Latest PowerTour Press Release

[Francesca]

This sounds great but where does it leave the National Saloon Championship?

PowerTour 2001

A 13-round tour, a thrilling new race programme, two new tracks, an extended TV package and a night race are just some of the key details announced today (Friday 17 November) for the 2001 PowerTour British motorsport series.

The season will start and finish at Silverstone, coming to a dramatic conclusion with a night race event in late September. In between, PowerTour will visit all major UK venues and is set to make its debut at Knockhill (Fife) and Castle Combe (Wiltshire). For many teams and drivers in the British GT Championship, the Silverstone night race finale will be their first experience of racing after dark!

PowerTour events will feature the Green Flag British F3 and Privilege Insurance British GT Championships, supported by the TVR Tuscan Challenge, the Formula Ford Zetec Championship, the Porsche Cup and the Ford Fiesta Zetec Championship. With each event featuring a double-header for the F3s and a further guest race on the Sunday programme, the PowerTour show will now include eight races within a seven-hour show.

The calendar - The provisional tour dates for 2001 are:

1 Sunday 1 April Silverstone (International)
2 Sunday 15 April Donington Park (GP)
3 Sunday 29 April Snetterton
4 Monday 7 May Oulton Park (International)
5 Monday 28 May Croft
6 Sunday 10 June Knockhill*
7 Sunday 24 June Castle Combe*
8 Sunday 8 July Brands Hatch (GP)
9 Sunday 22 July Donington Park (GP)
10 Sunday 19 August tba
11 Sunday 2 September Thruxton
12 Sunday 16 September Brands Hatch (GP)
13 Saturday 29 September Silverstone (International) night race

Saturday 27 October Awards dinner

* venue subject to completion of works

PowerTour on Channel 4

Channel 4 has underlined its commitment to coverage of the PowerTour motorsport series with an increased programming schedule for 2001. Each PowerTour event will now enjoy two one-hour shows on C4, with programmes produced by MSC (Motor Sports Consortium).

PowerTour Show I will feature the popular 'F3 on 4' and 'GT on 4' programmes as part of an hour-long broadcast for mid-day on Saturdays. The British F3 and British GT Championships will each receive around 30 minutes of coverage, with increasing lifestyle features on teams, drivers and circuits, and will normally be screened within two weeks of the race. This show will also include a trailer for a new programme (PowerTour Show II) covering highlights from the permanent support races.

PowerTour Show II will be screened on a following weekday night and will concentrate on the main support race action, allowing approximately 15 minutes for each of the four championships. Both shows are likely to be repeated, giving the potential for more than 50 hours of PowerTour coverage on terrestrial TV next year.

Satellite TV coverage of PowerTour is also likely to increase next year, with details to be announced shortly.

Over the coming weeks, more details about PowerTour for 2001 will be announced. "We are developing a number of new initiatives for our fans," says Etcell. "More details will be confirmed as we start the build up the new season. Our commitment to introducing more people to motor racing and providing them with a first class show is as strong as ever."

-ends-

[ozywoodwards]

I think the NSC is being moved to the BTCC as a class B.

I agree with you, it does sound fantastic, and I have already penciled in Thruxton's and Castle Combe's dates in my diary. This sounds much better than anything the toca-tour will be able to offer, lets just hope BHL tracks keep admission charges lower next year.

[gomick]

formula ford running with formula 3 is a good idea

[Francesca]

How the hell am I going to manage going to all the F3 races and now BTCC/NSC as well - I better get a Saturday job so I can afford it!

[ozywoodwards]

Francesca's point above has got me thinking. Have BMP decided to keep the dates for the toca-tour and powertour on seperate weekends?

[Francesca]

Luckily most of them don't clash...but some of the dates appear to be on Mondays!!! Don't the BMP realise we have to go to work to be able to afford to go to the races....

F3 - Sunday 1 April - Silverstone
F3 - Sunday 15 April - Donington Park
BTCC - Sun/Mon 15/16 April - Brands Hatch
F3 - Sunday 29 April - Snetterton
BTCC - Sun/Mon 6/7 May - Thruxton
F3 - Monday 7 May - Oulton Park
BTCC - Sat/Sun 19/20 May - Oulton Park
F3 - Monday 28 May - Croft
BTCC - Sat/Sun 2/3 June - Donington Park
F3 - Sunday 10 June - Knockhill
BTCC - Sat/Sun 16/17 June - Knockhill
F3 - Sunday 24 June - Castle Combe*
BTCC - Sat/Sun 30 Jun/1 Jul - Silverstone
F3 - Sunday 8 July - Brands Hatch (GP)
BTCC - Sat/Sun 14/15 July - Mondello Park
F3 - Sunday 22 July - Donington Park
BTCC - Sat/Sun 28/29 July - Croft
BTCC - Sat 11 August - Snetterton (Night Race)
F3 - Sunday 19 August - tba
BTCC - Sun/Mon 26/27 August - Oulton Park
F3 - Sunday 2 September - Thruxton
BTCC - Sat/Sun 8/9 September - Silverstone
BTCC - Sat/Sun 15/16 September - Donington Park
F3 - Sunday 16 September - Brands Hatch
F3 - Saturday 29 September - Silverstone night race
BTCC - Sat/Sun 6/7 October - Brands Hatch

[redshoes]

Luckily most of them don't clash...but some of the dates appear to be on Mondays!!! Don't the BMP realise we have to go to work to be able to afford to go to the races....

The Monday dates are Bank Holidays.

The Silverstone BTCC night race was good this year. GT night racing sounds like even more fun.

Not happy about PowerTour getting the Fiestas. Just hope TOCA Tour can find something equally as good as a replacement.

The Easter Donington/Brands split is do-able so looks like just 2 clashes.

[Francesca]

Not everyone can have Bank Holidays off work though.

God April seems so far away!