Tom Ingram has doubled up by topping both Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Free Practice sessions at Brands Hatch.

The Toyota star set the pace earlier this morning, but the 23-year-old improved his time by 0.006s in the second 40-minute run. Ingram waited until the closing minutes to complete the lap in this particular session, firing out a warning to his rivals in the process.

“I’m piling the pressure on myself here, aren’t I!" said Ingram. "We spent a lot of that session playing around with the balance of the car and we are still a couple of tenths away from our pole-setting pace last year, so there is a fairly big chunk to come – we’ve by no means given everything we’ve got. I’m sure some people will have been running with a fair bit of weight on-board in FP2, so it will be interesting to see where everybody else is in qualifying in terms of out-and-out pace.”

Eurotech's Jack Goff led the way for much of the running before Adam Morgan's Ciceley Mercedes took over at the top. The Mac Tools-backed A-Class looked to have clinched bragging rights until Ingram's late lap, but Morgan was still pretty happy with second place.

"We’ve brought in a new engineer team during the off-season and they have done a magnificent job with the car," commented Morgan. "It just feels so nice to drive and it’s always good to be up at the sharp end. A few people probably haven’t done a qualifying sim yet, but we’re working on our own strategy and we’re happy where we are.

"It’s busy out there and getting a clean lap will be critical – fingers crossed we’ll be in the right place at the right time come qualifying."

Goff held on to third from triple-champion Matt Neal, with Halfords Yuasa Racing maintaining its usual steady progress throughout both practice sessions.

Rob Austin and Colin Turkington backed up their top ten pace from the first session by taking fifth and sixth respectively in the second run. The Handy Motorsport Toyota of Austin enjoyed good form in the latter half of the 2o16 season, as well as a promising pre-season this time around, whilst Colin Turkington's return to BMW is ominously building momentum.

Jeff Smith produced a stellar lap to claim seventh – making it two Eurotech Hondas in the top ten – whilst Aron Taylor-Smith has settled into his new MG surroundings well with eighth. Young Senna Proctor starred in ninth for Vauxhall, ahead of 2013 Champion Andrew Jordan.

A number of the big guns failed to show their hand, with Adrian Flux Subaru Racing in particular enduring a tough session. With the top 28-cars being covered by less than 0.9s the quartet of Subarus could only manage 28th, 29th, 31st and 32nd in the order.

2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice Two – Brands Hatch (Indy):

1 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport 48.158s (90.29 mph)
2 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +0.086s
3 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.091s
4 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.165s
5 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +0.260s
6 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.301s
7 Jeff SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.341s
8 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.354s
9 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.366s
10 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.373s
11 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.382s
12 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.401s
13 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.411s
14 Michael EPPS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +0.434s
15 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +0.436s
16 Daniel LLOYD (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.508s
17 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat with Duo +0.529s
18 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.564s
19 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +0.592s
20 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +0.594s
21 Josh COOK (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +0.690s
22 Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +0.718s
23 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.724s
24 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +0.739s
25 Luke DAVENPORT (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.819s
26 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.847s
27 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.868s
28 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.888s
29 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.072s
30 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +1.097s
31 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.290s
32 Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +2.277s

Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram has set the pace in the opening 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Free Practice session at Brands Hatch.

The young Toyota driver was fastest during official pre-season testing at Donington Park recently, and the pace of his newly facelifted Avensis has been further proven around the 1.27-mile Indy Circuit. Ingram's form at the Kent venue is of little surprise as the 23-year-old scored his first BTCC pole position and race victory here in 2016.

"We've got more time to find, but it's always good to be at the top of the timesheets," said Ingram.

Ingram's lap was clocked early in the session, whilst the BMW trio showed their hand towards the end of the 40-minutes. Rob Collard took second ahead of stablemate Andrew Jordan, whilst WSR returnee Colin Turkington claimed sixth. Among the BMWs were the Mercedes of Adam Morgan and Honda of Gordon Shedden in fourth and fifth respectively.

Four different teams completed the top ten positions as Subaru new boy Ashley Sutton grabbed seventh ahead of Eurotech's Jack Goff. MG manufacturer driver Aron Taylor-Smith was ninth ahead of Handy Motorsport's Rob Austin. The Toyota of Austin was also in the wars after mid-session contact with the Vauxhall Astra of Tom Chilton, although both continued with only superficial damage to their bodywork.

The session was stopped briefly to retrieve the car of Aiden Moffat after an issue sent his car spiralling into the Clearways gravel, with no blame apportioned to the young Scottish driver.

An incredible 26 cars were seperated by less than a second, suggesting we are in for a nail-biting FP2 and qualifying session later today.

2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice One – Brands Hatch (Indy):

1 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport 48.164s (90.28 mph)
2 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +0.117s
3 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.139s
4 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +0.156s
5 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.168s
6 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.182s
7 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.329s
8 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.342s
9 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.374s
10 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +0.387s
11 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.520s
12 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.523s
13 Michael EPPS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +0.533s
14 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +0.548s
15 Daniel LLOYD (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.565s
16 Jeff SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.585s
17 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.589s
18 Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +0.680s
19 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.715s
20 Josh COOK (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +0.772s
21 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat with Duo +0.775s
22 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.780s
23 Luke DAVENPORT (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.853s
24 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.884s
25 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +0.909s
26 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.980s
27 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1.116s
28 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +1.120s
29 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +1.136s
30 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.165s
31 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.566s
32 Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +2.067s

Halfords Yuasa Racing has announced a new sponsorship agreement with JewelUltra Ltd and its Diamondbrite offering ahead of the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

The deal sees one of the leading suppliers of automotive paint protection and cleaning products join the highly-successful team.

Marketing Manager for Jewelultra Ltd, Lance Boseley, said: ‘In this our 25th year of trading we see this as a fantastic opportunity for us to partner one of the BTCC's leading teams, and we know this will give us the brand recognition and exposure we are seeking but also the social media coverage and leverage we desire. We are really excited to be joining the team and are very much looking forward to this being a long and successful relationship.’

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with DUO is gearing up for the return of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship this coming weekend as the hotly-anticipated 2017 season gets underway at the iconic Brands Hatch circuit (1-2 April).

The Motorbase-run trio of Ford Focus STs piloted by Mat Jackson, Martin Depper and Luke Davenport faces fierce competition this year, with a capacity grid of 32 cars confirmed for the campaign. Five former champions will be challenging for the coveted BTCC crown, and with an incredible 16 race winners lined-up, the Wrotham-based outfit is preparing for its most competitive season to date.

“BTCC is back!” commented Team Boss David Bartrum. “After a long and busy winter, the new season is upon us and I feel we're ready for our strongest attack on an outright championship victory. We celebrated our best season ever last year and we’re ready to take it to the next level.”

2016 ended on a high note with the Motorbase squad securing both the Independent Teams and Drivers’ titles to commemorate its 10th Anniversary of racing in the BTCC.  The Focus ST was also one of the best performing cars on the grid, clocking up 7 wins and 7 podiums with Mat Jackson topping the table of most race wins for the season whilst leading the most laps throughout the 30-round crusade.

 “We've strengthened the team in all areas behind the scenes over the winter;” Bartrum continued. “We've had a good pre-season test program, our strongest to date, and we've got three eye-catching yellow Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo cars ready to do battle.  All three drivers are up for the challenge so it’s time to let the racing do the talking!”

The Focus ST has undergone a number of improvements and developments over the winter with the Team Shredded Wheat Racing with DUO squad clocking up over a season’s worth of mileage during its intense pre-season test programme.

“The whole grid has become even stronger over the winter;” explained Bartrum. “Driving standards have improved, the competition is even stronger and it’s all adding up to be another fantastic campaign. Lots of teams have carried out testing over the winter and they all have the same aim as us, so Brands is going to be an absolute classic! I feel sure it will be a very close season and reliability and consistency will be the key to glory when we return to Brands Hatch in October.”

Mat Jackson said: “We’ve got some great mileage behind us from testing and we’ve learnt a lot about the new Dunlop tyres so it will be interesting to see how it all plays out on the track this weekend. We go into the weekend in a good place, we know we have a strong car in the Focus and the changes we’ve made over the winter should help to keep us on the edge but this year is going to be closer than ever.

“This is the by far the strongest grid we’ve seen in a long time and the wins and podiums are going to be even harder to come by. Brands has been kind to us in the past and a strong start in qualifying is going to be pivotal in getting our campaign off on the best footing.”

Martin Depper said: “I’m really looking forward to getting back out on track this weekend. We’ve had a great test programme and the new Dunlop tyre has given us a few more things to think about, but I’m sure it’s going to be great for the racing and make the grid even closer this season.

“Brands is really going to be interesting, everyone has had a busy winter and played their cards close to their chest so it’s all to play for when all 32 cars get together on the same piece of tarmac for the first time this weekend!”

Luke Davenport #300 said: “I’m going into the first round with my eyes open! I know that the racing is going to be nothing like I’ve experienced before, but I’m going in to the weekend with a good knowledge of the car and a good knowledge of the circuit so I’m feeling as well prepared as I can be.

“I do feel like I can be a contender for the Jack Sears Trophy this season but my targets for this weekend are to perform above the team’s expectations and to do the sponsors proud. Any pots that I pick up along the way are a bonus!”

The 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season gets underway with rounds one, two and three held at Brands Hatch Circuit, Kent on 1-2 April. Live coverage of Sunday's events will be shown on ITV4, ITV4HD and via the ITV Hub from 10:15 – 18:15; with itv.com/btcc featuring live timing and streaming of Saturday's qualifying session between 15:40 – 16:10.

The 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is just around the corner, with the season-opener set to take place at Brands Hatch this weekend, and Team HARD is aiming high.

In November, Team Principal, Tony Gilham, announced that the outfit had re-purchased its trio of Volkswagen CCs – three race-winning machines that the Kent squad originally built, prepared and ran in the championship back in 2013. Gilham was delighted to be re-united with the cars, and believes they will be a force to be reckoned with in RML specification.

“Bringing the VWs to the BTCC was our brainchild back in 2011, so it feels like we have some unfinished business with them,” he said. “It was a good car out of the box then and was still winning races last season with the older kit onboard. With all three VWs updated to RML-spec over the winter and believe we have a really strong package.

“We’re coming off the back of a solid year with three older cars, but now we feel we’re ready to step up and become extremely competitive."

TAG Racing's Jake Hill returns and is looking to build on a string of positive performances at Team HARD last year – starting on home turf in Kent.

Six top ten, and a hatful of points finishes signalled what was certainly an impressive first full campaign in the championship for Hill and the 23-year-old is looking to strengthen his charge for 2017 as he looks to class wins and the podium.

“It was fantastic to complete my first season in BTCC, I learned so much and am hugely grateful to Tony (Gilham) and all the team’s and our partners for making it possible. I was often in the top-ten and battling with all of the championship contenders at some point, so with the Volkswagen CC as a much stronger package I aim to be in the top ten most of the time now, and want to secure podiums and Independents' wins.”

Hill’s distinctive TAG Racing No.24 machine has shown strong pace in the limited testing so far, even running in the rain at Rockingham recently, and has given Hill and his team-mates Michael Epps and Will Burns confidence that the car will be competitive.

“This year everyone is running the same RML parts, we all have more power and wider tyres and most people feel it will be the most competitive year for a long time. There are 32 teams and drivers that are all capable of running at the front so it will be incredibly tough. But we have some great people in the team, I have a year’s experience now and the support of TAG Racing, RCIB Insurance and Auto Aid Breakdown on my car."

BRDC ‘Rising Star’ Hill has to travel less than 20 miles from Goudhurst to get to Brands Hatch, and is one of the instructors at the famous Brands Hatch Racing School, so in every way this is very much home for him and his team.

“I know I will have some great support from friends and family - my grandad is flying down from Scotland! I know the place so well, but it will be crazily competitive - less than a second will cover the whole grid, so it will be pretty tough but I just can’t wait!”

Michael Epps, of Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing under the Team HARD banner, concurred with his team-mate and is also optimistic.

"I’m very excited about the new car," said Epps. "It’s the first time I’ve been in a touring car with equipment that is on a par with those around me this year.

"Last year, the car I had was one of seven running GPRM-spec. Now we’ve got the same platform to work with, and we’ve quickly got up to speed with things, we’ve been out-of-the-box fast.

"It’s a great pairing between the VW CC with RML parts and the new TOCA engine. If we stay reliable, I’m sure we’ll have a good year."

Rookie Will Burns joins the Team HARD stable for 2017 and was left impressed following an 'enjoyable' Season Launch test session.

"I was nervous at Season Launch with the media duties and such like in the morning but I quickly relaxed and embraced the whole day – I really enjoyed it," Burns said.

"I couldn’t believe it really. When I used to race in British GT’s support classes there weren’t half as many people watching on a race day as there were at Donington Park for the BTCC test, so it was a bit mad. I’m just looking forward to new surroundings and hopefully I can do well."

Huddersfield’s Daniel Lloyd is all set for the biggest challenge of his racing career as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship roars back into action at Brands Hatch in Kent this coming weekend (April 1-2).

Having recently secured a ‘dream’ factory drive with the manufacturer-based MG RCIB Insurance Racing squad alongside fellow new signing Aron Taylor-Smith, Lloyd is set to join the most competitive BTCC grid in years, with 16 race-winners making up half of the 32-car strong line-up competing for the most coveted crown in British motorsport.

A huge crowd is expected to descend on the 1.2mile Brands Hatch Indy circuit where Lloyd will make his racing debut in the MG Motor MG6; run by multiple title winners Triple Eight Racing. After impressing during his three appearances during the 2016 season – securing front row starts at Croft and Oulton Park - the 25-year-old is eager to build on his performance with a full season campaign ahead of him.

“This weekend is massive for me and my supporters;” enthused Lloyd. “Going into the opening round at Brands Hatch as part of a works-backed team, and representing the MG brand on the grid, is fantastic and I can’t wait to go racing again.

“We had a bumpy start to testing, but the team pulled out all of the stops and turned it around and we’ve managed to get some decent mileage under our belts. The MG is a proven race winning car and we have a great team behind the scenes so we’re going into the opening round in good form.”

“The first round is always an interesting one and the new Dunlop tyre has thrown even more into the mix this weekend,” added Lloyd. “Obviously we all know what we’ve been working on but none of us know what the other teams have in the bag, so it’s always a bit of a step into the unknown.”

“This weekend is all about consistency and making sure that we qualify well to keep ourselves in the mix. It’s such a competitive grid this year, all points are going to hard-fought but this championship is all about the long-game and I feel sure that we’ll be in amongst the main players.”

Eurotech Racing's Jack Goff has his feet firmly under the table having joined the squad over the off-season, and the High Wycombe racer heads to Brands Hatch this weekend with an air of confidence.

Last season was something of a frustration for the 26-year-old. Were it not for a coming-together at Thruxton, Goff could have left Hampshire top of the pile in terms of the championship race. In fact, he garnered the most fastest laps of any driver in 2016 – no mean feat. The pace was evident but sometimes the rub of the green was not.

"I think we were very unlucky last year," said Goff. "If you look back, I think it was Thruxton, the third round of the championship where we had an incident with (Gordon) Shedden. If it wasn’t for that, we’d have come out of there leading the championship.

"At Snetterton we had a problem in race two that meant we had to start at the back of the grid for race three so there’s another two races gone. At Oulton Park I had a problem on the grid too and at Rockingham I was taken out of two races through no fault of my own.

"Anyone can point to things like this, of course, but we know we had the pace last year. We had four fastest laps, which is the most out of anybody on the grid. We need to keep that pace and we just need a little bit of luck on our side too."

Heading into 2017, Goff returns to front-wheel drive machinery at Eurotech Racing in the shape of its Honda Civic Type R. With a strong pre-season behind him, and plenty of time to settle into new surroundings, he heads to Brands Hatch in positive mood.

"I know I’ve chopped and changed between front and rear-wheel drive in recent years," continued Goff. "It was easier going back to front-wheel drive as it’s what I’ve raced most throughout my career, going back to the Clios and even before that.

"With the RWD it was relatively unknown but with FWD it was there in the back of my mind so it’s been a bit easier.

"I’ve slotted in straight away with Eurotech Racing. They’re a great bunch and I’m loving the car so it’s all looking quite positive at the moment.

"If you’re feeling at ease with everyone around you then that makes life a lot easier. We have a bit of banter but we’re very focussed on the job which is to go out there and win races.

"We’re feeling quite confident heading to Brands Hatch. We know what we’re doing but we don’t know what everyone else has been doing.

"We have different tyres this year to learn. The car ran last year in RML specification but we were running a slightly narrower tyre in 2016 so we’re learning things over again slightly though the guys are fantastic both in the engineering department and in the garage.

"Together we’ve been getting through different programmes, we’re all working hard and we feel we’ve really been getting somewhere."

Team BMW rounded off its pre-season testing programme on Monday ahead of shakedown and on-site preparations in Kent with this weekend's opening round of the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch looming large.

Colin Turkington is set to make his return to rear-wheel drive BMW machinery and to the team that made him a double BTCC champion, West Surrey Racing.

The Ulsterman feels the team is in good shape and he will be looking for consistent points to open his Team BMW account.

“The focus for this weekend is to be consistent and score well in each race," said Turkington. "It’s a long season ahead but I’m confident we can hit the ground running. 

"One change for this season is the new construction Dunlop tyres and we now use the hard compound tyre at half of the events, compared to just two last season.  This is sure to bring about additional challenges to those circuits, but one that our engineering team will certainly get to grips with. 

'The winter has passed quickly for me but I feel ready to start the season and have prepared to the best of my ability. 

"A little warmup last weekend at Goodwood was a great training exercise for me and I had a fantastic time.  It was a great feeling to be back in the racing environment and I’m excited to get our BTCC campaign going on Saturday.”

Halfords Yuasa Racing team-mates Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal are eager to confirm their pre-season potential when the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship returns this weekend at Brands Hatch.
 
Shedden concluded the 2016 campaign by fighting to a third title in the UK’s premier motor sport series in dramatic fashion, with Neal also heading into the thrilling season finale with a very real shout of lifting the laurels.
 
The Honda Civic Type R has undergone a comprehensive development programme over the winter months, with particular attention on the new Dunlop Sport Maxx tyre that will be introduced this year.
 
Shedden and fellow three-time BTCC champion Neal have been out on-track at Parcmotor Castellolí in Spain and various British circuits in recent weeks, and both men are in positive mood as the start of the season speeds rapidly into view.
 
“Testing has gone well," started Shedden. "There has been plenty of learning with the new Dunlop tyres, but I think we’re getting our heads around it all and I’m in a reasonably happy place right now.

"The week in Spain was really beneficial and highlighted a few things we needed to work on early in our preparations. That ensured we were on the right track by the time we got back to the UK and the car feels good.

"It actually feels different to last year – the tyres have had more of an effect than I’d expected, to be honest – but we seem to be increasingly unlocking the little Civic Type R’s potential.

"Of course, the one thing we don’t know at this stage is how quick everybody else will be, but what’s for sure is that it’s going to be insanely close in qualifying at Brands Hatch with the whole field on zero ballast – you’re going to need to absolutely nail your lap if you want a good starting position.

"I really believe the difference between first and last on the grid this season could be the smallest it’s ever been. The quality stretches further down the field than in recent years, meaning it will all come down to hundredths – if not indeed thousandths – of a second.”
 
Neal echoed his team mates' thoughts on what both see as an ultra-competitive field this year.

Neal said: “This is the first year in a while that we will arrive at the opening round with a sorted chassis and sorted engine, which bodes well. In recent seasons, we’ve tended to be a bit last minute because we’ve always had something new to introduce.

"That said, the calibre of the field in 2017 will certainly make our lives harder! There are some very good driver and car combinations out there, which is what everybody wants to see – if the BTCC wasn’t a challenge, we wouldn’t be here. Everybody is going to have good and bad weekends – that’s inevitable, particularly this year as getting to grips with the new Dunlop tyre has been a learning curve for us all – but our goal is to be as consistent as we possibly can be over the course of the campaign.

"I never like to be confident, because I think confidence breeds complacency, but I’m feeling good and three solid results at Brands has to be the goal; of course it would be lovely to come away with a win or even a podium, but points in the bag are the main priority. I think we should be in with as good a chance as anybody else.”

The 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship fires into life at Brands Hatch next weekend (1-2 April) with the most successful grid in its history, as an extraordinary 16 race-winners and a host of challengers get set to battle for the most coveted prize in British motor sport.

A capacity 32-strong field tallying an astonishing 329 victories between them – the very best touring car talent – will take to the 1.2-mile Indy circuit in front of what is always a huge crowd at the famous Kent venue.

Honda's Gordon Shedden clinched the crown after a breathless end to 2016. In a tussle between eight drivers heading into the final weekend, it was the Scotsman who prevailed to take his third BTCC title. He faces a daunting challenge if he is to retain it this time around as he bids to make it a record-equalling three in a row, matching Andy Rouse's efforts more than 30 years ago.

There are two new manufacturer entries on the list for 2017, with Vauxhall making its eagerly-anticipated return and the famous colours of BMW joining the fold, ready to contest the honours alongside Honda, Subaru and MG. A a host of further outfits will be in the fight for outright Teams' glory.

The BTCC will again comprise 30 races across ten events at nine different venues around the UK. All of the action will be played out in front of an audience of hundreds of thousands of fans trackside and many millions more watching live and free-to-air via the championship's long-term partner ITV on ITV4, ITV Hub and online at itv.com/btcc alongside extensive highlights programmes.

Five Star
Five manufacturers will take to the grid this season, with BMW and Vauxhall making their much-vaunted returns to Britain's biggest motor racing contest. They will compete alongside Honda, MG and Subaru – the latter looking to build on a storming debut season which sets the bar high for the new boys.

Gordon Shedden is the champion incumbent and is back with Honda – as is long-time team-mate and fellow triple-champ Matt Neal. With an intensive winter testing programme and a chassis-engine-driver combination proven many times over, there is no reason to believe Halfords Yuasa Racing's challenge will in any way weaken. The newly-liveried stealth black Civic Type R with signature orange flashes is certainly the car with the target on its rear bumper.

On its return, BMW aligns with West Surrey Racing – running a trio of 125i M Sports. The addition of factory support from the Bavarian giant has only served to galvanise WSR's bid to hammer home its authority as the current Manufacturers' and Teams' title-holders. In a move that will surely have sent shivers down the spine of many of the Northern Irishman's rivals, rear-wheel drive specialist Colin Turkington has re-signed for the team – one that made him a double champion in 2009 and 2014. Rob Collard has agreed a new deal with the Surrey squad, while reigning Independent Drivers' champion Andrew Jordan joins the stable under the BMW Pirtek Racing banner. All three challenged right down to the wire for last year's overall Drivers' honours.

Subaru's first foray into the BTCC in 2016 threw a cat amongst the pigeons, with the Japanese marque making a quantum leap forward mid-season, as both Turkington and Jason Plato vied for race wins on a regular basis. The former has since moved to pastures new, but Plato remains. The series' record race-winner is hungrier than ever for a third title. In practically every season since 1997, his inaugural campaign, Plato has been a top three contender. 

'JP' will be joined at Adrian Flux Subaru Racing by Jack Sears Trophy champion Ashley Sutton – a bright young prospect who enjoyed a stunning rookie year in 2016 – as well as James Cole and 18-year-old Renault UK Clio Cup graduate Josh Price, one of five newcomers looking to conquer the JST this season.

Power Maxed Racing’s Vauxhall Astra is one of the most intriguing propositions in the pack, with Tom Chilton reigniting his BTCC career six years on from his previous stint. Alongside the Surrey star will be Senna Proctor, who – like Price – will make his BTCC debut at Brands Hatch next month as he jumps up from Clio competition.

MG has undergone something of a transformation over the winter with Aron Taylor-Smith and Daniel Lloyd forming its new-look driver line-up. Taylor-Smith is a multiple race-winner while Lloyd offers young promise, having shown glimpses of his raw pace at a couple of race weekends last season. 

Indie labels
Looking to pick up from where they left off at the end of a watershed campaign in 2016 will be Motorbase. Following its maiden titles, the Independent Teams' champions field Shredded Wheat as their new headline sponsor and will run three striking yellow Ford Focus STs. Stalwart Mat Jackson resumes his longstanding relationship with the Kent-based squad, with Martin Depper and rookie Luke Davenport completing the triumvirate. The outfit will be looking for home comforts at Brands Hatch, and will surely be able to count on strong backing from the grandstands.

At Donington Park's official test accompanying the BTCC Season Launch in mid-March, the top seven times were set by Independent teams – perfectly illustrating how competitive the championship continues to be, and that Independents can more than mix it with the Manufacturers. Tom Ingram's Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis provided the benchmark time – underlining his potential, evidenced last year most notably with two race wins and a brace of pole positions. 

Handy Motorsport's Rob Austin, also wielding an Avensis, will be looking to build on a strong second half of 2016 after finishing just 0.1 seconds shy of the best on offer at Season Launch – an encouraging sign.

Another 2016 race-winner – including the Brands Hatch Indy opener no-less – hoping to step up to the next level is Adam Morgan. The Lancashire racer will be pushing to make good on work behind the scenes at Ciceley Motorsport, with newly-acquired Mac Tools backing adorning its beautiful Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Aiden Moffat in the sister Laser Tools Racing Mercedes has edged consistently closer to the front of the field and now has the top step of the podium firmly in his sights.

New chargers, BTC Norlin Racing started in the best possible way with two top ten times at Season Launch. Chris Smiley placed his striking grey Chevrolet third with Dave Newsham, making a full-campaign return to the BTCC, ninth. The name is new but the backbone of the team has experience, having previously competed in the series between 2006-2008 and again in 2014. The aim will be to spring a surprise or two, and that certainly isn't out of the realms of possibility.

Jack Goff has traded rear-wheel drive for front-wheel drive with a move to Eurotech, partnering Jeff Smith in the squad's brace of Honda Civic Type Rs. Team HARD, meanwhile, has traded its trio of Toyota Avensis’ for three Volkswagen CCs, with Jake Hill remaining on-board to pilot the TAG Racing entry and fellow returnee Michael Epps driving one of two Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing-branded cars alongside rookie Will Burns.
 
Matt Simpson is preparing for his second season in his eponymous Simpson Racing Honda Civic Type R, which is now being run by Honda powerhouse Team Dynamics. Two-time race-winner Stephen Jelley is a welcome ‘comeback kid’ eight years on from his last BTCC start as he lines up for Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport alongside Josh Cook, who claimed a brace of rostrum finishes in 2016 and is chasing his first victory in the series.
 
Ollie Jackson is back in AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts’ distinctive Audi S3, and he will be joined by reigning Renault UK Clio Cup Champion Ant Whorton-Eales, who will be eager to make a speedy impression. 

Ever-evolving
The BTCC's Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC) regulation refresh is complete, with the entire grid carrying the latest RML chassis, suspension and components for the first time in 2017 while an all-new TOCA powerplant has also been introduced. The resulting upturn in performance will be bolstered by Dunlop's new range of bigger Sport Maxx BTCC tyres – the series' title sponsor forecasting lap times may now be as much as a second per lap quicker.

Home comforts
A quartet of local teams – Motorbase, Team HARD, AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts and West Surrey Racing – will be hoping to impress at Brands Hatch.

Fresh off the back of its titles with then-driver Andrew Jordan sealing the Independent Drivers' laurels and the team itself comprehensively clinching Independent Teams' honours, Motorbase will be looking to continue its form into the new year. Team HARD and AmD, meanwhile, both showed flashes of form in 2016 and will be eager to shine on home turf. A strong start will surely be an expectation for those at WSR, now with BMW backing.
 
TAG Racing's Jake Hill is Kent born-and-bred, AmD man Ollie Jackson hails from Reigate, Surrey – as does Tom Chilton – while Matt Simpson is West Drayton-based, meaning all four of them count Brands as their BTCC backyard.

Timetable and tickets 
The opening race weekend of the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship begins on Saturday 1 April, with the entire race day on Sunday 2 April 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 over the whole weekend.
 
In addition to the BTCC, the support series on the TOCA package are set to deliver even more action to the fans at Brands Hatch. Sportscar fans will get their fix with races from the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup, Porsche Carrera Cup GB and Simpson Race Products Ginetta Junior Championship. The Renault UK Clio Cup – often seen as a stepping-stone to reaching the BTCC, with three new graduates this year alone – will also feature on the huge bill of British racing, as will the F4 British Championship.
 
Tickets for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season-opener at Brands Hatch (1-2 April) are available from £27 for adults, with free entry for children aged 13 and under. For more information call 0843 453 9000 or visit www.brandshatch.co.uk. All admission includes access to Sunday’s autograph session with the BTCC drivers in the pit lane, as well as free parking.