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South-East circuit to decide UK's premier motor racing title |
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Thursday, 04 September 2008 |
The
countdown has begun for motor sport fans all across the south of Britain: there are now less than three weeks to
go before Britain's premier
motor racing series - the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship - arrives at
the world-famous Brands Hatch circuit in Kent on Sunday 21 September for its final, title-deciding rounds of 2008.
After 27
races shown on ITV, the Brands Hatch crowds will see either Italian Fabrizio
Giovanardi or Briton Jason Plato crowned as Champion of the UK's most
watched championship.
Vauxhall
ace Giovanardi (pictured leading, right) is the red hot favourite after further extending his lead over
SEAT superstar Plato at Silverstone on Sunday. But, with the drivers' nerves on
edge, Finals Day has a reputation for throwing up last-minute surprises and,
with three races still to be run, the experienced Giovanardi will be taking
nothing for granted. Plato - if unable to steal the title - will at least hope
to end the season with more race wins than any of his rivals. He has eight
victories so far this season compared to Giovanardi's five.
And the
event will have great historical significance - it was at Brands Hatch in 1958
that the BTCC's first-ever race was run and, later, also where the inaugural
title was decided. It is therefore fitting that in this, the BTCC's 50th
anniversary season, the championship should be settled on the very same track -
Brands' exciting Indy circuit.
In addition
to Giovanardi's and Plato's battle to become outright Champion, there will be two
more prestigious BTCC titles up for grabs. Rival BMW drivers Colin Turkington
and Mat Jackson and Adam Jones, in his SEAT, can all still win the Independent
Drivers' crown. Adding to the pressure, Turkington and Jackson are hoping to
lead their respective squads - Team RAC or BMW Dealer Team UK - to
Independent Teams' honours as well.
Also on the
BTCC grid and hoping for plenty of local support from the packed spectator
banks and grandstands will be the Wrotham-based Motorbase team which, with its
pair of BMWs, has emerged as a potent force in its third season of competing at
the highest level. Drivers Steven Kane and Robert Collard have achieved
second-place finishes in recent rounds and team principal David Bartrum would clearly
love nothing more than to celebrate a maiden race win in the BTCC on home
ground...
Brands
Hatch's BTCC Finals Day on 21 September offers truly exceptional value for
money entertainment for the visiting public. In addition to the BTCC's final
three races of the year, five supporting championships - Ginetta Juniors,
Porsche Carreras, Formula Renault single-seaters, Renault Clios and SEAT Cupras
- will also be on the track, adding seven more races to the schedule. The
Ginetta, Porsche, Formula Renault and SEAT title outcomes all still hang in the
balance.
Admission
for children aged 12 and under is FREE, while adult race day tickets cost just
£22.00 if booked via Brands Hatch's website www.brandshatch.co.uk
All prices
include access to the hugely popular Pit Lane Walkabout session at lunchtime
when the public - including children - are invited to cross the track to meet
the BTCC stars for autographs, photos and plenty of give-aways.
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