Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championshipwww.btcc
Northamptonshire’s Rockingham circuit will next year stage a BTCC race meeting (below left), its confirmation completing the 2007 calendar. Thruxton, in Hampshire, will join Brands Hatch in staging two events, including the season finale. BTCC Series Director Alan Gow said: “We are delighted to be able to return to Rockingham. Its inclusion means that the BTCC will continue to be in action in eight counties, ensuring that the championship remains as accessible as possible for the public in all four corners of the UK.” The 2007 BTCC calendar reads:
Date Circuit, County1 April Brands Hatch, Kent22 April Rockingham, Northamptonshire6 May Thruxton, Hampshire3 June Croft, North Yorkshire24 June Oulton Park, Cheshire15 July Donington Park, Leicestershire29 July Snetterton, Norfolk19 August Brands Hatch, Kent2 September Knockhill, Fife14 October Thruxton, Hampshire
The BTCC has also renewed its official media partnership with leading publishing group Dennis. For the fourth consecutive season, the championship will continue to receive heavy promotion in Britain’s top-selling weekly publication Auto Express and popular sister titles Evo and Maxim, both through their magazines’ pages and online via their websites.
Elsewhere, multiple title-winner Vauxhall has confirmed it will switch to its new Vectra Hatchback model for 2007, having re-signed drivers Fabrizio Giovanardi and Tom Chilton. And reigning champion Matt Neal has received the British Racing Drivers’ Club’s prestigious Silver Star, collecting the award from club President and 1996 Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill.
SEAT Sport UK has confirmed it will contest a fourth consecutive season in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship in 2007 with a pair of Leons, one to be driven by Jason Plato (above right).
Premier Division goalkeeper Peter Enckelman, of Blackburn Rovers, is behind a new team set to enter the BTCC in 2007 – Encke Sport. The Finnish international keeper’s team will field Vauxhall Astra Coupes. Enckelman said: “The BTCC is the premiership of motor sport and the only thing bigger is F1. To be a part of it is a dream come true. Obviously I’ll put the effort into the team as I have done into my football. No doubt some of the other players will be joining me at many of the rounds.”
Lloyds TSB Insurance British Formula 3 Championshipwww.fota.
Greg and Leo Mansell will contest British F3’s Championship Class in 2007, having signed to drive with Northamptonshire-based Fortec Motorsport, the team with which they made their debuts in the category last October. The brothers, sons of 1992 F1 World Champion Nigel Mansell, acquitted themselves well in changeable track conditions at Thruxton, having graduated from Formula BMW.
Leo Mansell: "British F3 was the right choice for us because, one, it is our home formula and, two, we have a great relationship with Fortec, working with them through testing and the race at Thruxton. We're also visiting some great tracks next year including Spa, Monza, Silverstone GP, Brands Hatch GP and the street race in Bucharest. It's a schedule we're really excited about."
Greg Mansell: "British F3 is highly respected amongst the other F3 series and next year’s calendar is fantastic with four tracks from the old F1 calendar and, as a driver, you couldn't wish for any more. There are fantastic cars and we have a great team in Fortec supporting us and I'm just really looking forward to it; it was the right choice for us."
Richard Dutton, Team Principal, Fortec Motorsport: "It's a great honour for Fortec to be involved with Leo, Greg and Nigel. We've worked hard over the last few years in Formula 3 and it's great to have drivers signed and organised so early. We've got the test programme coming up and it is nice going into the season fully ready and organised.”
Avon Tyres British GT Championshipwww.britishgt.
Moore Racing from Milton Keynes has become the latest team to commit to British GTs for 2007, signing up to compete in the expanding GT3 class with its Dodge Viper. The team, with considerable endurance experience, has recruited driver pairing Mike Gardiner and Paul Fenton.
Moore Racing founder and Manager Richard Moore said: “With a change of focus to GT3 expected in British GTs and a large number of new cars, reliability and consistency as well as outright speed will be key to achieving a strong season’s performance. As a team Moore Racing has learnt an awful lot about running reliable cars in Britcar and 24 hour races both in Europe and the UK. We believe that experience will pay off over the 14-race calendar. We currently have an option on a second Viper and subject to discussions with suitably experienced and funded drivers hope to boost our attack with a second car.”
Mike Gardiner added: “It’s great to enter the Avon Tyres British GT Championship with the new GT3 class really taking off. The Viper has raced successfully in European GT3 and offers a competitive package at a reasonable price. The Moore Racing team has proven itself in Britcar and Paul Fenton and I are a well-matched driver pairing. We have all the ingredients for a successful year.”
Armajaro MSA British Historic Rally Championshipwww.hrcr.
Dunlop and The Gambia are to be the title sponsors of the Championship in 2007. The two organisations have taken over as main sponsors for one of the fastest-growing championships in British stage rallying, which is managed by the Historic Rally Car Register. Dunlop has been a long-time supporter of the championship and is the preferred tyre supplier for many competitors. Dunlop also provides an on-event service at BHRC events and its on-going support of the championship is a key part of the BHRC success story. The Gambia, meanwhile, is a stunning holiday location on the coast of West Africa and its BHRC support has been arranged by leading competitor Martin Freestone.
"We are proud to be supporting the BHRC and all those involved in making the championship go on from strength to strength," said Freestone. "The Gambia first became involved in rallying in 2004 by sponsoring the Killarney Historic Rally when Susan Waffa-Ogoo, the honourable Minister of Tourism for The Gambia, was guest of honour. Since then, awareness of The Gambia has encouraged many people to visit us at Kololi Beach Club and enjoy exotic holidays in The Gambia sunshine."
Championship co-ordinator Simon Marks from Historic Rally Car Register added: "We are very grateful to both Dunlop and The Gambia for offering title sponsorship for the 2007 season. We are planning for the best-ever season in the BHRC history, with more and more competitors joining the historic scene. Having two enthusiastic sponsors on board is the icing on the cake!"
In addition to the title sponsors, a further six companies have signed up to be associate sponsors for the 2007 BHRC, namely Mintex, Minilite, West Wales Rally Spares, Ton Hire, Competition Car Insurance and Water End Properties.
