ROCKINGHAM'S TURN 1 AWAITS BTCC GRID

Rockingham’s high-speed, banked Turn 1 corner will be part of its circuit lay-out when the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship races there on 22 April.

The BTCC drivers will race around the Northamptonshire venue’s International Super Sports Car configuration – a mix of its oval and infield courses that includes the fearsome Turn 1 as part of its lay-out.

It will create the first new track lay-out for the BTCC since the championship last raced at Rockingham in 2003 when the field tackled the International circuit.

“The BTCC field jostling for position through Rockingham’s Turn 1 will make for one of the season’s great spectacles,” says BTCC Series Director Alan Gow.

“It’s not uncommon for our drivers to run side-by-side through corners at most circuits and at Turn 1 we could even see as many as five abreast. With a flat-out approach and a high wall on the edge of the track it will not be for the feint-hearted.

“Furthermore this corner boasts great viewing for the public with an enormous grandstand. With three BTCC rounds to savour on race day, plus action from four supporting championships, our crowds are in for a real treat.”

Meanwhile, the BTCC can confirm it will race around Brands Hatch’s short, action-packed Indy circuit on both its visits to the world-famous Kent venue on 1 April and 9 August.

Elsewhere, the BTCC will continue to race around the Island lay-out at Oulton Park, Cheshire (24 June) and the National circuit at Donington Park (Leicestershire) on 15 July.

For more information about the BTCC visit the championship's official website http://www.btcc.net/.

Note to sportsdesk: hi-res copyright free BTCC images are available from BTCC.net's Media section. Log-in details are available from the contact below.   Rockingham's crowds could see five-abreast racing when the BTCC field tackles the circuit's fearsome Turn 1 at its race meeting on 22 April