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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">BTCC</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">03/05/2001</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">New Sprint Format</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">For Touring And Production Cars</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><img border="1" src="Storage/rmatFor%20BTC.jpg"></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">TOCA have announced that the 10 minute sprint for the Touring Class cars is no more. In an item released yesterday on the tocatour website <A HREF="http://tocatour.com/news/doc_page40.html">link</A>, there's a completely new arrangement.<BR> <BR> An agreement was reached on Monday 30 April to merge the BTC Touring Sprint race and the BTC Production Sprint race into one event. The system may seem quite complicated at first - but it isn't.<BR> <BR> BTC Touring cars will race over a distance of 16 laps at Thruxton on Monday, while the BTC Production cars will race over 15 laps. This means that the Production cars effectively have a lap start, so the Touring Cars have 16 laps to pull back a lap. If they don't, the first Production car will win the event.<BR> <BR> An initial idea to have the Touring Cars start behind the Production Cars (and the Sprint to run as a conventional event) seems to have met the disapproval of the Touring class teams, who could have been faced with damaged cars a couple of hours before the Feature Race. Hence this system, which will see the Peugeots, Vauxhalls, Alfa Romeos (JS Motorsport) and the single Lexus (ABG Motorsport) start at the front of the grid, irrespective of qualifying times. <BR> <BR> The BTC Touring category will start the Sprint race first. After a time delay of 12 seconds, a flag will be used to signal the start of the race for BTC Production competitors. This time delay is subject to change, depending on the circuit.<BR> <BR> Series Director Richard West: "The purpose for the change is to provide the most spectacular racing possible for the viewing public and live spectator alike. I believe that the amalgamation of the Sprint Races will do just that and whilst the new format continues to provide a platform for the Production cars to excel, the Touring cars, when driven hard through traffic, still have the potential for top place finishes. The new format offers the opportunity for thrilling action which I’m sure the fans will relish."<BR> <BR> A Barwell Motorsport spokesman: "t’s a very exciting prospect for us to have the chance to beat the Touring class cars and win the Sprint race outright. I think the new race format should make great viewing, with the stage set for a dramatic last lap battle for victory between the likes of Plato, Thompson, Muller and leading Production runners."<BR> <BR> The text makes it seem more complicated than it really is. In essence, the Touring Cars have to catch up almost a lap on the Production Cars and pass them to win. This system should be more exciting than watching the Touring Cars pass the Production Cars at the start, although it is a little contrived. It ought to be more exciting than the Feature Race!<BR> <BR> The new format Sprint race is scheduled to begin at 13.00 on Monday. Tom Ferrier will debut the second JSM Alfa Romeo 147. <BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>