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The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has confirmed that a number of minor regulation changes will be implemented for the 2020 season following the annual end-of-season meeting between organisers TOCA and teams.

One of the first changes for next year surrounds tyres and comes off of the back of an initiative that was successfully introduced in the summer. At Snetterton and Croft, drivers will now use all three Goodyear tyre compounds – hard, medium and soft.

The way in which tyres are nominated has been altered too, with drivers not specified to select what race they will use the ‘option’ tyre before qualifying. Instead, they will have free choice during the course of race day – thus providing an opportunity to modify their strategies.

Maximum success ballast will increase to 60kgs and then reducing in 6kgs increments down to tenth place. Success ballast for the forthcoming 2020 campaign will be as follows: 60-54-48-42-36-30-24-18-12-6.

Finally, a new qualifying format will be trialled at Snetterton. Instead of the traditional 30-minute session, a shorter 25-minute session will take place to allow drivers to set a lap time.

The fastest top ten competitors will then progress into a ten-minute shootout for pole position to determine the top ten positions on the grid for the opening BTCC encounter of that weekend.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “Clearly, the regulations for the BTCC work tremendously well. That’s self-evident from the fantastically close racing and championship battles, but we’re always looking at ways in which they can be improved, so whilst these are fairly minor tweaks, they will certainly add some interesting new elements to next season’s championship.”

For more information on the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, head to http://www.btcc.net/

Goodyear will make a return to UK motorsport in 2020 as it becomes the new sole tyre supplier for the British Touring Car Championship.

Sister company to Dunlop, Goodyear’s decision to bring the brand back to the UK racing landscape comes after the brand announced a return to the international arena – providing tyres for a number of LMP2 teams in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2019/2020.

The new agreement will run until the end of the 2021 season, with discussions set to take place before then on the tyre requirements that will be needed ahead of the BTCC’s move to hybrid technology in 2022.

Ben Crawley, Goodyear Motorsport Director, said: “The recent launch of Goodyear’s Eagle F1 SuperSport range and relaunch into motorsport shows how the brand is applying itself to a broader range of initiatives within the ultra-high-performance automotive sector.  

“The BTCC is one of the best-loved, most famous motor racing championships in the world and it will provide a great opportunity for Goodyear to get close to the hearts and minds of motorsport enthusiasts. We are thrilled to be partnered with the championship from 2020.”

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, added:  “Goodyear has a proud and proven history in motorsport, spanning multiple decades and championships. They provide knowledge from a global programme of racing experience making them a strong partner for the championship going forward.

“It also gives Goodyear the ideal opportunity to further increase their brand awareness via the UK’s largest motorsport championship. We are looking forward to welcoming the brand into the championship from 2020.”

The 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will begin at Donington Park on March 28/29. To view the full calendar, head to https://www.barc.net/btcc-reveals-fresh-look-to-2020-calendar/

Colin Turkington admits he has been left stunned after securing a record-equalling fourth Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship title in a dramatic final race of the season at Brands Hatch this past weekend.

On what is set to go down as one of the most memorable finales in history, the Team BMW driver overcame the odds in sensational fashion to retain the biggest prize in UK motorsport by just two points.

Entering the weekend holding a 16-point lead, Turkington was in superlative form behind the wheel of his WSR-built BMW 330i M Sport during Saturday’s qualifying session to clinch pole position; and the all-important bonus point that comes with it.

Seeing his advantage cut after a battling opening encounter around the Grand Prix layout of the Kent venue, the Northern Irishman’s world came crashing down around him in race two following contact with Matt Neal which tumbled him down the order and out of the points.

Trailing Dan Cammish by eight points and starting 25th on the grid for the final contest, Turkington produced what he described the race of his life to complete a remarkable turnaround.

Carving his way through the field, progressing ten spots on the opening lap alone, the 37-year-old fought his past Cammish and then Ollie Jackson to begin closing the gap to the top of the standings.

However, with less than two laps to go Cammish speared off at Hawthorns Bend after suffering a brake failure at high speed – ending his race and championship challenge on the spot.

With Cammish out, Turkington moved back to the summit of the championship and crossed the line to become a four-time champion; drawing level with Andy Rouse and becoming the first person since Rouse to win back-to-back titles in different cars.

“I can’t believe what has happened!” Turkington said. “It was just shock when I crossed the line and they told me that I was champion. I knew that Dan was out of the race but I couldn’t see Andy (Jordan) and didn’t know where he was – that was the race of my life!

“After race two I felt my chances were over given that we were starting at the back and had eight points to make up. I didn’t give up, the team didn’t give up and I am just stunned. It is a bitter pill for those guys and they gave me one hell of a fight.

“When I won last year I won it in race two, when I won in 2014 I won in race one, 2009 was obviously a big final but like I said I couldn’t see Andy so it was just a shock when I crossed the line. This is the first year with this car and it has been brilliant all year. We’ve had our ups and downs but we never stopped fighting.

“To match Andy Rouse’s record of four titles is obviously really cool too. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would get close to that, you don’t really think too much about records.

“All I wanted to do was win this year. It is like a drug; I was chasing that feeling that can’t be replicated when you’re stood on that champions podium and soaking up everything up – four titles, wow!”

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship produced one of the most dramatic final days of the season in history at Brands Hatch this past weekend (October 12/13) as Colin Turkington sensationally retained his title to become a record-equalling four-time champion.

Going down to the wire, the Team BMW driver overcame the odds in a Round 30 showdown with Dan Cammish and Andrew Jordan to complete a remarkable comeback; drawing level with Andy Rouse on four titles in the process.

Turkington arrived at the Kent venue in the pound seat with a 16-point lead and extended his advantage in qualifying as he stormed to pole position, clinching an additional point.

However, a frenetic opener in challenging conditions blew the title race wide open as Cammish stormed from 12th on the grid to his second win of the campaign. The Halfords Yuasa Racing mastered the wet track on his slick tyres to pick his way through the pack, leading a Honda 1-2.

With the standings even close heading into the penultimate race of the season, drama ensued further as Turkington was involved in a first-lap incident with Matt Neal – sending him into a spin and out of the points, finishing P25.

The Northern Irishman’s demise opened the door for Jordan and Cammish to power their way into contention, crossing the line second and third behind the dominate Ashley Sutton, who clinched his first win of the season in emphatic fashion.

Cammish’s second visit to the podium of the day propelled him to the top of the standings and with an eight-point lead over Turkington with one race to go. Jordan would make it a three-way fight by needing to make up 13 points if he was to become champion.

Virtue of the reverse grid draw, the top 11 were reversed – setting up a final race that will live long in the memory. Starting in 25th, Turkington’s hopes of retaining his crown looked slim whilst it was all to play for for Cammish and Jordan.

Launching off the line as the lights went out, Turkington’s charge to stay in contention began with ten places gained by the end of the first lap. Up ahead whilst Jason Plato led the way to the flag, Jordan muscled his way into the top five, with Cammish finding himself in the thick of the action inside the top ten.

As the laps ticked by, both Turkington and the Toyota of Tom Ingram were on the attack and the pair soon swarmed the back of Cammish. Finding a way past into Druids, Turkington was picking points off the series leader but it still wasn’t enough.

Knowing that eighth position was good enough to secure him a maiden BTCC Drivers’ crown, Cammish suffered heartache a lap and a half away from the chequered flag. Speeding towards Hawthorn Bend, the Yorkshireman’s Civic Type R suffered a brake failure and hit the barriers.

In an instant, his title dreams were over and suddenly Turkington found himself back on top of the pile and powered his way to the chequered flag to become a four-time BTCC champion.

Jordan and Cammish finished the season tied on points however it was to be the BMW Pirtek Racing driver that ended the year in second after winning more races.

BMW successfully retained their BTCC Manufacturer/Constructors’ Championship whilst Halfords Yuasa Racing regained the Teams’ title.

Rory Butcher clinched both the Independent Drivers’ Championship and the Jack Sears Trophy, with Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance scooping a first-ever Independent Teams’ title.

To view the full classification of results from Brands Hatch, click here.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will return in 2020 with the opening event of the season taking place at Donington Park on March 28/29.