Forthcoming UK Events
| Date | Event | Location |
| 06-08.07.2012 | Formula 1 British Grand Prix | Silverstone (Arena GP) |
| 01-03.06.2012 | British Drift Championship | Norfolk Arena |
| 23-24.06.2012 | MG Live 2012 | Silverstone |
| 25-26.08.2012 | FIA World Endurance Championship | Silverstone |
The 2012 Season Starts Here
The last week has seen a flurry of activity as championships big and small held their annual media days and opening tests, with some already even getting down to racing proper. The British Touring Car Championship heads strongly into a new all-turbo generation and this year boasts 10 models from nine different marques on its 24-car grid, including the technicolour liveried return of the MG name.
The BTCC season opener hits Brands Hatch on 1st April, followed a week later by the first rounds of the British GT Championship and the British F3 International Series at Oulton Park. While some single-seater formulae have struggled in recent times - Formula Renault postponing its UK series due to poor entries - British F3 continues to attract young talent. With recent champions including the Scuderia Toro Rosso pairing of Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne, its status as a stepping-stone to Formula 1 is hard to dispute.
Read more...BTCC Prepares for Snetterton 300 Circuit Debut
- Details
- Category: BTCC
- Friday, 15 July 2011
The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship heads to Snetterton for rounds 16, 17 and 18 of one of its closest seasons ever on 6/7 August. When the teams arrive at the Norfolk circuit, six drivers are in contention for this year’s title, with several more waiting in the wings.
The table is currently led by Honda’s Matt Neal. The 2005 and 2006 champion has taken several victories this season and is looking to add a third crown to his collection. However a calamitous collision at Oulton Park in June has cost him and team mate Gordon Shedden several points. Both drivers are contenders this year, with the pair separated by just twenty points.
Between the Honda drivers is Mat Jackson. The Airwaves Ford Focus driver has been a consistent winner in the series ever since 2007, when he first started competing regularly. Finishing second overall in 2008, he will be aiming to improve on this and add his name to the prestigious list of BTCC champions.
Andrew Jordan will be hoping to be the youngest ever title holder, the 22-year old driving a Vauxhall Vectra that was dominant in the series just a couple of years ago. Jordan took his first victories last year with a turbocharged engine, a formula that has very much become the powerplant of choice in the championship.
A similar car is campaigned by James Nash, the Newport Pagnell-based driver in his third year of BTCC competition. Nash crossed the line first at Snetterton in his debut season in 2009, before he was excluded for causing a collision. Since then he has yet to record his debut win and will be keen to end this drought, as will his Triple Eight team, who up until this season have won a race every year since 1998.
In sixth place and languishing 40 points behind the leader is reigning champion Jason Plato. The Chevrolet driver’s season has not gone to plan, with a series of incidents including a spectacular roll at Donington. Jason will be desperate to win at Snetterton, as another poor weekend is certain to end his bid for back-to-back titles. However previous seasons have shown that he never gives up and his performance is expected to be spectacular at this event!
The brand new 300 circuit at Snetterton has received rave reviews, many of them from the drivers of the BTCC. Whilst some of them have tested here, none have raced on the technical new infield section that adds a mile, and plenty of overtaking opportunities, to the airfield circuit.
The new corners are surrounded by spectator banks that will lend a stadium atmosphere as the drivers dispute new corners and unfamiliar tarmac. Record crowds attended the recent British Superbike meeting and the BTCC is expected to be just as popular. With a title at stake and every chance of seeing a new name added to the list of 2011 winners, this is the most anticipated BTCC race weekend in years!
Tickets for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championships at Snetterton, with support races from the Porsche Carrera Cup, Ginetta Supercup, Ginetta Juniors, Formula Renault UK and the Renault Clio Cup are available at a discounted price from £25, with free admission for children 12 and under. For further information, call 0843 453 9000 or visit www.snetterton.co.uk.
