TOCA has today issued a revised calendar for the 2020 British Touring Car Championship season, featuring nine events and 27 races to be held between August and November.
The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has disrupted sport around the world, and last month TOCA had to postpone the first five meetings of the original 2020 BTCC calendar.
As a result, a new and revised calendar has now been drawn up, which will again see the season kick off at Donington Park, now scheduled for the 1 – 2 August 2020.
The championship will then move to Brands Hatch for the second round a week later, before a two week break ahead of the third round at Oulton Park on August 22 – 23.
The event at Knockhill takes place one week later on August 29 – 30, the same date which the Scottish event had originally been scheduled for.
A three-week break then follows before the fifth round at Thruxton on September 19-20. The series will then makes its first and now only visit to Silverstone one week later on September 26 – 27.
Croft gets an early October date on the 10 – 11 of the month, before the penultimate meeting at Snetterton on October 24 – 25.
The season will conclude at Brands Hatch on November 14 – 15.
The calendar changes mean that the planned race on the Silverstone International configuration will not take place, with the visit in 2020 being to the National configuration previously used by the BTCC.
All nine weekends will be broadcast live on ITV4.
The calendar remains “conditional upon receiving appropriate government directives and approvals regarding the resumption of sporting activities.
“Should the BTCC be unable to resume at that time, the calendar will be amended accordingly.”
BTCC Chief Executive Alan Gow said that the championship had worked hard to rearrange its calendar in challenging circumstances.
“These are incredibly challenging times for the whole nation,” said Gow. “Through it all, we have seen the importance of being both adaptable and pragmatic… and the BTCC is no different.
“So it’s entirely logical to draft plans and lock-in our provisional dates, with the ability to amend those if circumstances dictate.”
“Obviously this calendar presents a hectic four months, with three separate back-to-back events and four events in the first five weeks alone.
“But our teams and drivers are fully up for the challenge – there’s such enormous energy, enthusiasm and passion for the BTCC that everyone will want to just roll up their sleeves and get the action underway when the time comes to go racing.
“However, the over-arching element will always be to ensure we have the correct procedures and protocols in place, in order to provide a safe environment.
“But before that time comes the most important thing we can all do is to please stay safe and also protect the health of others.”
2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Provisional Calendar
Rounds 1, 2, 3 – August 1/2 – Donington Park (National)
Rounds 4, 5, 6 – August 8/9 – Brands Hatch Indy
Rounds 7, 8, 9 – August 22/23 – Oulton Park Island
Rounds 10, 11, 12 – August 29/30 – Knockhill
Rounds 13, 14, 15 – September 19/20 – Thruxton
Rounds 16, 17, 18 – September 26/27 – Silverstone National
Rounds 19, 20, 21 – October 10/11 – Croft
Rounds 22, 23, 24 – October 24/25 – Snetterton 300
Rounds 25, 26, 27 – November 14/15 – Brands Hatch GP