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"Get Ready for a BTCC Thriller" Says Hampshire Circuit Boss |
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Thursday, 26 April 2007 |
Thruxton’s forthcoming rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship on Sunday 6 May could be the closest and most exciting ever fought at the Hampshire circuit, believes the venue’s boss Dennis Carter.
The BTCC’s title race took a new twist last weekend (21-22 April) at Rockingham when Vauxhall driver Fabrizio Giovanardi won twice to emerge as a potential new champion. The Italian ace is now up to second in the standings behind SEAT’s Jason Plato.
But with increasing competition from reigning champion outfit Team
Halfords’ new Honda Civic and rival squads Team RAC and Jacksons MSport
also coming close to wins with their BMWs, the scene is set for three
nail-biting BTCC rounds at Thruxton – the fastest circuit on the BTCC
calendar.
Carter, Chief Executive of the British Automobile Racing Club that runs
Thruxton, says: “It is fair to say to the public ‘get ready for a
thriller’. I predict these could be best BTCC races we’ve ever seen at
Thruxton.
“There are now more than a dozen team/car/driver combinations capable
of winning in the BTCC and the sight of the field jostling for position
under braking for the Complex or the Club Chicane three times in one
day is going to make for some very exciting racing for the crowds.
“This is without doubt one of the biggest events for the whole family to enjoy during the bank holiday weekend.”
One of the reasons behind Carter’s anticipation is a set of new
technical regulations in the BTCC that have resulted in greater grid
sizes and a wider variety of cars. Some 26 drivers are entered for
Thruxton’s three rounds in cars from Alfa Romeo, BMW, Honda, Lexus, MG,
SEAT and Vauxhall.
Carter adds: “This is an opportunity for the crowds to come and watch
Britain’s biggest motor racing series, at its brilliant best, in action
on the fastest track on the calendar.
“Thruxton always draws an enormous and enthusiastic crowd on BTCC race
day, but this year, judging by the increased crowd sizes at the opening
two BTCC meetings, the signs are that the atmosphere will be even more
exciting than normal.”
Admission to BTCC race day at Thruxton on 6 May is FREE for children
aged 15 and under or just £20.00* for adults if booked in advance via
Thruxton’s website www.barc.net or its ticket hotline 01264 882200.
That price includes free access to the hugely popular BTCC Pit Lane
Walkabout when the public, including children, is invited to cross the
track into the pit lane to meet the teams and drivers for autographs,
photos and plenty of giveaways.
On top of the three BTCC rounds, there will also be another seven races
from the support championships put on by high-profile manufacturers
BMW, Porsche, Renault and SEAT.
* Advance ticket bookings to be made by Wednesday 2 May 2007.
For more information about the BTCC, including latest news and photos,
visit the championship’s official website http://www.btcc.net/.
Note to sportsdesk: hi-res copyright free BTCC images are available
from BTCC.net's Media section. Log-in details are available from the
contact below.
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