"GET READY FOR A BTCC THRILLER" SAYS HAMPSHIRE
CIRCUIT BOSS
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.”
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