BTCC targets nine round season with revised calendar
Organisers of the British Touring Car Championship have announced a revised calendar for the 2020 season, with the aim of getting a nine-round season underway in August.
The first five events on the calendar were postponed as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in all motorsport in the UK being put on hold until at least the end of June.
The announcement of the new, provisional, calendar shows that the planned event at Snetterton in July has also now been postponed, with only Knockhill and Silverstone retaining their original dates as the series seeks to run as many events as possible.
Should sporting activities be able to resume, the season will kick off at Donington Park on the first weekend in August before Brands Hatch Indy a week later, with a two-week break before back-to-back races at Oulton Park and Knockhill.
After a short break covering the first two weekends in September, the series will then head to Thruxton before the only round at Silverstone the following week on the National layout – with the series having been unable to reschedule the planned event on the longer International layout that was used for the season launch.
Croft and Snetterton will both run events in October, before the season finale at Brands Hatch on the longer GP circuit in mid-November.
“These are incredibly challenging times for the whole nation,” series chief executive Alan Gow said. “Through it all, we have seen the importance of being both adaptable and pragmatic… and the BTCC is no different. So it’s entirely logical to draft plans and lock-in our provisional dates, with the ability to amend those if circumstances dictate.
“Obviously this calendar presents a hectic four months, with three separate back-to-back events and four events in the first five weeks alone. But our teams and drivers are fully up for the challenge – there’s such enormous energy, enthusiasm and passion for the BTCC that everyone will want to just roll up their sleeves and get the action underway when the time comes to go racing.
“However, the over-arching element will always be to ensure we have the correct procedures and protocols in place, in order to provide a safe environment. But before that time comes the most important thing we can all do is to please stay safe and also protect the health of others.”
2020 BTCC – Provisional Calendar:
August 01/02 – Donington Park
August 08/09 – Brands Hatch Indy
August 22/23 – Oulton Park
August 29/30 – Knockhill
September 19/20 – Thruxton
September 26/27 – Silverstone (National)
October 10/11 – Croft
October 24/25 – Snetterton
November 14/15 – Brands Hatch GP
