Bumper BTCC entry list revealed.

After months of rumours, the official entry for the 2007 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship has been revealed at the annual media day at Rockingham.

A total of 27 cars are down on the entry list going into the new campaign, which gets underway at Brands Hatch at the end of the month.

As has already been confirmed, Team Halfords will use the new Honda Civic in its quest for a third straight title, with Matt Neal joined once again by Gordon Shedden, while Darren Turner and Jason Plato spearhead the SEAT challenge in a brace of Leons. The team has also lodged an entry for a third car for an un-named driver. Team RAC will once again be in the mix with the BMW E90s of Colin Turkington and Tom Onslow-Cole, while dark horses Motorbase Performance will hope that the SEAT Toledo can put Gareth Howell and Matt Allison in contention for the title.

The new team formed by David Pinkney and Richard Marsh will run under the banner of Team A-Tech, while a new title sponsor means that Martyn Bell is now entered under the banner of Team AllAboutProperty.com. Further news from Bell and his team about the coming season is due later this morning when his new look car is unveiled.

There is a surprise name in the second Lexus IS200 of BTC Racing with Nick Leason switching from his previously announced Vauxhall Astra Coupe to partner Chris Stockton, while single-car entries are lodged by Mat Jackson in his family run Jackson Motorsport team, AFM Racing with the diesel powered BMW 1 Series of Rick Kerry, Quest Racing for Eoin Murray and J-Team Motorsport with the ex-Edenbridge BMW, now in the hands of Jim Pocklington.

Also on the entry list, after months of rumours about his future, is Adam Jones, the former Xero Competition driver entered in a SEAT Toledo under the banner of Team Air Cool.

With BTCC cars now ineligible for the outright title, only six are entered on the current entry list, with Mike Jordan leading the way in his Team Eurotech Integra. The championship winning car of the last two seasons is also the car of choice for debutant Simon Blankley and the returning John George. Arkas Racing has its Astra Sport Hatch entered into the series for Erkut Kizilirmak, while Jason Hughes' Kartworld Racing team expands to two cars for the team owner and leading female driver Fiona Leggate. As was the case last season, the MGs will run on bio-ethanol fuel.

"This is a truly fantastic line-up of cars, drivers and teams for the public to savour in 2007 - in fact it's one of the biggest in the modern history of the championship," series director Alan Gow said. "Our move to S2000 has brought an additional fresh impetus into the BTCC which was already riding high following thrilling 2005/6 seasons.

"The fact that we have 21 S2000 cars and only six BTC-spec cars comprehensively endorses the direction in which the championship is being taken... and that's continually upwards.

"There is a terrific buzz of excitement among all our participants, sponsors, partners and fans ahead of the new season and with such a great and diverse field of cars, this year promises to be absolutely enthralling."

2007 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship entry list:

1. Matt NealTeam HalfordsHonda Civic
3. Colin TurkingtonTeam RACBMW 320si E90I
5. Fabrizio Giovanardi VX RacingVauxhall VectraM
7. Tom ChiltonVX RacingVauxhall VectraM
11. Jason PlatoSEAT Sport UKSEAT Leon M
12. Darren TurnerSEAT Sport UKSEAT LeonM
14. Eoin MurrayQuest RacingAlfa Romeo 156I
15. Martyn BellTeam AllAboutProperty.com BMW 320i E46 I
17. Rick KerryAFM RacingBMW 120i TDiI
19. Nick LeasonBTC RacingLexus IS200 I
21. Adam JonesTeam Air CoolSEAT ToledoI
22. TBASEAT Sport UKSEAT Leon M
23. Matt AllisonMotorbaseSEAT ToledoI
25. Gareth HowellMotorbaseSEAT ToledoI
28. Jason HughesKartworld RacingMG ZS I B
33. Tom Onslow-ColeTeam RACBMW 320si E90I
38. Fiona LeggateKartworld RacingMG ZS I B
43. Chris StocktonBTC RacingLexus IS200 I
45. Jim PocklingtonJ-Team Motorsport BMW 320i E46 I
48. Mat JacksonJackson MotorsportBMW 320si E90I
52. Gordon SheddenTeam HalfordsHonda Civic
55. John GeorgeTH MotorsportHonda Integra I B
56. Dave PinkneyTeam A-TechAlfa Romeo 156 I
59. Richard MarshTeam A-TechAlfa Romeo 156 I
69. Simon BlanckleySibsport Honda Integra I B
77. Mike JordanTeam EurotechHonda Integra I B
90. Erkut KizilirmakArkas Racing Vauxhall Astra I B

M denotes manufacturer entry, I denotes Independent runner. B denotes BTC spec car, all others S2000