Gow On 2011 Prospect
British Touring Car Championship Series Director Alan Gow quashed any worries about the NGTC Turbo charged cars in relation to the current S2000 normally aspired cars at a press conference this morning.
Gow on… The NGTC vs S2000 cars
Speaking at the Silverstone circuit on the BTCC Media day Gow said, “The NGTC car is introduced this year. It debuted at Brands Hatch last year and this will be the first year the car has been competing.
“For the next two years there will be an equivalency of performance between the turbo charged cars and the normally aspirated S2000 cars. And in 2013 onward the new cars step up a level in performance, but for the next two years there is equivalency in performance.”
“The basis of the new regulations is we wanted to make the cars look bigger than they are at the moment, a bit beefier. They will have better performance over the current cars or greater performance than the current cars eventually as I said after 2013. They look the business, they sound the business, they’ve got better breaks better suspension everything else. They’re a proper car to drive.”
When asked about how they will know how to keep the power equal Gow quipped, “I just guess most of the time.”
“It’s not that difficult to be honest. If I remember back into the 90’s there was a year when we had to try and work out the equivalency between front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, four wheel drive and the 6 cylinder and 4 cylinder, that was complicated. Just to do the equivalency between two different types of engines, it’s pretty simple.”
Gow on…The 2011 season
“It’s another great turn out and the weather has been fantastic for us so, I think they say the sun only shines on the righteous so we’ve done pretty well.”
“We’ve obviously got a bigger entry number but also a greater diversity of cars. 10 different makes 13 different models and 27 cars on the entry, it’s a fantastic entry list and the biggest we’ve had for 20 years.”
Gow on…Dunlop
“Dunlop has been a fantastic partner of this championship for many years and this is the start of another three year deal with them. They’re a fantastic company for us to be involved with and a fantastic partner for the teams to work with. They’re enthusiastic and incredibly supportive and probably the best sponsor I’ve ever worked with. I thank them for coming on board and providing that stability to the BTCC championship.”
Gow on…Manufactures and Privateers’
“It’s a great mix and the mix you want. As I’ve said before it’s dangerous to have a series dominated by manufactures, will not dominated but entirely populated by them. It’s the right mix to have some manufactures in there; some semi works teams and very strong privateers’. You’ve seen that over the past few years and look at the racing that has resulted from that. Long may it continue, I’ve think we’ve got the mix pretty much perfect.”
Gow on…ITV
“We’ve entered a new three year contract with ITV, so we’re all day live on ITV 4 we have been for the last couple of years. We’re also live on ITV 4 HD, which is for some of the drivers the way they look. We’re also live on ITV’s website with live streaming of Qualifying from Saturday too so ITV’s coverage of our championship expands every year and it’s a phenomenal amount of overage we receive and something we are very proud of and other race championships are pig sick about! Its one of the reasons why we’re very successful.
“We have great TV coverage, but again ITV wouldn’t be covering us if it wasn’t worth it.”
Mike Trusler
