BTCC drivers will no longer draw race three reversed grid

British Touring Car Championship drivers will no longer draw the final grid of the day at race meetings after Rob Austin confessed to deliberately picking himself on pole position at Brands Hatch.

In recent times, the driver finishing 10th in race two has made the draw for the third race live on ITV4, by picking a numbered ball out of a pot.

But eagle-eyed viewers spotted Austin deliberately picking his own number, for which he later apologised. Series boss Alan Gow redrew the grid, ironically keeping Austin on pole by drawing number 10, but has announced the rules will change at Donington Park.

Writing on the official BTCC forum, Gow said: “In future no current driver, or anyone associated with a current driver or team, will make the draw.”