dunlop msa british touring car championship

Transcription

dunlop msa british touring car championship
DUNLOP
MSA BRITISH
TOURING CAR
CHAMPIONSHIP
www.btcc.net
Contents
02 Welcome
04 The Championship
08 The Contenders
12 NGTC
16 2012 Calendar
18 TV & Media
24 Sponsorship & Marketing
30 Hospitality
32 Spectator Appeal
36 TV & Spectator Data
40 Support Races
44 TOCA Team & Contacts
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
A few facts about the BTCC in 2011
35%
13%
18%
Record-equalling
number of makes
Increase in UK TV Increase in
viewing figures
spectator numbers
Welcome
06
02
Increase in UK TV
broadcast hours First five-way title
showdown
Record grid sizes
Whichever way you cut it, 2011
There was a further record in 2011
Our valued title sponsor
I’d like to express my sincere
has been a phenomenal year for
that was notable – our first five-
Dunlop has a continuing deep
gratitude and appreciation to
the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car
way title showdown at the final
passion and enthusiasm for
all our commercial and media
Championship.
round. The fact that five different
this championship and we are
partners, for everything they
drivers in four different makes of
delighted that its market share in
do for the BTCC. Similarly, thank
Our UK TV viewing figures rose
car from four different teams all
the UK has increased through its
you to the many hundreds of
by a staggering average of 35
had a chance of the big prize on
involvement and key message of
volunteer marshals and officials
per cent, our UK TV airtime is up
‘Finals Day’ speaks volumes for the
‘motorsport technology for the
for the excellent work they do
by more than 50 per cent, our
level – yet unpredictable – playing
road’. Reinvigorated as a brand
at our race events and also to
trackside attendance numbers
field that this championship
and with a number of exciting
our millions of fans in both the
rose by a further 13 per cent and
prides itself on providing. And
new products in the wings, its use
UK and internationally, who are
our grid sizes are now at record
that is exactly what’s also proving
of the BTCC as a vibrant part of
among the most passionate
levels. Quite obviously we must be
increasingly attractive to entrants
its broader marketing strategy will
and enthusiastic in motor sport
doing something right…
and their sponsors; hence our
take on increased importance in
anywhere in the world.
record grid sizes. Eight different
the coming years.
Within this brochure you can
For the first time in almost 20 years
drivers scored wins and a further
we also had ten different makes
seven also scored podium results.
Our broadcaster ITV’s thirst for
indulge in the quite exceptional
of car on our grid, largely thanks
Six teams celebrated race wins
the championship is seemingly
story that is the BTCC. The statistics
to our Next Generation Touring
and five more scored outright
insatiable, as it continually
underline the astonishing growth
Car (NGTC) regulations, which
podium results as, during the
explores new avenues through
this fabulous championship
have enabled new teams and
course of the 30-race season, the
which to relay the action – and
continues to achieve. Quite
cars to embark on the big BTCC
championship lead changed
in 2011 provided the BTCC with
simply, no other motor sport
adventure and delivered an
hands an incredible 13 times…
an unprecedented 128 hours
championship in the UK comes
exciting glimpse into the future
which is another record.
of scheduling on ITV4, ITV1 and
remotely close to the level of
ITV4 HD. Just think about that
TV coverage, viewer numbers,
direction of the championship.
Unsurprisingly, there is now a
We are, of course, blessed with
figure for a moment: 128 hours
spectator attendance,
proliferation of existing, new and
an enviable line-up of fantastic
of prime scheduling on the UK’s
media coverage or quality of
returning teams setting about
commercial and media partners.
largest commercial TV network.
competition. We are, by a colossal
developing NGTC-spec cars for
The fact they have been (and
It is an absolutely astounding
margin, the biggest and the
2012 and onwards, which means
remain) on board for the long-
commitment from ITV and is,
best in the UK and for very good
the BTCC’s ‘wow factor’ will step
term is a reflection of all the effort
by far, the broadest television
reason… as will be shown in the
up to yet another level.
that we as the organiser, our
coverage of any British motor-
following pages.
venues, our teams, their drivers
racing series – ever. And with our
and their sponsors all put into
live TV audience figures increasing
making the BTCC one of the
by some 35 per cent this year, its
greatest shows on the road.
commitment to this championship
Best wishes for a successful 2012.
is being well and truly repaid.
Alan J Gow
BTCC Series Director
07
03
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
The Championship
From strength to strength
04
The British Touring Car
Championship is one of the bestloved, most illustrious and famous
motor racing championships in
the world. Since its inception in
1958 – only Formula 1 and the
NASCAR stock car series have
longer histories – it has attracted
and captivated millions of fans right
around the world.
From the start, saloon car racing
was a huge success with the public,
who would pack into Britain’s
racing venues to watch the top
drivers of the day compete in
racing versions of their road cars
at simply unbelievable speeds. It’s
a lasting appeal that to this day
continues to deliver a punch and
panache that no other motor
sporting arena in the UK even
remotely achieves.
Traditional, great British names such
as Jaguar, Austin, Ford, Mini, Lotus,
Sunbeam and Triumph – often with
top international stars, including
Formula 1 drivers, at the wheel –
were all winners in the first 20 years,
each aware of the importance of
using the BTCC to showcase their
latest models.
By the Eighties, the BTCC was
moving with the times and
beginning to develop a truly
international flavour. Mazda, Toyota
and Alfa Romeo were the first
three winners of the decade as
the championship continued to be
run for several classes of car, but
the mighty Ford Sierra RS500 and
BMW M3 – dominant as the Nineties
loomed – are probably the two
most evocative models of
the period.
It was in the Nineties, however,
that the BTCC truly boomed.
The championship was already
beginning to grow in stature with
regular television coverage on
the BBC’s flagship sports show,
Grandstand. When the decision
was taken to make the BTCC
exclusively for 2-litre cars, it
instantly created closer racing and
attracted a host of high-profile
manufacturers, teams and drivers
to the series. Combined with
enhanced television coverage and
marketing genius, this made the
BTCC essential viewing for millions
throughout the UK – and many
millions more throughout the world.
Trackside crowd figures sometimes
reached the 40,000 mark as the
calendar evolved into a major UK
tour with events being added in
Scotland and Wales. ‘Being there’
suddenly became fashionable. It
was a social event. Few other sports
can have enjoyed such a rapid
growth in popularity.
Unsurprisingly, the manufacturers
simply could not afford to miss out
and the number taking part in the
series grew rapidly. Alfa Romeo,
Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Mazda,
Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota,
Vauxhall and Volvo: all realised
the enormous marketing value
of competing in the BTCC and
were quick to capitalise on the
opportunity. Every one of them
has the BTCC to thank for being
a part of their continued growth
in the UK today. Honda, joined by
Chevrolet, continue to reap the
rewards by fielding official ‘works’
teams in today’s championship, as
do the likes of BMW, Ford, Proton
and Toyota, which each provide
customer support to teams on
the grid.
Twenty years on, now with
unprecedented levels of national
television coverage from ITV, that
same 2-litre formula continues
to provide one of motor sport’s
most addictive, action-packed
atmospheres for an audience
of millions, as well as the perfect
platform for teams, drivers and
sponsors to raise their profiles and
reputations.
“BTCC is simply Britain’s biggest
and most important national
car racing championship,” says
Jonathan Palmer, Chief Executive
of MotorSport Vision. “Spectators
love touring car racing and, with
a format carefully designed to
provide plenty of on track action,
BTCC attracted bigger crowds than
any other car racing across our four
MotorSport Vision circuits in 2011.
“A strong television package is
essential to provide the broad
public awareness necessary to
keep major sporting events in
the people’s minds, and BTCC
works hard and effectively with
its extensive live ITV4 coverage,”
continues Palmer. “BTCC is very
successful, promotes itself strongly,
draws big crowds and will hopefully
become even more attractive to
fans, TV viewers and circuits with
future evolution.”
Another of the BTCC’s huge draws
is the fact that each of its race
events offers free admission for
children, in some cases up to the
age of 16, making it hugely popular
with families and young, future fans.
Furthermore, the sport is unique
in allowing the public to interact
with their heroes thanks to an open
paddock policy at the majority
of events.
05
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
“The BTCC is the most competitive,
hardest-fought premier motor
racing championship in the
UK. It gives drivers doing a
national championship a bigger
profile than those in a world
championship. For the public I
can easily sum it up in just three
words: non-stop action.”
Matt Neal – BTCC Champion 2011, 2006 & 2005
06
There are also specially organised
autograph sessions in the pit lane
that further bring sponsors’ brands
to life with plenty of BTCC-themed
giveaways. Once through the gate,
the crowds are treated to a feast
of top-class motor sport – while the
BTCC headlines the bill there’s also
a selection of superb supporting
categories run by manufacturers
Ginetta, Porsche and Renault to
add to the entertainment.
But it’s the bumper-to-bumper, thrilla-minute BTCC that is of course the
star attraction and the spectators,
all with their favourite cars and
drivers to support, are treated to
three championship races on the
day. A qualifying session on the
Saturday decides the startinggrid order for race one. The race
two and three starting grids are
determined by the finishing order
of races one and two respectively.
For race three, the leading starting
positions are reversed to add to
the unpredictability. In addition, a
ballast system is used from race
to race to handicap the most
successful drivers and further ensure
a level playing field. The BTCC is
truly geared towards providing
maximum value-for-money
entertainment for its customers,
the fans.
Refusing to rest on its laurels, the
BTCC has also evolved with the
times to lead the way in embracing
new technologies, thereby
continually challenging and
improving the skills of engineers.
For example, it achieved a world
first in introducing and enforcing
new regulations that monitored
and limited the CO2 emissions of its
competing cars. It then pioneered
new technology with title sponsor
Dunlop, becoming the first race
series in the world to fit every race
tyre with an RFID (radio frequency
identification) microchip. Dunlop
also chose the BTCC’s influential
profile to launch newly-developed
tyres whose construction meets
tough new EU environmental
regulations.
In fact, with increasing global
concerns about the environment
these past two decades, the BTCC
has developed a set of green
credentials that tick all the right
boxes not only with government
and automotive/motor sport
industries but also with the media
and the watching world. In the
early Nineties it became one of the
world’s first race series to mandate
the use of catalytic converters and
unleaded petrol.
In recent years, cars powered by
diesel, bio-fuels and even liquefied
petroleum gas have appeared
on the grid. Turbocharged engines
using diesel and LPG have both
subsequently gone on to win
races and challenge for outright
title honours, further underlining
the BTCC’s ability to accurately
monitor, regulate and equalise
the performance of different
technologies to ensure a level
playing field for all its competitors.
Now comes the next exciting
chapter in the evergreen BTCC’s
proud and illustrious history with
its new, exclusive set of NGTC
technical regulations that are
already taking the world of touring
car racing by storm. Several of the
plucky privateers pioneered the
latest regulations in 2011 gaining
significant results, and it’s no
surprise that proven champions
such as Honda Racing and Triple
Eight Race Engineering are now
making the switch for 2012. It is
already clear that this exciting
new generation of race cars will
keep the championship head and
shoulders above the rest for many
years to come.
07
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
“BTCC is simply Britain’s
biggest and most
important national car
racing championship.”
Jonathan Palmer – Chief Executive of MotorSport Vision
The Contenders
Natural-born thrillers
08
Undoubtedly, the BTCC is entering
one of the most dynamic phases of
its fantastic 53-year history. Slick and
professional management of the
championship as well as pioneering
new technical regulations have
led to record grid sizes, a record
number of different makes being
represented on the grid, renewed
enthusiasm from teams and
sponsors and an influx of new faces
joining the list of established stars in
challenging for outright honours.
Each has been drawn to the BTCC
by its accessibility and unique level
playing field and each is therefore
making a name for itself in the
most charismatic motor racing
championship in the UK. With every
race being broadcast live into living
rooms across the nation on ITV4
and ITV4 HD – followed by domestic
and global highlights – all know
they are a part of, and helping to
shape, one of the world’s highestprofile motor sport arenas.
The BTCC caters for every type
of entrant, be they teams with
the budget for three cars or
smaller outfits fielding single-car
entries. Whatever their size, they
all bring the same passion and
determination that make the
BTCC the magnetic draw it is
today. Furthermore, because the
rewards in the BTCC are so high
– both on and off the track – the
championship remains a hugely
cost-effective exercise compared
with other series. Big or small, every
team has a golden opportunity to
capture the public’s imagination
and engage with their audience.
While independent squads make
up the majority of the field, the
appeal for major automotive
manufacturers, world-class teams,
sponsors and big-name drivers
is as strong as ever. A record TEN
different makes were represented
in the BTCC during 2011 and the
season culminated with a recordsized 30-car grid. It was also one
of the most wide open in terms
of the number of different drivers,
teams and cars who realistically
could have won the title – indeed,
the championship lead changed
hands an unprecedented 13 times.
For the first time in history, FIVE
drivers went into Finals Day still in
with a chance of the crown.
In the end Matt Neal achieved the
third title of his career in his Team
Dynamics-prepared factory Honda
Racing Team Civic – pushed all the
way to the last lap of the season
by team-mate Gordon Shedden.
The triumph also marked the third
time that Dynamics had won the
2011 BTCC fact file:
•
8 drivers in 6 different
teams won races
•
15 drivers in 11 different
teams on the podium
•
•
11 drivers led races
•
4 drivers achieved
pole position
•
17 different teams
(5 new)
13 drivers set fastest
race laps
•
10 different makes of
car (14 models)
•
•
15 new drivers
34 drivers in total
championship, having previously
lifted the crown with Neal while
running privately-entered Hondas in
2005 and 2006.
Honda (UK) has great affection
for the BTCC but its participation
extends well beyond that – it knows
that success in such a competitive
sporting arena brings many other
benefits to its company, while also
enabling it to proudly fly a ‘builtin-Britain’ flag in front of a huge
audience.
Honda UK Managing Director Dave
Hodgetts comments: “The BTCC is
fantastic for the Honda brand and
a great showcase for the Civic. With
a new Civic about to be launched,
the sporting pedigree of the car will
form a major part of the campaign.
Honda’s long relationship with the
BTCC continues because it delivers
in terms of TV coverage, excitement
and customer awareness, helping
us to demonstrate the great
engineering qualities of our cars
and, of course, Honda’s inherent
love of racing and winning.
“It is also a great way to bring all
aspects of the company together.
At the final race at Silverstone
we invited all our staff from the
company HQ in Slough, a large
number of our dealers and
members of staff from the factory in
Swindon. Everyone had a fantastic
time and it is a great way to bring
all the different divisions of Honda
together for a great event. The
fact that we can do this many times
a year all over the country makes it
a very attractive proposition.”
09
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
“The BTCC has great personalities
and presentation and is a sport
that also has a great deal of
respect for its audience.
It understands what the
people want from their
live sporting experience.”
Steve Rider – ITV Sport Presenter
10
And he adds: “From a Honda
perspective the Civic is the perfect
model to compete in British Touring
Cars, as it has been born and bred
in the UK. The new car has been
tested on more UK roads than any
other Honda, and it will continue to
be built exclusively in Swindon.”
Meanwhile it was another former
title-winning combination that ran
Neal-Dynamics-Honda closest to
the title in 2011, namely preparation
expert RML and its 2010 Champion
Jason Plato, driving its factoryentered Silverline Chevrolet
Cruze. Similarly, Triple Eight Race
Engineering, with six previous
drivers’ titles to its name, was right
in there until the end thanks to
some big results with its Vauxhall
Vectra driven by rising star James
Nash – who even led the standings
outright briefly. Together he and
Triple Eight would go on to scoop
the Independent Drivers and Teams
trophies – special competitions
within the overall championship
established to recognise and
reward the efforts of private
entrants.
But 2011 also truly saw the
emergence of the privateer
Motorbase squad – this was only
its fifth season in the BTCC yet its
Airwaves Racing-branded Ford
Focus was a class act in the hands
of Mat Jackson. There were four
race wins and it could have been
more. As the season entered its
final stages, Jackson took over at
the head of the championship
table – a clear demonstration of
how a determined, astute and
well-structured team (Motorbase
only first properly ventured into the
BTCC in 2007) can rapidly evolve
into one of the major players in one
of the world’s most desirable motor
sport arenas.
Motorbase Team Manager Oliver
Collins has no doubts as to why
teams aspire to be a part of the
BTCC. He enthuses: “It’s clearly
one of the premier touring car
championships in the world, which
offers so much in return for all the
team personnel and sponsors.
When you look at the pedigree of
the competition, to be considered
a part of that is extremely
satisfying.”
In all, some 17 teams and 34 drivers
in ten makes and 14 different
models of car contested the 2011
season. Five teams were new to
the BTCC in 2012 and, of those, four
made their break into the BTCC as
a direct result of being able to take
advantage of and be competitive
with the latest Next Generation
Touring Car regulations – Dynojet
and Speedworks each with a
Toyota Avensis, Rob Austin Racing
with two Audi A4s and Welch
Motorsport with a Proton Gen-2.
Eleven teams celebrated outright
podium results. Six of them sprayed
the victory champagne – one
of them, a thrilled Special Tuning
Racing, for the first time. Fourteen
of the 17 teams also achieved
hallowed top-ten race results
during the season.
Of the 34 drivers, 15 made their
debuts in the BTCC in 2011 with 25
in all scoring outright championship
points. Fifteen – three of them
newcomers to the BTCC – basked
in outright podium glory with 25
in total scoring points on the final
overall championship table.
Rob Austin brought his eponymous
team, already successful in FIA
historic Formula 1 plus other singleseater, GT and sportscar categories,
into the BTCC in 2011 and has
admitted to being bowled over by
the reception. Austin says: “I am in
awe of just how much following the
BTCC has. It’s amazing. Standing
on the podium for the first time
or seeing just how many people
flood into the pit lane for the
autograph session… we’ve never
experienced that before and it can
be overwhelming.”
The BTCC is famed for its ability to
conjure up some real ‘David vs
Goliath’ moments and a number
of incentives are in place to
encourage and aid teams.
There’s the reversing of the
leading positions on race three’s
starting grid, thereby providing an
opportunity perhaps not normally
available to some teams to have
their car start from the front of the
field, live on ITV4. There is a £200,000plus prize fund with Dunlop
generously rewarding teams with
tyre bonuses that alone equate
to more than £125,000, on top of
the BTCC’s own £75,000 prize fund,
shared out across the ten rounds
to reward each event’s top-three
independent teams.
Included in their championship
registration fee is a handsome
allocation of paddock and pit
lane passes for working team
personnel and VIPs. All teams are
also given the same opportunities
to participate in the BTCC’s
promotional activities, whether
PR stunts in the build-up to race
weekends or during race day’s Pit
Lane Walkabout public autograph
sessions.
In terms of accessibility, exposure,
return on investment, profile and
following there has never been
a better time to join Britain’s
biggest and boldest motor racing
championship.
11
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
“The new cost-cutting NGTC
regulations are certain to further
enhance the BTCC’s attractiveness
and effectiveness in the coming
years and we are delighted to be
the first manufacturer to commit
to these latest technical rules.”
Dave Hodgetts – Managing Director of Honda UK
NGTC
Talking about a new generation
12
Like a famous Hollywood
blockbuster, the British Touring
Car Championship has in 2011
witnessed its very own ‘rise of
the machines’ – namely its new
and highly cost-effective Next
Generation Touring Car machines.
Six NGTC cars – a fifth of the record
30-strong grid – appeared, with
machines built around Toyota’s
Avensis, Audi’s A4, Proton’s Gen-2
and Vauxhall’s Insignia models.
Bigger, faster and even more
spectacular to watch thanks
to flame-spitting turbocharged
engines, they herald the future
direction of the BTCC and surely
one of the most captivating
chapters in the championship’s
history.
Their rise to the top this past season
came quicker than perhaps
even TOCA, the organisation that
runs the BTCC and devised the
new regulations, anticipated.
Dynojet, with its Avensis, Rob Austin
Racing, with its Audi A4, and
Welch Automotive, with its Proton
– all impressive newcomers to the
championship – started to give the
bigger, established teams a real
fright.
So much so that well before the
end of the season a number of
the established outfits – including
title-winner Honda Racing, multiple
past champion Triple Eight Race
Engineering and rising star Pirtek
Racing – had announced they
will be taking the NGTC route for
2012. Notably Honda will construct
its latest Civic model to the new
regulations and provide Pirtek
with identical customer versions.
TH Motorsport, after a season out,
had also revealed it will make a
return next year with an NGTC-spec
Skoda Octavia. The floodgates
have well and truly opened…
Andrew Jordan, a proven race
winner in the BTCC, clearly
envisages his Pirtek team becoming
even more competitive in 2012
thanks to its move to full-spec NGTC
machinery. He says: “If you want
to win it’s got to be an NGTC car.
Just look how the Audi and Toyota
in particular have come on in 2011
– the development year of NGTC.
It’s only going to move forward
again during the winter for the 2012
season. We believe we’ve pulled
off a real coup by ordering readydeveloped cars from Honda using
Honda’s own engine.
“I’ve no doubt the regulations will
lead to an even greater variety
of car – teams can be a bit bold.
Consequently that will increase
the widespread appeal of the
championship as it will resonate
with an even greater number
of public who may be loyal to a
particular brand of car.”
13
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
“The real genius of the NGTC rules is
they reward talent and effort, not
budget. New, small teams can join
and compete with established heroes
because the cars are low-cost,
same-for-everyone, tuneable race
cars that produce all the on-track
excitement the BTCC is famous for.”
Scott Brownlee – General manager, Press & Public Affairs, Toyota GB
14
The foundation for NGTC is a
greater emphasis on common
components – turbo, wastegate,
intercoolers, injectors and ECU
(engine control unit), six-speed
sequential gearbox, subframe,
brakes, dampers and suspension
– which dramatically drives down
costs for teams looking to compete
in one of the world’s most attractive
motor sport arenas.
For those teams, their drivers and
sponsors who play a crucial role
in helping it to all go around, this
news is heaven-sent. As has been
well documented, the cost of a
new, ready-to-race NGTC machine
is significantly less than that for
the older S2000 cars. Projected
budgets to physically run a car for
the course of the season have also
been slashed.
Dynojet driver Frank Wrathall,
who ended the season with four
outright podium finishes and
three maximum scores in the
Independents Trophy, comments:
“The NGTC rules are incredibly
well thought through. They remove
the expense of having to develop
components but also still provide
teams with a considerable
engineering challenge. While
there are more standardised parts
underneath to keep costs down,
teams and manufacturers can
quite justifiably still bask in the glory
of having built and engineered a
successful car.”
Indeed, teams have the
option of running either TOCA’s
unbranded ‘stock’ NGTC-spec
engine or, whether privateer or
full manufacturer-back entries,
developing their own powerplant
– from their chosen model of
the car’s broad family – to the
regulations. For example, Toyota
GB has invested in an NGTC
engine programme, developing
its 3ZR motor for independent
teams running its Avensis. Other
manufacturer engines already on
the grid include Honda’s Type R,
Ford’s Duratec and VW’s TFSI in
relevant machinery.
Toyota GB General Manager of
Press & Public Affairs Scott Brownlee
enthuses: “Bitter experience told
me a new engine programme
would be expensive and uncertain.
I was wrong on both counts. The
NGTC rules are clear and give
reassurance of parity without the
need to enter into an expensive
and endless development
programme to chase power
because TOCA ensures broad
parity of performance through
boost adjustment. It meant we
have been able to give our
customers the kudos of running
a Toyota engine with no risk of
it being either too expensive or
uncompetitive.
And team boss and driver Rob
Austin says: “NGTC is a really good
concept. We’d always looked
at the BTCC – it’s the sexiest grid
in Britain by far – and the lower
costs involved with NGTC have
given us our break. The cars look
the absolute business, they sound
better and it’s as level and wellregulated a playing field as you’re
going to find in motor sport.”
After his debut BTCC season Welch
Automotive’s Daniel Welch adds:
“NGTC has the potential to attract
an even greater variety of makes
and models of car – we’re unique
in running the Proton and that is
enabling us to stand out from the
crowd and gather a following. For
a budding team like us as well
as our sponsors, to be seen to be
knocking on the door of the top
ten and mixing it with the cars of
the established big teams is great
news.”
What’s more, the new NGTC
regulations will be maintained at
least through to 2016 and that any
subsequent review then should, at
most, only lead to minor updates.
Looking to the future, Next
Generation really is the next big
thing…
Indeed the forward-thinking
Swedish Touring Car Championship
has already joined the burgeoning
bandwagon by confirming that
it’s adopting the new NGTC
regulations.
15
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
“Quite simply, no other motor
sport championship in the
UK comes remotely close
to level of TV coverage,
viewer numbers, spectator
attendance, media coverage
or quality of competition.”
Alan J Gow – BTCC Series Director
2012 Calendar
Pillar to post
06
16
As the UK’s premier race series,
More than just taking the
the Dunlop BTCC headlines at
spectacle to people right around
all of the country’s major motor
the UK, the wide mix of circuits
sport venues. The nationwide
presents the teams and drivers
ten-weekend calendar selects
with different challenges. Whether
the best possible tracks to ensure
it’s the super-fast white-knuckle
maximum appeal and an ever-
adventure of Thruxton’s daunting,
changing backdrop for trackside
high-speed corners or the
fans as well as those watching live
rollercoaster ride of Knockhill’s
coverage on ITV4 and ITV4 HD.
undulating, off-camber twists, all
the individual venues have their
The geographical spread of the
own characteristics to test the
circuits provides teams and their
competitors’ nerves and skills to
partners with an opportunity to
the limit.
17
25-26 August
Knockhill, Fife
23-24 June
Croft, North
Yorkshire
TBA
Donington Park,
Leicestershire
22-23 September
Rockingham,
Northamptonshire
Croft, near Darlington and the
A1M, provides the BTCC with a
great base in the North East close
to Middlesbrough, Newcastle,
Sunderland and York.
Set in the heart of England,
Donington is close to both
the M1 and M42 motorways.
Birmingham, Derby and
Nottingham are all on the
doorstep.
Rockingham in Corby – the UK’s
newest racetrack – is easily
accessible from both M1 and
A1M motorways. Cambridge,
Peterborough and Leicester
are within 30 minutes.
09-10 June
Oulton Park,
Cheshire
06-07 October
Silverstone,
Northamptonshire
11-12 August
Snetterton, Norfolk
Situated close to Chester and the
M6 and M62 motorways, Oulton
Park is easily accessible from all
the major conurbations in the
North-West, including Manchester
and Liverpool as well as North
Wales.
As the home of the British Grand
Prix, Silverstone needs little
introduction. Located close to
both M1 and M40 motorways it
draws fans from London and
the Midlands.
With spectacular views over
the Forth Estuary, Knockhill is
Scotland’s premier motor sport
venue. Access is via the M90
between Perth and Edinburgh
or A9 from Glasgow.
Knockhill
engage with different audiences
across the UK. It also ensures that
Furthermore, the BTCC takes
hundreds of thousands of fans
great care in selecting which
from almost every corner of the
layout at which venue will
country can catch the tin-top
provide the crowds with the best
action close to their homes when
value-for-money entertainment.
the travelling show makes its now
That’s why races are held on a
eagerly-anticipated annual visit to
variety of tracks such as the epic
their region.
Brands Hatch ‘Grand Prix’ circuit,
picturesque Oulton Park Island
The 2012 calendar includes
and ‘oval’ stadium of Rockingham.
circuits in Cheshire, Fife,
Further whetting the appetite, the
Hampshire, Kent, Leicestershire,
BTCC switched to the challenging
Norfolk, Northamptonshire and
new Snetterton 300 circuit in 2011
North Yorkshire. And with each
– a move that was given a huge
race meeting hosting three full
‘thumbs up’ by both drivers
points-scoring BTCC showdowns,
and fans.
Croft
Donington Park
Rockingham
there’s never a dull moment. The
season blasts into action – and
From the public seeking a day full
reaches its thrilling climax a little
of thrills and spills to businesses
more than six months later – at
both large and small looking
Brands Hatch, close to London
to dazzle staff and clients, the
and the M25, in Kent. Teams will
country-wide BTCC really does
have a welcome mid-season
tick all the right boxes.
break to avoid calendar clashes
with the British Formula 1 Grand
Prix, the London 2012 Olympic
Games and other major global
sporting events.
Oulton Park
Snetterton is located on the
A11 to the west of Norwich.
Though in rural East Anglia, its
catchment area includes cities
such as Cambridge and
Ipswich, plus many on holidays
at coastal resorts.
Snetterton
Silverstone
28-29 April
Thruxton,
Hampshire
Thruxton’s location, close to M3,
A303 and A34 road networks,
provides swift access from
London, Portsmouth and
Southampton as well as, more
locally, from Basingstoke,
Newbury and Reading.
Brands Hatch
Thruxton
31 March-01 April
& 20-21 October
Brands Hatch, Kent
Brands Hatch is situated just
south of London on the A20 in
northern Kent; just three miles
from the M25 and close to the
M20 and M26 motorways.
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
TV & Media
Grabbing the headlines
18
As Britain’s biggest motor
racing championship, the BTCC
commands enormous media
coverage throughout the UK and
globally.
Television has always been the
BTCC’s most powerful medium,
and, since the late Eighties the
championship has received regular
coverage from Britain’s biggest TV
operators.
ITV
Having broadcast the BTCC since
2002, Britain’s premier commercial
television network, ITV, is committed
to covering the championship until
2014 at least.
Its live coverage of the series –
around seven hours from each
event on both its ITV4 and ITV4
HD channels as well as its itv.com
website – is unprecedented in UK
motor sport. Furthermore it provides
the BTCC with a TV arrangement
that puts even those of high-profile
international series firmly in the
shade. Indeed, not even Formula 1
receives as much live TV coverage
in the UK as the BTCC race day.
But perhaps the most telling statistic
of all is the number of viewers
presently watching the BTCC on TV
in the UK – in 2011 they skyrocketed
by an astronomical 35 per cent to
a total cumulative viewer number/
hours of 21,502,734.
Adding to the live coverage
are 60-minute race highlights
repeated three times after each
event – on ITV1 and ITV4 as well as
their respective HD channels and
‘simulcast’ on itv.com.
In the past 12 months the network’s
commitment has grown in other
areas – every one of the BTCC’s
Saturday afternoon qualifying
sessions was shown live on a
new dedicated and heavilypublicised www.itv.com/touringcars
webpage that extended to audio
interviews with drivers after each
event, regular expert blogs and a
comprehensive catalogue of race
highlights from the season for the
public to watch again.
Simon Knight, Field Sales Director
for household brand Wrigley,
comments: “It’s all about the great
visibility the BTCC offers. The live
coverage on ITV4 is second to
none from the features at the start
of the programme through to the
coverage across a whole Sunday
afternoon, not to mention the
repeats shown later in the week. In
addition there’s a great interactive
website covering all areas of the
BTCC.”
National & International TV
The BTCC is broadcast on a variety
of networks (both terrestrial and
digital) in six continents around the
world: Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe,
North America and South America
(see chart on page 36). It is
estimated that the audience reach
per race event is more than ONE
BILLION households. Some of those
networks screen stand-alone 45
minute-plus BTCC highlights shows
while others include short bulletintype edits of the action via motor
sport ‘magazine’ programmes
such as Motorsport Mundial, Planet
Speed and MAX Power on major
networks such as ESPN, Star Sports
and Sky Sports. Many are repeated
several times over…
The BTCC is big news as it tours the
UK, particularly with regional ITV
and BBC crews who all want a slice
of the action when the teams and
drivers roll into town. Indeed, it is
not uncommon for crews to base
their entire sports news round-ups
from the colourful backdrop of
the BTCC’s pit lane and paddock.
This of course means tremendous
added media value as the BTCC
is paraded before audiences of
potentially millions during lunch and
teatime broadcasts.
In 2011, regional TV previews to
race events totalled more than
100 minutes with coverage on the
following outlets: Brands Hatch Indy
(BBC South East & ITV Meridian);
Thruxton (BBC South); Croft (ITV
Tyne Tees N Yorks & Newcastle/
Cumbria & BBC Look North);
Snetterton (ITV Anglia & BBC Look
East); Rockingham (BBC Look East);
Silverstone (ITV Anglia, BBC Look
East & Oxford). Moreover, regional
TV sportsdesks often feature their
local drivers with footage ahead
of or following race events, gaining
the BTCC yet more valuable
airtime.
19
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
“British Touring Cars is an important
contract for us. The quality of the
racing and the whole event brings
us to an important audience. Viewing
figures are increasing significantly
over the last couple of years and I
believe those viewers appreciate the
great quality of the spectacle.”
Niall Sloane – Controller of Sport (Broadcast), ITV
20
Through its contacts and appeal,
the BTCC also generates exposure
on some of the nation’s mostwatched lifestyle and consumer
programmes. For example BBC2’s
acclaimed Top Gear has regularly
included drivers from the BTCC
for its TV series that attracts seven
million-plus viewers per episode,
plus annual DVD compilations.
Jason Plato’s profile in the BTCC
has also led to him becoming a
presenter on Channel 5’s popular
Fifth Gear motoring show.
Geoff Love, Publishing Director
(Automotive), Dennis Publishing,
comments: “We are very proud of
our long and exciting partnership
with the BTCC. It makes perfect
sense for Dennis, which produces
some of the country’s most popular
and expert motoring titles as well
as many other top non-automotive
publications, to be associated with
the UK’s premier motor sporting
arena, which has such mass appeal
among petrol-heads and general
public alike.
Media Partnership
“Given its fame, the BTCC still
grants terrific access for our team
while its high profile provides
exactly the right kind of scope for
a major UK publishing company
with magazines such as Auto
Express, evo and Octane to bring
our readers plenty of dynamic,
memorable and often off-the-wall
story lines.”
For the past eight years the BTCC
has enjoyed an enviable media
partnership with major publishing
group Dennis, predominantly
through its top-selling Auto Express
and evo titles both in print and
online. A stream of broad editorial
features and news updates, ticket
competitions and advertising of
race events puts the BTCC’s name
in front of key new audiences.
Other major titles such as Men’s
Fitness and PC Pro are also part of
the mix.
In addition, the magazines’
databases – running into hundreds
of thousands of subscribers – are
targeted with further BTCC news
and promotions. In return, Dennis
has used its relationship with the
BTCC to promote the Auto Express
and evo brands with prominent
logos on the sides of every BTCC
car, plus the championship’s
podium and ITV interview
backdrops.
BTCC Media/btcc.net
The global media and many
millions of fans are updated by the
championship’s busy Media Office,
which of course also stimulates
media coverage across many
types of outlets. Central to this
service is the BTCC’s official website
www.btcc.net – the ultimate online
BTCC fix that provides information
about every aspect of the
championship.
btcc.net attracts up to 141,000
unique visitors per month –
staggering numbers for a domestic
motor racing championship. It now
has some 29,000 registered fans,
with more than half those signing
up to receive official championship
mailings and details of exclusive
competitions that enable teams
to further market their sponsors’
products. As a frontline sport in this
digital age, the btcc.net website
is fully interactive with the BTCC’s
social media networks, which
include dedicated sites on Twitter,
Facebook and YouTube. In less
than 12 months close to 11,000 fans
have signed up to its Facebook
page while its Twitter account has
attracted more than 7,000 followers.
The championship also receives
huge exposure on YouTube, with
clips regularly attracting tens if not
hundreds of thousands of views. For
example, more than 130,000 have
looked up Honda team-mates
Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden
colliding at Oulton Park in 2011,
while Jason Plato’s miraculous
control of a high-speed spin in 2009
is now at the 599,000 mark and still
climbing!
Pre-season, an official Media Day
is also staged, offering hundreds
of media – as well as thousands
more eager sponsors, fans and
guests – a sneak preview of the
forthcoming season, with plenty
of opportunities to film and
photograph the unveiling of new
cars and liveries as well as interview
drivers and other key players. It’s
an event that attracts media from
all corners – those in attendance
at 2011’s Media Day covered the
full spectrum of print, radio, TV and
online media, among them many
‘big hitter’ specialist, automotive,
lifestyle, consumer, regional and
national press.
21
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
22
Radio, Magazines,
Newspapers & Online
Previews, plus qualifying and race
reports, regularly appear in the
national media, both in print and
online. Noticeably, the UK’s biggest
selling newspaper, The Sun, has
significantly increased its coverage
of the BTCC on its website – its
motor sport pages make for one
of its most popular sports sections,
attracting millions each week.
The Sun’s Chris Hockley enthuses:
“It’s great for The Sun to have
a direct involvement in Britain’s
premier series. It’s a perfect fit
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
with the trackside crowds having
much in common with our readers
– they’re honest, enthusiastic and
the cars they drive on the road are
similar to those being raced on the
track, plus there’s that little extra
tinge of excitement that comes
with knowing it could be their car
that wins.
“Our involvement has also led to
one of the star names, Jason Plato,
writing an online column for us – the
extra publicity he receives raises his
profile and fanbase, which gives
him added opportunity to attract
sponsors. In return, it gives The
Sun branding on his car, valuable
TV exposure, plus an exclusive
first-person ‘bonus’ to offer our
readers, so it’s a win-win situation
between a great name in a great
sporting arena and a great media
organisation.”
As the BTCC travels the land,
big provincial newspapers print
plenty of column inches about the
championship, with a heavy focus
on the star names and local drivers
and teams. Some circuits, working
in conjunction with the BTCC, have
arranged hugely beneficial tie-ins
with their most influential regional
publications – for example Croft
with the Northern Echo to produce
an eight-page pull-out preview.
Widely-read trade and lifestyle
publications from building, IT, utility
and emergency services plus other
sports have all featured BTCC
content.
The BTCC also provides perfect
material for the UK’s many radio
stations. For Silverstone’s final round,
Mat Jackson was the star guest
on BBC Radio Northampton’s
‘sportsweek’ preview show, BBC
Radio 2 discussed the possible title
outcome on the eve of the event
and Radio 1 presenter ‘Comedy
Dave’, from the Chris Moyles
Breakfast Show, was an enthusiastic
visitor.
Meanwhile, appointed radio
agency Talking Point Broadcasting
scheduled interviews and reports
for national and local BBC and
commercial radio stations as well
as updating the audio interview
page with over 550 driver and
team interviews on the official
btcc.net website. An official BTCC
‘iTunes’ podcasting page, updated
with more than 300 podcasts, was
also launched in 2011. In the same
year the championship received
over 51 hours of total airtime across
155 BBC and Independent radio
stations, including 5 Live, Radio
1, Radio 2 and TalkSPORT. BTCC
broadcasts on radio in the UK in
2011 attracted an estimated
54 million listeners.
23
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
“The BTCC is a great platform for
us to not only test our tyres but
also leverage our key message
of ‘motorsport technology
for the road’. Large crowds,
manufacturer involvement and
trade hospitality opportunities all
add to a successful package.”
Eddy Geerdink – Marketing Director, Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Limited
Sponsorship & Marketing
Lights, cameras, traction
24
The high-profile BTCC delivers one
of the most attractive 360-degree
commercial and communications
platforms in UK sport.
There is no doubt that the BTCC
has traditionally offered a unique
opportunity for sponsors, packaging
exciting brand values with a loyal,
passionate and nationwide fan
base, both trackside and via its
ever-increasing live terrestrial
television coverage. Indeed, the
concept of instantly recognisable
showroom cars competing
bumper-to-bumper has always
provided the BTCC with its own
highly-popular ‘USP’ within
motor sport.
Sponsors and business partners
continue to utilise a range of
strategic activation opportunities
that are unrivalled in contemporary
motor racing and clearly make
the BTCC one of the best-value
investments in the sporting
marketplace. For any astute and
imaginative company, participation
grants a powerful opportunity
to bring alive a brand in front of
hundreds of thousands of trackside
spectators and millions more
TV viewers.
The broad range of companies
involved – many of them blue chip,
whether suppliers to the BTCC or
team sponsors – also demonstrates
the power of a large crowd
and prime-time TV audience,
particularly when there is a strong
demographic profile. That’s why
the series has such strong appeal
to both consumer and business-tobusiness products.
The Goodyear Dunlop group is
entering its eighth year as major
title sponsor with the BTCC in 2011.
Its premier Dunlop tyre brand
has been the championship’s
title sponsor for most of that
time, although it handed over
the platform to sister UK fast-fit
company HiQ for 2008-09. Dunlop
and HiQ have interacted with
the series and used each race
weekend to generate a new,
growing customer base. TV
coverage, newspaper column
inches and online social networking
have also helped elevate these
brands to an increased position of
strength within the industry, courtesy
of their sponsorship of the BTCC.
“The BTCC is a great platform for
us to not only test our tyres but
also leverage our key message
of ‘motorsport technology for
the road’,” states Eddy Geerdink,
Marketing Director, Goodyear
Dunlop Tyres UK Limited. “Our
continual development in racing
tyres is evident through our
performance on track at the BTCC.
Our title sponsorship of the series
provides us with a tremendous
opportunity to leverage our
brand within the UK’s biggest
motor sporting championship. The
presence of large crowds, a huge
TV audience, the involvement
of major manufacturers and
availability of hospitality for trade
guests all add up to a successful
package.”
Other major high-street names
have formed strong partnerships
with the BTCC. One such is the
Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG)
through its Holiday Inn brand,
whose involvement in the BTCC has
been a key factor in raising brand
awareness within the UK.
25
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
“It’s all about the
great visibility the
BTCC offers. The live
coverage on ITV4 is
second to none.”
Simon Knight – Field Sales Director, Wrigley UK
26
“Holiday Inn’s five-year
involvement in the British Touring
Car Championship has been a
great experience for IHG, providing
a platform to build the brand,
integrate key marketing strategies
and drive sales in an exciting
environment,” reports Adrian White,
Partnership Marketing Director, IHG.
The BTCC’s geographical reach
and wide television coverage
allows companies such as Holiday
Inn and Holiday Inn Express to
engage with customers across
the UK, bringing the brands to life
in a dynamic setting as well as
providing accommodation for both
fans and participants.
“We use our involvement in the
sporting property to continue
to raise brand equity in a highly
charged environment, engaging
with the sports minded across
the country,” continues White.
“It allows us to interact with the
teams, sponsor brands and fans to
generate incremental revenues
while providing quality networking
opportunities, resulting in significant
ROI through the programme
in many areas. The events
themselves allow IHG to engage
a variety of internal and external
stakeholders in an exclusive and
desirable environment, while
providing a platform for interesting
communications with press and
consumer promotions.”
Information and communications
technology expert Redstone
returned to the BTCC in 2011 as
a sponsor of the Airwaves Racing
Team and, like IHG, has leveraged
its partnership in several key
directions.
“For Redstone the 2011 sponsorship
of the Airwaves Racing Team was
a bold statement both externally
and internally that Redstone
was revitalised and raring to go,”
explains Claire Botha, Marketing
Director.
While doing wonders for a
company’s brand or product, the
BTCC also offers sponsors such
as Redstone ‘money-can’t-buy’
experiences at its events. The
feedback from teams and sponsors
is always the same: no other motor
sport arena in the UK provides such
wonderful marketing possibilities as
the BTCC.
“As well as bringing exposure to the
Redstone brand, the events have
been well received by clients and
staff alike,” enthuses Botha. “The
unique hospitality opportunities
have been our way of saying thank
you to our valued clients, allowing
them to experience the excitement
and pride Redstone staff feel when
seeing our team on the track. Every
aspect of the team’s hospitality
adds to the unique VIP experience
from the informal venue, the
welcoming staff, the grid walk and
garage tour. Throughout the day
the people you meet exude pride
and team loyalty and draw guests
in as avid fans.”
Teams work closely with their
sponsors to ensure the full potential
of their involvement in the series is
maximised. Whether the sponsor is a
blue-chip company from the motor
industry or a familiar high-street
brand, the BTCC provides a broad
spectrum of opportunities. The
media value generated in the UK
and beyond is the main attraction
and research has revealed that the
worth of the TV coverage alone is
at least three times greater than
normal TV advertising.
What’s more in 2011 the BTCC
started providing team sponsors
with an even greater branding
proposition when it became
the first UK race series to move
the traditional racing number
plate from the car’s front door.
By switching numbers to the side
window, sponsors were given an
even bigger canvas.
Wrigley – via its now familiar
Airwaves brand – is one of the
forward-thinking companies to
have taken advantage of this
opportunity. “It’s fair to say our car
looks amazing on TV, and who
else can offer you a chance to
put your brand on each side of
the car and have it race around
some of the best racing circuits in
the world in front of thousands of
the most passionate followers of
motorsport,” says Simon Knight, Field
Sales Director. “The Airwaves brand
is all about ‘kicking up a gear’ and
partnering with the Motorbase
team within the BTCC allows us to
place our brand in front of new and
existing consumers, talking to them
about the benefits of the Airwaves
brand.”
There’s far more to Wrigley’s
involvement than simply sticking
decals on a racing car, however. It
leverages its activities to a far wider
audience right across the country,
as Knight explains. “One piece of
activity that worked very well for
us was partnering with one of our
important customers, BP, whereby
we ran a competition giving BP/
Airwaves customers the chance
to win tickets to one of the race
weekends. Again helping us drive
great visibility of our brand on
the forecourt and in store on the
counter.”
27
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
28
Pirtek is the market leader in the
on-site hose replacement market
and has just extended its title
sponsorship of the Eurotech team
for a further two seasons. And for
good reason, too, as Marketing
Manager Tammie Argent explains.
“Before we committed we looked
seriously at all aspects of what we
do,” she reports. “We went to all of
our franchises for feedback and put
forward options for other sports as
well. But as far as coverage, brand
recognition, exposure and access
to the team, there was nothing else
that came close to BTCC – and
for the budgets required.” BTCC
sponsorship also helps to highlight
Pirtek’s position as the UK’s fastest
emergency hose-replacement
supplier.
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
Equally importantly perhaps,
all these sponsors can interact
face-to-face with the general
public, who are hugely passionate
about drivers, teams, competing
marques – and, crucially, those
brands actively involved in the
series. Another major appeal is that
race events provide an easy-toimplement opportunity for data
collection.
There is a myriad of commercial
opportunities away from the race
track, too. Many of the competing
manufacturers enhance their
highly visible involvement in
the UK’s premier championship
by taking live BTCC shows into
dealerships, using their drivers and
fully-liveried show cars to attract
target audiences into showrooms.
Show cars are also a huge draw
at exhibitions and other such
promotional functions.
“We use the Pirtek BTCC car at
exhibitions such as ‘Scot Plant’, an
event which attracts thousands
annually – it provides a massive
focal point to draw people in,” says
Argent. “People are always excited
that there’s a British Touring Car
there and we also invite along the
drivers and team principal Mike
Jordan. The exhibitions we attend
aren’t probably the likeliest of
places to find a racing car so it’s
a real crowd puller. Our centres
also have used the racing to
draw in customers and offer ticket
competitions and giveaways.”
With such a successful track record
when it comes to delivering results,
few proactive brands can ignore
the power of highly attractive
propositions offered by the BTCC’s
profile and pole position pedigree.
29
2012 Dunlop MSA British
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Hospitality
The best seats in the house
30
The high-profile, high-drama,
big-crowd backdrop makes
the BTCC the perfect platform
and environment for teams and
sponsors to entertain guests. So
it’s no surprise that a wealth of farreaching corporate activities are
available… catering for all tastes
and budgets.
Moreover, with so many key
decision makers maximising the
BTCC’s enormous potential, there
are plenty of networking and
business-to-business opportunities
to explore. It’s also the perfect
environment for companies to
strengthen business ties with existing
partners and generate higher
morale among staff.
The BTCC’s pedigree and huge
terrestrial TV coverage means it
enjoys an enviable status among
the UK’s elite sports. This elevated
standing gives each BTCC meeting
a real prominence and true sense
of occasion, enabling hosts to take
the ‘wining and dining’ of VIP guests
to new levels. Furthermore, the
BTCC is able to provide its teams
and commercial partners with an
opportunity to invite guests from
across the UK, thanks to a careful
selection of venues that sees the
series headlining at circuits the
length and breadth of Britain.
While some race meetings are
staged at internationally renowned
racing circuits such as Brands
Hatch, Silverstone and Donington
Park, others take place at smaller,
lesser-known but equally important
circuits such as Croft in the NorthEast and Knockhill in Scotland.
Wherever the location, however,
there’s always a real buzz and ‘bigevent’ atmosphere when the BTCC
bandwagon rolls into town.
“The BTCC at Knockhill never
fails to impress and 2011 was no
exception,” confirms Derek Butcher,
Chief Executive of Knockhill Circuit.
“With a record number of cars on
the grid, a quality support package
including two local classes, the
racing, atmosphere and feedback
from race fans was the best in
years. We are delighted that the
teams and drivers love the unique
challenges of Knockhill so much.
With its famous twists, turns and
blind corners, it always provides
spectacularly close racing. 2012
is the 20th anniversary of Touring
Cars at Knockhill and we are all
looking forward to celebrating this
milestone in style!”
Inevitably, local amenities vary
enormously at these different
venues. Some provide permanent
hospitality suites that can be rented
on a race-by-race basis, providing
businesses with the perfect
opportunity to entertain clients and
reward employees in purposebuilt surroundings. Typically, major
manufacturers such as Porsche,
Chevrolet and Honda and bigname sponsors prefer to welcome
guests into their own strongly
branded bespoke structures
and dedicated hospitality units.
Furthermore, live television feeds
ensure that nobody misses any of
the bumper-to-bumper thrills on the
race track.
These hospitality ‘villages’ – often
situated right at the heart of
the action – provide VIPs with
the best possible seats in the
house, adding to their race-day
experience. Moreover, the busy
BTCC timetable is specifically
organised to allow drivers and key
team management time to make
personal appearances during the
day’s racing, providing an extra
dimension and insight to these
important corporate activities.
Whatever your particular
requirements, the high-flying BTCC
offers organisations of all sizes
unrivalled opportunities, as well
as the very real promise of an
exhilarating taste of life in the
fast lane.
31
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
“People like good-value
entertainment and that’s where
the BTCC beats everything else
hands down by providing great
racing. The series appeals to
everybody, from your hardcore
motor sport fans to people who
simply want a fun family activity.”
Derek Butcher – Chief Executive, Knockhill Racing Circuit
Spectator Appeal
Fan-tastic days
32
The BTCC is firmly established not
only as Britain’s most popular form
of motor racing but also as one of
the UK’s top sporting attractions,
with crowds rivaling those at
Premiership soccer matches.
Trackside attendances increased
in 2011, with around 13 per cent
more people attending BTCC
race meetings all over the country.
This significant rise continues to
underline the public’s ongoing love
affair with the BTCC.
The secret to the BTCC’s enduring
success is simple: unrivalled
entertainment at affordable prices.
Most of all, the BTCC is a fastmoving show designed to compete
against theme parks and shopping
centres just as much as other sports
for the public’s leisure time at
increasingly busy weekends.
Each race meeting is widely
publicised in advance with both
national and local focused
marketing and PR campaigns
organised by the host circuit and
the dedicated BTCC media office.
Regional TV and radio advertising,
targeted leaflet drops, high-profile
competitions in high-circulation
print media and other promotional
and PR activities and stunts –
including in 2011 a head-to-head
race between a touring car and
a 200mph ice-cream van – all
combine to spread the awareness
to an audience well beyond the
specialist press. And that’s what is
at the heart of this championship’s
appeal.
‘Fast and friendly’ best describes
the intoxicating race-day
atmosphere – the BTCC is rare
among other major sports in
encouraging interaction between
the public and the stars of the
show. An ‘open paddock’ policy
at circuits plus officially organised
driver autograph sessions in the
pit lane mean the fans can easily
rub shoulders and grab a word or
photo with their heroes.
The BTCC grid, though, is no
stranger to famous faces and
even BBC Top Gear’s mysterious
‘Stig’ has raced in the series. Fresh
from revealing himself as infamous
‘The Stig’, Ben Collins joined the
Motorbase team to race in the
2010 season finale at Brands Hatch
in front of a record crowd of 42,000
spectators.
In 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours and threetimes grand prix winner Johnny
Herbert was a regular, following
in the wheel tracks of the likes of
Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Damon Hill,
David Coulthard and Nigel Mansell
in becoming the latest big name
from Formula 1 to join the touring
car success story.
Certainly, the BTCC provides almost
unrivalled value-for-money public
entertainment, particularly for
families. Race day admission for
children up to 16 is free at most
venues whilst adult tickets can be
pre-ordered for as little as £23.
33
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
“As far as coverage,
brand recognition,
exposure and access
to the team, there
is nothing else that
comes close to BTCC.”
Tammie Argent – Marketing Manager, Pirtek
34
The phrase ‘when the BTCC rolls into
town’ really has taken on a whole
new meaning as well. Conurbations
such as Milton Keynes, Newcastle
and Edinburgh have all hosted major
city centre shows in recent years. In
the Scottish capital road closures
enabled the drivers and teams to
demonstrate their race cars at full
speed right by the city’s iconic castle
en route for the series’ annual visit to
the Knockhill circuit in Fife.
Such high-profile displays are free
for the public and a marketing
dream for teams and their sponsors.
Thanks to the BTCC’s unrivalled
attention to detail, planning
expertise and promotional
skills, each of these unique and
spectacular events has drawn
mammoth levels of interest from
the public and media alike –
Edinburgh’s city council estimated
that some 18,000 people, all of
them potentially new fans, lined
Johnston Terrace to see the BTCC’s
stars in action.
And the BTCC is already a long
way down the path of encouraging
its next generation of fans thanks
to a proactive schools programme,
which invites a local class or youth
group into the paddock on Friday
afternoons for a VIP tour of the
pit lane.
The youngsters are shown around
the cars – some are even selected
to sit in the driver’s seat – and also
meet key team members plus
the star drivers for autographs,
Q&A sessions and photos. It’s a
programme that in 2012 will enter
its ninth year and which, since its
inception in 2004, has provided
some 2250 primary and secondaryaged youngsters with arguably
their most inspiring and motivating
day out of their school years.
“The personalities, the variety, the
action-packed racing and the
accessibility are why the BTCC is so
appealing for fans,” confirms BTCC
newcomer Frank Wrathall. “The
interaction with the public is on a
whole different level to any other
series and the support I’ve received
has been overwhelming. It makes
competing in the BTCC a huge buzz!”
Elsewhere, the championship’s
status also attracts high-profile
celebrities from both motor sport
and other entertainment fields.
Celebrity faces are regularly
spotted at BTCC meetings. Those
spied in the paddock and on
the grid in 2011 included former
England and Arsenal footballer Paul
Merson, Holby City and Casualty
actress Amanda Mealing, celebrity
TV chef James Martin, glamour
model Lucy Pinder, world champion
gymnast Beth Tweddle, Welsh
rugby ace Andy Powell, Olympic
gold medal winner Ed Clancy and
fellow top international cyclist Alex
Dowsett, as well as a raft of motor
racing stars including former F1
world champions Lewis Hamilton,
Damon Hill and Jody Scheckter.
In addition, race-goers can take
advantage of giveaway offers from
teams and sponsors, reinforcing the
exhilarating family atmosphere.
During the BTCC’s Pit Lane
Walkabout sessions – when the
public, including children, are
invited to meet the drivers for
autographs and photos – a
staggering amount of team
merchandise and sponsor-related
products ranging from caps,
pens and posters to stickers and
autographs cards are handed out.
Indeed, some teams have turned
the exercise into a fine art, using the
sessions to run successful product
competitions and promotions for their
commercial partners. In short, it’s an
‘open goal’ for teams to ensure it is
their sponsor’s colours that paint the
spectator banks and grandstands
and go home with the fans.
No matter the size of the team,
whether one of the established
outfits or a smaller one-car
newcomer, all know the BTCC is a
golden opportunity to interact with
– and win over – one of the world’s
most excitable and enthusiastic
motor sport audiences.
No surprise, then, that spectator
loyalty has always been one of
the BTCC’s major strengths – a fact
proven by exit polls conducted
by independent survey specialists.
Remarkably, 95 per cent of those
interviewed said they would attend
again, and more than 85 per cent
indicated they would recommend
BTCC race events to their friends.
Survey data also confirmed
far above average levels of
sponsorship recall, with the majority
of people interviewed expressing
loyalty to products promoted via
the championship.
An unwavering commitment by the
championship to a coordinated
programme of pre-event promotion
in conjunction with each circuit
means the BTCC’s popularity is sure
to continue spiraling to new heights.
35
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
2011 BTCC Global Television Coverage
Country
Network
Asia
Australia Hong Kong
Italy
Latin America
Poland
Portugal
South Africa
USA/Canada
ESPN & Star Sports
Network 10
iCable
Telenova
Speed
SportKlub+
Sport TV
Supersport
Speed 2
Transmissions Homes
2
448,390,147
2
7,800,000
2
TBC
22,000,000
2
2,000,000
22,500,000
2
670,000
2
2,220,000
2
15,000,000
47-minute international highlight programmes from all 10 BTCC
rounds – each screened twice by all broadcasters
Cumulative Global Household Reach
36
493,580,147
Global household reach receiving
BTCC 47-minute highlight programmes
10.9 billion+
Cumulative annual global
households TV reach
1.35billion
1.60billion
2011 10.93billion
2009
19.4 million
Total number of UK TV viewers
in 2011
Total UK TV Audience*
2004
2005
2006
2010
MAX Power (52 minutes)
Close to half a billion households around the globe receive
the full post-produced highlights package; a further half a
billion plus households can view the BTCC via motorsport
magazine programmes such as MAX Power, Motorsport
Mundial and Planet Speed
Planet Speed (23 minutes)
Country
Network
Transmissions Australia
Bangladesh
Brazil
Brunei
Cambodia
Canada
Caribbean
China
Guam
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Israel
Japan
Korea
Laos
Latin America
Macau
Malaysia
Maldives
Mexico
Middle East
Pan Asia
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Oceania
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Singapore
South America*
South Korea
Southern Africa
Sri Lanka
Taiwan
Thailand
UK & Eire
Vietnam
ESPN 34,314,570
ESPN India
5
234,336
ESPN 34,635,638
ESPN Asia
7
26,155
SPN Asia
7
3,206
TSN 78,700,000
ESPN 3697,041
ESPN Asia
7
87,637,000
ESPN Asia
7
56,253
ESPN Asia
7
411,633
ESPN India
5
23,300,000
ESPN Asia
7
186,421
ESPN 31,950,412
ESPN – Sports 1
3
4,696,510
ESPN Asia
3
12,100,824
ESPN Asia
7
1,760,000
ESPN
3
21,463,000
ESPN Asia
7
4,875
ESPN Asia
7
1,457,306
ESPN 310,000**
ESPN 34,971,683
ESPN
3
709,800
ESPN
3
10,140,000**
ESPN Asia
7
88,365**
ESPN Asia
7
1,920,000
ESPN India
5
50,000
ESPN Asia
7
6,727
ESPN/Sky Sports
3
542,900
ESPN
313,520,000**
ESPN India
5
1,300,000
ESPN Asia
7
7,295
ESPN Philippines
4
944,984
ESPN Asia
7
295,377
ESPN
38,607,079
ESPN MBC
4
4,513,500
ESPN
3
2.340,650
ESPN
3
21,350**
ESPN Taiwan
3
5,785,000
ESPN Asia
7
514,110
ESPN UK
7
1,000,000
ESPN Asia
7
8,045
(* Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay)
(† Official channel numbers unless marked with **
when estimates)
Homes †
Country
Network
Bangladesh
Brunei
Cambodia
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Korea
Laos
Macau
Malaysia
Maldives
Pan Asia
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
New Caledonia
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Poland
Qatar
Romania
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Taiwan
Thailand
UK & Eire
Russia
Vietnam
Uruguay
Star Sports India
Star Sports SEA
Star Sports SEA
Star Sports Asia
Star Sports SEA
Star Sports India
Star Sports SEA/Asia
Star Sports SEA
Star Sports SEA
Star Sports SEA
Star Sports SEA
Star Sports
Star Sports
Star Sports Asia
Sky Sports SEA
Sky Sports India
Sky Sports SEA
Sky Sports India
Star Sports Asia
Sky Sports SEA
SportKlub+
Al Dawri & Al Kass
Telesport
KSA
Sky Sports SEA
Star Sports Asia
Sky Sports Sky Sports Taiwan
Sky Sports SEA
Sky Sports
Drive TV
Sky Sports SEA
Channel 22
2007
Transmissions
Homes †
3
234,036
2
26,155
2
3,206
4
19,777,100
2
411,633
3
23,300,000
6
1,070,582
2
4,403,450
2
1,760,000**
2
6,700
2
1,442,617
3
10,000**
3
68,353,000**
4
88,365**
2
1,920,000
3
50,000
2
6,727**
3
1,300,000
4
6,910
2
944,984
22,700,000
2
357,144
2500,000
2
870,000
2
295,377
4
4,513,500
3
624,400**
4
5,785,000
2
379,849
5
9,000,000
5
2,000,000
2
10,000
2
3,500
Motorsport Mundial (23 minutes)
Country
Network
Transmissions Africa*
Asia (incl. India)
Australia
Canada
Middle East
New Zealand
Qatar
Russia
Singapore
Thailand
UK & Eire
UK & Eire
USA
Zuku
512,000
TEN Sports
2
90,000,000
Speed
31,000,000
TVA/MEN TV
4
1,000,000
Al Jazeera
2
25,000,000
TVNZ7
2
125,000
Al Dawri/Al Kass Sport 3
357,144
Auto Plus
3
500,000
Starhub
2530,000
UBC
315,400,000
BT Vision
1
500,000
Channel 5
2
17,500,000
Speed 2
2
15,000,000
2008
2009
2010
2011
37
Live BTCC coverage on ITV4 and ITV4 HD grew by more than
35 per cent in 2011
* Cumulative audience number/hours weighted according to
programme duration hours, which reflects sustained viewing
of more than three minutes
UK TV Airtime
2005
18 hours
2006
15.5 hours
21 hours
2007
2008
86 hours
2009
116 hours
2010
109 hours
2011
128 hours
Homes †
(* Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Sudan,
Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia)
11.8m
11.1m
10.7m
10.4m
11.7m
13.8m
14.1m
19.4m
ITV4 and ITV4 HD provided more than six hours of live
coverage from all ten BTCC race meetings with postproduced highlights screened on both ITV1, ITV4 and
ITV4 HD
• All TV data sourced from IFM Sports Marketing Surveys Ltd
128 hours
Total number of hours of ITV
coverage in 2011
UK radio coverage
in 2011
155
55
Stations
Hours
Cumulative
estimated listeners
54
Million
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
30 cars on the grid
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
Trackside Attendance Manufacturers
represented on
the grid
Total 2011 trackside audience*
366,000+
* Total cumulative three-day attendance at all ten BTCC meetings
Dennis Publishing Figures
Title
200,000
2005 230,000
2006 255,000
2007 275,000
2008 295,000
2009 310,000
2010 320,000
2011 366,000
2004
17
2006 25
2007 26
2008 23
2009 21
2010 23
2011 30
2005
38
6
2006 7
2007 6
2008 6
2009 5
2010 7
2011 10
2005
The introduction of new cost-cutting
NGTC regulations resulted in an
unprecedented 30 cars lining up on
the grid for the 2011 season finale
Trackside spectator numbers grew
for the seventh consecutive year in
2011. Totals are cumulative threeday attendance at all ten BTCC
meetings
NGTC rules have seen new racers
representing Audi, Proton and
Toyota
www.btcc.net
BTCC Facebook
BTCC Twitter
44,900 per month
2005 46,000 per month
2006 48,500 per month
2007 53,300 per month
2008 71,100 per month
2009 77,100 per month
2010 110,000 per month
2011 141,000 per month
nil
December 2010 1,200
January 2011 1,600
February 2011 2,500
March 2011 3,600
April 2011 4,400
May 2011 5,100
June 2011 6,000
July 2011 7,200
August 2011 8,000
September 2011 9,500
Unique Visitors October 2011 10,600
2004
November 2010
141,000
The BTCC’s dedicated website –
btcc.net – has witnessed an everincreasing number of unique visitors.
In April 2011 the figure topped
140,000
28,840
Registered Fans
The number of fans registering with
btcc.net has continued to grow
year-on-year. Fans receive regular
newsletters and have access to
exclusive website content
10,600
Likes
As part of its Social Media
campaign, the BTCC launched its
own Facebook site in 2011 – more
than 10,000 fans are now ‘like’
followers
nil
April 2010 1,000
October 2010 3,500
April 2011 4,220
October 2011 7,400
7,900
Tweets
7,400
Followers
Launched at the start of the
2010 season, the BTCC’s official
Twitter site has continued to gain
thousands of new followers in 2011
56,424 / 209,000
61,417 / 213,000
Auto Express
Evo
Website
Unique monthly visitors
1,499,044
453,216
autoexpress.co.uk
evo.co.uk Spectator Survey
March 2010
Magazine circulation / ABC readership
Male Female Under 35
35 or over
Average number of
events attended in 2011
1.81
1.38
1.65
1.86
Percentage who have
bought merchandise
42%
30%
39%
41%
Top five aspects enjoyed
most during the day
Racing
Atmosphere
Weather
Good day out
Food & Drink
43%
20%
11%
9%
8%
Racing
Atmosphere
Weather
Good day out
Food & Drink
33%
17%
13%
10%
7%
Racing
Atmosphere
Weather
Good day out
Food & Drink
46%
19%
11%
10%
5%
Racing
Atmosphere
Weather
Good day out
Food & Drink
35%
18%
14%
11%
10%
Five aspects the
public disliked
Nothing
44%
Crowds/queues
10%
Travelling
10%
Quality of food
6%
Toilet queues6%
Nothing
Crowds/queues
Travelling
Quality of food
Toilet queues
40%
17%
13%
7%
3%
Nothing
Crowds/queues
Travelling
Quality of food
Toilet queues
43%
12%
10%
7%
6%
Nothing
Crowds/queues
Travelling
Quality of food
Toilet queues
44%
12%
12%
9%
4%
Social class
AB
C1
C2
DE
AB
C1
C2
DE
21%
59%
3%
17%
AB
C1
C2
DE
20%
54%
17%
9%
AB
C1
C2
DE
47%
43%
4%
6%
35%
47%
13%
5%
Personal income
under £15,000
£15,000 - £19,999
£20,000 - £24,999
£25,000 - £29,999
£30,000 - £34,999
£35,000 - £44,999
£45,000 - £54,999
£55,000 - £64,999
£65,000 or over
3%
5%
6%
19%
14%
18%
13%
8%
14%
4%
7%
15%
15%
11%
22%
11%
4%
11%
4%
9%
9%
22%
9%
19%
11%
6%
11%
1%
4%
5%
13%
16%
18%
15%
10%
18%
Top three other sports
watched on TV
Formula 1
Football
Athletics
74%
67%
26%
Tennis
Formula 1
Football
48%
36%
32%
Formula 1
Football
Athletics
71%
63%
23%
Formula 1
Football
Cricket
74%
74%
74%
Top three national
papers read
The Sun
Daily Mail
Telegraph
25%
19%
10%
Daily Mail
The Times
Express
29%
13%
10%
The Sun
Daily Mail
Express
29%
15%
9%
Daily Mail
Telegraph
The Sun
28%
18%
8%
Research carried out by Sports Marketing Surveys
39
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
Support Races
That’s entertainment…
40
The high-profile travelling BTCC
showcase provides a full weekend
of virtually non-stop on-track
entertainment. Each of the ten
race events features not only
three bill-topping touring car
showdowns, but also the very best
of UK single-seater, saloon and
sportscar racing. The packed twoday programme includes up to 14
races, guaranteeing fans a feast of
top-class motor racing action.
In the UK, only the BTCC offers
Porsche a big enough arena to
captivate the audience it desires.
The championship is exclusively for
racing versions of Porsche’s 180mph
997 model. Big grids of the mouthwatering German dream machines
handled by top-line drivers – many
with international touring car, GT
and single-seater experience –
make for a sensational sight and
sound.
There are five specially selected
championships on the regular BTCC
supporting bill, each one adding
variety and further thrills. World titlewinning Formula 1 manufacturer
Renault and legendary supercar
maker Porsche provide three of
those championships, while the
other two come from flourishing
British sportscar marque Ginetta. All
five series are fully manufacturersupported, ensuring that levels of
professionalism and excitement for
crowds are unrivalled by any other
motor sport experience in the UK.
The cracking series moved up yet
another gear in 2011 with the arrival
of the latest-model 911GT3 Cup
racer as used in the international
Porsche Supercup, which features
alongside many grands prix.
Porsche GB also supports its Carrera
Cup with a towering state-of-theart hospitality suite, which forms
an integral part of its high-profile
marketing programme.
Few companies come close to
matching the illustrious motor
sport pedigree of Porsche. With
a record number of Le Mans
24 Hours victories behind it, the
German sportscar brand nowadays
concentrates on its Carrera Cup
series in key global markets.
“Being a key part of the BTCC
package is the ideal platform
for Porsche’s UK motorsport
programme,” confirms Marion
Barnaby, Porsche GB Motorsport
Manager.
Renaultsport runs two
championships: its Formula
Renault single-seater category
and the thrill-a-minute, singlemodel Clio Cup. Combined, the
championships’ roots in the UK
stretch back more than 50 years.
Formula Renault has supported
the BTCC since 1993. The cars
are identical 2-litre, carbon-fibre
machines that boast an authentic
F1 look and feel, including a sevenspeed gearbox. Unsurprisingly, its
grids are full of aspiring F1 racers. In
recent years the championship has
produced some great names, most
notably 2008 and 2007 F1 world
champions Lewis Hamilton and
Kimi Raikkonen, who were Formula
Renault title winners in 2003 and
2000 respectively.
The Clio Cup is the latest in a
successful line of showroom model
championships run by Renault
UK that dates back to the early
Seventies, when leaning 5TLs and
TSs wowed the crowds with big
grids and crazy antics. The Clio
Cup has carried on that tradition
with teams and drivers – many
with BTCC ambitions – eager
to get their hands on the costeffective, identical racing versions
of Renault’s potent 210bhp Clio 200
model.
It’s the perfect proving ground for
young tin-top drivers and many of
today’s touring car stars, including
Mat Jackson, Andrew Jordan and
Tom Onslow-Cole – all BTCC race
winners – earned their spurs in Clios.
“The BTCC is the UK’s largestattended motor sport
championship, by far making it the
logical arena for a major motor
manufacturer to showcase its
technologies and sporting image,”
says Lisa Crampton , General
Manager of SRO UK, promoter of
both Renault series’. “The huge
trackside crowds and high-quality
live free-to-air television coverage
enable competitors in the Clio
Cup and Formula Renault UK
championships to attract long-term
sponsors, which ultimately gives
them a springboard into the upper
echelons of motor sport. Indeed,
drivers who forged their reputations
in the Clio Cup now star in the
BTCC and, in the past decade, the
BTCC crowds and TV viewers have
seen a number of names from
Formula Renault go on to reach the
very top in Formula 1.”
41
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
“The BTCC package is the perfect
place for the Porsche Carrera
Cup GB. It delivers on every front:
huge crowds, unrivalled TV,
great atmosphere and a real buzz
around the events. Being a key
part of the BTCC package is the
ideal platform for Porsche’s
UK motorsport programme.”
Marion Barnaby – Porsche GB MOTORSPORT Manager
42
Ginetta is very much the new kid
on the block – quite literally. Its
Junior championship, for drivers
aged 14 to 17, has been a major hit
since it joined the ‘BTCC family’ in
2008, providing plenty of drama as
the youngsters battle it out for early
supremacy. Adding to its appeal,
the series has attracted young
‘hotshots’ of both sexes and hit
the headlines in 2009 when Sarah
Moore won the title to become
the first female racer in many
decades to win a major UK motor
sport crown. In 2010, the company
introduced a new, more stylish,
five-speed 1.8-litre G40 model,
which quickly won favour with both
competitors and spectators.
The enthusiastic Yorkshire-based
manufacturer’s presence on BTCC
race weekends doubles up with
the more powerful, newly created
Ginetta GT Supercup. The racing in
this dual-class series is fast, furious
and unpredictable as the drivers
– many with reputations to uphold –
fight to tame the spectacular, newfor-2011 G55 and the older G50
coupes. The series also featured pitstop races – not seen on the TOCA
package since the BTCC dropped
tyre changes in 2003 – for the first
time in 2011 to add extra spice and
unpredictability to the racing.
The new 3.7-litre, 370bhp V6powered G55 will continue to race
alongside its predecessor, the G50,
in 2012 – the G50 the ideal proving
ground for young drivers stepping
up into the championship for the
first time, often from Ginetta’s Junior
series.
“2011 has been another great year
for Ginetta as part of the BTCC
package,” reports
Lawrence Tomlinson, Chairman
of Ginetta. “We’ve kept it fresh by
introducing new cars and different
formats, but a key benefit has been
the crowd and support. Ginetta
is all about developing young
talent and we have enjoyed an
unprecedented response to 2011’s
close racing. The exposure drivers
and teams gain on the BTCC’s
support package is second to
none and, with the advent of social
media, racing is becoming more
accessible than ever before.”
All five championships not
only deliver the best possible
entertainment for trackside BTCC
fans, but also enjoy hitherto
unprecedented levels of television
exposure thanks to the live ITV4 and
ITV4 HD coverage from each event.
Added to the live Sunday airtime,
a post-produced highlights support
race programme, ‘Motorsport UK’,
is screened later on both ITV1 and
ITV4 platforms, reaching a total
audience of between 300,000
and 500,000.
Whichever way you look, it’s a winwin scenario for all involved.
43
2012 Dunlop MSA British
TouRING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
TOCA
A winning team
44
The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car
Championship is widely recognised as a world
leader. Under the leadership of Series Director
Alan Gow, TOCA was formed to take over the
running of the BTCC in 1992 and 20 years later
it’s continuing to set new standards for sports
marketing, promotion and administration of
motor sport in Great Britain.
With this proven track record, the highly
respected TOCA team has the experience and
ability to deliver on all fronts. The organisational
structure includes experts in a wide range of
different specialist disciplines, each and every
one of them totally dedicated to the overall
success of the BTCC.
Alan Gow
Administrator &
Series Director
Dennis Carter
Race
Director
Bob Kettleboro
Race
Director
Peter Riches
Technical
Director
Dan Mayo
Championship
Co-Ordinator
Carl McKellar
Media
Officer
Dr Paul Trafford
Medical
Director
The Willows
Low Common
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Credits
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Photography, PPG Design & Print Ltd