The IHG® Rewards Club Podium Predictor makes its comeback as the BTCC returns after the mid-season break at Norfolk's Snetterton circuit, so be sure to get your entries in over at podiumpredictor.com now!

The BTCC Podium Predictor is new for 2017 and gives fans the chance to score bragging rights and a bundle of top-drawer prizes courtesy of longstanding championship partners IHG® Rewards Club.

If you beat the pundit you’ll be in line for a massive 50,000 IHG® Rewards Club points to spend as you wish plus signed motor sport artwork from Graham and Leigh and more special gifts. Of course, you’ll get tickets to a race weekend of your choosing, too. 

In order to qualify for the ultimate prize as Ultimate Predictor – with 1,000,000 IHG® Rewards Club points up for grabs, you’ll need to predict every podium finish and all race and class fastest laps correctly, scoring the maximum 120 points.

John Hindhaugh, The Voice of Global Sports Cars on Radio Le Mans, TV presenter and radio commentator reckons Gordon Shedden, Colin Turkingon and Matt Neal will seal victories while earmarking Mat Jackson as the man who'll nail the fastest lap of the weekend.

Entries are open until 2359 on Saturday evening – so you get the chance to analyse Free Practice and Qualifying before you make your predictions.

The AmDTuning.com with Cobra Exhausts team will look to maintain the form it showed prior to the summer break when the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season resumes this weekend at Snetterton.
 
The West Thurrock-based team enjoyed a stellar weekend at Croft last month during round five, with drivers Ollie Jackson and Ant Whorton-Eales coming away from the trip to North Yorkshire with four points finishes between them.
 
Jackson in particular heads for Snetterton on a high, with the Tamworth-based racer having scored his best result since the 2012 season last time out; a ninth place finish also being the best finish to date for the team’s Audi S3.
 
The 33-year-old took part in the opening day of a two-day long official test at Snetterton earlier this month, completing more than 70 laps and posting what would turn out to be the seventh best time overall.
 
“Snetterton is one of those circuits that is always quite challenging but we go there feeling positive,” he said. “We obviously picked up some good results at Croft before the summer break and also showed strong pace during testing, which I think sets us up well for the weekend ahead.
 
“During the test, we worked through various things to allow us to improve the car even more, and there are a number of things that we plan to do in practice to keep refining the car. I have no doubt at all from the work that we’ve done that we’ll have a strong car on race day and our main focus has to be on qualifying well to put us in the best position possible for the races.
 
“If things go our way, there is no reason why we can’t repeat the kind of results we scored at Croft, but the first target is to make sure we are in the points scoring positions and then we can take advantage of anything that comes our way.”
 
Team-mate Whorton-Eales also scored his best finish of the season at Croft, with the Lichfield racer just missing out on breaking into the top ten for the first time in his BTCC career.
 
The reigning Clio Cup UK title winner has shown flashes of his speed in the Audi so far this season but has also endured his fair share of misfortune, which leaves him playing catch up in the battle to secure the Jack Sears Trophy for top rookie.
 
“The opening half of the season was full of ups and downs, but we showed how good we can be at Croft and I can’t wait to get back in the car this weekend,” he said. “It seems like six months since we last raced, never mind six weeks, and I’m looking forward to getting out on track at Snetterton to see if we can build on the pace we showed last time out.
 
“We learned an awful lot in the first half of the season and have been able to use the summer break to evaluate everything and look at where we can improve. My aim this weekend is to try and bring home the Jack Sears Trophy and also to challenge for points across the three races, which is something we can certainly view as a realistic goal.”
 
Team boss Shaun Hollamby admitted that the team was heading for Snetterton in optimistic mood after a busy summer period, with hopes high of both drivers challenging for points.
 
“We’ve been flat out since Croft repairing damage to Ant’s car, going testing and then preparing for this weekend – so it hasn’t been much of a summer break!” he said. “Although it’s a shame that the damage to Ant’s car meant we could only run one during the Snetterton test, we were able to learn a huge amount and it leaves us confident that we can have a strong weekend this weekend.
 
“The aim is very much to build on the results we secured at Croft, and we have now shown that we have the pace in the car to fight for points on merit. There is the possibility of rain which would also work in our favour, as both Ollie and Ant have shown strong pace in wet conditions.
 
“We’d like to welcome onboard a new sponsor this weekend in the shape of Ed O’Shea and EOS Resourcing Group and as we prepare to go racing again, I also want to thank Cobra Sport and all our existing sponsors for their continued support.
 
“Away from ourselves, it’s also pleasing to see that the three drivers who were involved in the accident at Croft before the summer break are all doing well with their recovery from the injuries they sustained. It’s also pleasing to see the positive reports that have come out of the investigations carried out by the governing bodies into the incident.
 
“Peter Riches and the TOCA Technical Team deserve a lot of credit for the work that has gone in to improving safety in the series, and what happened at Croft has shown the impact of those improvements.”

The summer break is over and the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is back as the bandwagon rolls into Snetterton.

The tens of thousands of fans trackside this weekend can compliment their viewing with the LIVE section of the BTCC website, where you can access circuit commentary and live timing, whilst the ITV Hub App will broadcast live coverage throughout Sunday on mobile and tablet devices.

Those unable to attend in Norfolk may also choose to use the ITV Hub App (download from App Store, Google Play, Amazon etc) in order to watch the live action while on the move, or you can watch from a desktop computer via www.itv.com/btcc. Saturday’s qualifying session will be streamed live online at www.itv.com/btcc and is now available on mobile devices.

ITV4 broadcasts an incredible eight hours of live coverage on Sunday for each and every BTCC race, plus a magnitude of support contests being shown from 10:45am.

To get yourself in the mood you can catch up with the action from the Rounds 13, 14 and 15 and Croft on the ITV Hub here.

Qualifying LIVE: Saturday 29 July
ITV.com/BTCC 1550-1620

Raceday LIVE: Sunday 30 July
ITV4 1045-1800
ITV4+1 1145-1900
ITV Hub 1045-1800
ITV.com/BTCC 1045-1800

Highlights: Saturday 5 August
ITV4: 1040-1215

Highlights: Sunday 6 August
ITV4: 0635-0755

Highlights: Wednesday 6 August
CBS: 2100 ET

Highlights: Thursday 7 August
CBS: 0100 ET

BTC Norlin Racing's trucks are en route to Snetterton following shakedown yesterday morning as the outfit completed its preparations for the next three rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship campaign in Norfolk this weekend.

Despite the six-week hiatus between race weekends, it has been a busy period for the team, with testing at Snetterton earlier in July as all concerned set about working to build on positive performances throughout the first half of the season. The last outing at Croft saw both Dave Newsham and Chris Smiley scoring points, finishing in 13th and 15th with Newsham continuing his run of points at every round so far.

The ambitious team is ready to hit the ground running at Snetterton, targeting the top 15 for both cars in qualifying and top 10 finishes over the course of Sunday. As ever, the BTCC field is fiercely competitive, but Bert Taylor – Team Principal – is confident.

“We have been working hard to build on what we achieved so far this season," said Taylor "And really, given that we are a new team this year, we have achieved a lot. We had a great test at Snetterton and I am confident that we will see a further step forward with our results.”

Newsham rounded out the July test with fifth spot, confident with car performance and the data collected by the team; and Snetterton is a circuit Newsham loves to race at.

“Snetterton is actually the venue of my very first BTCC win!" said Newsham. "The track suits me well and I’ve always done well there.

"Podiums and Independent wins are our goal for the rest of the season. With my improved BTC Norlin Racing Chevrolet, I have the tools for the job – so no excuses.”

This year has been Smiley's first full campaign in the championship and he is eyeing more through the second half of 2017.

“I really want to build on the first half of my first proper season in the BTCC," said Smiley. "The team, Dave and myself have really learnt a lot working together. It's very easy to forget that none of this existed eight months ago! We're fresh on the scene.”

“With that in mind, I am so proud with all that we have done so far. We have certainly lacked a bit of luck in the first half of the season but we know that we have good pace in the car, and this was shown at the two-day test earlier this month. We will see how well that can translate to the track this weekend – we're optimistic.”

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with DUO takes to the track once again this coming weekend, as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship returns from its annual summer break at Snetterton.

The reigning Independent Teams’ champions arrive in Norfolk in winning form, having scored their maiden outright race win of the season last time out at Croft. It was a roller-coaster weekend for the Motorbase-run team following Luke Davenport's injury. However, the weekend also proved pivotal for the squad’s 2017 campaign with Mat Jackson storming back onto the rostrum with three Independent race wins, an overall third place podium and his first outright race win of the season.

Team-mate Martin Depper also enjoyed his most successful weekend of the season to date. The eSpares-backed driver battled through from the back of the grid to take tenth in race two. The turnaround weekend’s results saw the Team Shredded Wheat Racing with DUO vault to the top of the Independent standings and the Kent-based squad now heads to Snetterton - one of its most successful circuits – in confident shape.

“Obviously Croft was a rollercoaster weekend for us with Luke’s accident and our first win of the season,” said Team Manager Oly Collins. “The performances were our best of the season and now that we've opened our winning account, the plan is to carry on in that manner.

“We turned a bit of a corner with the car at Croft and we're confident that we can carry that into Snetterton. We're leading the Independent Teams standings and our aim is to strengthen that position as we head into the business end of the season.”

With Davenport’s Focus beyond repair, the team will be fielding two of its race-winning Ford Focus STs as the season gets back underway this weekend. Fortunately, the 24-year-old has made excellent progress and is now recuperating at home and although he will not race again this season, his physio programme is well underway and he is expected to make a full recovery.

The outcome of the accident however, means that the squad’s efforts are now focused not only on the coming weekend, but also on completing the build of the new third Focus in time for the next round at Knockhill which follows just two weeks later.

“It’s great to see Luke recovering now and we're all looking positively to the rest of our season;” added Collins. “Snetterton holds a lot of good memories for us. We unveiled the first-ever Motorbase Performance designed and built BTCC car here five years ago and we've had some really good results there.”

“We enjoyed our strongest race meeting of the season here in 2016, but that’s all in the past. You can't rule anyone out, such is the strength of the grid and the recent test at Snetterton showed up some interesting results. It’s going to be another very close grid again this weekend.”

Rounds 16, 17 and 18 of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will be broadcast live and in high-definition on ITV4 and via the ITV Hub on Sunday 30 July between 1115 – 1800. Live streaming of Saturday’s qualifying session is also available via itv.com/btcc between 1550 and 1620.

Mat Jackson said:  “Croft was a real turning point in the season so far. There has been so much work behind the scenes at Motorbase to get back the pace we showed earlier in the season.

“We had an extremely successful test at Snetterton during the break when we were able to test many changes to the car and hopefully we can build on our winning ways from Croft. We have enjoyed great success at Snetterton over the years and really hope that we can start the second half of the season with a bang!”

Martin Depper said: “I’m eagerly awaiting the second part of the season. I didn’t quite start the season with the pace I expected but we’ve all worked hard, and continue to iron out performance, hence Croft was my best weekend yet!

“Snetterton will be really one of continued development, and ideally my chance to move up the grid. As for the circuit itself, it’s one of the longest circuits we race on and where it’s all about your exit of corners, so that’s what I will be concentrating on.”

📈📉 This time last year... Who are the movers and shakers in #BTCC 2017?

How have the current top ten gone throughout the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season so far? Click the chart below to download the points tally tracker.

The 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship returns to action this weekend (29/30 July), as the series speeds into Snetterton following its traditional mid-season break.

Five events down, with five to go, and Britain’s premier motor sport showcase remains as unpredictable as ever.

Nine different drivers have already won races over the first half of the campaign, with a total of 14 competitors having reached the rostrum, but now it’s time for the business end of the calendar with 15 races to go and everything still to play for.

The BTCC is notoriously tight, competitive and fiercely-fought and this is borne out in the on-track action over the course of any given race weekend. When it comes to the quest for the coveted Drivers' Championship crown, the cream always rises to the top.

It may be little surprise, then, that reigning champion, Honda's Gordon Shedden, currently sits atop the standings as he hunts down a third BTCC title in a row, a feat last achieved some 30 years ago by Andy Rouse and one that has never been repeated in the modern era of Britain's most illustrious motor sport series.

That said, he is now the man with the target on his back and he will have to hold off experienced battler Rob Collard – just 11 points shy of the summit – and double champion Colin Turkington only a further point back as the BMWs lead the chasing pack.

Fourth-placed Ashley Sutton is next up in the championship chase, with the young Subaru star displaying some blistering form of late – securing a victory in each of the last two weekends and a trio of trips to the rostrum at Croft. His meteoric rise since joining the BTCC last season has been nothing short of spectacular, with some claiming 2017 could be his year, given that his current 20-point deficit could conceivably be overturned in just a single race.

Early pace-setter Tom Ingram, triple champion Matt Neal and another title-winner in Andrew Jordan are all within reach of the top of the table with a whole gaggle of others looking to force their way into contention with a significant tally of points still to play for.

Everyone in with even the slightest sniff of the championship lead will know that a single weekend can completely flip the outlook of the title tussle on its head. Competition will be as fierce as ever.

A huge crowd always descends on the Norfolk venue, with the summer festival season in full swing and many more will be tuning in to watch all of the action live and in high definition as always, over on ITV4.

Testing Times
A two-day test took place at Snetterton during the mid-season break, giving onlookers a rare glimpse of the form book.

It was Adrian Flux Subaru Racing’s Ashley Sutton that secured the fastest lap time, as he edged out early pace-setter Jack Goff, with the latter performing extremely well across both days in the Eurotech Racing Honda Civic Type R.

“We didn’t get too much testing in during the winter so it was really nice to have the two days,” said Sutton. “We really found the sweet spot, and we hooked it up to find a chunk of time on the second day. It sets things up well for the event here at Snetterton and the rest of the season.”

Goff fell just 0.059s shy of the leading time, but he significantly completed nearly 140 laps of the 2.97-mile circuit across the two days – gaining valuable data as he looks to return to winning ways.

“The title seems a long way away, but if you look at Gordon Shedden coming back from ninth in the championship to win it last year, then you never say never,” said Goff.

Much of the running was completed in scorching summer conditions – with track temperatures reaching more than 36C – but the Dunlop BluResponse wet tyres also saw some action when rain arrived on the second afternoon, meaning teams should be well prepared for all eventualities this weekend.

Timetable and tickets 
All three BTCC races on Sunday, 30 July – and the day’s other races – will be broadcast live and in high definition on ITV4. Those in attendance at the circuit can stay in touch with the commentary and live timing from every session, available at btcc.net/live throughout the weekend.

The support series on the TOCA package are also guaranteed to thrill, with a double-digit total of races set to entertain the crowds. Porsche Carrera Cup GB, Renault UK Clio Cup, F4 British Championship and the Ginettas will all be appearing, making for a jam-packed weekend of truly unmissable racing.

Tickets can be purchased on the gate at £15 on Saturday and £34 on Sunday, or £35 for the full weekend. Accompanied children aged 13 and under are admitted free. For further information and for advance purchases with discounts, see www.snetterton.co.uk or call 0843 453 9000. 

BTCC Series Organiser, TOCA, in conjunction with the FIA has overseen an inspection of three specific vehicles that were involved as part of the multi-car accident at Croft last month.

Luke Davenport (#300 Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo Ford Focus), Jeff Smith (#55 Eurotech Racing Honda Civic Type R) and Aron Smith (#40 MG Racing RCIB Insurance MG6) were all hospitalised following the accident. The three drivers suffered varied and significant injuries, but all have since been released from hospital and are on their respective roads to recovery.

TOCA this week invited representatives from the FIA Global Institute, MSA, BARC, RML, ATL, TOCA Technical Group and BTCC teams to a working group session, where the shells of the three vehicles were thoroughly inspected.

By analysing the comprehensive logged vehicle data, as well as the full suite of available on-board and external video footage, TOCA was able to recreate the angles at which the cars came into contact and understand how the damage was sustained.

Alan Gow, Series Director, said: "The BTCC uses the highest FIA safety regulations, so it was very clear and satisfying to note that all three cars stood up to the forces and impact of this high-speed accident entirely as expected. However, safety is a constantly progressive subject and the primary purpose of this exercise was to both see what could be learned and if current safety requirements could be developed further - not just for the BTCC but for Touring Cars generally."