GOW HAILS SEASON OF HIGH DRAMA
Alan Gow says that 2007’s Dunlop MSA British Touring
Car Championship is arguably the most satisfying that he has
experienced out of the 15-plus years in which he has been
in control of the series.
This year’s championship came to a close earlier this
month at Thruxton, Hampshire where Italian Fabrizio Giovanardi
pipped Briton Jason Plato to the Drivers’ title in a
gripping season finale. Meanwhile, Vauxhall, SEAT Sport UK,
Colin Turkington and Team RAC achieved the Manufacturers’,
Teams’ and Independent Drivers’ and Teams’
crowns.
Gow, who ran the BTCC from 1991-2000 and returned to the
role of Series Director in 2003, commented: “This has
been a season full of excitement, unpredictability, surprises
and high drama and, for me personally, one of the most satisfying
seasons I’ve ever had the pleasure of being in charge
of… The BTCC remains by far the biggest and most professional
race championship in Britain and, despite the rivalries, the
camaraderie among our teams in the paddock is fantastic.
“Of course, much of the BTCC’s success is thanks
to the quite exceptional support we enjoy from our title sponsor
Dunlop and commercial partners Dennis Publishing (Auto Express,
Evo and Maxim), DREAD, Fujifilm, Holiday Inn by Express and
Oddbins.
“Once more, ITV has ploughed tremendous resources into
providing the BTCC with top-line television coverage on its
ITV1, ITV4 and Men & Motors channels, plus on-line via
its website. Setanta Sports has also shown the vast majority
of our race days live and in their entirety, making it virtually
impossible for anyone in the UK to miss a round of the BTCC.
“Also, the enthusiasm among our fans is unrivalled
anywhere in the UK. They are among the most passionate and
knowledgeable motor sport crowds in the world and the atmosphere
they help create at each circuit is something which the BTCC
greatly appreciates. The fact that more than 1.5 million people
– our biggest audience since 2002 – tuned into
ITV1 to watch BTCC Finals Day speaks volumes about the increased
following that the BTCC enjoys among the public.
“On-track, the figures from this season truly underline
the competitiveness and accessibility of the BTCC. Some 33
drivers representing 20 different teams running seven different
makes and 12 different models of car contested the BTCC in
2007. Out of those drivers, 27 scored championship points.
Entry levels averaged 23 cars per race meeting.
“Eight different drivers achieved victories –
two of them in their debut BTCC seasons. Another three also
achieved outright podium finishes and 11 in total took a turn
at leading a race. Six different drivers shared the ten pole
positions during Saturday qualifying. The 30 fastest race
laps up for grabs were shared by nine different drivers.
“Our reversed third race grid also enabled six drivers
to start from the front row when normally they might not have
expected to.
“Ultimately, the Drivers’ title came down to
the final race of the year between two of the very best touring
car drivers in the world. Likewise the Manufacturers’
and Teams’ championship between Vauxhall and SEAT and
their respective teams VX Racing and SEAT Sport UK. Five drivers
led the Independent Drivers’ championship at some stage
and four of those were all in the running for the title on
Finals Day.”
Gow says the BTCC’s decision to shift to the FIA’s
Super 2000 technical regulations for 2007 has proved an enormous
hit among competitors and the public alike. The BTCC, though,
has permitted competitors to continue running the older BTC-spec
cars as part of a gradual phasing-out process which will carry
over into next season.
“I am extremely impressed at how quickly our teams
have adapted to S2000,” added Gow. “It should
be noted that all 30 championship rounds in 2007 were won
by S2000 cars. If anything, the cars look better, produce
closer racing and are more identifiable for the hundreds of
thousands of fans who have come and watched our races trackside
this year.
“But our very well-balanced technical regulations have
also allowed the BTC-spec cars to remain competitive and five
of the six on the grid in 2007 achieved outright top ten finishing
positions – indeed, one, in the hands of Mike Jordan,
very nearly won the Independent Drivers’ title and was
an outright podium finisher on four occasions. Those cars
still offer potential privateers with a very cost-effective
way of entering the BTCC.
“S2000 was the right way to go as borne out by the
excellent entry list in our first season of using those sporting
regulations and which have also enabled us to locally homologate
cars, making it easier and more cost-effective for our teams
to enter the series.
“I’m not one for believing every rumour I hear
in the paddock, but I know for a fact that 2008, when the
BTCC celebrates its 50th anniversary, is shaping up to be
one of the greatest ever years in this championship’s
long and illustrious history. I have already pledged my alliance
to the BTCC until 2010 at least and I am very proud to be
leading this great British championship.”
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