Touring cars to Combe?

The Wiltshire circuit of Castle Combe could be set to see the British Touring Car Championship action in 2005 as the series has yet to be confirmed at MotorSport Vision venues for next season.

Sources in the series have indicated that Castle Combe is in the offing and other circuits are being mooted should some or all of the MotorSport Vision circuits not be visited in 2005.

Castle Combe, one of Brtain's oldest running race circuits, has recently undergone a series of developments including resurfacing and reshaping and a new press room this season. In 2001 the British F3 championship returned to the circuit after an absence of some 25 years.

Rockingham would be a circuit which could make a likely return whilst the Welsh circuit of Pembrey is another that could see a touring car visit.

Mondello was thought by some to be under threat for 2005, but its place on the calendar should be secure should BTCC series boss Alan Gow and MotorSport Vision's Jonathan Palmer not agree terms.

British motorsport series now face the challenge to adapt to the new regime at the former Octagon circuits of Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Cadwell Park and Snetterton since the purchase late last year by MotorSport Vision, headed by former F1 driver Jonathan Palmer.

Palmer has focused on the economics of running events and is making no concessions for series which aren't prepared to pay their way, no matter how longstanding they may be.

Already almost certainly off the calendar at MotorSport Vision venues for next season are the British F3 and GT championships, the series not being able or willing to pay the circuit fees demanded by the track owners.

The Stephane Ratel Organisation which runs the British F3 and GT championships was hiring the MotorSport Vision circuits for a fee of ?2500 per day, significantly below the normal circuit hire fee, from the terms of a previously agreed contract.

The British Touring Car Championship currently pays nothing for the venues, as Palmer points out in a statement clarifying the situation over the likely loss of British F3 and GT from his circuits.

"Apart from the BTCC, which gets the circuit free of charge, all other race clubs pay the standard circuit hire fee and even so, the circuits group has still made a big loss," explains Palmer. "MotorSport Vision is not only committed to maintaining the venues as race circuits, but progressively enhancing the services, facilities, safety and presentation.

"This can only be achieved if the business of running motor race events is commercially viable."

The touring cars were dealt a blow by MotorSport Vision earlier this season when the second Brands Hatch visit of the year took place on the Indy circuit rather than the originally envisaged Grand Prix circuit.

Should the BTCC not be seen at Brands, Snetterton, Oulton and Cadwell there's still likely to be tin top action as MotorSport Vision's Touring 1 series comes into being.

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