2020 BTCC season to be completed behind closed doors

The entire 2020 British Touring Car Championship season will be run behind closed doors after MotorSport Vision announced that fans will be unable to attend the final two rounds of the season at Snetterton and Brands Hatch.

Whilst the next event on the calendar at Croft was already set to run without fans, MSV had hoped that the ongoing situation regarding COVID-19 would have changed enough to allow spectators to return for final two rounds.

However, plans from the government to start allowing fans to attend elite sporting events from the start of October were shelved as coronavirus rates started to rise in a number of areas around the country.

As such, MSV has taken the decision now to announce now that the final two rounds of the BTCC season – alongside British Superbike Championship events at both Donington and Brands Hatch – will run behind closed doors, meaning the full season will run without fans in attendance.

“The UK government confirmed on 22 September that plans for socially distanced fans to return to large elite sport events from 1 October have been paused,” an MSV statement read. “This is due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases across the country. This decision ruled out spectators for the upcoming round of Bennetts British Superbikes at Donington Park on 2-4 October.

“Dialogue has since been maintained with government, in conjunction with other affected sports, in the hope that a sensible approach to the short term return of limited spectators could be agreed. Whist we understand and appreciate the public health imperatives, our venues are huge parkland settings where fans can easily socially distance, and significantly fewer than 1% of spectators travel to our venues by public transport.

“Being at a totally outdoors, COVID-secure venue with a limited attendance is demonstrably safer than many other activities that have been allowed to continue to operate.

“Unfortunately, without a new timeframe on the return of fans to elite events, and given the time constraints involved, we have taken the decision to run the following 2020 events behind closed doors:

2-4 October – Bennetts British Superbikes, Donington Park (previously announced)
16-18 October – Bennetts British Superbikes, Brands Hatch
24-25 October – British Touring Cars, Snetterton
14-15 November – British Touring Cars, Brands Hatch

“Clearly this news will be frustrating and we are very sorry for any inconvenience caused. We politely ask that affected customers do not contact us regarding their tickets – we intend to email all purchasers within the next 24 hours with further details, including how to claim a full refund.”