Track debut for Infiniti Support Our Paras Racing

The Infiniti Support Our Paras Racing BTCC car ran for the first time at Mallory Park this morning (Wednesday).

Derek Palmer took the honour of debuting the car as the Scotsman completed a detailed, scheduled number of installation and shakedown laps.

The premium Japanese marque worked tirelessly in an attempt to ready its pair of Q50s in time for Brands Hatch although admitted it faced a huge challenge ahead of the weekend.

There will certainly be one of the striking machines on the grid in Kent, however, as Palmer progressively worked through the development programme on the first car this afternoon. The car, prepared by injured ex-servicemen from the Parachute Regiment, went on to complete a series of race-pace laps at the Leicestershire track.

"We completed everything we set ourselves for this first running," team principal Derek Palmer Snr said. "The guys did a fantastic job preparing the car, and it was an emotional moment seeing it take to the track for the first time.

"Everyone in the team has worked tirelessly to get to where we are. We know we're a work-in-progress, but we know we have the team to deliver."

The not-for-profit team, which will also run Richard Hawken in a second NGTC Infiniti Q50, will donate 100% of its profits to Support Our Paras, the official charity of the Parachute Regiment. The team had planned to run a second car in this weekend's opening triple-header, but will now only run one at Brands Hatch.

"We experienced a late technical problem today which, after detailed analysis, has unfortunately resulted in the second car now not being in a position to race at Brands Hatch," Palmer Snr explained.

"Of course it's disappointing, but this is exactly what test sessions such as today's are intended to discover before we head into a race weekend. We can now take the necessary steps to ensure the same problem doesn't materialise in the other car."

The team will decide later this week whether Palmer Jnr or team-mate Richard Hawken, will race at the weekend. After driving the car for the first time today, under cloudless blue skies, Palmer admitted he was delighted to finally get behind the wheel of the BTCC racer.

"I've dreamed about this day for so long," the 28-year-old Scot said. "Today is the culmination of six months hard work for the team.

"We set ourselves a specific programme today, and we worked through the process and ticked off all the boxes, so we're happy with where we are as we head towards the first race at Brands Hatch."

Tin Top Tuesday is back!

What better way to kick off this Easter week of BTCC festivities than by tuning in to the world famous Tin Top Tuesday?

The 2-hour show, hosted by the BTCC’s ever-present pitlane commentator Alan Hyde, will be aired from 8pm this evening and will include a host of headlining guests.

Alan Gow will be live in the studio as he looks ahead to what is sure to be an epic 2015 BTCC season. The Series Director will also be fielding your questions so get in touch with the show on Twitter at @TinTopTuesday using the hashtag #AskAlan.

Reigning champion Colin Turkington will be joining the team for a live interview, as will MG new boy Jack Goff, whilst ITV’s Tim Harvey will inform listeners on what to look out for on the track and on your screens ahead of this weekend.

There will be the usual fun and frolics that you’d expect from any Tin Top Tuesday so make sure you tune into the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship preview show at www.tintoptuesday.com.

BTCC ready for Brands Hatch blast off

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.

Talking point: Roll the dice
The off-season shuffle of teams and drivers has this year created even more of a stir than usual. Almost all of the leading drivers have switched teams, and perhaps most sensationally the top two drivers from last year – Colin Turkington and Jason Plato – have signed to race as stable-mates at Team BMR. With the pair having set the pace at the only official pre-season test at Donington Park, their VW CCs will certainly be in the mix once racing commences.

Last year’s manufacturer champions MG enter the fray with two new drivers. Young gun Jack Goff will line up alongside 2013 champion Andrew Jordan, who is hoping a move to the Triple Eight Racing-run squad will give him the best chance of lifting the championship trophy for a second time.

Honda Yuasa Racing sensationally unveiled the brand new Civic Type R at the recent Season Launch, with its experienced campaigners Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden amongst the few title contenders to remain with their 2014 team. With the race car hitting the track long before the production model hits the road, the BTCC is the only place in the UK to see arguably the most eagerly anticipated car of the year in action.

An all-new manufacturer joins the UK’s premier motor sport series for the coming season, as premium Japanese marque Infiniti enters the fray with its impressive Q50 model. In partnership with the charity Support Our Paras, Infiniti Support Our Parars Racing takes to the circuit both to compete at the highest level and raise support for injured soldiers – several of whom now have key roles within the team itself.

West Surrey Racing has two new drivers alongside team stalwart Rob Collard in 2015, as rising star Sam Tordoff is brought in alongside stellar signing Andy Priaulx. The triple World Touring Car Champion is behind the wheel of the car that won every championship possible in 2014, so expect to see him at the front before long.

Racing to inspire:
Another major talking point in the build up to Brands Hatch has been the announcement that Nicolas Hamilton will become the first disabled driver to race in the BTCC. Brother of reigning Formula 1 World Champion Lewis, Nicolas has previously raced on the TOCA package in the Renault UK Clio Cup, but this season will compete as a guest entry from Croft onwards in an Audi S3 Saloon run by AmDTuning.com

Local Heroes:
Champion squad West Surrey Racing has three new-look BMW 125i M Sport machines to bring to Brands Hatch over the Easter weekend. Collard and Tordoff will run under the Team JCT600 with GardX banner and touring car legend Priaulx will race for Team IHG Rewards Club. The triple world champion said: "The Indy Circuit is incredibly challenging, but I love Brands Hatch – I just can't wait to get started."

AmDTuning.com is fielding the reigning champion of one of the BTCC’s most popular support series – the Renault UK Clio Cup – as Mike Bushell takes to the wheel of its Ford Focus. The Thurrock-based squad achieved its first ever podium at Knockhill last season, and with Bushell also being a local racer from Kent, both driver and team will be hoping for home success.

Dartford-based RCIB Insurance Racing returns to the grid this season with Kieran Gallagher piloting its sole Toyota Avensis. The Scottish driver made his debut for the team in 2013 at Knockhill, and he now returns to contest his first full season in the BTCC.

Timetable and tickets:
The first three BTCC races of the year will take place on Sunday 5 April, with the entire race day being broadcast live and in high definition on ITV4 from 10:30am. What’s more, ITV will be live from Brands Hatch for an extra half hour on Sunday to give even more time for pre and post-race analysis of what’s going to be a fascinating curtain raiser. Circuit commentary and live timing from every session will be available on the btcc.net Live Zone throughout the weekend.

In addition to the BTCC, the support series on the TOCA package are set to bring even more action to the fans at Brands Hatch. The new-for-2015 MSA Formula has attracted plenty of attention since it launched at the Silverstone round of the BTCC last season. Sportscar racing fans will get their fix with races from the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup, Porsche Carrera Cup GB and KICK Start Energy Ginetta Junior Championship, whilst the Renault UK Clio Cup – often seen as a stepping-stone to reaching the BTCC – will also feature on the huge bill of British racing.

Tickets for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season-opener at Brands Hatch on 4/5 April are available from £26, with free entry for children aged 12 and under. For more information call 0843 453 9000 or visit www.brandshatch.co.uk. All admission includes access to Sunday’s lunchtime autograph session with the BTCC drivers in the pit lane as well as free parking.

Click here for a full event timetable.

Eight hours of live ITV coverage to start new BTCC season

The 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is set to dominate the ITV4 schedule on Easter Sunday (5 April) with a whopping eight hours of live, free-to-air and exclusive UK television coverage from the opening event of the season at Brands Hatch.

Such has been the excitement and anticipation ahead of the new BTCC season that ITV bosses have cemented its morning preview airtime while significantly extending its post-race analysis coverage. The move to increase the broadcast slot from last year’s 18:00 finish to 18:30 ensures that viewers will get to see more build-up and reaction to the opening BTCC rounds than ever before.

With coverage starting at 10:30 viewers in the UK will get more than one hour of previews, interviews and features – many of which were filmed at the series’ annual Season Launch event earlier this week.

The racing action commences with the opening contest of the BTCC campaign at 11:45 and will be followed by live coverage from the Ginetta Juniors, Porsche Carrera Cup GB, UK Clio Cup, Ginetta GT4 Supercup and the newly launched MSA Formula.

All three BTCC races around the tight 1.2-mile Indy circuit will be screened live before viewers are treated to nearly one hour of reaction from what is sure to be an action packed and unpredictable start to the new season.

ITV will continue to screen around seven hours of live free-to-air coverage from each event on both its ITV4 and ITV4 HD channels as well as the itv.com website throughout the year. Adding to the coverage are 60-minute edited race highlights repeated three times after each event on ITV and ITV4 as well as their respective HD channels and ‘simulcast’ on itv.com. In total more than 230 hours of the BTCC will be broadcast across the ITV network with greater exclusive video content also being added to its website.

With global interest in the series continuing to grow fans from across the pond will also be pleased with the improved coverage in their region. The BTCC's new North American broadcast partner, CBS Sports Network, has been busy finalising its own schedules ahead of the new season with the BTCC being awarded a prime time slot on Wednesday evenings.

One hour highlights will be shown at 21:30 (ET) on the 15 April with a further two replays of the same programme already scheduled. Furthermore www.Torque.TV – North America’s new home for motorsports and high performance automotive lifestyle – will also carry each one-hour BTCC highlight programme online for 90 days after each event via its VOD (Video On Demand) platform.

With the latest North American deal providing BTCC action to more than 60 million households it ensures that BTCC will be available to more than 500 million homes worldwide in 2015.

Lewis Hamilton proud to see brother in the BTCC

Reigning Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton has expressed his pride at the news his brother Nicolas will be racing as a guest entry in this year’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. Nicolas lives with cerebral palsy and when he joins the BTCC grid at Croft later this year will become the first ever disabled person to compete in the UK’s premier motor sport series.

In a recent BBC Sport blog, Lewis comments, “You might have seen in the news that my brother Nic is to race this year in the British Touring Car Championship. As you can probably imagine, it has not been easy for Nic being the sibling of someone who is successful at something, and the fact that he has a disability has made things 10 times harder for him in life than it was for me. But he is a massively determined and motivated young man and he has worked really hard against all odds to get to where he is.”

Nicolas will take to the wheel of an AmDtuning.com-run Audi S3 Saloon for the second half of the season and is hoping to compete as a full entry in 2016.

Lewis continues, “To go from being in a wheelchair, through having a big surgery when he was five years old to be now racing cars against and beating people who have no disability is hugely inspiring. I am excited for him… What he can do in a car, despite everything he has against him, is pretty special.”

Plato lays down 2015 gauntlet

Two-time Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion Jason Plato laid down the gauntlet to his rivals today (24 March) at the Season Launch official test at Donington Park. The seasoned campaigner set the fastest time during the afternoon running – a 1:10.249s – just pipping his new Team BMR stable-mate and reigning BTCC champion Colin Turkington by 0.006s.

In identical VW CC machinery, the pair look set to lock horns throughout what will undoubtedly be another thrilling campaign, and with times already so close at the top there are sure to be fireworks when racing commences at Brands Hatch in Kent on 4/5 April.

With the top two from last year’s championship setting the pace, it was a very impressive showing from the two Mercedes A-Class machines of Aiden Moffat and Adam Morgan that saw them placed third and fourth in the time sheets for Laser Tools Racing and WIX Racing respectively. Morgan secured his first ever BTCC win at the Brands Hatch finale last October, and as Moffat makes the switch to a new car it looks like an exciting season in prospect for the ambitious young duo.

A team pairing took up station in fifth and sixth, as Triple Eight Racing drivers Jack Goff and Andrew Jordan put in a formidable tally of laps around the Donington Park National Circuit. Indeed the only driver to complete more circulations than Goff was Team BMR owner Warren Scott, who managed to post the eighth fastest time having lapped the 1.98-mile track an impressive 68 times.

Hunter Abbott was seventh fastest in his Exocet AlcoSense Audi A4, with the returning Honda Civic of Martin Depper in ninth. Sam Tordoff secured top BMW honours in his first timed session for the newly-announced Team JCT600 with GardX squad in tenth, just ahead of Dave Newsham who has switched to a Power Maxed Racing Chevrolet for this year.

Honda Yuasa Racing unveiled the stunning new Civic Type R this morning in front of a huge media gathering, and the car will surely grab headlines as the it hits the track in earnest even before the production car hits the showroom floor. Matt Neal piloted the #25 car to the 12^th fastest time.

Attentions now turn to Brands Hatch for the first three BTCC battles of 2015.

Jason Plato said: “We had an issue which cost us about an hour today which is a little frustrating as we had a plan of things we’re trying to get though and it’s left us with a couple of questions on the set-up that aren’t 100 per cent answered. It was a good day though – the guys have had a tough six weeks and I think now it’s time to down tools, get everything ready and checked for Brands Hatch and make sure we don’t have any reliability issues. We’ll be on the pace at Brands – if we’re not quickest we’ll be there or thereabouts and I think we can win races.”

Colin Turkington said: “It’s been a good day because I’ve been able to do a lot of laps. I'm still adjusting to the car and so the more time I'm in it the more it feels like mine. I want to be in there all the time and learn as much as I can before the season starts! I’m really looking forward to the start of the season – it’s coming around really quick but today has been another good learning exercise and it’s given us lots to look through and will hopefully get us to Brands Hatch with an even stronger package.”

Adam Morgan said: “It’s gone really well today – it’s always nice to get back out on-track with the rest of the field and compare times. To have two Mercedes cars towards the top of the time sheet is really encouraging. It was a bit of an unknown coming into today as you never really know what people are doing in testing. We seem to go very well around Brands and we’ve had a good two-day test there – there’s no reason why we can’t look to be right at the front.”

Aiden Moffat said: “It’s a great way to start the year, I think we could’ve gone a bit quicker if the weather hadn’t changed, but we can take a lot of positives out of today. The Mercedes really works with you and gives you confidence. I think we’ve come a long way – we didn’t do much pre-season testing last year, but we haven’t made the same mistake again and we’re in a much better place already. I think initially we’ll be aiming for the top ten – we have got good pace but we’re not going to get too carried away just yet!”

Jack Goff said: "It's been nice to get on track at the media day, having never really managed it before. It was good to pound round and get some more laps under my belt. Overall it's been a really good day, I managed a new tyre run and I definitely think we have more to get out of the car, despite finishing fifth.”

Nicolas Hamilton confirms 2015 BTCC Programme with AmD Tuning.com

Tuesday 10th March, 2015: UK racing driver Nicolas Hamilton will become the first disabled competitor to participate in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. The 22 year old, who lives with the neurological condition Cerebral Palsy, will enter five race weekends of the 2015 BTCC season, competing in an Audi S3 NGTC with AmD Tuning.

Nicolas will begin his 2015 race programme at Croft circuit on 27th – 28th June, before continuing his season at Snetterton, Rockingham, Silverstone then concluding at Brands Hatch, the final round of the Championship.

“I am incredibly excited to be racing in BTCC with AmD Tuning this year. BTCC is the top national motorsport series here in the UK and having the opportunity to race at that level is the biggest challenge I’ve taken on in my career to date,” said Nicolas Hamilton.

“I’m coming into the Championship with a lot to learn and my expectations are to develop as a driver as my programme across the season progresses.”

“Whilst I’m aiming to improve as a driver, I’m also hoping to inspire others to strive for their own personal goals, whatever their situation in life. Anyone can ‘Exceed Expectations’ in one way or another and I hope to prove that when I race alongside, not just able-bodied drivers, but the best Touring Car drivers in the UK.”

Shaun Hollamby, Team Principal, AmD Tuning added “We are pleased to announce that Nicolas has joined the AmD Tuning team. BTCC is a fiercely competitive series with hard wheel-to-wheel racing action on track and we have developed Nicolas’s 2015 program to ensure he enters the Championship with a level of preparation. We have a number of test sessions over the coming months, which will enable Nicolas to acclimatise to the car. Having observed Nicolas’s racing in the Renault Clio Cup and the ETCC, we know he is quick learner and a strong competitor, and we’re looking forward to working with him this season.”

Alan Gow, BTCC Series Director, commented "I'm pleased to provide the AmD/Nicolas Hamilton entry with 'guest' status to compete at 5 BTCC events. Although the entry does not hold a TBL (TOCA BTCC Licence) this season and is thus also not eligible for points in the championship, it will provide Nicolas with invaluable experience through competing at the highest level of British motorsport and will hopefully serve as an inspiration to others."

Nicolas concluded: “This is a very special moment for me that would not have been possible without the amazing support from my partners Monster Energy, JET and Whisper Films. I cannot wait to get back in the car and go racing.”

HiQ all set for another exhilarating BTCC season

HiQ, one of the country’s leading Fast Fit networks, is proud to continue as Team Championship sponsor with the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).

Anna Stanley, HiQ Marketing Manager said: “The BTCC is the premier racing championship in Britain and we are proud to be part of it. The exposure we receive through the championship is unrivalled and through our activations we look to continue our rapport with the loyal fans that flock to each round.

Our partnership with the BTCC continues to help us achieve our business goals and targets. HiQ is a business made of up great teams across our national network, these teams deliver the customer service and results, day-in-day-out, that enable us as business to grow and succeed. Our investment into the Team Championship replicates the importance that we see in individuals coming together to achieve the goal and deliver success as a team.”

To celebrate its renewed sponsorship, now in its tenth year, supporters will be treated to a whole host of activation throughout the season. Fans will once again be treated to fans favorite, Rob Austin’s exclusive 2015 season blog on HiQ’s brand new website. In addition, fanatics can keep up to date with all the latest videos and race highlights for the UK’s most popular racing series through its YouTube and social media channels.

The Driver of the Day competition also returns, where fans are given the chance after each round to vote for the driver who produced the highlight of the weekend, with one lucky winner receiving weekend passes for the next thrilling round.

Plus, #HiQSuperFan, more race weekend passes, merchandise and plenty of other prizes will be given away through the HiQ_fastfit twitter feed and Facebook page. The HiQ team will also continue to post their news and competitions across its social media.

For more information, visit www.hiqonline.co.uk, become a fan of HiQ on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HiQFastFit, follow HiQ on Twitter @HiQ_FastFit or tune into their YouTube Channel for the latest BTCC highlights at www.youtube.com/user/HiQTyres.

Dunlop enters second decade of BTCC title sponsorship

Donington, Leicestershire, 24^th March 2015 – As the 2015 British Touring Car Championship kicks off, Dunlop celebrates entering its second decade of sponsorship and 13th year of continuous tyre supply.

Dunlop’s constantly evolving tyre development has delivered a typical 3 second lap time difference across the decade*. The championship has also seen the introduction of RFID tagging, soft, medium and hard compound options and a new tyre construction all to enhance performance, race excitement, tyre tracking and lap time.

After close collaboration with TOCA throughout the partnership, Dunlop is pleased to have witnessed incredible growth in team entries, drivers, audience figures and marques.

Entries have increased 184 per cent with double the amount of drivers in the championship who have contested at every round in each season.

Marques have increased from 6 to 11 in the decade and impressive increases in radio, website and social media engagement have all been recorded.

Tony Ward, Dunlop Marketing Manager said: “In a decade we’ve seen over 3300 race miles driven on our tyres and over 15,500 corners taken,albeit with some of those with the cars delicately balancing on two tyres! Since the introduction of compound choice we’ve seen the tyre play a really integral role in race strategy and we hope to see this use of tactics increase even more this year with the new regulations on soft tyre usage.

“Across the decade the partnership has grown from strength to strength and we work collaboratively with TOCA to ensure we are offering our fans the best of the best. This is why we see year-on-year audience figure increases and continually growing social media engagement.
“We are pleased and proud to be the title sponsor and tyre supplier to the BTCC and we look forward to supporting the championship again this year through an adrenaline fuelled racing season.”

Impressive 2015 BTCC entry list confirmed

An unprecedented 32-car entry has been confirmed for the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship during today’s (24 March) Season Launch event at Donington Park.

After a hugely entertaining and record breaking 2014 season, which saw Colin Turkington and West Surrey Racing crowned worthy champions, 2015 looks set to build further on the continued success of Britain’s premier motor sport series.

This year marks the second all-NGTC (Next Generation Touring Car) specification season and the fifth campaign since the regulations were first introduced. Such has been the success of the technical rules that they have been endorsed by the sport’s international governing body, the FIA, for use in touring car racing across the globe.

The diversity of cars also continues to grow in the BTCC, with premium car manufacturer Infiniti joining the championship and becoming the 12^th marque to be represented in the NGTC era.

This year’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will again comprise of 30 races across ten events at nine venues around the UK, with the season commencing at Brands Hatch on 4/5 April and concluding on the legendary Grand Prix circuit at the same venue on 10/11 October.

ITV will continue to broadcast each and every race live and in high definition on ITV4, with further highlights shown on ITV. The weekend crowds regularly reach between 30,000-40,000 at each venue.

All change at the top
It has been a whirlwind winter for the BTCC with major news stories and driver announcements breaking throughout the off-season.

The series, which is renowned for its competitiveness and unpredictability, looks set to be cranked up a further notch in 2015 as all of its competing previous champions have changed machinery for the season ahead.

Reigning supremo Colin Turkington arguably produced the biggest surprise after it was announced he would be joining Team BMR. The online reveal for the fledgling and ambitious team reached fever pitch, however, when it was also confirmed that fellow double Champion Jason Plato would be joining Turkington as team-mate.

It will be the first time that Plato and Turkington have raced for the same outfit together and unsurprisingly the first time in the recent history of the series that the previous year’s top two drivers have joined forces at a new team. Aron Smith and Team Boss Warren Scott complete the squad’s four-strong VW entry.

With Plato and Turkington creating room at Triple Eight Racing and WSR respectively, both leading teams moved quickly to fill the void with headline announcements of their own. In fact before the sensational deals had even been inked at Team BMR, it was the manufacturer-backed MG squad at Triple Eight Racing who’d pulled off the biggest capture of the pre-season so far.

Former champion Andrew Jordan confirmed his departure from both the Honda family and of course his own family-run Eurotech team to take up the reins as lead driver for MG. The 25-year-old has wasted little time in getting up to speed in the often pace-setting MG6, having completed an extensive pre-season test programme. Jack Goff, concluding an all-new line-up for the reigning manufacturer champions, will partner Jordan at Triple Eight Racing.

WSR soon announced their own top class signing with triple World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx joining Rob Collard and young gun Sam Tordoff at the 2014 quadruple title winners. Furthermore the Surrey-based squad has been promoted to compete for Constructor honours within the Manufacturer/Constructor championship this season, and as such will be targeting that rather than defending its Independents’ title.

Honda Yuasa Racing is the only front-running team to possess continuity in its driving ranks as both Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden stay with the team for a sixth successive season. The variables in predicting this year’s title chase just keep on coming, however, as the squad switch from the Civic Tourer – last year’s race-winning estate model – to the all-new and much anticipated Civic Type R.

Build of the BTCC Type R – officially unveiled at today’s Season Launch – has only been completed in the last week and has undergone limited testing to date. What is known, however, is that Team Dynamics know how to build championship-winning cars, having done so several times previously. The car itself is also one of the most eagerly awaited in years as the legendary Japanese model hits the track before even reaching the road, with the production model not expected to arrive in UK showrooms until later in the year.

Chasing Pack
Honda isn’t the only manufacturer building an all-new car for the 2015 BTCC season as prestige Japanese marque Infiniti joins Britain’s biggest motor sport series for the first time with its Q50 model.

Infiniti Support our Paras Racing also brings two fresh faces into the driver line-up with Richard Hawken and Derek Palmer being handed duties behind the wheel. The squad joins Honda and MG as official manufacturer-backed entries, whilst the previously noted BMW’s of WSR will also challenge for Constructor honours within the Manufacturer/Constructor Championship.

A host of other independent teams entering cars from Audi (AmD Tuning.com, Exocet AlcoSense), Chevrolet (Power Maxed Racing), Ford (AmD Tuning.com, Dextra Racing, Motorbase Performance), Honda (Eurotech Racing), Mercedes (Laser Tools Racing, WIX Racing), Proton (Welch Motorsport), Toyota (Handy Motorsport, Houseman Racing, Speedworks Motorsport, Team HARD) and Volkswagen (Team BMR) complete the entry list.

The noted chasing pack also includes a number of ultra-quick racers who’ll be hoping to mount a serious championship assault, including 2014 race winners Adam Morgan (WIX Racing) and Rob Austin (Exocet AlcoSense).

Another standout name among the new entries is that of Nicolas Hamilton, whose part-season drive was also announced today. The brother of current Formula One World Champion Lewis, will become the first disabled competitor to participate in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. The 22-year-old, who lives with the neurological condition Cerebral Palsy, will enter five race weekends of the 2015 BTCC season, competing in an Audi S3 saloon with AmD Tuning.com, with a view to hopefully contesting the complete season in 2016.

Nicolas will begin his 2015 guest entry programme at Croft in June, before continuing his season at Snetterton, Rockingham, Silverstone and Brands Hatch.

Motorbase Performance is also scheduled to contest a part-season – from Snetterton onwards – whilst the remaining 29 entries will complete the full BTCC campaign.

One of the most varied grids of any major motor sport championship in the world, the BTCC will boast some 12 models from 11 different marques in 2015.

Rules of Engagement
Whilst the stability of the NGTC regulations and 2014’s introduction of TBLs (TOCA BTCC licences) – required for teams in order to guarantee participation – are critical to the overall success of the BTCC, the championship is always keen to make improvements to the regulations where possible. For 2015 some of these are;

The amount of success ballast has considerably increased from the previous level of a maximum 45kg’s.

Rear-wheel drive (RWD) cars will carry their success ballast as far forward in the cabin as possible, in order to better equalise the front to rear weight balance between both drivetrain formats.

Cosworth and Xtrac have independently analysed the start-line performances and in-gear acceleration of front and rear-wheel drive cars to equalise them through engine management programming.

All engines have now been re-tested and re-validated by both TOCA and an independent specialist company, which has resulted in a boost level being set for each car/engine type for the entire season. These may be reviewed once per season and the race-by-race adjustments have now been dropped.

Each car must still use the Dunlop Sport Maxx ‘Soft Tyre’ for one race per nine events* but each car must use them three times in race 1, three times in race 2 and three times in race 3 during the course of the season (*Thruxton event does not apply as the soft tyre is not used at the venue).

The grid for race 2 at each event will be set in the order of the fastest lap times achieved in race 1. If during race 1 a driver changes one or more tyres of the same type then any quicker lap time (if achieved) after that tyre change will be discounted. Cars also have to finish race 1 in order for their fastest lap to count towards the race 2 grid position.

The Jack Sears Trophy will be awarded to the top ‘Rookie Driver’.

Perfect Partners
Stability and longevity among its partners and sponsors remains a key asset to the BTCC with all of its major ongoing commercial partners cemented for multi-year deals.

Dunlop extended its title sponsorship and tyre supply term in 2014 and ITV will continue to broadcast exclusive live coverage of every event until at least the end of the 2016 season.

ITV will screen around seven hours of live free-to-air coverage from every race day on both its ITV4 and ITV4 HD channels as well as its popular website. Adding to the coverage are 60-minute edited race highlights repeated three times after each event on ITV and ITV4 as well as their respective HD channels and ‘simulcast’ on itv.com. In total more than 230 hours of the BTCC will be broadcast across the ITV network this season.

Organisers have also worked tirelessly to improve the overseas TV coverage of the series as the global popularity of the BTCC continues to grow.

The off-season has seen the series clinch its largest ever television deal in North America, after agreeing a multi-year contract with broadcast giant CBS Sports Network (CBSSN). This latest agreement means that the BTCC will be available to more than 500 million homes worldwide in 2015, across five continents, with further significant international broadcast arrangements soon to be announced.

The Haymarket Consumer Media group joined the BTCC’s family of partners last season and will continue to provide extensive and in-depth BTCC content across all of its major publications, with Autocar, WhatCar? and PistonHeads.com.

Intercontinental Hotels Group will be using its backing of the BTCC to promote the popular IHG Rewards Club from the 2015 season onwards.

BTCC Series Director Alan Gow said: “The BTCC is renowned for its extreme competitiveness, and the levels of unpredictability seem set to reach new standards in 2015. There have been several key and very interesting moves in the driver market over the winter, which ensures we’re in for yet another unmissable campaign. Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to predicting an eventual champion but what is for sure is that we’re in for another titanic battle – I, just like our millions of fans, can’t wait to get started.

“The levels of success do not come easily of course and it is testament to the tireless work from everyone involved in the series that we’re able to again announce such a great grid for 2015.

“Our impressive entry list continues to demonstrate the stability of our regulations whilst the new tweaks made to our format also show we’re always committed to moving forever forwards. Improving the show for our fans and competitors alike is paramount to everything we do here in the BTCC and we believe these evolutions will prove successful.

“The longevity and loyalty of our major partnerships, including Dunlop, ITV, Intercontinental Hotels Group and more, far exceed industry standards and their support is hugely valued.

“The trackside and TV audiences continue to reach new highs proving exactly why the BTCC is Britain’s only show in town – here’s to another hugely competitive and successful season ahead.”

Click here to download a copy of the 2015 entry list.