BTCC News

Fabrizio Giovanardi may still be waiting for his first victory in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, but the Italian can call himself a winner in 2006 - after emerging victorious in a JCB race prior to this weekends meeting at Croft.

Scotland's capital city of Edinburgh will host a spectacular Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship city centre road show on Thursday August 31, it has been confirmed.

The Quest Racing entry into the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship has been overshadowed by the death of team manager Ian Blackman in a motorcycle accident.

Having finally secured a sequential gearbox for his BMW 320i, Martyn Bell will be aiming to make further progress when the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship arrives at Thruxton for the fourth round of the year.

Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship series director Alan Gow said he was thrilled to see James Kaye finally break his podium duck at Oulton Park.

Jason Plato says he is hopeful of a strong display from the SEAT Leon when the Dunlop MSA British Touring Championship heads to Oulton Park this weekend for the third meeting of the season.

Xero Competition will become the newest addition to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park with a single car entry for ex-GT racer Adam Jones.

Despite driving the heaviest car on the circuit, Colin Turkington still impressed in the Team RAC MG ZS to qualify fifth for the opening race at Mondello Park in the second round of the 2006 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Matt Neal insists that the collison with Rob Collard that saw the defending Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion crash out of race three at Brands Hatch was 'completely uncalled for'.

Colin Turkington said he was thrilled with the early showing of the Team RAC MG ZS after qualifying on the second row of the grid for his first race back in the West Surrey Racing fold.

Gavin Smith moved to the front during the second free practice session for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship opener at Brands Hatch, despite ending the session watching on the sidelines after an off in his Astra Sport Hatch.

Jason Plato has brushed aside comments made about him by 'cocky' Tom Chilton and instead says he's hungrier than any of his rivals to win this year's Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship crown.

After the disappointment of the media day last week, Jason Hughes has confirmed that he will have a new engine in his MG ZS ready for the opening rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship this weekend.

The entry list for the 2006 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship has been officially confirmed at the media day to launch the season at Brands Hatch.

Intercontinental Hotels Group has agreed a two-year deal to become a sponsor of the VX Racing British Touring Car team. The deal will see the Holiday Inn brand support the team through 2006 and 2007, with an option to extend it into a third year for 2008.

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car entry list has the #25 Team Halfords Honda Integra as 'TBA', but Gareth Howell will at least start the season in the car after getting a late call-up from team boss Steve Neal.

Motorbase Performance boss Dave Bartrum says he is looking for a podium finish from the opening round of the season as the team prepares to debut in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Peugeot is set to have a presence in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship for the first time since 2004 after Richard Marsh announced plans to compete in a Peugeot 307 this season.

Bio-ethanol powered Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship racer Fiona Leggate has hit the track for the first time in 2006 as she tested her newly sponsored Astra at Donington, and the Lincolnshire farmer's daughter reckons she's made a huge jump forwards.

Irish racing driver Gavin Smith has been confirmed at VX Racing for a second season in the third VXR Astra Sport in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Jason Plato has admitted that it is a shame that arch rival Yvan Muller will not be lining up alongside him this year when the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season kicks off at Brands Hatch in April.

Martyn Bell, who will enter this year's Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship with a Schnitzer BMW, recently took delivery of the ex-Dirk Muller WTCC spec car. Unfortunately, the Brit also managed to deliver another Schnitzer BMW into the hands of the local constabulary...

Although the British Touring Car Championship is looking healthier by the week as new teams and drivers confirm their entries, there are still a handful of racers without a seat going into the 2006 season, one of the most high profile being Luke Hines.

Despite already having what was regarded as its best ever TV package in 2005, the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will receive even more coverage in 2006 with the announcement that ITV is to broadcast live from all ten rounds during the new season.