Brands Hatch season finale gets green light

The BTCC season will conclude as planned at Brands Hatch on 14/15 November despite new lockdown measures being introduced in England.

The new measures announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson will come into force on Thursday but – unlike back in March – will not include ‘Elite Sport’, which includes the BTCC as well as Premier League football.

As a result, the Brands Hatch meeting will go ahead, with Colin Turkington seeking to defend his championship lead from Ash Sutton, Dan Cammish, Tom Ingram and Rory Butcher.

“Series organiser, TOCA, can today (2 November) confirm that Rounds 25, 26 and 27 of the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will take place at Brands Hatch on 14/15 November,” a statement read.

“The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has ratified that ‘Elite Sport’ will be able to continue behind closed doors during this latest period of lockdown. The BTCC is included in that category.

“Therefore, we are pleased to confirm that the final rounds of the BTCC season will be completed as scheduled.

“The BTCC has worked tirelessly to maintain the safety of its drivers, teams, staff and all personnel through its own strict protocols that actually exceed those of the government guidelines. TOCA will continue to ensure those protocols are strictly adhered to, so as to provide a very safe and secure environment for all participants at our final event.

“We salute the support and professionalism consistently shown by everyone involved in the BTCC, and acknowledge this is hugely positive news for our drivers, teams and suppliers whose livelihoods depend upon our events. Most importantly of all, it will particularly lift the spirits of the many hundreds of thousands of BTCC fans throughout the UK who will be able to watch the finale live on ITV4.”