Series organiser TOCA has today (26 May) confirmed its calendar for the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, a year that will also mark the 60th anniversary since the series' introduction. Such is the stability and proven success of the current format that this marks an unprecedented May announcement – the earliest that a BTCC calendar has ever been finalised for the following year.
 
The BTCC is firmly established as the UK’s flagship motor sport series and as a result, takes pride of place at the top of the billing at all of the country’s foremost circuits. The current highly successful run of ten events will continue into the diamond anniversary year, with Knockhill and Rockingham changing berths in the order of events – the latter now following a fortnight after the Snetterton weekend.
 
For its 30 races, the BTCC selects the most renowned circuits with the most exciting layouts and best facilities, spanning the length and breadth of Britain to ensure as many spectators as possible are afforded a special, enthralling trackside experience. Hundreds of thousands of fans experience the action first hand, ensuring the package is the UK's biggest most alluring motor racing offering. Each of the ten weekends on the calendar comprise three races of equal distance.

The 2018 campaign will get underway with the annual Season Launch event at Donington Park on 27 March. The race-season will then commence on 7/8 April on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit, moving on to Donington Park, Thruxton, Oulton Park and Croft. The traditional summer break resides between the North Yorkshire event and Snetterton, with Rockingham following the latter before the series heads north of the border to Knockhill in Scotland. Silverstone hosts the penultimate event, ahead of the season finale back in Kent on the legendary Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit.

ITV4 continues as the BTCC's long-term broadcast partner and it will continue to broadcast every race-day live, free-to-air and in high definition throughout 2018, with live streaming also available via the ITV Sport website and the ITV Hub app. Highlights programmes follow each event and are screened on ITV, ITV4 and on demand via the ITV Hub.

60 years of the BTCC

The British Touring Car Championship is one of the best-loved, most illustrious and famous motor racing championships in the world. Only Formula 1 and America’s NASCAR stock car series have longer histories. Since its inception in 1958 it has attracted and captivated millions of fans around the world.

Saloon car racing was a huge success from the very start, with the public packing into Britain’s motor sport venues to watch the top drivers of the day compete in racing versions of their road cars at simply unbelievable speeds.

Now, nearly 60 years on, that philosophy remains and the BTCC continues to provide one of the most addictive and action-packed motor sport attractions anywhere in the world.

2018 BTCC Calendar:

Rounds             Date                                                   Circuit, County
1,2,3                 Sat 7/Sun 8 April                           Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent
4,5,6                 Sat 28/Sun 29 April                      Donington Park, Leics
7,8,9                 Sat 19/Sun 20 May                       Thruxton, Hampshire
10,11,12          Sat 9/Sun 10 June                         Oulton Park, Cheshire
13,14,15          Sat 23/Sun 24 June                      Croft, North Yorkshire
16,17,18          Sat 28/Sun 29 July                        Snetterton, Norfolk
19,20,21          Sat 11/Sun 12 August                  Rockingham, Northants
22,23,24          Sat 25/Sun 26 August                  Knockhill, Fife          
25,26,27          Sat 15/Sun 16 September           Silverstone, Northants
28,29,30          Sat 29/Sun 30 September           Brands Hatch (Grand Prix), Kent