British Motorsport Promoters (BMP) today announced a further three year extension to the British Touring Car technical regulations from the end of 2003.

The extension, confirmed on the morning of Rounds Five and Six of the Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton in Hampshire, takes the current regulations forward until the end of the 2006 season and comes at a time of continued growth for the series.

Series Director Richard West commented:

“It is extremely important for the existing teams, manufacturers and sponsors to have stability in all areas. By announcing a further three year extension to the existing regulations at this time, those new manufacturers and teams considering entering the championship in the future can also do so with total confidence, knowing that the technical platform will remain constant - thus allowing them to plan efficiently in all matters from sponsorship to personnel and equipment.”

The decision has been universally welcomed by all BTC Touring Team Principals, who met with Richard West and Peter Riches at Thruxton on Saturday (4th May) to ratify the proposals.

VAUXHALL MOTORSPORT
Ian Harrison, Team Principal, Triple Eight Race Engineering
“This announcement confirms the long term stability of the championship and shows that the technical regulations were spot-on from day one. The knock-on effect will see the championship continue to grow with confidence and stability.”

MG SPORT AND RACING
Dick Bennetts, Managing Director, WSR “Very positive news for current and potential manufacturers and teams. This news further strengthens what is becoming the premier championship in Europe. The BTCC cars look and sound fantastic for both spectators and TV. We now have the stability and solid foundations on regulations and costs as well.”

VIC LEE RACING
Vic Lee, Managing Director
“I’m delighted with the decision to stabilise the rules for another three years. In the last two years the continued improvement and success of the championship has been clear for all to see. Stabilising the rules further into the future can only help us see the grid numbers grow and grow. This will also give the incentive not only to current manufacturers, but also for new manufacturers to enter the championship, knowing that budgets will not escalate out of control.”

TEAM ATOMIC KITTEN
Roger Walters, Team Principal
“Stability in regulations and costs is paramount for Independent teams such as Team Atomic Kitten. This news justifies our investment and involvement in this championship.”

HONDA RACING
Mike Earle, Team Principal
“The BTCC has now re-established its reputation with manufacturers as a highly competitive series - and with spectators and TV audiences as an entertaining and thrilling spectacle. A further period of stability for three more years will encourage existing and potential manufacturers and sponsors to develop their support of a series that is rapidly becoming the leading Touring car championship in Europe and an excellent product marketing showcase. This is great news for everyone involved.”

TEAM PETRONAS SYNTIUM PROTON
Peter Gillitzer, Operations Director
“As new entrants in the BTCC, we are delighted with the extension of the regulations through to the end of 2006. This will lead to containment of costs which can only be of benefit to the series overall and to new manufacturers and teams entering in the future.”

BARWELL MOTORSPORT
Mark Lemmer, Managing Director
“This commitment to long-term stability is fantastic news for works teams, Independents and the commercial partners of the BTCC. We have a very strong set of technical regulations which ensure that the current cars can remain competitive for many seasons.”

Rob Bain, BMP Chairman added:

“We at Octagon and BMP have invested heavily in the redevelopment of the BTCC. The regulations introduced last season were based on efficiency and they have proven to work both on both a technical and commercial level.

The strength and reliability of the technical platform is there for all to see, with seventeen Touring Class cars registered this season and the strongest Independents’ Cup in the history of the series. I’m confident that in confirming the extension to the regulations at this early time, we will see a significant increase in Touring Class entries for the 2003 season.”