BTCC-SET FOR THE BEST YEAR SINCE THE START OF THE 90`S (British Touring Car Championship (BTTC))

Member Name: thecoin

Product:	British Touring Car Championship (BTTC)
Date:	14/11/00 (68 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Closer racing,Larger size fields

Disadvantages: Cars Not as quick and noisy as last year

Ive read a fair number of reviews now that have been very sceptical of BMP`s changes to the regulations for next years championship.Basically what they have done is set the new rules inbetween Super Production(Your basic showroom model car)and Super Touring(Last Years format).
I must admit at first I was a bit of a sceptic to,My fear was of it going like the National Saloon Championship which offers good racing but the cars don`t look good,aren`t fast and aren`t noisy which are the things that attract audiences to the circuits.I for the last two seasons have visited every round of the championship.Mid-season when these regulations where provisionally announced I was certainly considering swaping to being a follower of the Powertour Championship next year.Although I will try to do as many of the Powertour rounds as I can next year I have now decided to do the Touring Car Circuit again.

When the season ended this year with one of the best races for a long time with the Night Race at Silverstone only Vauxhall had signed up for next season.They originally pledged 6 cars for the series but now have finalised to run 4 next year.It has been worrying since then though as Honda and Ford have both pulled out of the series leaving only Vauxhall there.Following on from the departures of the two manufactureres though came good news as Peugeot joined pledging two works 406 coupes for next years Championship.Alfa are expected to return next year and with reports of works efforts from Rover and Volvo in the pipeline aswell next year could now be very interesting.Throw into that the fact that to be an independant next year will now be affordable there is going to be a good number of class A cars on the grid next year.I`d say watch out for Matt Neal next year.With everyone starting on a level playing field next year with the new regs he could be a championship threat.

All I can hope is that the top drivers stay in the championship aswell as some new younger driv
ers coming through because you need the experienced top line drivers to attract the crowds and to keep interest going in the series.With alot of teams still to finalise what they are doing next year there are alot of top quality drivers out there looking for a drive including the top 3 drivers from this years series.Lets hope they don`t all go to the reborn DTM championship.

Next years racing should be alot closer and seeing alot more overtaking than last year.With the new braking systems to be installed on the cars braking distances will now be longer which will encourage outbreaking manouevers,lets just hope it doesn`t get to ruff and tumble next year although we do like to see alot of pannel bashing.

Class B remains next year which is the showroom style,Super Production cars.This led to some good close racing last season and with last years National Saloon Championship merging into Class B,the fields are going to be packed next year.They also shouldn`t have as much trouble with worrying about Class A cars overtaking them this year as the Class A cars aren`t going to be that much faster than them.You never know you may even see a Class B winner next year,although that will be unlikely.

All is looking good for the series next year,so fasten your seatbelts and get ready for a ride of ruff and tumble right the way to the final chequered flag.

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