Post by Senninha on Jun 16, 2003 11:12:22 GMT -5
This is brilliant news - if Alan Gow can pull this off, he will do wonders for British motorsport, simultaneously bringing the BTCC back to it's glory days, and helping the rest of British motorsport along the way.
Btw, Alan Gow has only just taken over the series recently, after a guy named Richard West has spent the past few years doing his job. Gow was pretty much responsible for the BTCC's success in the mid-90's, and seemed to spend his years away from the BTCC as James Courtney's manager (I'm not sure whether or not he has dropped that job with his return to his old one??).
This really is awesome - the BGP supports were really going down in recent years, and with any luck, we will hopefully return to more of the national championships supporting the BGP.
Also, it should bring crowd figures up for the race, as apparently figures have been slowly falling in recent years.
From http://www.autosport.com:
Btw, Alan Gow has only just taken over the series recently, after a guy named Richard West has spent the past few years doing his job. Gow was pretty much responsible for the BTCC's success in the mid-90's, and seemed to spend his years away from the BTCC as James Courtney's manager (I'm not sure whether or not he has dropped that job with his return to his old one??).
This really is awesome - the BGP supports were really going down in recent years, and with any luck, we will hopefully return to more of the national championships supporting the BGP.
Also, it should bring crowd figures up for the race, as apparently figures have been slowly falling in recent years.
From http://www.autosport.com:
BTCC returns to British Grand Prix bill
Silverstone GP date for the first time in seven years
The British Touring Car Championship will return to the British Grand Prix support card after an absence of seven years in 2004. A non-championship event will be held on July 10/11 at Silverstone next year, subject to approval by Formula One Management.
The 2004 BTCC season is provisionally scheduled to begin on Easter Sunday at Thruxton and could also see the championship returning to Scotland, depending on further negotiations. These are the latest moves created by returning series director Alan Gow, who has already announced that European Touring Car Championship-spec cars will be eligible for the BTCC next season.
"Traditionally, Touring Cars supported the British Grand Prix as a non-championship event, so it would be a real coup for us to resume this for 2004 and another extremely positive step forward," said Gow. "I wanted to release a provisional calendar early to help the existing teams, and all other British motorsport championships, to firm up their plans for next season. The fantastic event schedule I've been able to propose for next year is also another compelling proposition for potential new BTCC entrants."
Gow has also left the door open to a return to Knockhill next June, but that race could instead be held at Rockingham – which holds its first ever BTCC event this weekend.
2004 BTCC dates
April 10/11 Thruxton
May 1/2/3 Brands Hatch*
May 15/16 Silverstone
May 30/31 Oulton Park
June 12/13 Mondello Park
June 26/27 Rockingham or Knockhill
July 9/10/11 British GP, Silverstone**
July 24/25 Croft
August 21/22 Brands Hatch
September 4/5 Snetterton
September 18/19 Donington Park
* - Champ Car World Series support race
** - non-championship event subject to FOM approval
Silverstone GP date for the first time in seven years
The British Touring Car Championship will return to the British Grand Prix support card after an absence of seven years in 2004. A non-championship event will be held on July 10/11 at Silverstone next year, subject to approval by Formula One Management.
The 2004 BTCC season is provisionally scheduled to begin on Easter Sunday at Thruxton and could also see the championship returning to Scotland, depending on further negotiations. These are the latest moves created by returning series director Alan Gow, who has already announced that European Touring Car Championship-spec cars will be eligible for the BTCC next season.
"Traditionally, Touring Cars supported the British Grand Prix as a non-championship event, so it would be a real coup for us to resume this for 2004 and another extremely positive step forward," said Gow. "I wanted to release a provisional calendar early to help the existing teams, and all other British motorsport championships, to firm up their plans for next season. The fantastic event schedule I've been able to propose for next year is also another compelling proposition for potential new BTCC entrants."
Gow has also left the door open to a return to Knockhill next June, but that race could instead be held at Rockingham – which holds its first ever BTCC event this weekend.
2004 BTCC dates
April 10/11 Thruxton
May 1/2/3 Brands Hatch*
May 15/16 Silverstone
May 30/31 Oulton Park
June 12/13 Mondello Park
June 26/27 Rockingham or Knockhill
July 9/10/11 British GP, Silverstone**
July 24/25 Croft
August 21/22 Brands Hatch
September 4/5 Snetterton
September 18/19 Donington Park
* - Champ Car World Series support race
** - non-championship event subject to FOM approval
