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British Touring Car Championship
Brands Hatch (Indy) Preview - WIN TICKETS!

By MJP Media | 19 March 2014

It may be Mother's Day and it may be the start of British Summer Time but for fans of Britain's premier motorsport series, next weekend means only one thing: The BTCC is back!

Andrew Jordan flanked by Colin Turkington (left) and Matt Neal (right)

Yes, the waiting is nearly over as the cars and drivers of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship head to Brands Hatch in Kent next weekend for the first meeting of the 2014 season. With a capacity grid of cars built to the same specification and stars both past and present including 7 former champions in the driver line-up, series director Alan Gow is predicting a classic year for the BTCC saying: "I think that in 20 years' time, we will look back on this as a golden era of British motorsport."

Andrew Jordan will be returning to defend his 2013 Drivers' Championship title with Pirtek Racing and has already made his intentions clear by topping the time sheet with his Honda Civic at yesterday's official BTCC test session at Donington Park. 2012 champion Gordon Shedden was 2nd fastest for Honda Yuasa Racing in the new and striking Honda Civic Tourer, just 1/1000th of a second behind Jordan. Double BTCC champion Alain Menu also showed that he had not lost his touch since last winning the championship in 2000, setting the 3rd fastest time in his Chrome Edition Restart Racing Volkswagen CC.

A capacity grid will ensure a memorable 2014 BTCC season

In addition to Andrew Jordan, Gordon Shedden and Alain Menu, a further four former BTCC champions will be competing in 2014. Three times champion Matt Neal will be returning alongside Shedden at Honda Yuasa Racing, Colin Turkington will stay at eBay Motors in their unchanged driver line-up and double champion Jason Plato will continue with MG KX Clubcard Fuel Save alongside team-mate Sam Tordoff. Completing the 'Magnificent Seven' is Fabrizio Giovanardi, also a double BTCC champion, who joins Airwaves Racing alongside Mat Jackson.

In addition to the established names, there are plenty of new teams, cars and drivers to look out for in 2014 including Mercedes Benz which returns to the BTCC with Adam Morgan's WIX Racing A-Class and Robb Holland's Rotek Racing Audi S3 which adds another car model to the impressive line-up. United Autosports join the BTCC this year with a pair of Toyota Avensis' driven by James Cole and Glynn Geddie whilst Hunter Abbott joins Rob Austin Racing in the AlcoSense Breathalysers Racing Audi A4. Having competed at 3 meetings in 2013, Aiden Moffat returns full-time to the BTCC in 2014 driving the Laser Tools Racing Chevrolet Cruze.

Aiden Moffat in the Laser Tools Racing Chevrolet Cruze

With 30 cars on the grid and 7 former champions competing together with new teams, cars and drivers in the line-up, it is going to be a truly historic year for the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. Watch all the race day action live on ITV4 or better still, come to Brands Hatch and experience Britain's premier motorsport series plus a full support programme first-hand. For tickets visit the Brands Hatch web site or call the Ticket Hotline on 0843 453 9000.

WIN TICKETS!
In association with MJP Media we have two pairs of weekend admission tickets to give away for the opening round of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch on March 29th and 30th. To be in with a chance of winning and for full entry details, click here and answer a simple question based on this preview. Competition ends at 12:00 on March 25th.

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