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Gow hails season of high drama |
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Thursday, 25 October 2007 |
Alan Gow says that 2007’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship
is arguably the most satisfying that he has experienced out of the 15-plus years in which he has been in control of the series.
This
year’s championship came to a close earlier this month at Thruxton,
Hampshire where
Italian Fabrizio Giovanardi pipped Briton Jason Plato to the Drivers’
title in a gripping season finale. Meanwhile, Vauxhall, SEAT Sport UK,
Colin Turkington and Team RAC achieved the Manufacturers’, Teams’ and
Independent Drivers’ and Teams’
crowns.
Gow,
who ran the BTCC from 1991-2000 and returned to the role of Series
Director in 2003, commented: “This has been a season full of
excitement, unpredictability, surprises and high drama and, for me
personally,
one of the most satisfying seasons I’ve ever had the pleasure of being
in charge of… The BTCC remains by far the biggest and most
professional race championship in Britain and, despite the rivalries,
the camaraderie among our teams in the paddock is
fantastic.
“Of
course, much of the BTCC’s success is thanks to the
quite exceptional support we enjoy from our title sponsor Dunlop and
commercial partners Dennis Publishing (Auto Express, Evo and Maxim),
DREAD,
Fujifilm, Holiday Inn by Express and Oddbins.
“Once
more, ITV has ploughed
tremendous resources into providing the BTCC with top-line television
coverage on its ITV1, ITV4 and Men & Motors channels, plus on-line
via its
website. Setanta Sports has also shown the vast majority of our race
days live and in their entirety, making it virtually impossible for
anyone in
the UK to miss a round of the BTCC.
“Also,
the enthusiasm among our fans is
unrivalled anywhere in the UK. They are among the most passionate and
knowledgeable motor sport crowds in the world and the atmosphere they
help
create at each circuit is something which the BTCC greatly appreciates.
The fact that more than 1.5 million people – our biggest audience
since 2002 – tuned into ITV1 to watch BTCC Finals Day speaks volumes
about the increased following that the BTCC enjoys among the
public.
“On-track,
the figures from this season truly underline the
competitiveness and accessibility of the BTCC. Some 33 drivers
representing 20 different teams running seven different makes and 12
different models
of car contested the BTCC in 2007. Out of those drivers, 27 scored
championship points. Entry levels averaged 23 cars per race
meeting.
“Eight
different drivers achieved victories – two of them in
their debut BTCC seasons. Another three also achieved outright podium
finishes and 11 in total took a turn at leading a race. Six different
drivers
shared the ten pole positions during Saturday qualifying. The 30
fastest race laps up for grabs were shared by nine different
drivers.
“Our reversed third race grid also enabled six drivers to start from
the front row when normally they might not have expected to.
“Ultimately,
the
Drivers’ title came down to the final race of the year between two of
the very best touring car drivers in the world. Likewise the
Manufacturers’ and Teams’ championship between Vauxhall and SEAT and
their respective teams VX Racing and SEAT Sport UK. Five drivers
led the Independent Drivers’ championship at some stage and four of
those were all in the running for the title on Finals
Day.”
Gow
says the BTCC’s decision to shift to the FIA’s Super
2000 technical regulations for 2007 has proved an enormous hit among
competitors and the public alike. The BTCC, though, has permitted
competitors to
continue running the older BTC-spec cars as part of a gradual
phasing-out process which will carry over into next season.
“I
am extremely impressed at how quickly our teams have adapted to S2000,”
added Gow.
“It should be noted that all 30 championship rounds in 2007 were won by
S2000 cars. If anything, the cars look better, produce closer racing
and are more identifiable for the hundreds of thousands of fans who
have come and watched our races trackside this year.
“But
our very well-balanced technical regulations have also allowed the
BTC-spec cars to remain
competitive and five of the six on the grid in 2007 achieved outright
top ten finishing positions – indeed, one, in the hands of Mike Jordan,
very nearly won the Independent Drivers’ title and was an outright
podium finisher on four occasions. Those cars still offer potential
privateers with a very cost-effective way of entering the BTCC.
“S2000
was the
right way to go as borne out by the excellent entry list in our first
season of using those sporting regulations and which have also enabled
us to
locally homologate cars, making it easier and more cost-effective for
our teams to enter the series.
“I’m
not one for believing every rumour I hear in the paddock, but I know
for a fact that 2008, when the BTCC
celebrates its 50th anniversary, is shaping up to be one of the
greatest ever years in this championship’s long and illustrious
history. I
have already pledged my alliance to the BTCC until 2010 at least and I
am very proud to be leading this great British
championship.”
For all
the latest news visit the BTCC’s official website http://www.btcc.net/.
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