2008 BTCC line-up announced
27 entries have registered for the 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship today at the Media day at Rockingham Raceway.
Vauxhall and SEAT return as the sole Manufacturer entries with representatives from BMW, Honda, Chevrolet, MG, Lexus and Alfa Romeo lining up on the grid alongside them.
Reigning BTCC champion Fabrizio Giovanardi and previous double BTCC champion Matt Neal are joined by race winner Tom Onslow-Cole in the championship winning Vauxhall Vectra.
2001 BTCC champion Jason Plato is re-joined by race winner Darren Turner at Seat where they will campaign the TDi Leon that has been so successful in the WTCC.
Colin Turkington and new recruit Stephen Jelley are at Team RAC with the BMW 320si.
Mat Jackson returns with a BMW 320si run by his family outfit Jackson MSport.
A new BMW team for 2008 is Motorbase Performance. Motorbase are running two 2008 spec Schnitzer cars for drivers former Autosport BRDC winner Steven Kane and BTCC returnee, Rob Collard.
Team Halfords return with their Honda Civic for drivers Gordon Shedden and Tom Chilton. Both hoping to fight for the Championship after Team Dynamics regular Matt Neal has moved on.
Martyn Bell has left his rear wheel-drive BMW behind and has joined Erkut Kizilirmak in the front wheel-drive BTC spec Astra Sport Hatch at team Arkas run by Techspeed.
Adam Jones will be in a SEAT Leon run by SEAT experts GR Asia under the Team Air-cool banner. This will be a petrol powered car for the talented racer who put in some impressive performances during 2007.
Robertshaw Racing have brought new manufacturer Chevrolet to the BTCC. They have two Lacetti’s for drivers Harry Vaulkhard and Matt Allison with full customer backing from RML during the season.
Robertshaw are running Alan Taylor in a Honda Integra alongside the Chevrolets. Alan competed in the tail-end of the 2007 BTCC in this Integra.
Kartworld return with their aging MG ZS, although Jason Hughes was expected to announce using a Honda Integra for the coming season.
John George has returned with his Honda Integra again run by TH Motorsport with JAG.
Team Eurotech have expanded their BTCC programme to two cars, running the first Father and Son team to compete in the championship for Mike and Andrew Jordan.
BTC Racing are continuing with the Lexus IS200 for the impressive Chris Stockton and new team mate, former Truck racing champion Stuart Oliver. The car has undergone extensive development over the winter.
Two new young teams have joined the championship in the form of Scotsman Micky Doyle, running a Honda Civic type R by his family run team In-Tune.
And surprise announcement at Rockingham are Team48. They are to run two Alfa Romeo 156’s for drivers Darelle Wilson and Jamaican touring car driver Matthew Gore. It is unlikely that the team will be ready for the first race at Brands Hatch at the end of March.
With other team waiting to join the championship, the prospect of 32 cars is not that far away!
