2009 British Touring Car Championship season

BTCC season
Previous = 2008
Current = 2009
Next = 2010

The 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship season will be the 52nd British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season. It is also the second time that the championship is sponsored by HiQ.

Entries

The 2009 BTCC entry list won't be revealed until March but some entry news has already been announced.

* SEAT have announced that they have ended their participation as a manufacturer in the BTCC. Jason Plato and Darren Turner have had their contracts terminated and are both currently without a touring car drive for 2009. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70472 SEAT to quit series at end of 2009]
* Erkut Kızılırmak has announced he won't compete in the 2009 BTCC, instead chosing to focus on his domestic Turkish Touring Car Championship in his Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch. He intends to return in 2010. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70681 Kizilirmak to switch cars for Brands]
* Clyde Valley Racing will enter next season's BTCC, and they will run a pair of bio-fuel SEAT Leons. Former BTCC race winner Dan Eaves & rookie Phiroze Bilimoria will be the team's drivers. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68172 Clyde Valley Racing to enter BTCC 2009]
* Michael Doyle could possibly return to the BTCC in 2009, after the Scot received some major backing from the Scottish Sun. [http://www.crash.net/motorsport/btcc/news/168800-0/doyle_secures_early_09_backing.html Doyle Secures Early Backing for 2009]
* Team RAC could expand to run 3 cars for the 2009 Season, if the budget can be found. Colin Turkington has signed on for another year. [http://www.crash.net/motorsport/btcc/news/169377-0/rac_could_expand_for_09.html Team RAC Could Expand For 2009]
* Andrew Jordan will return with a Eurotech-run Vauxhall Vectra. His father Mike will step back from driving to mentor his son and look after the running of the operation
* Motorbase Performance are returning next year with the same BMWs and the same drivers. A third car is a possibility.
* It's rummored that Ford will enter a manufacturer's team next year consisting of three Ford Focus ST's.

Possible Teams and drivers

:"Key to classes: M = Manufacturer, I = Independent

Calendar

The 2009 season will again have ten race weekends with three BTCC rounds at each. Provisional dates have now been announced by series organisers. [ [http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=1056&month=0&year=2008&form=&searchterm=] BTCC announced 2009 calendar]

References