BTCC @ Brands Hatch Indy 2nd/3rd April

jdh · PostPosted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:17 pm

The 2011 British Touring Car Championship kicks off this weekend at the Brands Hatch Indy circuit in Kent:

Between now and the season finale at Silverstone in October, the BTCC will have 30 races across nine venues providing. This is the 2011 calendar:

Code:

Rounds 01,02,03  Brands Hatch (Indy)  3rd April
Rounds 04,05,06  Donington Park       17th April
Rounds 07,08,09  Thruxton             1st May
Rounds 10,11,12  Oulton Park          5th June
Rounds 13,14,15  Croft                19th June
Rounds 16,17,18  Snetterton           7th August
Rounds 19,20,21  Knockhill            4th September
Rounds 22,23,24  Rockingham           18th September
Rounds 25,26,27  Brands Hatch (GP)    2nd October
Rounds 28,29,30  Silverstone          16th October

As always, there's been lots of moving and shaking during the BTCC off-season. There's some continuity at the front of the grid with reigning champion Jason Plato remains at Silverline Chevrolet with teammate Alex MacDowall while last year's 2nd and 3rd place finishers Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden stay at Honda Racing. Many teams have opted to retain one driver from last season and pair them up with one new one; Team Aon have gone for Tom Chilton and Andy Neate, Airwaves Racing with Mat Jackson and Liam Griffin, West Surrey Racing with Rob Collard and Nick Foster, Triple Eight with James Nash and Tony Gilham and Pirtek Racing with Andrew Jordan and Jeff Smith.

Elsewhere, Tech-Speed return with Paul O'Neill and John George although this time with Chevrolet Cruzes, two Audi A4's will be on the grid with Dave Pinkney and one other driver and there are single car entries for Tom Boardman, Lea Wood, Tony Hughes, Frank Wrathall, Dave Newsham, Chris James, Daniel Welch and Tom Onslow-Cole who made a surprise switch to AmD's VW Golf.

Here are the confirmed 2011 entries:

Silverline Chevrolet: Jason Plato & Alex MacDowall

Honda Racing: Matt Neal & Gordon Shedden

Team Aon: Tom Chilton, Andy Neate & TBA

Airwaves Racing: Mat Jackson & Liam Griffin

West Surrey Racing: Rob Collard & Nick Foster

Triple Eight Racing: James Nash & Tony Gilham

Pirtek Racing: Andrew Jordan & Jeff Smith

GoMobileUK.com Racing: Paul O'Neill & John George

Rob Austin Racing: Dave Pinkney & TBA
No photo available.

Special Tuning Racing: Tom Boardman

AmD Milltek Racing: Tom Onslow-Cole

Central Group Racing: Lea Wood
No photo available.

Speedworks Motorsport: Tony Hughes

Dynojet: Frank Wrathall

Geoff Steel Racing: Dave Newsham

Team ES Racing: Chris James

Welch Automotive: Daniel Welch
No photo available.

Sunday timetable
10.25 Formula Renault UK Championship
11.05 Ginetta Junior Championship
11.45 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship
13.15 Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
14.05 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship
14.45 AirAsia Renault Clio Cup UK
15.25 Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup
16.05 Formula Renault UK Championship
17.05 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship
17.45 Ginetta Junior Championship

TV/Internet Coverage
itv.com, Saturday 2 April (Live BTCC qualifying)
ITV4 @ 1100-1800, Sunday 3 April (Live BTCC & Supports)
ITV4 @ 1630-1800, Tuesday 5 April (BTCC highlights)
ITV1 @ 0235-0350, Friday 8 April (BTCC highlights)
ITV4 @ 1520-1645, Saturday 9 April (BTCC highlights)

phil1993 · PostPosted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 5:54 pm

It's also Mothering Sunday... Yay..

Gaara · PostPosted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:25 pm

Looking forward

kals · PostPosted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:34 pm

Will the internet streams work for me here is USA or is it locked down to UK only like BBCi?

Gaara · PostPosted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:35 pm

If you use a proxy probably, if not I remember last year there being a J.TV stream.

Raikkon · PostPosted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:47 pm

I thought there were some A4s.

kart99 · PostPosted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:48 pm

There are, they just aren't quite finished yet.

pimmy · PostPosted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:44 pm

Don't forget about the pick em's, people!

De Cesaris fan · PostPosted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:16 pm

phil1993 wrote:

It's also Mothering Sunday... Yay..

Might have to cancel that meal out I booked...

BenAD · PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:47 am

Really looking forward to seeing the BTCC back in action, hopefully we will have another close battle till the end of the season

phil1993 · PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 4:20 pm

Lewis Hamilton will be present - he's supporting brother Nic's Clio Cup debut

codename_47 · PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:52 am

phil1993 wrote:

Lewis Hamilton will be present - he's supporting brother Nic's Clio Cup debut

Lets get him in the commentary box!

I'll do anything to get both Clio races live tbh! :lol:

Don't forget about Saturday qualy live on the ITV website too! *Crosses fingers for support races!*

Looking forward to this race, though based on the WTCC opener I REALLLLLLLY hope this isn't going to be a Plato walkover... :oops:

phil1993 · PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:28 pm

Tom Chilton wrote:

I have led for 787km in the BTCC with 10Wins/10Fastest laps/9Poles/39Podiums. Not bad for 26yrs old eh!!!!

Cocky

hedgey666 · PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 5:01 am

100 laps for the Golf in testing. Hope they get it up to speed in time for qualifying cos it would be great to see it buzzing around some of the more established entries on raceday.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90342

kals · PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:37 pm

phil1993 wrote:

Tom Chilton wrote:

I have led for 787km in the BTCC with 10Wins/10Fastest laps/9Poles/39Podiums. Not bad for 26yrs old eh!!!!

Cocky

What a dick, yes Tom, what great stats you have. 235 races and a megre 10 wins, that represents 1 win per every 2/3rds of a season. 2 years with the works Vauxhall team and how did you fare? Desperate for attention clearly.

The way this guy goes on you'd think he'd had as much success as Andy Rouse.

Gaara · PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:45 pm

Even Plato's not that cocky :ohmy:

RtN · PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 4:19 pm

I really wouldn't mind if Plato started bigging himself up as opposed to moaning about everything. He is a 2-time champion, he is one of the most experienced drivers in the field, and he is one of the best in terms of driving ability.

I just cannot abide fucking whingers though, or people who scramble for excuses whenever they've been beaten.

phil1993 · PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 4:21 pm

I see it difficult for anyone to overcome Plato this season. The Honda drivers don't sound too confident whilst the Chevvy is even better than last year.

kals · PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 4:34 pm

The one thing I'm wondering at this moment, isn't whether we'll see a competitive championship this season, but whether the bromance between Plato and Neal that blossomed towards the end of last season will continue to grow stronger.

pimmy · PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 6:00 pm

phil1993 wrote:

I see it difficult for anyone to overcome Plato this season. The Honda drivers don't sound too confident whilst the Chevvy is even better than last year.

I think Chevy will start out well, but the Fords & Hondas will become stronger throughout the season. I wouldn't be surprised to see Shedden win the championship.

kals wrote:

The one thing I'm wondering at this moment, isn't whether we'll see a competitive championship this season, but whether the bromance between Plato and Neal that blossomed towards the end of last season will continue to grow stronger.

They seemed to be getting on perfectly well at media day:

TBK-Light.com

BTCC @ Brands Hatch Indy 2nd/3rd April

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