The BTCC heads on to Brands Hatch

There are less than two weeks to go before Britain’s premier motor racing series – the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – returns to the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent for its latest, potentially title-deciding rounds on Sunday 19 August.

Tens of thousands from across the South-East region are expected to descend on the world-famous circuit near Dartford to see big names drivers such as Jason Plato, Fabrizio Giovanardi and Matt Neal go wheel-to-wheel.

Brands Hatch will likely have a major bearing on who ultimately lifts the coveted BTCC Champion’s Trophy for there will be only two fixtures to go afterwards – Knockhill, Fife on 2 September and Thruxton, Hampshire on 14 October.

With the ITV1 cameras broadcasting live, Brands Hatch’s BTCC race day will be a major highlight of the South-East’s 2007 sporting calendar.

It was at Brands Hatch in April that this year’s BTCC started before the championship trail set off to entertain enormous crowds at circuits around the UK. Plato won two of the three rounds in his SEAT Leon and continues to lead the standings with a 14-point advantage over Vauxhall’s Italian ace Giovanardi. Reigning champion Neal, in his Team Halfords Honda, is a further 41 adrift. But with 15 points for a win and nine rounds – including Brands’ three – remaining, there is time yet for the title race to take a twist.