Just stay up!

Around 2 in the morning.

Anyone doing coverage of the WTCC today? I would love to, but I probably won't be able to.

Has anybody heard (other than from me here!!) a rumour that Lewis Hamilton dropping out of racing for Mclaren this year. Had just started work yesterday and another driver walked in and just dropped in a general remark that there was a seat going at Mclaren.

Paul

ITV1 continues live coverage of BTCC

ITV1, the UK’s largest commercial terrestrial channel will continue its live Sunday afternoon coverage of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship in 2007.

This will be the fifth consecutive year that ITV1 has committed to broadcasting the BTCC, the country’s premier motor racing championship.

In addition to their Formula 1 duties for ITV, Louise Goodman and Ted Kravitz will host the channel’s BTCC coverage for the first time. Ben Edwards and former BTCC champion Tim Harvey will continue as race commentators.

The second half of the 2007 season will be shown live on ITV1 with the opening five race meetings shown live on a prime ITV digital channel, with comprehensive highlights on ITV1.

All ten race fixtures will also receive highlights coverage on ITV’s Men & Motors channel (Freeview/cable/satellite). Furthermore, each race day – including the BTCC’s support championships – will be shown live on independent sports channel Setanta Sports (subscription cable/satellite).

Details of which ITV Freeview channel (ie. either ITV2, 3 or 4) will broadcast the live BTCC action, plus broadcast times, will be announced in due course.

BTCC Series Director Alan Gow comments: “We are very proud and excited to continue our association with ITV. What effectively amounts to an expansion in coverage across its network is testament to its commitment to the BTCC.

“We now have a total of four different TV channels that will be broadcasting the BTCC throughout the UK and thus it gives the championship a unique and excellent spread of terrestrial, Freeview and subscription broadcast platforms – a factor that is important with the increasing use of digital channels by the public. Nearly 80% of UK households now have either Freeview or cable/satellite and ITV’s prime digital channels regularly sees audiences of over a million viewers for UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and live boxing.

“The BTCC now has an enormous reach across all broadcast platforms; with all ten events being broadcast on ITV1 (either live or highlights), plus five events broadcast live on a prime ITV digital channel, plus all events broadcast on Men & Motors, plus all events broadcast live through Setanta Sports… all of which provides viewers with an unequalled choice and opportunities to watch the thrilling action of the series.

“Proudly, this continues to be the biggest/best broadcast arrangement for any British (four-wheel) motor sport and we thank ITV for their continued enthusiasm and commitment for the championship.”


ITV Director of Sport Mark Sharman adds: “We are delighted to be continuing our coverage of the BTCC in 2007. The championship has always proven to be a great hit with our audiences and it is beginning 2007 in an even stronger position, with a tremendous line-up of teams, drivers and cars.

“The BTCC very much remains an integral part of our portfolio of top-line sporting events and we look forward with great enthusiasm to bringing such an exciting sporting arena to our viewers again this season.”

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship today reveals its 2007 entry list at its annual Media Day launch, this year held at the Rockingham circuit in Northamptonshire.

To date, 27 cars from 18 teams are registered to contest this year’s BTCC – Britain’s premier motor racing championship. The 2007 BTCC will feature one of the most diverse grids for many years, comprising six BMWs, six SEATs, five Hondas, three Vauxhalls, three Alfa Romeos, two Lexus and two MGs.

Significantly, reigning Manufacturers’ champion SEAT has entered a third car for an as yet un-named driver. And for the first time since the BTCC’s formation in 1958, a diesel car – newcomer Rick Kerry’s BMW 120d – will enter the championship. Two cars using bio-ethanol fuel, the MG ZSs of Jason Hughes and Fiona Leggate, will also be on the grid.

Little more than a fortnight now remains before the season’s opening rounds at Brands Hatch in Kent on 1 April. From there the championship trail will return to Rockingham on 22 April before eight more race meetings in six different counties around the UK that will eventually culminate with Finals Day at the high-speed Thruxton circuit in Hampshire on 14 October.

BTCC Series Director Alan Gow commented: “This is a truly fantastic line-up of cars, drivers and teams for the public to savour in 2007 – in fact it’s one of the biggest in the modern history of the championship. Our move to S2000 has brought an additional fresh impetus into the BTCC which was already riding high following thrilling 2005/6 seasons. The fact that we have 21 S2000 cars and only six BTC-spec cars comprehensively endorses the direction in which the championship is being taken... and that's continually upwards.

“There is a terrific buzz of excitement among all our participants, sponsors, partners and fans ahead of the new season and with such a great and diverse field of cars, this year promises to be absolutely enthralling.”

Dunlop, entering its third year as BTCC title sponsor and also the championship’s exclusive tyre supplier, is enthusing about the season ahead. Dunlop’s Corporate Communications Manager James Bailey said: “Dunlop is a company built on success and currently there is no greater success story than the BTCC – it really is the jewel in our crown and also British motor sport’s crown. Judging by the feedback we’ve had from the fans and the motor sport industry as a whole, the level of anticipation ahead of the forthcoming BTCC season seems to have stepped up another gear. We are very proud to be title sponsor of this great British championship.”

More than 100 top quality print and on-line media, from national newspapers to lifestyle publications to specialist titles, plus national and regional television camera crews and both independent and BBC radio stations have arrived at Rockingham to get a preview of the BTCC ahead of its 2007 season.

All the latest BTCC news and information will be available throughout the season on the championship’s official websitewww.btcc.net.

CONFIRMED ENTRY LIST: 2007 DUNLOP MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP

No./Driver (NAT), Team, Car, Type
1. Matt Neal (GBR), Team Halfords, Honda Civic, Super 2000
3. Colin Turkington (GBR), Team RAC, BMW 320si E90, Super 2000
5. Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA), VX Racing, * Vauxhall Vectra, Super 2000
7. Tom Chilton (GBR), VX Racing,* Vauxhall VectraSuper, 2000
11. Jason Plato (GBR), SEAT Sport UK, * SEAT Leon, Super 2000
12. Darren Turner (GBR), SEAT Sport UK, * SEAT Leon, Super 2000
14. Eoin Murray (IRL), Quest Racng, Alfa Romeo 156, Super 2000
15. Martyn Bell (GBR), Team Allaboutproperty.comBMW, 320i E46, Super 2000
17. Rick Kerry (GBR), Team AFM Racing, BMW 120D, Super 2000
19. Nick Leason (GBR), BTC Racing, Lexus IS200, Super 2000
21. Adam Jones (GBR), Team Air Cool, SEAT Toledo, Super 2000
22. TBA, SEAT Sport UK, * SEAT Leon, Super 2000
23. Matt Allison (GBR), Motorbase Performance, SEAT Toledo, Super 2000
25. Gareth Howell (GBR), Motorbase Performance, SEAT Toledo, Super 2000
28. Jason Hughes (GBR), Kartworld Racing, MG ZS, BTC
33. Tom Onslow-Cole (GBR), Team RAC, BMW 320si E90, Super 2000
38. Fiona Leggate (GBR), Kartworld Racing/Boston Bowl, MG ZS, BTC
43. Chris Stockton (GBR), BTC Racing, Lexus IS200, Super 2000
45. Jim Pocklington (GBR), J Team Motorsport with Tech Tuning, BMW 320i E46, Super 2000
48. Mat Jackson (GBR), Jacksons M.Sport, BMW 320si E90, Super 2000
52. Gordon Shedden (GBR), Team Halfords, Honda Civic, Super 2000
55. John George (GBR), TH Motorsport, Honda Integra, BTC
56. David Pinkney (GBR), A-Tech , Alfa Romeo 156, Super 2000
59. Richard Marsh (GBR), A-Tech Alfa Romeo 156, Super 2000
69. Simon Blanckley (GBR), Sibsport, Honda Integra, BTC
77. Mike Jordan (GBR), Team Eurotech Racing with John Guest-Speedfit, Honda Integra, BTC
90. Erkut Kizilirmak (TKY), Arkas RacingVauxhall, Astra Sport Hatch, BTC

* Registered for the BTCC Manufacturers Championship
All others registered for the BTCC Independents Championship, with the exception of cars 1 & 52