Steve Rider has been associated with the BTCC for nearly 30 years and news of the latest record breaking television contract has got the ITV man purring.

The British broadcasting giant has screened the series since 2002 and Rider has been there every step of the way.

“Having been involved in the broadcasting of the BTCC for twenty eight years, this renewed ITV commitment is the most exciting news for the Championship and British motor sport in general,” he said.

ITV will continue to screen the series live on its free-to-air ITV4 and ITV4HD channels until 2022, with at least seven hours of coverage from each race day, whilst the staggering host of highlights and online content will also remain.

“The guarantee of extensive free-to-air live coverage will allow the partnership between ITV and the BTCC to develop to a whole new level, underlining the position of the Championship and its support races as the most consistently competitive and entertaining motor racing on television,” continued Rider.

“The BTCC already has a long term commitment from its main sponsor, full grids, strong, determined personalities, crowds of over thirty thousand and a thirty race Championship, which, in 2015, was only decided in the last few hundred yards of racing,” he concluded. “Now it promises to get even better. Well done ITV.”

To get in the mood for what's to come next season and indeed until well into the next decade on ITV Sport then you can whet the appetite by looking back at the 2015 campaign via the newly launched ITV Hub - watch the BTCC 2015 Season Review (available for the next 4 days) here.