NEWS FROM THE AUTO TRADER      
RAC TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP      
30/6/96    
 
TOCA Ltd, organiser of the Auto Trader RAC Touring Car 
Championship, has announced next year's calendar for the country's 
premier motor sport series. It will feature 26 races at 13 meetings 
between March and September, including the blue riband British 
Grand Prix meeting at Silverstone in July. 
 
The championship -- which enters a new era in 1997 as the main 
focus of the BBC's motor sport television coverage -- will also for the 
first time visit the soon-to-be-redeveloped Croft circuit near 
Darlington in north-east England, and will feature a season-opening 
race on the little-used Donington Park Short circuit. 
 
TOCA also announces that the BTCC will once again be supported 
by race series from Ford, Renault and Vauxhall. The three most 
active manufacturers in British motor sport have signed a new three-
year deal which guarantees their premier single-seater, sports car and 
one-make saloon car championships will be staged as part of the 
high-profile BTCC programme until 2000. 
 
Alan Gow, TOCA's Chief Executive, said: 'Ford, Renault and 
Vauxhall have all played crucial roles in assisting TOCA to re-
establish motor racing as one of this country's top sporting 
attractions. I'm absolutely delighted that all three of these prominent 
manufacturers have made long-term commitments to extend their 
support.' 
 
As well as the twin televised BTCC races, each of the TOCA-
organised race meetings will feature seven support-race 
championships: two each from Ford, Renault and Vauxhall -- the 
final details of these are still in negotiation though both Ford and 
Vauxhall are planning exciting new series for 1997 -- plus the 
nostalgic Classic Touring Car Championship. 
 
Commenting on the adoption of the Croft circuit by the 
championship, Gow said: 'It's in a very important geographical area 
which currently is devoid of top-class motor sport. We have made 
several visits to the venue, and provided the owners upgrade and 
revitalise the facility as planned it will host a BTCC meeting in 1997 
and become a regular fixture on the calendar.' 
 
1997 Auto Trader RAC Touring Car Championship calendar 
Mar 30/31   Donington Park (Short circuit) 
Apr 19/20   Silverstone (International circuit) 
May 4/5      Thruxton 
May 17/18   Brands Hatch (Indy circuit) 
May 25/26   Oulton Park (Long circuit) 
Jun 14/15    Donington Park (Grand Prix circuit) 
Jun 28/29    Croft 
Jul 11-13     Silverstone -- British Grand Prix 
Jul 25-27     Knockhill 
Aug 9/10     Snetterton 
Aug 23-25   Thruxton 
Sep 6/7        Brands Hatch 
Sep 20/21    Silverstone (International circuit) 
 
Oct 18/19    Donington Park Tourist Trophy (non-championship) 
 
-- 
Official BTCC website:
Best in British Motor Sport
http://www.demon.co.uk/racing