BTCC TO STAGE SECOND INDEPENDENT TEAMS' FORUM
Prospective independent teams and drivers looking to enter
the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship are being
invited to a dedicated BTCC Forum at the Honda Racing F1 Team's
headquarters in Brackley, Northamptonshire on Wednesday 2
August.
BTCC Series Director Alan Gow will host the event, starting
at 19.00, with guests able to put their own questions to him
in an open discussion. Drivers such as Mike Jordan and Dave
Pinkney will also provide insights into the considerable success
they have enjoyed in the nation's most-watched motor racing
championship since joining the BTCC as independents at the
start of this season. They will be joined by several leading
independent team principals, plus fellow drivers.
The Forum follows a similar and hugely popular event in 2005
that proved a resounding success and was highly influential
in a number of contestants' plans for 2006. In addition to
Jordan's Team Eurotech Racing with John Guest and Pinkney's
Motorbase Performance squads, the BTCC this year has welcomed
In-Front Motorsport, Geoff Steel Racing and Xero Competition.
Alan Gow comments: "Without question, last year's forum
helped do away with some ill-informed perceptions about the
BTCC and led directly to those five teams entering this year's
championship. From their own individual comments I know all
have been made to feel very much a welcome and major part
of the paddock.
"As we stated last year, entering the BTCC and also
achieving success at the highest level of motor sport in this
country is possible for a well-prepared and enthusiastic privateer
entry.
"The reigning BTCC champion, Team Halfords, is an independent
outfit; four different independent teams have won eight of
the 12 rounds to date this season - including Eurotech in
only its second ever BTCC meeting; the top two drivers in
the BTCC's outright points standings compete for independent
teams; drivers in five independent teams' cars have set either
fastest race laps or finished in the top three outright so
far this season.
"This is to take nothing away from the official manufacturer
teams of SEAT and Vauxhall - we can never over-estimate their
worth and, after all, they set the standards to which all
independents aspire. But the BTCC's very stable and unique
set of technical and sporting regulations have enabled independents
to compete on an equal footing. It is not a lock-out for the
manufacturer teams' cars.
"We have bigger and better news to tell people this
time around and, bearing in mind the considerable lines of
enquiries we've already received about next season, I'd strongly
recommend to anyone wishing to be on the BTCC grid in 2007
to attend our forum on 2 August. It promises to be a very
interesting and informative evening for all present. I also
wish to thank the Honda Racing F1 Team for allowing the BTCC
to stage this event at its excellent Brackley premises."
Those wishing to attend the BTCC's 2 August forum for Independent
entries should inform BTCC Co-ordinator Dan Mayo prior to
Wednesday 26 July by emailing dan@motorsportpr.net.
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