just been on BTCC website and it doenst list Silverstone as one of the circuits they go to. Is this right? and if so, why?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/55950

Should provide answers. Or rather more questions.

Money then...

Pretty much yes.

Either BTCC were asking for too much, or something else - whatever the reason, it caused Peterborough MC's meeting at Silverstone to be cancelled due to Silverstone clearing the date for BTCC, then never re-filling it with anyhing.

Yet another reason why I belive all series should pay their own way, wherever.

For as long as they use the national (?) track rather than international track (?), I'm not bothered. The track they have used for the last few years is crap.

the one with abbey curve as a hairpin is best for btcc. Which ever that is...

I'm with you on that one Morph. It always produces close racing in all series and seems to suit the BTCC cars perfectly

But if that were the case, couldn't the circuits simply hold the series to ransom in the same way that some series do to circuits these days? Or is it simply a case of the lesser of two evils?

That's an interesting point. But if a circuit has to pay too much, they can back out of it. Plus, the track can recoup money from ticket sales, merchandise sales, car parking, sponsorship and so on...a series makes money only by sponsorship? I see no reason why circuits SHOULDN'T have to pay to host the race. They have the choice as to whether to pay or not.

For F1, at least, the only source of income available to the circuits hosting the GP is ticket sales. All other areas - sponsorship, merchandising, etc. - are firmly the domain of FOM. So in that sense I can see that circuits pay a disproportionate amount for the kind of income they get from an F1 race - and that drives up ticket costs for the fans - but I'm unconvinced as to whether the situation would be any better if Bernie had to pay the circuits to hold a race.

Actually, I've heard a rumour that says that the F1 circuits DON'T keep the ticket sales...

If that rumour is true, and I have a suspicion that it is, then the circuits have precious little chance of getting any revenue from a grand prix at all - and thusly can't afford to do any major upgrades. Being paid for what is after all, the supply of a service would make a hell of a lot of difference.

Back to BTCC - for a starter, the circuits there DO keep the ticket sales, and it doesn't cost £12M per race. So prehaps the circuits are keen to pay up to get BTCC to visit so they can profit by keeping the ticket sales. British F3/GTs is the same.

Consider both parts of that and the fact that Silverstone was left off this year...

Well if that is the case for Silverstone and they can't afford to make changes, then they are off the calendar. Pretty simple, eh?

They can't afford to make changes and host F1. Sounds fair?

And by the sounds of it, they can't even afford to host F1 and BTCC as well - and that's not on.

Silverstone National is better for BTCC.

Be good to have both Rockingham and Silverstone on the calender.

That would be interesting. And a different circuit to prevent tracks having to double up.

Mondello Park.

Ah, now we are talking!

So what is everyones preferred BTCC calendar?

I thought you didn't care about the BTCC...

I don't like the 3 races per weekend system, I'd rather see it go back to something like that of the mid-90s. Something like 13 race weekends, double up on the more popular tracks.

Mondello Park I don't miss because I think it is a dreadfully dull circuit, Silverstone National I don't miss for the same reason (what's wrong with the international circuit that used to be used?) and it's a shame that the Brands Hatch GP circuit is rarely used any more.

The Silverstone National circuit is only good for certain series - just like certain series only work on the GP Loop. The issue with the Brands GP loop is the noise and they can only use it for a certain number of races per year - and when I last discussed it with someone there they were all used up. I think they use it for some bike meetings, A1GP, F3/GT and a couple of other meetings I can't remember.

I preferred this layout as well. It gave the series more in terms on proper racing. The sprint race was usually good, but then the feature race always provided great entertainment especially in the wet.

As for Mondello Park, the only reason I will miss it is because it was the only race held over here in Ireland. It wasn't a great track but maybe the BTCC will return one day even on a street circuit through Dublin or Belfast

I care about Motorsport - and specifically British motorsport.

I don't care about business.

Brands Hatch (Indy)
Snetterton
Silverstone (International)
Rockingham (Sportscar)
Croft
Knockhill
Mondello Park (international)
Anglesey (coastal)
Thruxton
Castle Combe
Donington Park (National)
Mallory Park.

Although Ideally, I'd have them at all the UK circuits - However that will never happen because ...

Pembrey - Not enough paddock space (yet)
Cadwell - Too dangerous!
Lydden - See Pembrey, also very short.
Goodwood - no permament racing licence

and in fact, the circuits I've chosen have problems...

Brands Hatch - A bit too short...
Snetterton - it's in Norfolk!!
Silverstone - Spectator viewing terrible.
Rockingham - Curbs eat cars alive
Croft - Long way north
Knockhill - even further and the weather's invariably terrible.
Mondello - needs a ferry to get to
Anglesey - possible issues with Paddock space, although I think they might manage.
Thruxton - zzzzzz
Castle Combe - the Neighbours will complain about the noise.
Donington Park - the pit lane will cause problems.
Mallory Park - a bit small...

<fu>

It's great for us carrot crunchers <thumbsup> and it's alway a good track to watch racing

What's wrong with Thruxton? It's unique, like none of the other tracks.

They're all unique - But Thruxton is just a big oval with a couple of chicanes on the end... very dull.

Untill someone gets it wrong at the final bit coming onto the straight. if they do - RUN AWAY!

The BTCC races are always good there.