????

[touring fan]

Just seen the press release out today (on a different website, why isn't it on the official one?) and wondered if anyone else has seen it, what are your thoughts? Some of it I like, quite a bit of it I don't but I'll give it a go.

[Amanda]

I've seen it! I have been busy and have now booked all our hotels for next year.

It is great news that Knockhill is almost certain to be back but a shame that there is no slot for Rockingham.

[Ghirlracer]

Well, last time I was registered on this forum (a couple of years back, lost interest in the BTCC for a while since then), my signature simply said "Bring back Alan Gow". Now, I'm delighted he's back, because finally he's brought some sanity back to the series! It should never have left Knockhill in the first place, but I'm really happy to see it's coming back, and that it looks like being pretty good now. I'll wait and see what it ends up being like, but I'm looking forward to seeing the BTCC back in Scotland in July :D

Anyone know what conditions Knockhill has to fulfil before it's confirmed, btw? I know upgrades are needed, but what exactly?

[MG-ZS EX260]

you are joking about rockingham on the calender? please say you are, im sorry but if Mr gow has got rid of rockingham i will be furious, rockingham provided the best 2 races of this season, im sorry i dont care if anyone thinks im wrong but i perosnally do not like the way the BTCC is being run, rockingham dropped at the short donny circuit, not happy. The only good thing is the ETCC merger rules.

[Alan]

This looks good to me - well done to Alan, Richard and the team.

Nice to see Knockhill will (probably) be back - is Rockingham lurking in the background just in case I wonder!

Also noted that this now clears the clash with one of the Goodwood weekends (FOS), even if it is not my favourite. Can't win them all I guess.

[Les]

It certainly looks good and interesting race formats. Now just wind the clock on a few months and get it here!

[KPC]

"The new race format, with three sprint races on race day compared to this seasonÃ*s two race format, will mean the second race of the day will also feature a reversed top-ten grid. "

Now, how can anyone have a problem with that? Shame we may/will lose the pit-stops but a sprint race always tends to be a tad more manic.

[MG Freak]

No rockingham:mad:
That was THE best race of the year...anyway, who wants to go to wet old Scotland :mad: :p

[touringlegend]

Oi! Less of the old! :p


I'll eat my hat if Knockhill doesn't provide better racing that Rockingham..

[Alan]

WE want to go to wet old Scotland!!!:D

In terms of facilities Rockingham and Knockhill are light years apart, but both circuits produce good races.

Yes we do have to get up at an unearthly hour to fly up there (or of course some choose to drive up) but it is worth it even if we do get a bit damp - we have got wetter at Brands Hatch in the past!

Scotland is a really nice place, and I personally much prefer it to Ireland (where we seem to get equally wet incidentally).

In both cases people can of course have a few days extra holiday there.

[VkmSpouge]

Pity we couldn't have both Knockhill and Rockingham:( but what's done is done. I'm really looking forward to the new three race format, since I'm usually limited to going to one meeting a year I'll quite literally get more bangs for my bucks! :D

[cos]

I'm happy that one of the Brands meetings is on the Grand Prix track :)

[tourringcar fan]

To add my two pennies worth Why go to Ireland? The last I heard Southern Ireland isn't part of the UK surely it should be the full ETCC that visits there.
Have Rockingham and knockhill on the calendar instead of modello park, It can't be nice for the teams having to trek to Ireland either

[Croft fan]

I may not be from Ireland and dont get to go to the race in Ireland, but there is abig audience there and by adding the date getts the BTCC more coverage, and that is what manufactures want. i alway think there are good races at Mondello, and hope that the championship keeps going there in the future.
Good to see Knockhill back again, always a good venue.

[KPC]

Depends on your location.... Knock Hill is just as far away from me, living four miles short of the English Channel. Oulton Park, Snetterton, etc are also a bit too much of a haul for a day outter. It's probably quicker to get a domestic flight to Dublin than drive to Oulton Park for the likes of me. silverstone is about as I comfortably venture.

I did manage to go to Mondello this year and would say that, although a pain as not on mainland Britain, it is well worth the trip if you can manage/afford it. The way the track winds back on itself you can spectate and almost get TV camera coverage at the same time. Like Croft, the banks are high and so the track is easy to see. There is a bar in the paddock, which is dandy O, although the lack of merchandise stalls and seating is a bit of a let down and the back third of the track is inaccessible as it is apparently on private land, private in that MP don't own it beyond the safety fence. All in all though I would rate it as my preferred track for a day at the races.

[John]

Originally posted by KPC
Depends on your location.... Knock Hill is just as far away from me, living four miles short of the English Channel. Oulton Park, Snetterton, etc are also a bit too much of a haul for a day outter. It's probably quicker to get a domestic flight to Dublin than drive to Oulton Park for the likes of me. silverstone is about as I comfortably venture.

Doesn't that make the case for Knockers then..... think how far all those fans who live in Scotland (and north of Edinburgh especially) have to travel to get to any race at all when its not on the calendar.

Think it shows another step in the right direction by Mr Gow. All we need now is to pursuade him that Knockhill and Rockingham should be on the list (and not at the expense of any existing venue).

[KPC]

Totally agree. Rockingham was a brilliant circuit I thought and so don't see why that shouldn't stay. Brands is my nearest and most frequented circuit and usually it is a double visit for me each year. Even so, I would not object (on convenience grounds) for one of those meetings being be scrapped in favour of KH or Rockingham? More the merrier.