2011 BTCC entries

2011 will see the biggest grid ever for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship since it switched to a two-litre formula. Despite the presence of only two full factory teams - Silverline Chevrolet and Honda Racing Team - ten manufacturers will be represented this season, including newcomers Audi, Proton and Toyota.

The boosted entry list is mainly down to the introduction of the Next Generation Touring Car technical regulations, which have been brought in to slash car development and running costs. Most of those savings will be achieved through the use of standardised parts including brakes, suspension and gearboxes. Using durable two-litre turbocharged engines in the NGTCs should help make the BTCC more affordable, too.

This year starts a period of transition, with the intention being that existing Super 2000-spec cars should have equal performance to the NGTC entries for the next two seasons, after which the latter will become dominant.

Ford Focus Super 2000 2011 (Chilton) Front Side
Team Aon Ford Focus: S2000 chassis with NGTC engine.
Ford Focus Super 2000 2011 (Chilton) Rear Side

Good news for spectators is that children will get free admission at every round, while pit lane autograph sessions will continue to be a popular feature of race day.

For television viewers, the live package shown on ITV4 and ITV4 HD is going to be six to seven hours long, backed up by a one-hour highlights programme shown later on ITV1 and ITV4. Excellent terrestrial coverage that other championships would do well to emulate (WRC, that means you…).

The opening race of the series is at Brands Hatch on the 3rd of April.

2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship: Entry List
Full S2000 Specification Cars
No. Driver Team Car
1* Jason Plato (GBR) Silverline Chevrolet Chevrolet Cruze
20* Alex MacDowall (GBR) Silverline Chevrolet Chevrolet Cruze
8 Robert Collard (GBR) WSR BMW 320si
18 Nick Foster (GBR) WSR BMW 320si
17 Dave Newsham (GBR) Geoff Steel Racing BMW 320si
28 John George (GBR) GoMobileUK.com with tech-Speed Chevrolet Cruze
29 Paul O’Neill (GBR) GoMobileUK.com with tech-Speed Chevrolet Cruze
78 Chris James (GBR) Team ES Racing.com Chevrolet Lacetti
43^ Lea Wood (GBR) Central Group Racing Honda Integra
S2000 Specification Cars Using NGTC Engines
No. Driver Team Car
2* Matt Neal (GBR) Honda Racing Team Honda Civic
52* Gordon Shedden (GBR) Honda Racing Team Honda Civic
5** Tom Chilton (GBR) Team Aon ‘Global’ Ford Focus
44** Andy Neate (GBR) Team Aon ‘Global’ Ford Focus
TBA** TBA Team Aon ‘Global’ Ford Focus
7 Mat Jackson (GBR) Airwaves Racing Ford Focus
66 Liam Griffin (GBR) Airwaves Racing Ford Focus
14 James Nash (GBR) 888 Racing with Collins Contractors Vauxhall Vectra
34 Tony Gilham (GBR) 888 Racing with Collins Contractors Vauxhall Vectra
22 Tom Boardman (GBR) Special Tuning Racing Seat Leon
55 Jeff Smith (GBR) Pirtek Racing Vauxhall Vectra
77 Andrew Jordan (GBR) Pirtek Racing Vauxhall Vectra
99 Tom Onslow Cole (GBR) AmD Milltek Racing.com Volkswagen Golf
Full NGTC Specification Cars
No. Driver Team Car
11 Frank Wrathall (GBR) Dynojet Toyota Avensis
12 David Pinkney (GBR) Rob Austin Racing Audi A4
13 TBA Rob Austin Racing Audi A4
42 Daniel Welch (GBR) Welch Automotive Proton Gen-2
50 Tony Hughes (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis
* Eligible for Manufacturer and Constructor championships. All other cars eligible for Independent championships.
** Eligible for Constructor championship.
^ BTC specification.

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