[954Stealth]

The season kicks off next weekend, April 4th with Rounds 1,2,3 at Brands Hatch! (for the full calendar see here: http://www.btcc.net/calendar/)



One of the most unpredictable Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship seasons ever is set to roar into life next weekend (4/5 April) at Brands Hatch in Kent. With almost all of the championship front-runners having switched teams or cars during the off-season, the biggest prize in UK motor sport is all to play for.

A full entry of 32 cars was announced at the Season Launch earlier this week, and the hundreds of thousands of spectators who will head to the trackside over the 2015 campaign are certain to see another spectacular set of BTCC battles between now and the season finale on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit in October.

An impressive myriad of 13 different models of car representing 11 of the world’s best known and biggest car manufacturers will go all out for glory over 30 races, with five former champions and a further seven race winning drivers sure to be leading the pack.

The BTCC is set to receive more television coverage around the world than ever before in 2015. All the racing action will once again be broadcast live and in high definition in the UK on free-to-air ITV4 HD. Along with extensive highlights on both ITV and ITV4, the BTCC has also inked an impressive new broadcast deal with CBS Sports Network in North America that will see all the action beamed to 60 million homes and available on demand in the region for the first time. What’s more, CBSSN has awarded a prime time slot on Wednesday evenings for the highlights programme.

http://www.btcc.net/2015/03/30/btcc-...tch-blast-off/





Corners: 10
Circuit length: 1.22 miles
Race Distance: -
First BTCC Race: 1958
Qualifying Lap Record: Matt Neal: 48.210s (89.50mph) 2011
Race Lap Record: Matt Neal: 48.498s (88.97mph) 2011

So, for those interested in the USA the next invariable question will be: Where can I watch this?

For live stream: http://www.btcc.net/live-zone/
Youtube will also host the races but delayed.

[SenorFunkyPants]

Looking forward to it.
Lewis Hamiltons Kid brother is supposed to be racing some rounds as a guest racer - be interesting to see how he gets on, despite his disability he has already raced in some lower formula.

[954Stealth]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

Looking forward to it.
Lewis Hamiltons Kid brother is supposed to be racing some rounds as a guest racer - be interesting to see how he gets on, despite his disability he has already raced in some lower formula.

Same here ... there's never a shortage of good, tight racing!

[954Stealth]

We might as well whet our collective appetites with a look at the preseason for BTCC and the recent test and media days that were held at the iconic Donington Park --->

Team BMR drivers Jason Plato and Colin Turkington topped the test, but with the rest of the pack close behind, promising for an exciting season ahead.

[954Stealth]

This 12 year old kid, Lewis Maundrell, is a Reporter/Commentator/Presenter for BTCC and has quite a few interviews and videos up on his YT page lol

Here's one he did with Mr. Plato

[SenorFunkyPants]

Don't know what it is about Plato that puts him on my mental list of z list celebs that I'd would like to punch in the face! True he is no Piers Morgan but he just gets on my tits for some reason.

[954Stealth]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

Don't know what it is about Plato that puts him on my mental list of z list celebs that I'd would like to punch in the face! True he is no Piers Morgan but he just gets on my tits for some reason.

haha he does seem a bit full of himself. Have you ever watched him on 5Th Gear with Tiff Needell?

[SenorFunkyPants]

Originally Posted by 954Stealth

haha he does seem a bit full of himself. Have you ever watched him on 5Th Gear with Tiff Needell?

Yeah....they tried to get some rapport between him and Tiff, but no amount of TG copying drifting competitions made it work.
Chris Harris is supposed to guest on the new series so that might be interesting.
I met Tiff years ago at a Porsche driving day at Donnington - he seemed a genuinely nice bloke.

[954Stealth]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

Yeah....they tried to get some rapport between him and Tiff, but no amount of TG copying drifting competitions made it work.
Chris Harris is supposed to guest on the new series so that might be interesting.
I met Tiff years ago at a Porsche driving day at Donnington - he seemed a genuinely nice bloke.

I would definitely watch Tiff and Harris!

[Dann]

Just got my tickets through including paddock passes to Thruxton for next month

Can't wait!

[954Stealth]

Originally Posted by Dann

Just got my tickets through including paddock passes to Thruxton for next month

Can't wait!

Sweet. The Q50 is debuting this year so you'll be able to see that up close in one of its first few BTCC races. It's actually debuting at Mallory Park today

[954Stealth]

Who's your favorite to win this year?

[954Stealth]

Don't look if you haven't watched!

[954Stealth]

Rob Collard has won the opening round of the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship with a flawless performance in his WSR-run BMW at Brands Hatch. VW duo Aron Smith and Jason Plato finished second and third respectively.

Collard made a supreme getaway from fifth on the grid, blasting by the Team BMR trio of Smith, Plato and Colin Turkington by the time the impressive stream of tin-top machines reached Druids Hairpin for the first time.

Pole-sitter Andy Priaulx looked comfortable in the early stages, setting a series of fast lap times having chosen to run the Dunlop Sport Maxx soft tyres in the season curtain raiser. The Guernseyman began to struggle shortly after mid-distance, however, and he dropped to fourth in a blink of an eye.

http://www.btcc.net/2015/04/05/colla...season-opener/


Gordon Shedden has sealed a sensational race two victory for Honda at Brands Hatch – by just 0.040s from WSR’s Andy Priaulx – after long time leader Jason Plato hit late trouble.




Three different winners and ultra close finishes at Brands Hatch

The 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship set off in sensational style at Brands Hatch this weekend (4/5 April) as Rob Collard, Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal claimed a win apiece at the famous Kent circuit.

All three races went down to the wire with each winning margin being less than half a second.

[SenorFunkyPants]

Looks like the VWs will be the ones to beat this season.
Plato was walking away with race 2 until he had a puncture.

[954Stealth]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

Looks like the VWs will be the ones to beat this season.
Plato was walking away with race 2 until he had a puncture.

For sure...Plato and Turkington are both quite talented and fast. I thought Plato had that one in the bag

[Dann]

So it was the 3rd? event of the season this weekend at Thruxton.
I was lucky enough to get tickets to yesterdays racing and all I can say is wow.

It was a great day full of action and races. Spoke to a couple of drivers and team members and took around 600 photos at different points around the track. Even managed to get a couple of the crashes which happened in front of me.

10/10 for enjoyability on the day and I'll definitely be going to more now.

[Denso]

Originally Posted by Dann

So it was the 3rd? event of the season this weekend at Thruxton.
I was lucky enough to get tickets to yesterdays racing and all I can say is wow.

It was a great day full of action and races. Spoke to a couple of drivers and team members and took around 600 photos at different points around the track. Even managed to get a couple of the crashes which happened in front of me.

10/10 for enjoyability on the day and I'll definitely be going to more now.

Sounds great, one of the best tin top racing series in the world. Post pictures for all to see

[Dann]

Originally Posted by Denso

Sounds great, one of the best tin top racing series in the world. Post pictures for all to see

Once I've sorted and edited them I will do.

[Denso]

Originally Posted by Dann

Once I've sorted and edited them I will do.

Good man

[SenorFunkyPants]

Just watched the event on TV, some great racing....Thruxton is a great track for BTCC, I've driven a few UK tracks but that one looks a bit scary.
I'd rather a new face won this year, maybe Cook? he looks quite racy - not totally bothered, as long as its not Plato.

[954Stealth]

Here's Top 12 Standing so far after 3 races

1 Gordon Shedden Honda Yuasa Racing 114
2 Colin Turkington Team BMR 106
3 Matt Neal Honda Yuasa Racing 103
4 Jason Plato Team BMR 102
5 Andrew Jordan MG Triple Eight Racing 99
6 Adam Morgan WIX Racing 98
7 Jack Goff MG Triple Eight Racing 80
8 Rob Collard Team JCT600 with GardX 76
9 Sam Tordoff Team JCT600 with GardX 71
10 Aron Smith Team BMR 64
11 Andy Priaulx Team IHG Rewards Club 58
12 Tom Ingram Speedworks Motorsport 47