Gow: Large entry justifies rule switch
British Touring Car Championship boss Alan Gow says that the 27-car entry list announced for the 2007 season proves that the organisers were right to push ahead with the switch to Super 2000 regulations
Only cars built to World Touring Car Championship-style S2000 specification can compete for the BTCC title this year. In recent seasons, both S2000 machines and cars designed under the similar but not identical BTC regulations introduced to replace Super Touring in 2001 have contested the series.
Some teams, notably S2000 runners SEAT, previously complained that the series' equivalency formula left them at a disadvantage against the BTC cars, whilst some BTC teams feared that the cost of switching machinery for 2007 would push them out of the series.
BTC cars can still race in the 2007 series, but cannot compete for the championship title.
"Our move to S2000 has brought an additional fresh impetus into the BTCC which was already riding high following thrilling 2005/6 seasons," said Gow.
"The fact that we have 21 S2000 cars and only six BTC-spec cars comprehensively endorses the direction in which the championship is being taken - and that's continually upwards.
"There is a terrific buzz of excitement among all our participants, sponsors, partners and fans ahead of the new season and with such a great and diverse field of cars, this year promises to be absolutely enthralling."
The 2007 BTCC entry is the largest for over a decade, although the series still has fewer manufacturer teams than in its mid-1990s halcyon. The list published at the series' media launch today includes a newly-added third factory SEAT for a yet-to-be-announced driver.
2007 BTCC entry list:
Driver Team Car Matt Neal Team Halfords Honda Civic Gordon Shedden Team Halfords Honda Civic Colin Turkington Team RAC BMW 320si Tom Onslow-Cole Team RAC BMW 320si Fabrizio Giovanardi VX Racing Vauxhall Vectra Tom Chilton VX Racing Vauxhall Vectra Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK SEAT Leon Darren Turner SEAT Sport UK SEAT Leon TBA SEAT Sport UK SEAT Leon Eoin Murray Quest Racing Alfa Romeo 156 Martyn Bell Allaboutproperty.com BMW 320i Rick Kerry Team AFM Racing BMW 120D Nick Leason BTC Racing Lexus IS200 Chris Stockton BTC Racing Lexus IS200 Adam Jones Team Air Cool SEAT Toledo Matt Allison Motorbase Performance SEAT Toledo Gareth Howell Motorbase Performance SEAT Toledo Jason Hughes Kartworld Racing MG ZS* Fiona Leggate Kartworld Racing MG ZS* Jim Pocklington J Team Motorsport BMW 320i Mat Jackson Jacksons M.Sport BMW 320si John George TH Motorsport Honda Integra* David Pinkney A-Tech Alfa Romeo 156 Richard Marsh A-Tech Alfa Romeo 156 Simon Blanckley Sibsport Honda Integra* Mike Jordan Eurotech Honda Integra* Erkut Kizilirmak Arkas Racing Vauxhall Astra* *BTC-spec car
Share Or Save This Story
BTCC Donington Park: Sutton storms to final victory of opening weekend
WEC Imola: Toyota denies Ferrari home win in season opener
Huff wins Goodwood Members’ Meeting Super Touring Shoot-Out
Nurburgring 24h Qualifiers: Scherer-Audi wins as issue wrecks Verstappen's chances
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments