The HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship has released its full official 2009 calendar today (Saturday 26th July). Dates for the ten BTCC race weekends were released earlier this month and now the venues have been confirmed.

Once again this country's premier and most popular championship will headline at all the UK's top circuits giving fans throughout England and Scotland the best possible chance of catching the thrilling touring car action live. As in 2008, next year's BTCC schedule starts and finishes close to the capital at Brands Hatch in Kent - this time, though, the season finale will be staged on the full-length Grand Prix circuit.

BTCC Series Director Alan Gow comments: "As is now traditional, our 10 meeting calendar travels the length and breadth of the country from Knockhill in Scotland to Thruxton in the South of England. As ever, fans in the Midlands are well catered for with rounds at Donington Park, Silverstone and Rockingham while visits to Oulton Park in the North West, Croft in the North East and Snetterton in Norfolk are well-established favourites with spectators, teams, drivers and sponsors.

"I'm particularly pleased to confirm that next year's BTCC title decider will definitely be held on the world-famous Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit - already it promises to be a fitting finale for what is certain to be yet another season of unpredictable, dramatic and exhilarating competition."

With so much of the UK's motor sport activities planned around the BTCC calendar, Gow also underlined the importance of announcing these 2009 BTCC dates as early as possible. "By confirming our dates and venues in July, other major motor sport organisers now can plan their own events and avoid too many clashes with the BTCC - or at least be aware of where and when the BTCC will be headlining at venues close to them."

BTCC Race Calendar 2009:

Rounds 1/2/3                4-5 April                Brands Hatch, Kent

Rounds 4/5/6                25-26 April             Thruxton, Hants

Rounds 7/8/9                16-17 May             Donington Park, Leics

Rounds 10/11/12           30-31 May             Oulton Park, Cheshire

Rounds 13/14/15           13-14 June             Croft, North Yorks

Rounds 16/17/18           01-02 August         Snetterton, Norfolk

Rounds 19/20/21           15-16 August         Knockhill, Fife

Rounds 22/23/24           29-30 August         Silverstone, Northants

Rounds 25/26/27           19-20 Sept.            Rockingham, Northants

Rounds 28/29/30           03-04 October        Brands Hatch, Kent

The BTCC has announced its 2009 dates now to help other motor sport organisers avoid clashes when planning their calendars