BTCC: Runners and riders

VX Racing - Vauxhall Vectra

Fabrizio Giovanardi (I)
Age: 42
BTCC debut: Brands Hatch 2006
BTCC starts: 89
BTCC wins: 17
BTCC titles: 2
2008 position: 1st

Giovanardi was a class act on his way to last year's title, triumphing despite not having the quickest car at his disposal. Expect more of the same clever driving this time around, especially with what looks like improved pace from the Vectra. A sure-fire title favourite.

Matt Neal (GB)
Age: 42
BTCC debut: Silverstone 1991
BTCC starts: 376
BTCC wins: 31
BTCC titles: 2
2008 position: 5th

Two-time champion would have wanted more from his switch to Vauxhall than a lone win and fifth in the points last season. Don't expect him to take it on the chin though - Matt will be back with a vengeance this year and could be Giovanardi's closest title rival.

Andrew Jordan (GB)
Age: 19
BTCC debut: Brands Hatch 2008
BTCC starts: 27
BTCC wins: 0
Best championship position: 13th (2008)

Impressed many with his Yvan Muller-like car control in a Eurotech Integra last year and was rewarded with a pair of podiums. Now has the tools at his disposal to become the BTCC's youngest race-winner. Will benefit hugely from the experience of his team-mates.

WSR BMW 320si © LAT

WSR - BMW 320si

Colin Turkington (GB)
Age: 27
BTCC debut: Oulton Park 2002
BTCC starts: 188
BTCC wins: 13
2008 position: 4th
Best championship position: 3rd (2006)

With the SEATs gone, double independents' champion Turkington has his best chance yet of landing the overall crown. His BMW has been quick in testing and, if the 320si is even quicker following its switch to a sequential gearboxe, he can easily add to his four wins in '08.

Stephen Jelley (GB)
Age: 26
BTCC debut: Brands Hatch 2008
BTCC starts: 30
BTCC wins: 0
Best championship position: 15th (2008)

Struggled to get to grips with the rough-and-tumble of touring car racing last year and often found himself squeezed out on the first lap. Shocked many with his pole at Brands last year, but will be looking to up his game and become a regular points scorer.

Team Dynamics Honda Civic © LAT

Team Dynamics - Honda Civic

Gordon Shedden (GB)
Age: 30
BTCC debut: Brands Hatch 2006
BTCC starts: 90
BTCC wins: 10
2008 position: 7th
Best championship position: 3rd (2007)

One of the best qualifiers in the BTCC, Shedden's 2008 fell well short of expectations with only two wins coming his way. Developments to the Civic though, including a totally revised rear axle, should enable him to return to 2007 levels of success.

Dave Pinkney (GB)
Age: 51
BTCC debut: Oulton Park 1989
BTCC starts 75
BTCC wins: 0
Best championship position: 13th (2001, 2006)

The oldest driver in the championship, Pinkney is taking on only his fourth full season of BTCC competition. Wins are beyond him, but he will benefit from having a team-mate of Shedden's calibre for the first time, and could add to his solitary podium finish of 2006.

Motorbase Airwaves BMW 320si © LAT

Motorbase Performance - BMW 320si

Rob Collard (GB)
Age: 40
BTCC debut: Mondello Park 2003
BTCC starts: 143
BTCC wins: 2
Best championship position: 7th (2005)
2008 position: 12th

Series veteran with a real spring in his step, such has been the pace of Motorbase's BMWs in testing. Is aiming for regular wins - and while this may be a bit ambitious, you wouldn't bet against him having his best BTCC campaign yet.

Jonathan Adam (GB)
Age: 24
BTCC debut: Brands Hatch 2009
BTCC starts: 0
BTCC wins: 0

The double SEAT Cupra champion gets his long-overdue graduation to the BTCC and, if his testing pace is anything to go by, could easily be a match for Collard. The most exciting rookie of the year, Adam is another potential race-winner.

Arena Team AON Ford Focus ST © LAT

Arena Motorsport - Ford Focus ST

Tom Chilton (GB)
Age: 24
BTCC debut: Brands Hatch 2002
BTCC starts: 178
BTCC wins: 7
Best championship position: 5th (2005)
2008 position: 10th

Chilton is back at his spiritual home and believes the new Arena-built Focus ST will turn him into a title contender. The car has been off the pace and riddled with problems in official testing, but Mike Earle's team are no mugs and it will come good.

Alan Morrison (GB)
Age: 38
BTCC debut: Brands Hatch 2002
BTCC starts: 40
BTCC wins: 1
Best championship position: 5th (2003)
2008 position: N/A

Morrison returns to the BTCC after five years away, and will not even drive the Focus for the first time until practice at Brands Hatch. The former Motocross rider is a feisty competitor though and has the tools in his armoury to be a match for Chilton.

Jason Plato © LAT

RML - Chevrolet Lacetti

Jason Plato (GB)
Age: 41
BTCC debut: Donington Park 1997
BTCC starts: 276
BTCC wins: 47
BTCC titles: 1
2008 position: 3rd

One of the stars of the series and sure to draw in the crowds at Brands Hatch. If his RML deal is increased to include the whole season, he'll certainly break Chevrolet's 34-year winless streak in the BTCC and could even have an outside shot at the title, despite no testing.

Cartridge World Carbon Zero Racing SEAT Leon © LAT

Clyde Valley Racing - SEAT Leon

Adam Jones (GB)
Age: 28
BTCC Debut: Oulton Park 2006
BTCC starts: 72
BTCC wins: 0
Best championship position: 9th (2008)

Was the unsung hero of 2008 in a GR-Asia SEAT and led the independents' standings for most of the season. He's out for his first win but, with a Leon running on E85 for the first time, perhaps podiums are a more realistic expectation.

Dan Eaves (GB)
Age: 33
BTCC debut: Brands Hatch 2001
BTCC starts: 126
BTCC wins: 6
Best championship position: 3rd (2005)
2008 position: N/A

Still the only man to win three BTCC races in a day, but Eaves has been out of the game for three years and will have to shake off any rustiness quickly if he is to match the pace of Jones. Completes a strong line-up at CVR.

Tempus Sport Chevrolet Lacetti © LAT

Tempus Sport - Chevrolet Lacetti

Harry Vaulkhard (GB)
Age: 23
BTCC debut: Brands Hatch 2008
BTCC starts: 27
BTCC wins: 0
Best championship position: 19th (2008)

A new team to the BTCC with lofty ambitions, as its pursuit of Jason Plato proved. Just Chevrolet Lacetti will be at Brands though for the improving Harry Vaulkhard, who could still do with an experienced team-mate to measure his progress against.

Tech-Speed Motorsport Honda Integra © LAT

Techspeed - Honda Integra-R

Martyn Bell (GB)
Age: 44
BTCC debut: Brands Hatch 2006
BTCC starts: 86
BTCC wins: 0
Best championship position: 18th (2006)
2008 position: 23rd

Struggled with the dreadful Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch last year. The Honda Integra-R is just as old, but is an easier car to drive, and gives the incredibly-popular Bell a good chance of ending a year-long points drought this time around.

Paul O'Neill (GB)
Age: 29
BTCC debut: Brands Hatch 2002
BTCC starts: 75
BTCC wins: 2
Best championship position: 4th (2003)

A race-winner in his works Vauxhall days and, now happily recovered from the medical problems that have kept him out of a full-time drive since 2003, he represents Techspeed's best chance of finally winning a BTCC race after years of hard graft.

Maxtreme SEAT Toledo Cupra © LAT

Maxtreme - SEAT Toledo

Liam McMillan (GB)
Age: 19
BTCC debut: Brands Hatch 2009
BTCC starts: 0
BTCC wins: 0

The youngest driver in the BTCC, McMillan, a protégé of Rob Huff, will find the step-up from the SEAT Copa Espana tough, especially with a 2004-spec SEAT Toledo. The appointment of Paul Ridgway as race engineer should smooth out his transition.

KWR Sport MG ZS © LAT

KWR - MG ZS

Jason Hughes (GB)
Age: 39
BTCC debut: Thruxton 2004
BTCC starts: 122
BTCC wins: 0
Best championship position: 13th (2005)
2008 position: 20th

An ancient MG ZS and a tiny budget has done little to set back Hughes' KWR squad over the past few years, and he's back again. A knee injury has set back the plucky privateer throughout the winter, but his pace is not in question. Respectable as always.

TH Motorsport Racing with JAG Honda Integra © LAT

TH Motorsport - Honda Integra-R

John George (GB)
Age: 48
BTCC debut: Thruxton 2004
BTCC starts: 73
BTCC wins: 0
Best championship position: 19th (2007)
2008 position: 21st

Back again, this time with an ex-Dave Pinkney Honda Integra-R after he wrote off his last one at Brands Hatch last year. Hugely enthusiastic and committed, but will have to become less crash-prone if he is to trouble the points scorers on a regular basis.

Team AFM Racing BMW 120D © LAT

Team AFM - BMW 120D

Nick Leason (GB)
Age: 40
BTCC debut: Brands Hatch 2006
BTCC starts: 15
BTCC wins: 0
Best championship position: 23rd (2006)

Leason was no match for Chris Stockton when the pair were together at BTC Lexus in 2007, and in an underdeveloped and unusual BMW 120D, he will have to shoulder much of the burden of moving the AFM squad off the back of the grid.

Boulevard Team Racing Vauxhall Astra Coupe © LAT

Boulevard Team Racing - Vauxhall Astra Coupe

Martin Johnson (GB)
Age: 43
BTCC debut: Brands Hatch 2009
BTCC starts: 0
BTCC wins: 0

Former Renault Clio Cup competitor Johnson steps up to the BTCC and will have his work cut out to keep pace with the midfield regulars, not least as his Vauxhall Astra Coupe is the oldest car in the field. Will give it his all though in search of the odd points finish.