ITV to increase BTCC coverage

Live coverage of the championship - plus support races - will again be screened on ITV4 with broadcasts being increased by 30 minutes to six and a half hours.

ITV4 will then show 90-minute highlight shows every Tuesday and Saturday after each round, while sister station ITV1 will screen the same show on Thursdays.

Digital station Men and Motors will broadcast a further 15 hours of BTCC coverage over the season.

"ITV's increase in commitment to the BTCC for 2010 means yet more terrific news for all our teams, drivers, sponsors, circuits and fans," said series director Alan Gow.

"Our massive TV coverage further underlines the BTCC's position at the very top of British motor sport.

"This continues to mean that households right across the UK can tune in and watch the country's premier motor racing championship on free-to-air TV, this year with even more hours to enjoy all the action as the season unfolds.

"Yes, the BTCC has a TV arrangement that most other high-profile national and international race series can only dream of, but let's also look at the bigger picture here - it's simply fantastic exposure for UK motor sport and ITV should be roundly applauded by all within the sport and industry."