BTCC 'going skywards' Gow tells awards audience.

Alan Gow showed just how much confidence he has in both his own ability to boost the popularity of motorsport and the future of touring car racing in Britain when he told the audience at the BTCC series' annual awards that the series was poised to re-live the success it enjoyed a decade ago.

The championship also reiterated his long-term commitment to the BTCC by announcing he had signed a three-year contract to continue in the role he assumed from previous incumbent Richard West.

"This championship is going skywards," Gow insisted, "There is a great energy about it again.

"Those of us in this room who were around when I took over the BTCC back then can surely see the comparisons of where we were in the early nineties and where we are now. I know where I want to take this championship and I think I've got the runs on the board to prove I can do it."

Gow has already brought about exciting changes in the BTCC, including sealing a deal to show half of next year's race meetings live on the UK's ITV1 television channel.

In addition, the championship will also open its doors to cars of both British and European specification. This has opened the door for Spanish manufacturer SEAT, which last week announced that it would be entering at least two cars in the 2004 series. Privateer teams GA Motorsports, Edenbridge Racing and Carly Motors have also committed to running ETC-spec cars - GA with an Alfa Romeo and Edenbridge and Carly with BMWs.

The awards, held at Coventry's Hilton Hotel, saw this year's BTCC champions and runners-up receive their trophies, with Yvan Muller, Vauxhall, VX Racing, Rob Collard, Luke Hines and Barwell Motorsport sharing centre stage.

Those collecting awards for finishing in the top three included Muller's team-mate James Thompson, Honda's Matt Neal (third), James Kaye, Carl Breeze, Alan Blencowe and Michael Bentwood.