra).