ITV SPORT AND BTCC IN GROUND-BREAKING MOVE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA GIANT
TOCA – organisers of the BTCC – is delighted to announce today (27 March) that every race of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will be streamed LIVE around the globe via TikTok, thanks to a world-first agreement with its partners at ITV Sport.
This ground-breaking agreement is in addition to the BTCC’s expansive and existing UK television contract with the ITV network, which sees around eight hours of broadcast - live and free - from each event across ITV4 and ITVX, as well as the continued highlights and catch-up offerings across the network.
As the BTCC continues to look to bring the championship to a new audience, an agreement has been finalised to ensure that EVERY race will also be streamed LIVE and IN FULL via the ITV Sport TikTok channel – both in the UK and globally.
It is the first ever sport to be streamed live via TikTok by ITV Sport, and it is also thought that it is the first major sporting organisation to stream its entire competition all season across the giant social media platform.
Following its launch in 2016, TikTok has since become one of the world's most popular online platforms, now reaching more than one billion active monthly users worldwide, with some 45% of those in the 18-34 age group, whilst women make up around 57% of all users - further highlighting ways in which the BTCC will be brought to a new, younger and more diverse demographic.
The announcement is also fantastic news for the BTCC’s loyal global fanbase, as this agreement will see every race in the UK’s premier motorsport championship broadcast live right around the world for the first time in its illustrious 66-year history.
This forward-thinking world-first decision is one of the most significant in the history of the BTCC and the result of a broadcasting strategy review that started in September last year. Details of the full broadcast schedule will be published over the coming weeks.
The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship comprises 30 races across 10 race weekends at the UK’s finest circuits, with the season opener taking place at Donington Park on 27/28 April.
Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “This is a truly ground-breaking move for the BTCC. I’m incredibly proud that we will be the first major motorsport championship in the world to have its entire race season streamed live on TikTok. It’s the real ‘cherry on the top’ of our ongoing and vast UK coverage, which is live and free on ITV4 and ITVX.
“Most importantly, this agreement will introduce the BTCC to a massive new and completely different demographic – a younger and more diverse audience – which is exactly what we, and in fact all of motorsport, are looking to achieve. This is very big news for the BTCC, our teams and our partners as we cement the future of the UK’s most prestigious motorsport championship.”
Andrew Hill, Senior Producer at ITV Sport, said: “This is a hugely exciting and innovative development in ITV’s production of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship. Live streaming BTCC races on TikTok, alongside our regular ITV4 and ITVX coverage, will help us to reach a much wider audience and enable a new generation of fans to enjoy the thrills and spills of the number-one championship in British motor racing.”
A natural amphitheatre offering unrivalled views of the action from various vantage points, Brands Hatch is known as one of Britain’s best-loved motor racing circuits. Its unique combination of dips, cambers, fearsome corners and hills means it is still one of the world’s most renowned racing venues. The BTCC has been going to Brands Hatch since the series began back in 1958.
The 2024 campaign will see the BTCC call into Brands Hatch for both the second event of the season as well as the finale, and the action-packed Indy layout is set to host the initial visit to Kent, with Rounds 4, 5 & 6 of the campaign, on 11/12 May.
The historic race track has seen some spectacular BTCC entertainment over the many years the championship has been visiting, and has been the scene of many a nail-biting finale.
Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing has today (27 March) revealed the striking new livery that will adorn the Vauxhall Astra challengers of Árón Taylor-Smith and Mikey Doble for the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season.
The unveiling sees Evans Halshaw feature prominently across the two front-wheel-drive machines, as well as the race suits of Taylor-Smith and Doble, after being announced as the new title sponsors of the Worcestershire-based squad last week.
Showcasing a number of other key commercial partnerships as well, both cars - decked out in their now recognisable blue, yellow and white colour scheme - look set to be two of the most eye-catching cars on the grid.
This season will see the team compete in the UK’s premier motorsport series looking to go one better in both the Independent Teams’ and Drivers’ Championship, having claimed runners-up laurels in each category last year.
Multiple race-winner Taylor-Smith has his sights set on adding to his silverware collection whilst Doble - who was one of the standout rookies in 2023 - is eager to capture the coveted Jack Sears Trophy.
Adam Weaver, Power Maxed Racing Team Principal, said: “We’re extremely proud to continue working with all of our fantastic partners, as well welcoming some new ones, ahead of what promises to be another ultra-competitive year in the BTCC.
“Everyone has been working extremely hard behind the scenes so it is great to finally be able to showcase our new look. The real work begins next month but with the developments on the cars we’ve undertaken - and the testing schedule we’ve got in place - we’re feeling confident.”
“Flying the Evans Halshaw branding this year has injected even more life into the entire Power Maxed Racing crew and the car really does looks incredible,” added Irishman Taylor-Smith.
“To be able to build on all of our fantastic partnerships very exciting too. Everything has really come alive - from the car, to the suits and all of the team wear - which is fantastic to see. It’s a bit cliché but if the car goes as well as it looks we should be on for a great season.”
“I think the new livery is going to kick a new lease of life into the Astra this year,” concluded Doble. “It’s got a very modern appeal to it and I reckon it’’s going to look even smarter when its out on-track.
“As always, it’s great to welcome new sponsors onboard and I hope they, as well as the amazing BTCC fans, enjoy our eye-catching new livery, race wear and merchandise this season.”
The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season officially launches at Donington Park on Tuesday 16th April before returning to the Leicestershire venue a little over one week later for the opening rounds on the 27-28 April.
The return to the Donington Park GP circuit produced the most significant headline when the schedule was announced for the 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and we are glad to have the layout back on the calendar for 2024.
Whilst the venue is famed for many reasons – including the notorious Ayrton Senna performance in the 1993 European Grand Prix – it has also produced some unforgettable BTCC memories.
The last BTCC race took place on the layout before its calendar break was in 2002, when the race winners were James Thompson in a Vauxhall Astra Coupe and Alan Morrison in a Honda Civic Type R, but the venue hosted many iconic moments beforehand.