Pit-stops hang in balance at 2001 BTCC launch.

New series promoters BMP will decide sometime this month whether pit-stops will be a part of the 2001 British Touring Car Championship after the series was officially launched amidst a growing amount of optimism concerning the all-new formula.

Scepticism was rife when the new low budget regulations were announced earlier this year as cars would be smaller and slower while the German Touring Car Championship chose to go down a different route and moved for bigger and louder machines.

However with enthusiastic backing from BMP who have showed already that they are willing to modify certain regulations to satisfy some manufacturers, there is a distinct feeling of excitement as more and more teams commit to the series.

Vauxhall unveiled their new Astra, of which six will compete next year and Peugeot are expected to match that number with their all-new 307 model. Rover are increasingly predicted to be part of the series next season but possibly with an MG badged entry while Alfa Romeo, Ford and Honda are also expected to be represented in a works capacity.

BMP have also encouraged Independent teams, of which there are going to be many, to enter the series and the Independents Cup will hold a ?400,000 prize fund in 2001. It is unclear what other incentives and bonuses will be on offer to Independent outfits although with performance expected to be much more equal than at present, many prospective Indie squads, especially those with National Saloon experience will be seeing themselves as viable Championship contenders in their own right.

The current circuit civil war that is threatening to damage the British Formula Three Championship will not affect the BTCC next year as the 2001 calendar takes in all current venues and the possible additions of races at Mondello Park and the road course at Rockingham. A schedule of 13 rounds, each consisting of a sprint and feature race will make up the series as it has done this year and the bulk of the calendar remains unchanged.

The third 'Snetterton Spectacular is now scheduled for a mid-August setting while the series' first visit to Ireland is tentatively planned for mid-July. BMP have said that they are expecting at least two dozen cars for each round of the series with more joining the fray as the season progresses.

In the opinion of many, a full field of well prepared, well driven cars going at 120mph is far more impressive than a skeleton field of cars going 140mph. Signs are that the 2001 BTCC could be the start of another golden period in it's illustrious history.