Series Director Alan Gow has said the 2004 Green Flag British Touring Car Championship season exceeded his own personal expectations in terms of growth and excitement.
After three years away, Gow returned to lead the BTCC mid-way through 2003 having made the championship a household name and one of the most important motor sport spectacles in the world during the Nineties.
Gow said: “I knew immediately when I took control again that the BTCC had massive potential – probably even more so than in the early Nineties – but 2004, my first full season back in charge, has surpassed even what I thought was achievable.
“The BTCC has enjoyed unprecedented coverage on Britain’s biggest commercial terrestrial television channel, ITV1, with 40 per cent more airtime and viewers than last year.
“We’ve seen a return to much bigger crowds who have received tremendous value for money – not all major events in the sporting diary can make such claims – and that is always very important to us. In fact the numbers make very impressive reading.”
The 2004 BTCC reached a thrilling climax at Donington Park last month; James Thompson beat Vauxhall team-mate Yvan Muller to the title by just one point in the final race of the season.
The same event also staged the first ever BTCC Masters race for 16 of the championship’s past title-winners and heroes in identical SEAT Cupras.
Highlights of the 2004 BTCC season have included:
40 per cent increase in viewing figures and airtime on Britain’s biggest commercial terrestrial television channel, ITV1, including five events broadcast live 20 per cent increase in race day crowds Live coverage of each BTCC race day in its entirety on satellite television channel Motors TV – over 90 hours of live coverage Allowance of European-spec (Super 2000) cars into the championship A new manufacturer, SEAT, entering the BTCC, alongside teams representing Alfa Romeo, BMW, Honda, MG, Peugeot, Proton and Vauxhall A new, three-race format on race day A new, top-ten reversed grid rule Ten different race winners The final race deciding the champion The final round deciding the HarrierZeuros Independents Trophy title Independents competitors winning eight rounds outright A new £75,000 Independents Trophy prize fund from sponsor HarrierZeuros Championship exposed to new key audiences via official media partner Dennis Publishing’s Auto Express, Maxim, Evo, Bizarre and Men’s Fitness titles – a combined annual readership of almost 38 million A return to the BTCC calendar for Knockhill, Scotland First ever BTCC Masters race for past champions and heroes
Gow added: “The racing has been exciting and unpredictable and the championship the closest since the BTCC’s current two-litre era started in 1991. We have celebrated ten different race winners in 2004, which is testament to our new three-race format and reversed grid rule. By any measure, we have had an extraordinary season – roll on 2005!”
