BTCC REVEALS 2007 ENTRY LIST
The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship today reveals
its 2007 entry list at its annual Media Day launch, this year
held at the Rockingham circuit in Northamptonshire.
To date, 27 cars from 18 teams are registered to contest
this year’s BTCC – Britain’s premier motor
racing championship. The 2007 BTCC will feature one of the
most diverse grids for many years, comprising six BMWs, six
SEATs, five Hondas, three Vauxhalls, three Alfa Romeos, two
Lexus and two MGs.
Significantly, reigning Manufacturers’ champion SEAT
has entered a third car for an as yet un-named driver. And
for the first time since the BTCC’s formation in 1958,
a diesel car – newcomer Rick Kerry’s BMW 120d
– will enter the championship. Two cars using bio-ethanol
fuel, the MG ZSs of Jason Hughes and Fiona Leggate, will also
be on the grid.
Little more than a fortnight now remains before the season’s
opening rounds at Brands Hatch in Kent on 1 April. From there
the championship trail will return to Rockingham on 22 April
before eight more race meetings in six different counties
around the UK that will eventually culminate with Finals Day
at the high-speed Thruxton circuit in Hampshire on 14 October.
BTCC Series Director Alan Gow commented: “This is a
truly fantastic line-up of cars, drivers and teams for the
public to savour in 2007 – in fact it’s one of
the biggest in the modern history of the championship. Our
move to S2000 has brought an additional fresh impetus into
the BTCC which was already riding high following thrilling
2005/6 seasons. The fact that we have 21 S2000 cars and only
six BTC-spec cars comprehensively endorses the direction in
which the championship is being taken... and that's continually
upwards.
“There is a terrific buzz of excitement among all our
participants, sponsors, partners and fans ahead of the new
season and with such a great and diverse field of cars, this
year promises to be absolutely enthralling.”
Dunlop, entering its third year as BTCC title sponsor and
also the championship’s exclusive tyre supplier, is
enthusing about the season ahead. Dunlop’s Corporate
Communications Manager James Bailey said: “Dunlop is
a company built on success and currently there is no greater
success story than the BTCC – it really is the jewel
in our crown and also British motor sport’s crown. Judging
by the feedback we’ve had from the fans and the motor
sport industry as a whole, the level of anticipation ahead
of the forthcoming BTCC season seems to have stepped up another
gear. We are very proud to be title sponsor of this great
British championship.”
More than 100 top quality print and on-line media, from national
newspapers to lifestyle publications to specialist titles,
plus national and regional television camera crews and both
independent and BBC radio stations have arrived at Rockingham
to get a preview of the BTCC ahead of its 2007 season.
All the latest BTCC news and information will be available
throughout the season on the championship’s official
website www.btcc.net.
CONFIRMED ENTRY LIST: 2007 DUNLOP MSA BRITISH TOURING
CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
No./Driver (NAT), Team, Car, Type
1. Matt Neal (GBR), Team Halfords, Honda Civic, Super 2000
3. Colin Turkington (GBR), Team RAC, BMW 320si E90, Super
2000
5. Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA), VX Racing, * Vauxhall Vectra,
Super 2000
7. Tom Chilton (GBR), VX Racing,* Vauxhall VectraSuper, 2000
11. Jason Plato (GBR), SEAT Sport UK, * SEAT Leon, Super 2000
12. Darren Turner (GBR), SEAT Sport UK, * SEAT Leon, Super
2000
14. Eoin Murray (IRL), Quest Racng, Alfa Romeo 156, Super
2000
15. Martyn Bell (GBR), Team Allaboutproperty.comBMW, 320i
E46, Super 2000
17. Rick Kerry (GBR), Team AFM Racing, BMW 120D, Super 2000
19. Nick Leason (GBR), BTC Racing, Lexus IS200, Super 2000
21. Adam Jones (GBR), Team Air Cool, SEAT Toledo, Super 2000
22. TBA, SEAT Sport UK, * SEAT Leon, Super 2000
23. Matt Allison (GBR), Motorbase Performance, SEAT Toledo,
Super 2000
25. Gareth Howell (GBR), Motorbase Performance, SEAT Toledo,
Super 2000
28. Jason Hughes (GBR), Kartworld Racing, MG ZS, BTC
33. Tom Onslow-Cole (GBR), Team RAC, BMW 320si E90, Super
2000
38. Fiona Leggate (GBR), Kartworld Racing/Boston Bowl, MG
ZS, BTC
43. Chris Stockton (GBR), BTC Racing, Lexus IS200, Super 2000
45. Jim Pocklington (GBR), J Team Motorsport with Tech Tuning,
BMW 320i E46, Super 2000
48. Mat Jackson (GBR), Jacksons M.Sport, BMW 320si E90, Super
2000
52. Gordon Shedden (GBR), Team Halfords, Honda Civic, Super
2000
55. John George (GBR), TH Motorsport, Honda Integra, BTC
56. David Pinkney (GBR), A-Tech , Alfa Romeo 156, Super 2000
59. Richard Marsh (GBR), A-Tech Alfa Romeo 156, Super 2000
69. Simon Blanckley (GBR), Sibsport, Honda Integra, BTC
77. Mike Jordan (GBR), Team Eurotech Racing with John Guest-Speedfit,
Honda Integra, BTC
90. Erkut Kizilirmak (TKY), Arkas RacingVauxhall, Astra Sport
Hatch, BTC
* Registered for the BTCC Manufacturers Championship
All others registered for the BTCC Independents Championship,
with the exception of cars 1 & 52
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