Bumper line-up for 2000 BTCC

At least 22 drivers will take to the grid for the opening race of the season at Brands Hatch on April 9 - an increase of five cars on the grid compared with the start of last year's BTCC.

Among the entries for this championship will be three former champions - Rickard Rydell (1998), Alain Menu (1997) and Gabriele Tarquini (1994) - as well as three-car teams entered by manufacturers - Honda, Ford and Vauxhall.

For British race fans there will be three local heroes - Jason Plato, Anthony Reid and James Thompson - all with a chance of becoming the first British driver to win the title since John Cleland (1995).

In the Michelin Cup for Independents', champion Matt Neal, who became the first non-works driver to win a BTCC race last year, will face a stiff challenge to win back-to-back titles.

Former Independent winner Lee Brookes is planning to race, with Scottish ace Colin Blair, driving a Nissan Primera similar to Neal's, also planning to put the skids under Neal's hopes.

New to the 2000 BTCC is Class B.

The new category is for cars complying with the FIA Super Production regulations, with some variance, and National Saloon Championship regulations.

Ten drivers have already committed to enter the tin-top series.

Former touring car drivers James Kaye and Mark Lemmer are among the leading Class B entrants, alongside former one-make saloon car champion Alan Morrison, and saloon specialists Robert Collard, Gavin Pyper, David Pitcher and Nick James.

TOCA Chief Executive Alan Gow says: "I am delighted by this entry list and it is still only provisional.

"I'm confident more drivers and cars will be announced in the coming weeks. This shows the BTCC is in a healthy position for 2000.

"With 22 cars confirmed the action is going to be as good as ever, if not better. I'm sure the spectators and TV viewers will not be disappointed."

Official BTCC testing starts at Brands Hatch on Thursday March 2.

Full entry list: