Italian touring car ace Fabrizio Giovanardi will be striving to win his third consecutive British Touring Car Championship in 2009. If he manages it he will be the first driver to achieve the feat since Andy Rouse in the mid 1980s. Giovanardi faces tough opposition this year from his VX Racing team-mate and former champion Matt Neal.
2009 BTCC Teams, Drivers and Cars
- VX Racing - Fabrizio Giovanardi, Matt Neal, Andrew Jordan (Vauxhall)
- RML - Jason Plato (Chevrolet)
- Team RAC - Colin Turkington, Stephen Jelley (BMW)
- Team ADN - Tom Chilton (Ford)
- Airwaves BMW - Rob Collard, Jonathan Adam (BMW)
- Sunshine.co.uk with Tech-Speed - Martyn Bell (Honda)
- Cartridge World Carbon Zero Racing - Paul O'Neill, Adam Jones, Dan Eaves (SEAT)
- Team AFM - Nick Leason (BMW)
- Tempus Sport - Harry Vaulkhard (Chevrolet)
- Maxtreme - Liam McMillan (SEAT)
- KWR Sport - Jason Hughes (MG)
- TH Motorsport with JAG - John George (Honda)
- Team Dynamics - Gordon Shedden, Dave Pinkney (Honda)
- Boulevard Team Racing - Martin Johnson (Vauxhall)
2009 BTCC Season Preview
The 2009 BTCC season starts and ends at Brands Hatch. In between the series will visit an eclectic selection of UK circuits. Drivers will be faced with the high speed challenge of Thruxton, the wide open spaces of Rockingham and the dramatic elevation changes of Knockhill in Scotland. Donington Park, Oulton Park, Croft, Snetterton and Silverstone are also on the calendar. With three BTCC races at each meeting spectators are ensured plenty of racing action.
While Giovanardi starts as pre-season favourite any number of drivers could take the title. The BMWs will be right up there with the Vauxhalls. The fast starting rear wheel drive cars often make up places off the line.
A last minute deal sees Jason Plato, one of the most popular drivers in the series, retain his place in the BTCC. It is no secret that there is little love lost between Plato and Neal, following a host of controversial battles over the years.
Scotsman Gordon Shedden will be looking to improve on his tally of two victories last season, while Colin Turkington will hope to better his fourth place finish in the final championship standings. One notable absentee from the grid is Mat Jackson. After finishing runner-up to Giovanardi last year Jackson's sponsors pulled out, leaving him without a drive.
The 2009 BTCC season will be broadcast live on ITV4, with around six hours of coverage on each race day. Once again winning cars will be handicapped with success ballast to guarantee close racing. With so many possible winners the title may well go right down to the wire.
 |
