2009 British Touring Car Championship
The 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship season will be the 52nd British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season. It is also the second time that the championship is sponsored by HiQ.
Entries
The 2009 BTCC entry list won't be revealed until March but some entry news has already been announced.
- SEAT have announced that they have ended their participation as a manufacturer in the BTCC. Jason Plato and Darren Turner have had their contracts terminated and are both currently without a touring car drive for 2009.[1]
- Erkut Kızılırmak has announced he won't compete in the 2009 BTCC, instead chosing to focus on his domestic Turkish Touring Car Championship in his Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch. He intends to return in 2010.[2]
- Clyde Valley Racing will enter next season's BTCC, and they will run a pair of bio-fuel SEAT Leons. Former BTCC race winner Dan Eaves & rookie Phiroze Bilimoria will be the team's drivers. [3]
- Michael Doyle could possibly return to the BTCC in 2009, after the Scot received some major backing from the Scottish Sun. [4]
- Team RAC could expand to run 3 cars for the 2009 Season, if the budget can be found. Colin Turkington has signed on for another year.[5]
- Andrew Jordan will return with a Eurotech-run Vauxhall Vectra. His father Mike will step back from driving to mentor his son and look after the running of the operation
- Motorbase Performance are returning next year with the same BMWs and the same drivers. A third car is a possibility.
Possible Teams and drivers
- Key to classes: M = Manufacturer, I = Independent
| No. | Driver | Team | Car | Cl. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Fabrizio Giovanardi
|
VX Racing | Vauxhall Vectra | M |
| 78 |  Andrew Jordan
|
Team Eurotech | Vauxhall Vectra | I |
| 85 |  Phiroze Bilimoria
|
Clyde Valley Racing | Seat Leon | I |
| 86 | Dan Eaves
|
Clyde Valley Racing | Seat Leon | I |
| 4 |  Colin Turkington
|
Team RAC | BMW 320si | I |
| TBC | Rob Collard
|
Motorbase Performance | BMW 320si | I |
| TBC | Steven Kane
|
Motorbase Performance | BMW 320si | I |
| TBC | TBC | Motorbase Performance | BMW 320si | I |
| TBC | TBC | TBC | Ford Focus ST | M |
| TBC | TBC | TBC | Ford Focus ST | M |
| TBC | TBC | TBC | Ford Focus ST | M |
Calendar
The 2009 season will again have ten race weekends with three BTCC rounds at each. Provisional dates have now been announced by series organisers.[6]
| Round | Circuit | Date | Pole Position | Fastest Lap | Winning Driver | Winning Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brands Hatch Indy | 5 April | ||||
| 2 | ||||||
| 3 | ||||||
| 4 | Thruxton | 26 April | ||||
| 5 | ||||||
| 6 | ||||||
| 7 | Donington Park | 17 May | ||||
| 8 | ||||||
| 9 | ||||||
| 10 | Oulton Park | 31 May | ||||
| 11 | ||||||
| 12 | ||||||
| 13 | Croft | 14 June | ||||
| 14 | ||||||
| 15 | ||||||
| 16 | Snetterton | 2 August | ||||
| 17 | ||||||
| 18 | ||||||
| 19 | Knockhill | 16 August | ||||
| 20 | ||||||
| 21 | ||||||
| 22 | Silverstone | 30 August | ||||
| 23 | ||||||
| 24 | ||||||
| 25 | Rockingham | 20 September | ||||
| 26 | ||||||
| 27 | ||||||
| 28 | Brands Hatch GP | 4 October | ||||
| 29 | ||||||
| 30 |
References
- ^ http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70472 SEAT to quit series at end of 2009
- ^ http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70681 Kizilirmak to switch cars for Brands
- ^ http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68172 Clyde Valley Racing to enter BTCC 2009
- ^ http://www.crash.net/motorsport/btcc/news/168800-0/doyle_secures_early_09_backing.html Doyle Secures Early Backing for 2009
- ^ http://www.crash.net/motorsport/btcc/news/169377-0/rac_could_expand_for_09.html Team RAC Could Expand For 2009
- ^ [1] BTCC announced 2009 calendar