DUNLOP MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP.

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1 DUNLOP MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP

2 Contents 02 Welcome 04 The Championship 08 The Contenders 12 NGTC Calendar 18 TV & Media 24 Sponsorship & Marketing 30 Hospitality 32 Spectator Appeal 36 TV & Spectator Data 40 Support Races 44 TOCA Team & Contacts

3 A few facts about the BTCC in % Increase in UK TV viewing figures 13% Increase in spectator numbers Welcome 18% Increase in UK TV broadcast hours Record grid sizes Record-equalling number of makes First five-way title showdown Whichever way you cut it, 2011 has been a phenomenal year for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. There was a further record in 2011 that was notable our first fiveway title showdown at the final round. The fact that five different Our valued title sponsor Dunlop has a continuing deep passion and enthusiasm for this championship and we are I d like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all our commercial and media partners, for everything they drivers in four different makes of delighted that its market share in do for the BTCC. Similarly, thank Our UK TV viewing figures rose car from four different teams all the UK has increased through its you to the many hundreds of by a staggering average of 35 had a chance of the big prize on involvement and key message of volunteer marshals and officials per cent, our UK TV airtime is up Finals Day speaks volumes for the motorsport technology for the for the excellent work they do by more than 50 per cent, our level yet unpredictable playing road. Reinvigorated as a brand at our race events and also to trackside attendance numbers field that this championship and with a number of exciting our millions of fans in both the rose by a further 13 per cent and prides itself on providing. And new products in the wings, its use UK and internationally, who are our grid sizes are now at record that is exactly what s also proving of the BTCC as a vibrant part of among the most passionate levels. Quite obviously we must be increasingly attractive to entrants its broader marketing strategy will and enthusiastic in motor sport doing something right and their sponsors; hence our take on increased importance in anywhere in the world. record grid sizes. Eight different the coming years. For the first time in almost 20 years drivers scored wins and a further Within this brochure you can we also had ten different makes seven also scored podium results. Our broadcaster ITV s thirst for indulge in the quite exceptional of car on our grid, largely thanks Six teams celebrated race wins the championship is seemingly story that is the BTCC. The statistics to our Next Generation Touring and five more scored outright insatiable, as it continually underline the astonishing growth Car (NGTC) regulations, which podium results as, during the explores new avenues through this fabulous championship have enabled new teams and course of the 30-race season, the which to relay the action and continues to achieve. Quite cars to embark on the big BTCC championship lead changed in 2011 provided the BTCC with simply, no other motor sport adventure and delivered an hands an incredible 13 times an unprecedented 128 hours championship in the UK comes exciting glimpse into the future which is another record. of scheduling on ITV4, ITV1 and remotely close to the level of direction of the championship. ITV4 HD. Just think about that TV coverage, viewer numbers, Unsurprisingly, there is now a We are, of course, blessed with figure for a moment: 128 hours spectator attendance, proliferation of existing, new and an enviable line-up of fantastic of prime scheduling on the UK s media coverage or quality of returning teams setting about commercial and media partners. largest commercial TV network. competition. We are, by a colossal developing NGTC-spec cars for The fact they have been (and It is an absolutely astounding margin, the biggest and the 2012 and onwards, which means remain) on board for the long- commitment from ITV and is, best in the UK and for very good the BTCC s wow factor will step term is a reflection of all the effort by far, the broadest television reason as will be shown in the up to yet another level. that we as the organiser, our coverage of any British motor- following pages. venues, our teams, their drivers racing series ever. And with our and their sponsors all put into live TV audience figures increasing Best wishes for a successful making the BTCC one of the by some 35 per cent this year, its greatest shows on the road. commitment to this championship is being well and truly repaid. Alan J Gow BTCC Series Director

4 The Championship From strength to strength The British Touring Car Championship is one of the bestloved, most illustrious and famous motor racing championships in the world. Since its inception in 1958 only Formula 1 and the NASCAR stock car series have longer histories it has attracted and captivated millions of fans right around the world. From the start, saloon car racing was a huge success with the public, who would pack into Britain s racing venues to watch the top drivers of the day compete in racing versions of their road cars at simply unbelievable speeds. It s a lasting appeal that to this day continues to deliver a punch and panache that no other motor sporting arena in the UK even remotely achieves. Traditional, great British names such as Jaguar, Austin, Ford, Mini, Lotus, Sunbeam and Triumph often with top international stars, including Formula 1 drivers, at the wheel were all winners in the first 20 years, each aware of the importance of using the BTCC to showcase their latest models. By the Eighties, the BTCC was moving with the times and beginning to develop a truly international flavour. Mazda, Toyota and Alfa Romeo were the first three winners of the decade as the championship continued to be run for several classes of car, but the mighty Ford Sierra RS500 and BMW M3 dominant as the Nineties loomed are probably the two most evocative models of the period. It was in the Nineties, however, that the BTCC truly boomed. The championship was already beginning to grow in stature with regular television coverage on the BBC s flagship sports show, Grandstand. When the decision was taken to make the BTCC exclusively for 2-litre cars, it instantly created closer racing and attracted a host of high-profile manufacturers, teams and drivers to the series. Combined with enhanced television coverage and marketing genius, this made the BTCC essential viewing for millions throughout the UK and many millions more throughout the world. Trackside crowd figures sometimes reached the 40,000 mark as the calendar evolved into a major UK tour with events being added in Scotland and Wales. Being there suddenly became fashionable. It was a social event. Few other sports can have enjoyed such a rapid growth in popularity. Unsurprisingly, the manufacturers simply could not afford to miss out and the number taking part in the series grew rapidly. Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota, Vauxhall and Volvo: all realised the enormous marketing value of competing in the BTCC and were quick to capitalise on the opportunity. Every one of them has the BTCC to thank for being a part of their continued growth in the UK today. Honda, joined by Chevrolet, continue to reap the rewards by fielding official works teams in today s championship, as do the likes of BMW, Ford, Proton and Toyota, which each provide customer support to teams on the grid. Twenty years on, now with unprecedented levels of national television coverage from ITV, that same 2-litre formula continues to provide one of motor sport s most addictive, action-packed atmospheres for an audience of millions, as well as the perfect platform for teams, drivers and sponsors to raise their profiles and reputations. BTCC is simply Britain s biggest and most important national car racing championship, says Jonathan Palmer, Chief Executive of MotorSport Vision. Spectators love touring car racing and, with a format carefully designed to provide plenty of on track action, BTCC attracted bigger crowds than any other car racing across our four MotorSport Vision circuits in A strong television package is essential to provide the broad public awareness necessary to keep major sporting events in the people s minds, and BTCC works hard and effectively with its extensive live ITV4 coverage, continues Palmer. BTCC is very successful, promotes itself strongly, draws big crowds and will hopefully become even more attractive to fans, TV viewers and circuits with future evolution. Another of the BTCC s huge draws is the fact that each of its race events offers free admission for children, in some cases up to the age of 16, making it hugely popular with families and young, future fans. Furthermore, the sport is unique in allowing the public to interact with their heroes thanks to an open paddock policy at the majority of events.

5 The BTCC is the most competitive, hardest-fought premier motor racing championship in the UK. It gives drivers doing a national championship a bigger profile than those in a world championship. For the public I can easily sum it up in just three words: non-stop action. Matt Neal BTCC Champion 2011, 2006 & There are also specially organised autograph sessions in the pit lane that further bring sponsors brands to life with plenty of BTCC-themed giveaways. Once through the gate, the crowds are treated to a feast of top-class motor sport while the BTCC headlines the bill there s also a selection of superb supporting categories run by manufacturers Ginetta, Porsche and Renault to add to the entertainment. But it s the bumper-to-bumper, thrilla-minute BTCC that is of course the star attraction and the spectators, all with their favourite cars and drivers to support, are treated to three championship races on the day. A qualifying session on the Saturday decides the startinggrid order for race one. The race two and three starting grids are determined by the finishing order of races one and two respectively. For race three, the leading starting positions are reversed to add to the unpredictability. In addition, a ballast system is used from race to race to handicap the most successful drivers and further ensure a level playing field. The BTCC is truly geared towards providing maximum value-for-money entertainment for its customers, the fans. Refusing to rest on its laurels, the BTCC has also evolved with the times to lead the way in embracing new technologies, thereby continually challenging and improving the skills of engineers. For example, it achieved a world first in introducing and enforcing new regulations that monitored and limited the CO2 emissions of its competing cars. It then pioneered new technology with title sponsor Dunlop, becoming the first race series in the world to fit every race tyre with an RFID (radio frequency identification) microchip. Dunlop also chose the BTCC s influential profile to launch newly-developed tyres whose construction meets tough new EU environmental regulations. In fact, with increasing global concerns about the environment these past two decades, the BTCC has developed a set of green credentials that tick all the right boxes not only with government and automotive/motor sport industries but also with the media and the watching world. In the early Nineties it became one of the world s first race series to mandate the use of catalytic converters and unleaded petrol. In recent years, cars powered by diesel, bio-fuels and even liquefied petroleum gas have appeared on the grid. Turbocharged engines using diesel and LPG have both subsequently gone on to win races and challenge for outright title honours, further underlining the BTCC s ability to accurately monitor, regulate and equalise the performance of different technologies to ensure a level playing field for all its competitors. Now comes the next exciting chapter in the evergreen BTCC s proud and illustrious history with its new, exclusive set of NGTC technical regulations that are already taking the world of touring car racing by storm. Several of the plucky privateers pioneered the latest regulations in 2011 gaining significant results, and it s no surprise that proven champions such as Honda Racing and Triple Eight Race Engineering are now making the switch for It is already clear that this exciting new generation of race cars will keep the championship head and shoulders above the rest for many years to come. 07

6 2012 Dunlop MSA British BTCC is simply Britain s biggest and most important national car racing championship. Jonathan Palmer Chief Executive of MotorSport Vision The Contenders Natural-born thrillers Undoubtedly, the BTCC is entering one of the most dynamic phases of its fantastic 53-year history. Slick and professional management of the championship as well as pioneering new technical regulations have led to record grid sizes, a record number of different makes being represented on the grid, renewed enthusiasm from teams and sponsors and an influx of new faces joining the list of established stars in challenging for outright honours. Each has been drawn to the BTCC by its accessibility and unique level playing field and each is therefore making a name for itself in the most charismatic motor racing championship in the UK. With every race being broadcast live into living rooms across the nation on ITV4 and ITV4 HD followed by domestic and global highlights all know they are a part of, and helping to shape, one of the world s highestprofile motor sport arenas. The BTCC caters for every type of entrant, be they teams with the budget for three cars or smaller outfits fielding single-car entries. Whatever their size, they all bring the same passion and determination that make the BTCC the magnetic draw it is today. Furthermore, because the rewards in the BTCC are so high both on and off the track the championship remains a hugely cost-effective exercise compared with other series. Big or small, every team has a golden opportunity to capture the public s imagination and engage with their audience. While independent squads make up the majority of the field, the appeal for major automotive manufacturers, world-class teams, sponsors and big-name drivers is as strong as ever. A record TEN different makes were represented in the BTCC during 2011 and the season culminated with a recordsized 30-car grid. It was also one of the most wide open in terms of the number of different drivers, teams and cars who realistically could have won the title indeed, the championship lead changed hands an unprecedented 13 times. For the first time in history, FIVE drivers went into Finals Day still in with a chance of the crown. In the end Matt Neal achieved the third title of his career in his Team Dynamics-prepared factory Honda Racing Team Civic pushed all the way to the last lap of the season by team-mate Gordon Shedden. The triumph also marked the third time that Dynamics had won the 2011 BTCC fact file: 8 drivers in 6 different teams won races 15 drivers in 11 different teams on the podium 11 drivers led races 13 drivers set fastest race laps 4 drivers achieved pole position 17 different teams (5 new) 10 different makes of car (14 models) 15 new drivers 34 drivers in total championship, having previously lifted the crown with Neal while running privately-entered Hondas in 2005 and Honda (UK) has great affection for the BTCC but its participation extends well beyond that it knows that success in such a competitive sporting arena brings many other benefits to its company, while also enabling it to proudly fly a builtin-britain flag in front of a huge audience. Honda UK Managing Director Dave Hodgetts comments: The BTCC is fantastic for the Honda brand and a great showcase for the Civic. With a new Civic about to be launched, the sporting pedigree of the car will form a major part of the campaign. Honda s long relationship with the BTCC continues because it delivers in terms of TV coverage, excitement and customer awareness, helping us to demonstrate the great engineering qualities of our cars and, of course, Honda s inherent love of racing and winning. It is also a great way to bring all aspects of the company together. At the final race at Silverstone we invited all our staff from the company HQ in Slough, a large number of our dealers and members of staff from the factory in Swindon. Everyone had a fantastic time and it is a great way to bring all the different divisions of Honda together for a great event. The fact that we can do this many times a year all over the country makes it a very attractive proposition.

7 The BTCC has great personalities and presentation and is a sport that also has a great deal of respect for its audience. It understands what the people want from their live sporting experience. Steve Rider ITV Sport Presenter And he adds: From a Honda perspective the Civic is the perfect model to compete in British Touring Cars, as it has been born and bred in the UK. The new car has been tested on more UK roads than any other Honda, and it will continue to be built exclusively in Swindon. Meanwhile it was another former title-winning combination that ran Neal-Dynamics-Honda closest to the title in 2011, namely preparation expert RML and its 2010 Champion Jason Plato, driving its factoryentered Silverline Chevrolet Cruze. Similarly, Triple Eight Race Engineering, with six previous drivers titles to its name, was right in there until the end thanks to some big results with its Vauxhall Vectra driven by rising star James Nash who even led the standings outright briefly. Together he and Triple Eight would go on to scoop the Independent Drivers and Teams trophies special competitions within the overall championship established to recognise and reward the efforts of private entrants. But 2011 also truly saw the emergence of the privateer Motorbase squad this was only its fifth season in the BTCC yet its Airwaves Racing-branded Ford Focus was a class act in the hands of Mat Jackson. There were four race wins and it could have been more. As the season entered its final stages, Jackson took over at the head of the championship table a clear demonstration of how a determined, astute and well-structured team (Motorbase only first properly ventured into the BTCC in 2007) can rapidly evolve into one of the major players in one of the world s most desirable motor sport arenas. Motorbase Team Manager Oliver Collins has no doubts as to why teams aspire to be a part of the BTCC. He enthuses: It s clearly one of the premier touring car championships in the world, which offers so much in return for all the team personnel and sponsors. When you look at the pedigree of the competition, to be considered a part of that is extremely satisfying. In all, some 17 teams and 34 drivers in ten makes and 14 different models of car contested the 2011 season. Five teams were new to the BTCC in 2012 and, of those, four made their break into the BTCC as a direct result of being able to take advantage of and be competitive with the latest Next Generation Touring Car regulations Dynojet and Speedworks each with a Toyota Avensis, Rob Austin Racing with two Audi A4s and Welch Motorsport with a Proton Gen-2. Eleven teams celebrated outright podium results. Six of them sprayed the victory champagne one of them, a thrilled Special Tuning Racing, for the first time. Fourteen of the 17 teams also achieved hallowed top-ten race results during the season. Of the 34 drivers, 15 made their debuts in the BTCC in 2011 with 25 in all scoring outright championship points. Fifteen three of them newcomers to the BTCC basked in outright podium glory with 25 in total scoring points on the final overall championship table. Rob Austin brought his eponymous team, already successful in FIA historic Formula 1 plus other singleseater, GT and sportscar categories, into the BTCC in 2011 and has admitted to being bowled over by the reception. Austin says: I am in awe of just how much following the BTCC has. It s amazing. Standing on the podium for the first time or seeing just how many people flood into the pit lane for the autograph session we ve never experienced that before and it can be overwhelming. The BTCC is famed for its ability to conjure up some real David vs Goliath moments and a number of incentives are in place to encourage and aid teams. There s the reversing of the leading positions on race three s starting grid, thereby providing an opportunity perhaps not normally available to some teams to have their car start from the front of the field, live on ITV4. There is a 200,000- plus prize fund with Dunlop generously rewarding teams with tyre bonuses that alone equate to more than 125,000, on top of the BTCC s own 75,000 prize fund, shared out across the ten rounds to reward each event s top-three independent teams. Included in their championship registration fee is a handsome allocation of paddock and pit lane passes for working team personnel and VIPs. All teams are also given the same opportunities to participate in the BTCC s promotional activities, whether PR stunts in the build-up to race weekends or during race day s Pit Lane Walkabout public autograph sessions. In terms of accessibility, exposure, return on investment, profile and following there has never been a better time to join Britain s biggest and boldest motor racing championship.

8 The new cost-cutting NGTC regulations are certain to further enhance the BTCC s attractiveness and effectiveness in the coming years and we are delighted to be the first manufacturer to commit to these latest technical rules. Dave Hodgetts Managing Director of Honda UK NGTC Talking about a new generation 12 Like a famous Hollywood blockbuster, the British Touring Car Championship has in 2011 witnessed its very own rise of the machines namely its new and highly cost-effective Next Generation Touring Car machines. Six NGTC cars a fifth of the record 30-strong grid appeared, with machines built around Toyota s Avensis, Audi s A4, Proton s Gen-2 and Vauxhall s Insignia models. Bigger, faster and even more spectacular to watch thanks to flame-spitting turbocharged engines, they herald the future direction of the BTCC and surely one of the most captivating chapters in the championship s history. Their rise to the top this past season came quicker than perhaps even TOCA, the organisation that runs the BTCC and devised the new regulations, anticipated. Dynojet, with its Avensis, Rob Austin Racing, with its Audi A4, and Welch Automotive, with its Proton all impressive newcomers to the championship started to give the bigger, established teams a real fright. So much so that well before the end of the season a number of the established outfits including title-winner Honda Racing, multiple past champion Triple Eight Race Engineering and rising star Pirtek Racing had announced they will be taking the NGTC route for Notably Honda will construct its latest Civic model to the new regulations and provide Pirtek with identical customer versions. TH Motorsport, after a season out, had also revealed it will make a return next year with an NGTC-spec Skoda Octavia. The floodgates have well and truly opened Andrew Jordan, a proven race winner in the BTCC, clearly envisages his Pirtek team becoming even more competitive in 2012 thanks to its move to full-spec NGTC machinery. He says: If you want to win it s got to be an NGTC car. Just look how the Audi and Toyota in particular have come on in 2011 the development year of NGTC. It s only going to move forward again during the winter for the 2012 season. We believe we ve pulled off a real coup by ordering readydeveloped cars from Honda using Honda s own engine. I ve no doubt the regulations will lead to an even greater variety of car teams can be a bit bold. Consequently that will increase the widespread appeal of the championship as it will resonate with an even greater number of public who may be loyal to a particular brand of car. 13

9 2012 Dunlop MSA British The real genius of the NGTC rules is they reward talent and effort, not budget. New, small teams can join and compete with established heroes because the cars are low-cost, same-for-everyone, tuneable race cars that produce all the on-track excitement the BTCC is famous for. Scott Brownlee General manager, Press & Public Affairs, Toyota GB The foundation for NGTC is a greater emphasis on common components turbo, wastegate, intercoolers, injectors and ECU (engine control unit), six-speed sequential gearbox, subframe, brakes, dampers and suspension which dramatically drives down costs for teams looking to compete in one of the world s most attractive motor sport arenas. For those teams, their drivers and sponsors who play a crucial role in helping it to all go around, this news is heaven-sent. As has been well documented, the cost of a new, ready-to-race NGTC machine is significantly less than that for the older S2000 cars. Projected budgets to physically run a car for the course of the season have also been slashed. Dynojet driver Frank Wrathall, who ended the season with four outright podium finishes and three maximum scores in the Independents Trophy, comments: The NGTC rules are incredibly well thought through. They remove the expense of having to develop components but also still provide teams with a considerable engineering challenge. While there are more standardised parts underneath to keep costs down, teams and manufacturers can quite justifiably still bask in the glory of having built and engineered a successful car. Indeed, teams have the option of running either TOCA s unbranded stock NGTC-spec engine or, whether privateer or full manufacturer-back entries, developing their own powerplant from their chosen model of the car s broad family to the regulations. For example, Toyota GB has invested in an NGTC engine programme, developing its 3ZR motor for independent teams running its Avensis. Other manufacturer engines already on the grid include Honda s Type R, Ford s Duratec and VW s TFSI in relevant machinery. Toyota GB General Manager of Press & Public Affairs Scott Brownlee enthuses: Bitter experience told me a new engine programme would be expensive and uncertain. I was wrong on both counts. The NGTC rules are clear and give reassurance of parity without the need to enter into an expensive and endless development programme to chase power because TOCA ensures broad parity of performance through boost adjustment. It meant we have been able to give our customers the kudos of running a Toyota engine with no risk of it being either too expensive or uncompetitive. And team boss and driver Rob Austin says: NGTC is a really good concept. We d always looked at the BTCC it s the sexiest grid in Britain by far and the lower costs involved with NGTC have given us our break. The cars look the absolute business, they sound better and it s as level and wellregulated a playing field as you re going to find in motor sport. After his debut BTCC season Welch Automotive s Daniel Welch adds: NGTC has the potential to attract an even greater variety of makes and models of car we re unique in running the Proton and that is enabling us to stand out from the crowd and gather a following. For a budding team like us as well as our sponsors, to be seen to be knocking on the door of the top ten and mixing it with the cars of the established big teams is great news. What s more, the new NGTC regulations will be maintained at least through to 2016 and that any subsequent review then should, at most, only lead to minor updates. Looking to the future, Next Generation really is the next big thing Indeed the forward-thinking Swedish Touring Car Championship has already joined the burgeoning bandwagon by confirming that it s adopting the new NGTC regulations.

10 2012 Dunlop MSA British Quite simply, no other motor sport championship in the UK comes remotely close to level of TV coverage, viewer numbers, spectator attendance, media coverage or quality of competition. Alan J Gow BTCC Series Director 2012 Calendar Pillar to post As the UK s premier race series, the Dunlop BTCC headlines at all of the country s major motor sport venues. The nationwide ten-weekend calendar selects More than just taking the spectacle to people right around the UK, the wide mix of circuits presents the teams and drivers with different challenges. Whether 17 the best possible tracks to ensure maximum appeal and an everchanging backdrop for trackside fans as well as those watching live coverage on ITV4 and ITV4 HD. The geographical spread of the circuits provides teams and their it s the super-fast white-knuckle adventure of Thruxton s daunting, high-speed corners or the rollercoaster ride of Knockhill s undulating, off-camber twists, all the individual venues have their own characteristics to test the competitors nerves and skills to August Knockhill, Fife With spectacular views over the Forth Estuary, Knockhill is Scotland s premier motor sport venue. Access is via the M90 between Perth and Edinburgh or A9 from Glasgow. Knockhill June Croft, North Yorkshire Croft, near Darlington and the A1M, provides the BTCC with a great base in the North East close to Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Sunderland and York. TBA Donington Park, Leicestershire Set in the heart of England, Donington is close to both the M1 and M42 motorways. Birmingham, Derby and Nottingham are all on the doorstep September Rockingham, Northamptonshire Rockingham in Corby the UK s newest racetrack is easily accessible from both M1 and A1M motorways. Cambridge, Peterborough and Leicester are within 30 minutes. partners with an opportunity to the limit. engage with different audiences across the UK. It also ensures that Furthermore, the BTCC takes hundreds of thousands of fans great care in selecting which from almost every corner of the country can catch the tin-top layout at which venue will provide the crowds with the best Croft action close to their homes when the travelling show makes its now eagerly-anticipated annual visit to their region. The 2012 calendar includes circuits in Cheshire, Fife, Hampshire, Kent, Leicestershire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire and North Yorkshire. And with each race meeting hosting three full points-scoring BTCC showdowns, value-for-money entertainment. That s why races are held on a variety of tracks such as the epic Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, picturesque Oulton Park Island and oval stadium of Rockingham. Further whetting the appetite, the BTCC switched to the challenging new Snetterton 300 circuit in 2011 a move that was given a huge thumbs up by both drivers and fans June Oulton Park, Cheshire Situated close to Chester and the M6 and M62 motorways, Oulton Park is easily accessible from all the major conurbations in the North-West, including Manchester and Liverpool as well as North Wales. Oulton Park Donington Park Rockingham October Silverstone, Northamptonshire As the home of the British Grand Prix, Silverstone needs little introduction. Located close to both M1 and M40 motorways it draws fans from London and the Midlands. Snetterton August Snetterton, Norfolk Snetterton is located on the A11 to the west of Norwich. Though in rural East Anglia, its catchment area includes cities such as Cambridge and Ipswich, plus many on holidays at coastal resorts. there s never a dull moment. The season blasts into action and From the public seeking a day full Silverstone reaches its thrilling climax a little more than six months later at Brands Hatch, close to London and the M25, in Kent. Teams will have a welcome mid-season break to avoid calendar clashes with the British Formula 1 Grand Prix, the London 2012 Olympic Games and other major global of thrills and spills to businesses both large and small looking to dazzle staff and clients, the country-wide BTCC really does tick all the right boxes April Thruxton, Hampshire Thruxton s location, close to M3, A303 and A34 road networks, provides swift access from London, Portsmouth and Southampton as well as, more locally, from Basingstoke, Newbury and Reading. Thruxton Brands Hatch 31 March-01 April & October Brands Hatch, Kent Brands Hatch is situated just south of London on the A20 in northern Kent; just three miles from the M25 and close to the M20 and M26 motorways. sporting events.

11 2012 Dunlop MSA British TV & Media Grabbing the headlines As Britain s biggest motor racing championship, the BTCC commands enormous media coverage throughout the UK and globally. Television has always been the BTCC s most powerful medium, and, since the late Eighties the championship has received regular coverage from Britain s biggest TV operators. ITV Having broadcast the BTCC since 2002, Britain s premier commercial television network, ITV, is committed to covering the championship until 2014 at least. Its live coverage of the series around seven hours from each event on both its ITV4 and ITV4 HD channels as well as its itv.com website is unprecedented in UK motor sport. Furthermore it provides the BTCC with a TV arrangement that puts even those of high-profile international series firmly in the shade. Indeed, not even Formula 1 receives as much live TV coverage in the UK as the BTCC race day. But perhaps the most telling statistic of all is the number of viewers presently watching the BTCC on TV in the UK in 2011 they skyrocketed by an astronomical 35 per cent to a total cumulative viewer number/ hours of 21,502,734. Adding to the live coverage are 60-minute race highlights repeated three times after each event on ITV1 and ITV4 as well as their respective HD channels and simulcast on itv.com. In the past 12 months the network s commitment has grown in other areas every one of the BTCC s Saturday afternoon qualifying sessions was shown live on a new dedicated and heavilypublicised webpage that extended to audio interviews with drivers after each event, regular expert blogs and a comprehensive catalogue of race highlights from the season for the public to watch again. Simon Knight, Field Sales Director for household brand Wrigley, comments: It s all about the great visibility the BTCC offers. The live coverage on ITV4 is second to none from the features at the start of the programme through to the coverage across a whole Sunday afternoon, not to mention the repeats shown later in the week. In addition there s a great interactive website covering all areas of the BTCC. National & International TV The BTCC is broadcast on a variety of networks (both terrestrial and digital) in six continents around the world: Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America (see chart on page 36). It is estimated that the audience reach per race event is more than ONE BILLION households. Some of those networks screen stand-alone 45 minute-plus BTCC highlights shows while others include short bulletintype edits of the action via motor sport magazine programmes such as Motorsport Mundial, Planet Speed and MAX Power on major networks such as ESPN, Star Sports and Sky Sports. Many are repeated several times over The BTCC is big news as it tours the UK, particularly with regional ITV and BBC crews who all want a slice of the action when the teams and drivers roll into town. Indeed, it is not uncommon for crews to base their entire sports news round-ups from the colourful backdrop of the BTCC s pit lane and paddock. This of course means tremendous added media value as the BTCC is paraded before audiences of potentially millions during lunch and teatime broadcasts. In 2011, regional TV previews to race events totalled more than 100 minutes with coverage on the following outlets: Brands Hatch Indy (BBC South East & ITV Meridian); Thruxton (BBC South); Croft (ITV Tyne Tees N Yorks & Newcastle/ Cumbria & BBC Look North); Snetterton (ITV Anglia & BBC Look East); Rockingham (BBC Look East); Silverstone (ITV Anglia, BBC Look East & Oxford). Moreover, regional TV sportsdesks often feature their local drivers with footage ahead of or following race events, gaining the BTCC yet more valuable airtime.

12 British Touring Cars is an important contract for us. The quality of the racing and the whole event brings us to an important audience. Viewing figures are increasing significantly over the last couple of years and I believe those viewers appreciate the great quality of the spectacle. Niall Sloane Controller of Sport (Broadcast), ITV Through its contacts and appeal, the BTCC also generates exposure on some of the nation s mostwatched lifestyle and consumer programmes. For example BBC2 s acclaimed Top Gear has regularly included drivers from the BTCC for its TV series that attracts seven million-plus viewers per episode, plus annual DVD compilations. Jason Plato s profile in the BTCC has also led to him becoming a presenter on Channel 5 s popular Fifth Gear motoring show. Media Partnership For the past eight years the BTCC has enjoyed an enviable media partnership with major publishing group Dennis, predominantly through its top-selling Auto Express and evo titles both in print and online. A stream of broad editorial features and news updates, ticket competitions and advertising of race events puts the BTCC s name in front of key new audiences. Other major titles such as Men s Fitness and PC Pro are also part of the mix. In addition, the magazines databases running into hundreds of thousands of subscribers are targeted with further BTCC news and promotions. In return, Dennis has used its relationship with the BTCC to promote the Auto Express and evo brands with prominent logos on the sides of every BTCC car, plus the championship s podium and ITV interview backdrops. Geoff Love, Publishing Director (Automotive), Dennis Publishing, comments: We are very proud of our long and exciting partnership with the BTCC. It makes perfect sense for Dennis, which produces some of the country s most popular and expert motoring titles as well as many other top non-automotive publications, to be associated with the UK s premier motor sporting arena, which has such mass appeal among petrol-heads and general public alike. Given its fame, the BTCC still grants terrific access for our team while its high profile provides exactly the right kind of scope for a major UK publishing company with magazines such as Auto Express, evo and Octane to bring our readers plenty of dynamic, memorable and often off-the-wall story lines. BTCC Media/btcc.net The global media and many millions of fans are updated by the championship s busy Media Office, which of course also stimulates media coverage across many types of outlets. Central to this service is the BTCC s official website the ultimate online BTCC fix that provides information about every aspect of the championship. btcc.net attracts up to 141,000 unique visitors per month staggering numbers for a domestic motor racing championship. It now has some 29,000 registered fans, with more than half those signing up to receive official championship mailings and details of exclusive competitions that enable teams to further market their sponsors products. As a frontline sport in this digital age, the btcc.net website is fully interactive with the BTCC s social media networks, which include dedicated sites on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. In less than 12 months close to 11,000 fans have signed up to its Facebook page while its Twitter account has attracted more than 7,000 followers. The championship also receives huge exposure on YouTube, with clips regularly attracting tens if not hundreds of thousands of views. For example, more than 130,000 have looked up Honda team-mates Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden colliding at Oulton Park in 2011, while Jason Plato s miraculous control of a high-speed spin in 2009 is now at the 599,000 mark and still climbing! Pre-season, an official Media Day is also staged, offering hundreds of media as well as thousands more eager sponsors, fans and guests a sneak preview of the forthcoming season, with plenty of opportunities to film and photograph the unveiling of new cars and liveries as well as interview drivers and other key players. It s an event that attracts media from all corners those in attendance at 2011 s Media Day covered the full spectrum of print, radio, TV and online media, among them many big hitter specialist, automotive, lifestyle, consumer, regional and national press.

13 2012 Dunlop MSA British Radio, Magazines, Newspapers & Online Previews, plus qualifying and race reports, regularly appear in the national media, both in print and online. Noticeably, the UK s biggest selling newspaper, The Sun, has significantly increased its coverage of the BTCC on its website its motor sport pages make for one of its most popular sports sections, attracting millions each week. The Sun s Chris Hockley enthuses: It s great for The Sun to have a direct involvement in Britain s premier series. It s a perfect fit with the trackside crowds having much in common with our readers they re honest, enthusiastic and the cars they drive on the road are similar to those being raced on the track, plus there s that little extra tinge of excitement that comes with knowing it could be their car that wins. Our involvement has also led to one of the star names, Jason Plato, writing an online column for us the extra publicity he receives raises his profile and fanbase, which gives him added opportunity to attract sponsors. In return, it gives The Sun branding on his car, valuable TV exposure, plus an exclusive first-person bonus to offer our readers, so it s a win-win situation between a great name in a great sporting arena and a great media organisation. As the BTCC travels the land, big provincial newspapers print plenty of column inches about the championship, with a heavy focus on the star names and local drivers and teams. Some circuits, working in conjunction with the BTCC, have arranged hugely beneficial tie-ins with their most influential regional publications for example Croft with the Northern Echo to produce an eight-page pull-out preview. Widely-read trade and lifestyle publications from building, IT, utility and emergency services plus other sports have all featured BTCC content. The BTCC also provides perfect material for the UK s many radio stations. For Silverstone s final round, Mat Jackson was the star guest on BBC Radio Northampton s sportsweek preview show, BBC Radio 2 discussed the possible title outcome on the eve of the event and Radio 1 presenter Comedy Dave, from the Chris Moyles Breakfast Show, was an enthusiastic visitor. Meanwhile, appointed radio agency Talking Point Broadcasting scheduled interviews and reports for national and local BBC and commercial radio stations as well as updating the audio interview page with over 550 driver and team interviews on the official btcc.net website. An official BTCC itunes podcasting page, updated with more than 300 podcasts, was also launched in In the same year the championship received over 51 hours of total airtime across 155 BBC and Independent radio stations, including 5 Live, Radio 1, Radio 2 and TalkSPORT. BTCC broadcasts on radio in the UK in 2011 attracted an estimated 54 million listeners.

14 The BTCC is a great platform for us to not only test our tyres but also leverage our key message of motorsport technology for the road. Large crowds, manufacturer involvement and trade hospitality opportunities all add to a successful package. Eddy Geerdink Marketing Director, Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Limited Sponsorship & Marketing Lights, cameras, traction 24 The high-profile BTCC delivers one of the most attractive 360-degree commercial and communications platforms in UK sport. There is no doubt that the BTCC has traditionally offered a unique opportunity for sponsors, packaging exciting brand values with a loyal, passionate and nationwide fan base, both trackside and via its ever-increasing live terrestrial television coverage. Indeed, the concept of instantly recognisable showroom cars competing bumper-to-bumper has always provided the BTCC with its own highly-popular USP within motor sport. The Goodyear Dunlop group is entering its eighth year as major title sponsor with the BTCC in Its premier Dunlop tyre brand has been the championship s title sponsor for most of that time, although it handed over the platform to sister UK fast-fit company HiQ for Dunlop and HiQ have interacted with the series and used each race weekend to generate a new, growing customer base. TV coverage, newspaper column inches and online social networking have also helped elevate these brands to an increased position of strength within the industry, courtesy of their sponsorship of the BTCC. 25 Sponsors and business partners continue to utilise a range of strategic activation opportunities that are unrivalled in contemporary motor racing and clearly make the BTCC one of the best-value investments in the sporting marketplace. For any astute and imaginative company, participation grants a powerful opportunity to bring alive a brand in front of hundreds of thousands of trackside spectators and millions more TV viewers. The broad range of companies involved many of them blue chip, whether suppliers to the BTCC or team sponsors also demonstrates the power of a large crowd and prime-time TV audience, particularly when there is a strong demographic profile. That s why the series has such strong appeal to both consumer and business-tobusiness products. The BTCC is a great platform for us to not only test our tyres but also leverage our key message of motorsport technology for the road, states Eddy Geerdink, Marketing Director, Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Limited. Our continual development in racing tyres is evident through our performance on track at the BTCC. Our title sponsorship of the series provides us with a tremendous opportunity to leverage our brand within the UK s biggest motor sporting championship. The presence of large crowds, a huge TV audience, the involvement of major manufacturers and availability of hospitality for trade guests all add up to a successful package. Other major high-street names have formed strong partnerships with the BTCC. One such is the Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) through its Holiday Inn brand, whose involvement in the BTCC has been a key factor in raising brand awareness within the UK.

15 It s all about the great visibility the BTCC offers. The live coverage on ITV4 is second to none. Simon Knight Field Sales Director, Wrigley UK Holiday Inn s five-year involvement in the British Touring Car Championship has been a great experience for IHG, providing a platform to build the brand, integrate key marketing strategies and drive sales in an exciting environment, reports Adrian White, Partnership Marketing Director, IHG. The BTCC s geographical reach and wide television coverage allows companies such as Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express to engage with customers across the UK, bringing the brands to life in a dynamic setting as well as providing accommodation for both fans and participants. We use our involvement in the sporting property to continue to raise brand equity in a highly charged environment, engaging with the sports minded across the country, continues White. It allows us to interact with the teams, sponsor brands and fans to generate incremental revenues while providing quality networking opportunities, resulting in significant ROI through the programme in many areas. The events themselves allow IHG to engage a variety of internal and external stakeholders in an exclusive and desirable environment, while providing a platform for interesting communications with press and consumer promotions. Information and communications technology expert Redstone returned to the BTCC in 2011 as a sponsor of the Airwaves Racing Team and, like IHG, has leveraged its partnership in several key directions. For Redstone the 2011 sponsorship of the Airwaves Racing Team was a bold statement both externally and internally that Redstone was revitalised and raring to go, explains Claire Botha, Marketing Director. While doing wonders for a company s brand or product, the BTCC also offers sponsors such as Redstone money-can t-buy experiences at its events. The feedback from teams and sponsors is always the same: no other motor sport arena in the UK provides such wonderful marketing possibilities as the BTCC. As well as bringing exposure to the Redstone brand, the events have been well received by clients and staff alike, enthuses Botha. The unique hospitality opportunities have been our way of saying thank you to our valued clients, allowing them to experience the excitement and pride Redstone staff feel when seeing our team on the track. Every aspect of the team s hospitality adds to the unique VIP experience from the informal venue, the welcoming staff, the grid walk and garage tour. Throughout the day the people you meet exude pride and team loyalty and draw guests in as avid fans. Teams work closely with their sponsors to ensure the full potential of their involvement in the series is maximised. Whether the sponsor is a blue-chip company from the motor industry or a familiar high-street brand, the BTCC provides a broad spectrum of opportunities. The media value generated in the UK and beyond is the main attraction and research has revealed that the worth of the TV coverage alone is at least three times greater than normal TV advertising. What s more in 2011 the BTCC started providing team sponsors with an even greater branding proposition when it became the first UK race series to move the traditional racing number plate from the car s front door. By switching numbers to the side window, sponsors were given an even bigger canvas. Wrigley via its now familiar Airwaves brand is one of the forward-thinking companies to have taken advantage of this opportunity. It s fair to say our car looks amazing on TV, and who else can offer you a chance to put your brand on each side of the car and have it race around some of the best racing circuits in the world in front of thousands of the most passionate followers of motorsport, says Simon Knight, Field Sales Director. The Airwaves brand is all about kicking up a gear and partnering with the Motorbase team within the BTCC allows us to place our brand in front of new and existing consumers, talking to them about the benefits of the Airwaves brand. There s far more to Wrigley s involvement than simply sticking decals on a racing car, however. It leverages its activities to a far wider audience right across the country, as Knight explains. One piece of activity that worked very well for us was partnering with one of our important customers, BP, whereby we ran a competition giving BP/ Airwaves customers the chance to win tickets to one of the race weekends. Again helping us drive great visibility of our brand on the forecourt and in store on the counter.

16 2012 Dunlop MSA British Pirtek is the market leader in the on-site hose replacement market and has just extended its title sponsorship of the Eurotech team for a further two seasons. And for good reason, too, as Marketing Manager Tammie Argent explains. Before we committed we looked seriously at all aspects of what we do, she reports. We went to all of our franchises for feedback and put forward options for other sports as well. But as far as coverage, brand recognition, exposure and access to the team, there was nothing else that came close to BTCC and for the budgets required. BTCC sponsorship also helps to highlight Pirtek s position as the UK s fastest emergency hose-replacement supplier. Equally importantly perhaps, all these sponsors can interact face-to-face with the general public, who are hugely passionate about drivers, teams, competing marques and, crucially, those brands actively involved in the series. Another major appeal is that race events provide an easy-toimplement opportunity for data collection. There is a myriad of commercial opportunities away from the race track, too. Many of the competing manufacturers enhance their highly visible involvement in the UK s premier championship by taking live BTCC shows into dealerships, using their drivers and fully-liveried show cars to attract target audiences into showrooms. Show cars are also a huge draw at exhibitions and other such promotional functions. We use the Pirtek BTCC car at exhibitions such as Scot Plant, an event which attracts thousands annually it provides a massive focal point to draw people in, says Argent. People are always excited that there s a British Touring Car there and we also invite along the drivers and team principal Mike Jordan. The exhibitions we attend aren t probably the likeliest of places to find a racing car so it s a real crowd puller. Our centres also have used the racing to draw in customers and offer ticket competitions and giveaways. With such a successful track record when it comes to delivering results, few proactive brands can ignore the power of highly attractive propositions offered by the BTCC s profile and pole position pedigree.

17 Hospitality The best seats in the house The high-profile, high-drama, big-crowd backdrop makes the BTCC the perfect platform and environment for teams and sponsors to entertain guests. So it s no surprise that a wealth of farreaching corporate activities are available catering for all tastes and budgets. Moreover, with so many key decision makers maximising the BTCC s enormous potential, there are plenty of networking and business-to-business opportunities to explore. It s also the perfect environment for companies to strengthen business ties with existing partners and generate higher morale among staff. The BTCC s pedigree and huge terrestrial TV coverage means it enjoys an enviable status among the UK s elite sports. This elevated standing gives each BTCC meeting a real prominence and true sense of occasion, enabling hosts to take the wining and dining of VIP guests to new levels. Furthermore, the BTCC is able to provide its teams and commercial partners with an opportunity to invite guests from across the UK, thanks to a careful selection of venues that sees the series headlining at circuits the length and breadth of Britain. While some race meetings are staged at internationally renowned racing circuits such as Brands Hatch, Silverstone and Donington Park, others take place at smaller, lesser-known but equally important circuits such as Croft in the North- East and Knockhill in Scotland. Wherever the location, however, there s always a real buzz and bigevent atmosphere when the BTCC bandwagon rolls into town. The BTCC at Knockhill never fails to impress and 2011 was no exception, confirms Derek Butcher, Chief Executive of Knockhill Circuit. With a record number of cars on the grid, a quality support package including two local classes, the racing, atmosphere and feedback from race fans was the best in years. We are delighted that the teams and drivers love the unique challenges of Knockhill so much. With its famous twists, turns and blind corners, it always provides spectacularly close racing is the 20th anniversary of Touring Cars at Knockhill and we are all looking forward to celebrating this milestone in style! Inevitably, local amenities vary enormously at these different venues. Some provide permanent hospitality suites that can be rented on a race-by-race basis, providing businesses with the perfect opportunity to entertain clients and reward employees in purposebuilt surroundings. Typically, major manufacturers such as Porsche, Chevrolet and Honda and bigname sponsors prefer to welcome guests into their own strongly branded bespoke structures and dedicated hospitality units. Furthermore, live television feeds ensure that nobody misses any of the bumper-to-bumper thrills on the race track. These hospitality villages often situated right at the heart of the action provide VIPs with the best possible seats in the house, adding to their race-day experience. Moreover, the busy BTCC timetable is specifically organised to allow drivers and key team management time to make personal appearances during the day s racing, providing an extra dimension and insight to these important corporate activities. Whatever your particular requirements, the high-flying BTCC offers organisations of all sizes unrivalled opportunities, as well as the very real promise of an exhilarating taste of life in the fast lane.

18 People like good-value entertainment and that s where the BTCC beats everything else hands down by providing great racing. The series appeals to everybody, from your hardcore motor sport fans to people who simply want a fun family activity. Derek Butcher Chief Executive, Knockhill Racing Circuit Spectator Appeal Fan-tastic days 32 The BTCC is firmly established not only as Britain s most popular form of motor racing but also as one of the UK s top sporting attractions, with crowds rivaling those at Premiership soccer matches. Trackside attendances increased in 2011, with around 13 per cent more people attending BTCC race meetings all over the country. This significant rise continues to underline the public s ongoing love affair with the BTCC. The secret to the BTCC s enduring success is simple: unrivalled entertainment at affordable prices. Most of all, the BTCC is a fastmoving show designed to compete against theme parks and shopping centres just as much as other sports for the public s leisure time at increasingly busy weekends. Fast and friendly best describes the intoxicating race-day atmosphere the BTCC is rare among other major sports in encouraging interaction between the public and the stars of the show. An open paddock policy at circuits plus officially organised driver autograph sessions in the pit lane mean the fans can easily rub shoulders and grab a word or photo with their heroes. The BTCC grid, though, is no stranger to famous faces and even BBC Top Gear s mysterious Stig has raced in the series. Fresh from revealing himself as infamous The Stig, Ben Collins joined the Motorbase team to race in the 2010 season finale at Brands Hatch in front of a record crowd of 42,000 spectators. 33 Each race meeting is widely publicised in advance with both national and local focused marketing and PR campaigns organised by the host circuit and the dedicated BTCC media office. Regional TV and radio advertising, targeted leaflet drops, high-profile competitions in high-circulation print media and other promotional and PR activities and stunts including in 2011 a head-to-head race between a touring car and a 200mph ice-cream van all combine to spread the awareness to an audience well beyond the specialist press. And that s what is at the heart of this championship s appeal. In 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours and threetimes grand prix winner Johnny Herbert was a regular, following in the wheel tracks of the likes of Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Damon Hill, David Coulthard and Nigel Mansell in becoming the latest big name from Formula 1 to join the touring car success story. Certainly, the BTCC provides almost unrivalled value-for-money public entertainment, particularly for families. Race day admission for children up to 16 is free at most venues whilst adult tickets can be pre-ordered for as little as 23.

19 As far as coverage, brand recognition, exposure and access to the team, there is nothing else that comes close to BTCC. Tammie Argent Marketing Manager, Pirtek The phrase when the BTCC rolls into town really has taken on a whole new meaning as well. Conurbations such as Milton Keynes, Newcastle and Edinburgh have all hosted major city centre shows in recent years. In the Scottish capital road closures enabled the drivers and teams to demonstrate their race cars at full speed right by the city s iconic castle en route for the series annual visit to the Knockhill circuit in Fife. Such high-profile displays are free for the public and a marketing dream for teams and their sponsors. Thanks to the BTCC s unrivalled attention to detail, planning expertise and promotional skills, each of these unique and spectacular events has drawn mammoth levels of interest from the public and media alike Edinburgh s city council estimated that some 18,000 people, all of them potentially new fans, lined Johnston Terrace to see the BTCC s stars in action. And the BTCC is already a long way down the path of encouraging its next generation of fans thanks to a proactive schools programme, which invites a local class or youth group into the paddock on Friday afternoons for a VIP tour of the pit lane. The youngsters are shown around the cars some are even selected to sit in the driver s seat and also meet key team members plus the star drivers for autographs, Q&A sessions and photos. It s a programme that in 2012 will enter its ninth year and which, since its inception in 2004, has provided some 2250 primary and secondaryaged youngsters with arguably their most inspiring and motivating day out of their school years. The personalities, the variety, the action-packed racing and the accessibility are why the BTCC is so appealing for fans, confirms BTCC newcomer Frank Wrathall. The interaction with the public is on a whole different level to any other series and the support I ve received has been overwhelming. It makes competing in the BTCC a huge buzz! Elsewhere, the championship s status also attracts high-profile celebrities from both motor sport and other entertainment fields. Celebrity faces are regularly spotted at BTCC meetings. Those spied in the paddock and on the grid in 2011 included former England and Arsenal footballer Paul Merson, Holby City and Casualty actress Amanda Mealing, celebrity TV chef James Martin, glamour model Lucy Pinder, world champion gymnast Beth Tweddle, Welsh rugby ace Andy Powell, Olympic gold medal winner Ed Clancy and fellow top international cyclist Alex Dowsett, as well as a raft of motor racing stars including former F1 world champions Lewis Hamilton, Damon Hill and Jody Scheckter. In addition, race-goers can take advantage of giveaway offers from teams and sponsors, reinforcing the exhilarating family atmosphere. During the BTCC s Pit Lane Walkabout sessions when the public, including children, are invited to meet the drivers for autographs and photos a staggering amount of team merchandise and sponsor-related products ranging from caps, pens and posters to stickers and autographs cards are handed out. Indeed, some teams have turned the exercise into a fine art, using the sessions to run successful product competitions and promotions for their commercial partners. In short, it s an open goal for teams to ensure it is their sponsor s colours that paint the spectator banks and grandstands and go home with the fans. No matter the size of the team, whether one of the established outfits or a smaller one-car newcomer, all know the BTCC is a golden opportunity to interact with and win over one of the world s most excitable and enthusiastic motor sport audiences. No surprise, then, that spectator loyalty has always been one of the BTCC s major strengths a fact proven by exit polls conducted by independent survey specialists. Remarkably, 95 per cent of those interviewed said they would attend again, and more than 85 per cent indicated they would recommend BTCC race events to their friends. Survey data also confirmed far above average levels of sponsorship recall, with the majority of people interviewed expressing loyalty to products promoted via the championship. An unwavering commitment by the championship to a coordinated programme of pre-event promotion in conjunction with each circuit means the BTCC s popularity is sure to continue spiraling to new heights.

20 2012 Dunlop MSA British 2011 BTCC Global Television Coverage Country Network Transmissions Homes Asia ESPN & Star Sports 2 448,390,147 Australia Network ,800,000 Hong Kong icable 2 TBC Italy Telenova 2 2,000,000 Latin America Speed 2 2,000,000 Poland SportKlub+ 2 2,500,000 Portugal Sport TV 2 670,000 South Africa Supersport 2 2,220,000 USA/Canada Speed ,000, minute international highlight programmes from all 10 BTCC rounds each screened twice by all broadcasters Cumulative Global Household Reach billion billion billion 493,580,147 Global household reach receiving BTCC 47-minute highlight programmes m Close to half a billion households around the globe receive the full post-produced highlights package; a further half a billion plus households can view the BTCC via motorsport magazine programmes such as MAX Power, Motorsport Mundial and Planet Speed Planet Speed (23 minutes) Country Network Transmissions Homes Australia ESPN 3 4,314,570 Bangladesh ESPN India 5 234,336 Brazil ESPN 3 4,635,638 Brunei ESPN Asia 7 26,155 Cambodia SPN Asia 7 3,206 Canada TSN 7 8,700,000 Caribbean ESPN 3 697,041 China ESPN Asia 7 87,637,000 Guam ESPN Asia 7 56,253 Hong Kong ESPN Asia 7 411,633 India ESPN India 5 23,300,000 Indonesia ESPN Asia 7 186,421 Israel ESPN 3 1,950,412 Japan ESPN Sports 1 3 4,696,510 Korea ESPN Asia 3 12,100,824 Laos ESPN Asia 7 1,760,000 Latin America ESPN 3 21,463,000 Macau ESPN Asia 7 4,875 Malaysia ESPN Asia 7 1,457,306 Maldives ESPN 3 10,000** Mexico ESPN 3 4,971,683 Middle East ESPN 3 709,800 Pan Asia ESPN 3 10,140,000** Mongolia ESPN Asia 7 88,365** Myanmar ESPN Asia 7 1,920,000 Nepal ESPN India 5 50,000 New Caledonia ESPN Asia 7 6,727 New Zealand ESPN/Sky Sports 3 542,900 Oceania ESPN 3 13,520,000** Pakistan ESPN India 5 1,300,000 Papua New Guinea ESPN Asia 7 7,295 Philippines ESPN Philippines 4 944,984 Singapore ESPN Asia 7 295,377 South America* ESPN 3 8,607,079 South Korea ESPN MBC 4 4,513,500 Southern Africa ESPN ,650 Sri Lanka ESPN 3 21,350** Taiwan ESPN Taiwan 3 5,785,000 Thailand ESPN Asia 7 514,110 UK & Eire ESPN UK 7 1,000,000 Vietnam ESPN Asia 7 8,045 (* Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) ( Official channel numbers unless marked with ** when estimates) 10.9 billion+ Cumulative annual global households TV reach MAX Power (52 minutes) Country Network Transmissions Homes Bangladesh Star Sports India 3 234,036 Brunei Star Sports SEA 2 26,155 Cambodia Star Sports SEA 2 3,206 China Star Sports Asia 4 19,777,100 Hong Kong Star Sports SEA 2 411,633 India Star Sports India 3 23,300,000 Indonesia Star Sports SEA/Asia 6 1,070,582 Korea Star Sports SEA 2 4,403,450 Laos Star Sports SEA 2 1,760,000** Macau Star Sports SEA 2 6,700 Malaysia Star Sports SEA 2 1,442,617 Maldives Star Sports 3 10,000** Pan Asia Star Sports 3 68,353,000** Mongolia Star Sports Asia 4 88,365** Myanmar Sky Sports SEA 2 1,920,000 Nepal Sky Sports India 3 50,000 New Caledonia Sky Sports SEA 2 6,727** Pakistan Sky Sports India 3 1,300,000 Papua New Guinea Star Sports Asia 4 6,910 Philippines Sky Sports SEA 2 944,984 Poland SportKlub+ 2 2,700,000 Qatar Al Dawri & Al Kass 2 357,144 Romania Telesport 2 500,000 Saudi Arabia KSA 2 870,000 Singapore Sky Sports SEA 2 295,377 South Korea Star Sports Asia 4 4,513,500 Sri Lanka Sky Sports 3 624,400** Taiwan Sky Sports Taiwan 4 5,785,000 Thailand Sky Sports SEA 2 379,849 UK & Eire Sky Sports 5 9,000,000 Russia Drive TV 5 2,000,000 Vietnam Sky Sports SEA 2 10,000 Uruguay Channel ,500 Motorsport Mundial (23 minutes) Country Network Transmissions Homes Africa* Zuku 5 12,000 Asia (incl. India) TEN Sports 2 90,000,000 Australia Speed 3 1,000,000 Canada TVA/MEN TV 4 1,000,000 Middle East Al Jazeera 2 25,000,000 New Zealand TVNZ ,000 Qatar Al Dawri/Al Kass Sport 3 357,144 Russia Auto Plus 3 500,000 Singapore Starhub 2 530,000 Thailand UBC 3 15,400,000 UK & Eire BT Vision 1 500,000 UK & Eire Channel ,500,000 USA Speed ,000,000 (* Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia) 19.4 million Total number of UK TV viewers in 2011 Total UK TV Audience* m m m m m m m Live BTCC coverage on ITV4 and ITV4 HD grew by more than 35 per cent in 2011 * Cumulative audience number/hours weighted according to programme duration hours, which reflects sustained viewing of more than three minutes UK TV Airtime hours hours hours hours hours hours hours ITV4 and ITV4 HD provided more than six hours of live coverage from all ten BTCC race meetings with postproduced highlights screened on both ITV1, ITV4 and ITV4 HD All TV data sourced from IFM Sports Marketing Surveys Ltd 128 hours Total number of hours of ITV coverage in 2011 UK radio coverage in Stations 55 Hours Cumulative estimated listeners 5 4 Million

21 2012 Dunlop MSA British 30 cars on the grid 2012 Dunlop MSA British Trackside Attendance Manufacturers represented on the grid Total 2011 trackside audience* 366,000+ * Total cumulative three-day attendance at all ten BTCC meetings Dennis Publishing Figures Title 200, , , , , , , , Website Trackside spectator numbers grew for the seventh consecutive year in Totals are cumulative threeday attendance at all ten BTCC meetings NGTC rules have seen new racers representing Audi, Proton and Toyota BTCC Facebook BTCC Twitter 44,900 per month ,000 per month ,500 per month ,300 per month ,100 per month ,100 per month ,000 per month ,000 per month November 2010 nil 1,200 January ,600 February ,500 March ,600 April ,400 May ,100 June ,000 July ,200 August ,000 September ,500 Unique Visitors October ,600 December ,000 The BTCC s dedicated website btcc.net has witnessed an everincreasing number of unique visitors. In April 2011 the figure topped 140,000 28,840 Registered Fans The number of fans registering with btcc.net has continued to grow year-on-year. Fans receive regular newsletters and have access to exclusive website content 10,600 Likes As part of its Social Media campaign, the BTCC launched its own Facebook site in 2011 more than 10,000 fans are now like followers 1,499, ,216 Spectator Survey March 2010 Unique monthly visitors autoexpress.co.uk evo.co.uk The introduction of new cost-cutting NGTC regulations resulted in an unprecedented 30 cars lining up on the grid for the 2011 season finale ,424 / 209,000 61,417 / 213,000 Auto Express Evo Magazine circulation / ABC readership nil 1,000 October ,500 April ,220 October ,400 April ,900 Tweets 7,400 Followers Launched at the start of the 2010 season, the BTCC s official Twitter site has continued to gain thousands of new followers in 2011 Male Female Under or over Average number of events attended in Percentage who have bought merchandise 42% 30% 39% 41% Weather Good day out Food & Drink 43% 20% 11% 9% 8% Racing Atmosphere Weather Good day out Food & Drink 33% 17% 13% 10% 7% Racing Atmosphere Weather Good day out Food & Drink 46% 19% 11% 10% 5% Racing Atmosphere Weather Good day out Food & Drink 35% 18% 14% 11% 10% Five aspects the public disliked Nothing Crowds/queues Travelling Quality of food Toilet queues 44% 10% 10% 6% 6% Nothing Crowds/queues Travelling Quality of food Toilet queues 40% 17% 13% 7% 3% Nothing Crowds/queues Travelling Quality of food Toilet queues 43% 12% 10% 7% 6% Nothing Crowds/queues Travelling Quality of food Toilet queues 44% 12% 12% 9% 4% Social class AB C1 C2 DE 35% 47% 13% 5% AB C1 C2 DE 21% 59% 3% 17% AB C1 C2 DE 20% 54% 17% 9% AB C1 C2 DE 47% 43% 4% 6% Top five aspects enjoyed Racing Atmosphere most during the day Personal income under 15,000 15,000-19,999 20,000-24,999 25,000-29,999 30,000-34,999 35,000-44,999 45,000-54,999 55,000-64,999 65,000 or over 3% 5% 6% 19% 14% 18% 13% 8% 14% 4% 7% 15% 15% 11% 22% 11% 4% 11% 4% 9% 9% 22% 9% 19% 11% 6% 11% 1% 4% 5% 13% 16% 18% 15% 10% 18% Top three other sports watched on TV Formula 1 Football Athletics 74% 67% 26% Tennis Formula 1 Football 48% 36% 32% Formula 1 Football Athletics 71% 63% 23% Formula 1 Football Cricket 74% 74% 74% Top three national papers read The Sun Daily Mail Telegraph 25% 19% 10% Daily Mail The Times Express 29% 13% 10% The Sun Daily Mail Express 29% 15% 9% Daily Mail Telegraph The Sun 28% 18% 8% Research carried out by Sports Marketing Surveys 39

22 Support Races That s entertainment The high-profile travelling BTCC showcase provides a full weekend of virtually non-stop on-track entertainment. Each of the ten race events features not only three bill-topping touring car showdowns, but also the very best of UK single-seater, saloon and sportscar racing. The packed twoday programme includes up to 14 races, guaranteeing fans a feast of top-class motor racing action. There are five specially selected championships on the regular BTCC supporting bill, each one adding variety and further thrills. World titlewinning Formula 1 manufacturer Renault and legendary supercar maker Porsche provide three of those championships, while the other two come from flourishing British sportscar marque Ginetta. All five series are fully manufacturersupported, ensuring that levels of professionalism and excitement for crowds are unrivalled by any other motor sport experience in the UK. Few companies come close to matching the illustrious motor sport pedigree of Porsche. With a record number of Le Mans 24 Hours victories behind it, the German sportscar brand nowadays concentrates on its Carrera Cup series in key global markets. In the UK, only the BTCC offers Porsche a big enough arena to captivate the audience it desires. The championship is exclusively for racing versions of Porsche s 180mph 997 model. Big grids of the mouthwatering German dream machines handled by top-line drivers many with international touring car, GT and single-seater experience make for a sensational sight and sound. The cracking series moved up yet another gear in 2011 with the arrival of the latest-model 911GT3 Cup racer as used in the international Porsche Supercup, which features alongside many grands prix. Porsche GB also supports its Carrera Cup with a towering state-of-theart hospitality suite, which forms an integral part of its high-profile marketing programme. Being a key part of the BTCC package is the ideal platform for Porsche s UK motorsport programme, confirms Marion Barnaby, Porsche GB Motorsport Manager. Renaultsport runs two championships: its Formula Renault single-seater category and the thrill-a-minute, singlemodel Clio Cup. Combined, the championships roots in the UK stretch back more than 50 years. Formula Renault has supported the BTCC since The cars are identical 2-litre, carbon-fibre machines that boast an authentic F1 look and feel, including a sevenspeed gearbox. Unsurprisingly, its grids are full of aspiring F1 racers. In recent years the championship has produced some great names, most notably 2008 and 2007 F1 world champions Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen, who were Formula Renault title winners in 2003 and 2000 respectively. The Clio Cup is the latest in a successful line of showroom model championships run by Renault UK that dates back to the early Seventies, when leaning 5TLs and TSs wowed the crowds with big grids and crazy antics. The Clio Cup has carried on that tradition with teams and drivers many with BTCC ambitions eager to get their hands on the costeffective, identical racing versions of Renault s potent 210bhp Clio 200 model. It s the perfect proving ground for young tin-top drivers and many of today s touring car stars, including Mat Jackson, Andrew Jordan and Tom Onslow-Cole all BTCC race winners earned their spurs in Clios. The BTCC is the UK s largestattended motor sport championship, by far making it the logical arena for a major motor manufacturer to showcase its technologies and sporting image, says Lisa Crampton, General Manager of SRO UK, promoter of both Renault series. The huge trackside crowds and high-quality live free-to-air television coverage enable competitors in the Clio Cup and Formula Renault UK championships to attract long-term sponsors, which ultimately gives them a springboard into the upper echelons of motor sport. Indeed, drivers who forged their reputations in the Clio Cup now star in the BTCC and, in the past decade, the BTCC crowds and TV viewers have seen a number of names from Formula Renault go on to reach the very top in Formula 1.

23 The BTCC package is the perfect place for the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. It delivers on every front: huge crowds, unrivalled TV, great atmosphere and a real buzz around the events. Being a key part of the BTCC package is the ideal platform for Porsche s UK motorsport programme. Marion Barnaby Porsche GB MOTORSPORT Manager 42 Ginetta is very much the new kid on the block quite literally. Its Junior championship, for drivers aged 14 to 17, has been a major hit since it joined the BTCC family in 2008, providing plenty of drama as the youngsters battle it out for early supremacy. Adding to its appeal, the series has attracted young hotshots of both sexes and hit the headlines in 2009 when Sarah Moore won the title to become the first female racer in many decades to win a major UK motor sport crown. In 2010, the company introduced a new, more stylish, five-speed 1.8-litre G40 model, which quickly won favour with both competitors and spectators. The enthusiastic Yorkshire-based manufacturer s presence on BTCC race weekends doubles up with the more powerful, newly created Ginetta GT Supercup. The racing in this dual-class series is fast, furious and unpredictable as the drivers many with reputations to uphold fight to tame the spectacular, newfor-2011 G55 and the older G50 coupes. The series also featured pitstop races not seen on the TOCA package since the BTCC dropped tyre changes in 2003 for the first time in 2011 to add extra spice and unpredictability to the racing has been another great year for Ginetta as part of the BTCC package, reports Lawrence Tomlinson, Chairman of Ginetta. We ve kept it fresh by introducing new cars and different formats, but a key benefit has been the crowd and support. Ginetta is all about developing young talent and we have enjoyed an unprecedented response to 2011 s close racing. The exposure drivers and teams gain on the BTCC s support package is second to none and, with the advent of social media, racing is becoming more accessible than ever before. All five championships not only deliver the best possible entertainment for trackside BTCC fans, but also enjoy hitherto unprecedented levels of television exposure thanks to the live ITV4 and ITV4 HD coverage from each event. Added to the live Sunday airtime, a post-produced highlights support race programme, Motorsport UK, is screened later on both ITV1 and ITV4 platforms, reaching a total audience of between 300,000 and 500,000. Whichever way you look, it s a winwin scenario for all involved. 43 The new 3.7-litre, 370bhp V6- powered G55 will continue to race alongside its predecessor, the G50, in 2012 the G50 the ideal proving ground for young drivers stepping up into the championship for the first time, often from Ginetta s Junior series.

24 TOCA A winning team 44 The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is widely recognised as a world leader. Under the leadership of Series Director Alan Gow, TOCA was formed to take over the running of the BTCC in 1992 and 20 years later it s continuing to set new standards for sports marketing, promotion and administration of motor sport in Great Britain. With this proven track record, the highly respected TOCA team has the experience and ability to deliver on all fronts. The organisational structure includes experts in a wide range of different specialist disciplines, each and every one of them totally dedicated to the overall success of the BTCC. Alan Gow Administrator & Series Director Dennis Carter Race Director Bob Kettleboro Race Director Peter Riches Technical Director Dan Mayo Championship Co-Ordinator Carl McKellar Media Officer Dr Paul Trafford Medical Director The Willows Low Common Deopham, Norfolk NR18 9DZ 17 White House Grove Elvington, York Y041 4AL MPA Creative High Barn Effingham, Surrey KT24 5PR Dr Paul Trafford 7 Victoria Circus Dowanhill, Glasgow G12 9LB Telephone +44 (0) Facsimile +44 (0) Mobile +44 (0) richesst@aol.com Telephone +44 (0) Mobile +44 (0) danjmayo@aol.com Telephone +44 (0) Mobile +44 (0) carl.mckellar@ mpacreative.com Facsimile +44 (0) Mobile +44 (0) paul@doctraff.co.uk BARC (TOCA) LTD Thruxton Circuit, Andover, Hampshire SP11 8PN Telephone +44 (0) Facsimile +44 (0) Credits MPA Creative Ltd, Hutton Creative Ltd, Marcus Simmons, Jakob Ebrey Photography, PPG Design & Print Ltd