The BTCC has not only announced its calendar for 2006, but also mapped out its future withconfirmation that from 2007 onwards the championship will be the chief domain of cars complying with the FIA’s Super 2000 technical regulations.

The move will open the floodgates for new manufacturer and independent teams to enter the BTCC.S2000 regulations are currently used by many touring car series in Europe, as well as the World Touring Car Championship.

BTCC Series Director Alan Gow said: “I confidently predict that this will massively strengthen the BTCC and I’m very excited about the future this change brings to the championship. Manufacturers now have one set of technical regulations to follow when deciding to compete, making it much simpler for them to enter. It’s the most logical decision for the championship.

“Additionally, in order to ensure that the cars are relevant to the UK car market, any ‘new-build’ car entered from 2007 will also have to be based on a model which is readily available through authorised dealer networks across Europe.”

Current BTC-spec cars, that have popularised the BTCC since 2001, will be permitted to race in 2007 and 2008, but with some technical restrictions in place and will be ineligible for outright championship honours. The published 2006 BTCC calendar looks like this:

Date Circuit/County

8-9 April Brands Hatch, Kent22-23 April Mondello Park, County Kildare (IRL)13-14 May Oulton Park, Cheshire3-4 June Thruxton, Hampshire15-16 June Croft, North Yorkshire29-30 July Donington Park, Leicestershire12-13 August Snetterton, Norfolk2-3 September Knockhill, Fife23-24 September Brands Hatch, Kent14-15 October Silverstone, Northamptonshire

The most notable inclusion in the calendar is a six-week gap between rounds four and five at Oulton Park and Croft so as to avoid clashes with television broadcasts of football’s World Cup.