Production class draws big entry
A bumper entry for the Production category of the British Touring Car Championship will ensure there's plenty of on-track entertainment this year to make up for the lack of Touring class entries
Former Peugeot works BTCC driver Simon Harrison is one of many pre-season title favourites. He has signed to drive a Peugeot 306, the car which was a proven winner in the hands of Alan Morrison and Dan Eaves last year, for the HTML squad.
Harrison will be partnered by former Independents Cup racer Roger Moen, and they will take on last year's BTCC Class B runner-up James Kaye, who firmly believes his Barwell-run Honda Accord will be a championship challenger after a season of development with the Surrey-based team.
Last year's National Saloon champion Toni Ruokonen has gambled on Cranfield Automotive's Mitsubishi Carisma team and set some pretty impressive times in testing at Silverstone recently. Another star of last year's NSC, Matt Kelly, has switched to former Audi BTCC racer John Bintcliffe's team to drive its Nissan Primera.
Bintcliffe's star of last season, ex-Formula Ford racer Rob Collard, will drive a Renault Clio for his family-run team, the first time the Regie's hot hatch has been seen in the series. The spectacular Collard won the Snetterton night race for Bintcliffe last year.
Young Scot Gavin Pyper and BTCC privateer Colin Blair have joined forces in the Gary Ayles-run GA-Janspeed Alfa Romeo 156 attack, while Ford Fiesta runner-up Gareth Howell, Renault Clio frontrunner Mat Jackson and ex-F3000 racer Phil Andrews head up a potent five-strong Ford Focus team from GR Motorsport.
In all, 23 entries - including seven different manufacturers - have been received to ensure that grid size in this year's BTCC will be packed to the brim.
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