British Touring Car Championship 2010 Preview!

We at SportTrades like our Motorsport and not just F1, starting this weekend (tomorrow) is the new British Touring Car Championship season. And if last year was anything to go on when Colin Turkington claimed the drivers title in the last race, this years should be a classic.

Thanks to James Mappin, who runs BTCCCrazy.co.uk, we'll be bringing you the latest news throughout the season to do with the BTCC. Check out his twitter account , for all the latest news on the championship @BTCCCrazy

It's a sports series that is becoming poplular again after going into decline at the start of the millenium, as it hit it's peak in the 1990s. The last two seasons have brought record television viewing figures on ITV and record attendence figures at the race meetings.

Here's Mr Mappin's guide to the season:

2010 will see two manufacturers come to the fold once again with Team Honda returning as a works team along with works debutants Silverline Chevrolet. It's a boost to the series as long time BTCC entrants Vauxhall left the sport last year following in the wake of Seat who pulled out before the season even began.

Both works teams have fielded strong driver line up's with both having past champions with Matt Neal at Team Honda and Jason Plato at Silverline Chevrolet. Gordan Sheddon will be partnering Neal whilst Alex MacDowall will be making his debut in the BTCC alongside Plato in the Chevrolet Cruze after making the step up from the Elf Renault Clio Cup.

Plato will be looking to make it title number two as he looks set to take Andy Rouse’s record for the most all time number of wins of 60, requiring just 8 wins this season but will be pushed all the way by Matt Neal who will be racking up his fair share of race wins himself. Shedden will be given his best chance yet of making an impression on the championship whilst MacDowall will be out to prove himself in the BTCC in what could be the strongest car in the field. So the pressure is on the youngster.

BMW will have six of their cars battling it out this season with three different teams all using the BMW 320si, the car that took Colin Turkington to the title last season. The teams in question are West Surrey Racing, Airwaves BMW and newcomers to the series Forster Motorsport.

West Surrey Racing know what to do to win the BTCC and will be looking to emulate their feat of 2009 again in 2010 with a whole new driver line up. Rob Collard has made the switch over from Airwaves BMW and will partner Andy Neate who will be making his return to racing after his horrific crash earlier in his career. Collard has very much been at the forefront of the majority of the races throughout his BTCC career but has failed to make consistent race wins. His move to the WSR team could give him the break that Collard needs.

Colin Turkington was surprisingly missing off the list with reports suggesting that he has failed to find the funding however WSR were open to announce that they have a third car for Colin if and when he finds the budget. It's a shame that the popular drivers champion from last year has not made it to the grid. With the sport increasing in popularity it's staggering as to why no company has not backed Colin's entry as the sport offers great advertising exposure to any brand. Hopefully Colin will be back one way or another.

Airwaves BMW have also seen a big change in drivers with Mat Jackson and Steven Kane driving for Dave Bartrums Motorbase Performance outfit. Mat Jackson will be returning to the BMW after a short stint with the Chevrolet and will be looking for a strong season. Mat will be partnered by Steven Kane who will be making his return to BTCC after a year out of competitive racing. Kane is familiar with the Airwaves UK setup after spending two seasons with the team in 2007 and 2008 so there will be problem with him gelling with the team.

Forster Motorsport will also be entering two BMW 320si’s into the BTCC after making the step up from the MINI Challenge in which they competed in last season. Forster Motorsport will be using the ex-Mat Jackson BMW’s from the ‘07 and ‘08 season with drivers Arthur Forster and Martin Depper. Forster Motorsport have openly spoke about their chances in the 2010 season and will be just looking to give it their best shot and not expecting any major shocks in their debut season.

One of the big stories of the pre-season is the announcement that Team AON will be using an alternative fuel source to power their Ford Focus this season. After extensive testing in Spain, Mike Earle decided to go ahead with the decision to run the LPG fuel in association with one of their main sponsors, Calor. The team will also be allowed to use a turbocharged engine for the 2010 season due to the LPG providing a lower power output. The team have stayed loyal to their drivers that ended the back end of last season on a high and have signed Tom Chilton and Tom Onslow-Cole for what they hope will be a successful season.

Two drivers have also took up Alan Gows cost-cutting scheme and gone for the TOCA-NGTC engine supplied by Swindon Engines. Gow claims that using the engine, along with the new rules which come into effect in 2011, will help cut the running costs down by over half over the duration of the season. The two drivers in question are Andrew Jordan with Pirtek Racing and David Pinkney driving in his own Pinkney Motorsport team. Both drivers will be driving the ex-VXR Vauxhall Vectra’s both with striking liveries.

Tech Speed will again run under the Sunshine.co.uk banner with Paul O’Neill extended his stay at the team driving the Honda Integra. Paul will be joined by BTCC veteran, John George who will be offering the popular youngster experience as well as trying to match him out on track.

AmD Milltek Racing will bring a smile to all the Volkswagen fans out there as they will be running the VW Golf Mk5 with their driver Shaun Hollamby. This will be the first time that the BTCC has seen a VW since 1989. Shaun Hollamby will be making his debut in the BTCC after winning the Dunlp Sportmaxx driving a SEAT Leon. AmD hope to secure the funding for a second driver but at the moment they are concentrating on just the one.

Another 19 year old will be looking to make his mark on the BTCC this season. Matt Hamilton, who tasted the BTCC at the back end of last season will be driving a BTC-spec Honda Civic prepared by TH Motorsport. Matt was unsure whether he was going to make it onto the grid this year but he was able to confirm his entry a week before the deadline.

In 2008 we saw SEAT at the head of the pack more times than not. This season only one driver will be using the SEAT Leon. Tom Boardman, who has experienced the WTCC will enter the BTCC returning to the series which he first entered back in 2001 when he became the youngest driver in the BTCC at the age of 17.

Martin Johnson and Lea Wood have also been confirmed as official entrants in the BTCC. Martin Johnson will be racing for Boulevard Team Racing in his BTC-spec Vauxhall Astra Coupe whilst Lea Wood will be driving one of the three Honda Integras this season for his Central Racing team.

And last but not least, Triple Eight Engineering have signed up Phil Glew and Fabirizio Giovanardi as their two drivers for the season. Glew, last season's Clio Cup driver's champion was signed last week with Giovanardi signed less than 24 hours before the season begins. Both drivers will be racing Vauxhall Vectra's which 888 have great experience of racing. Giovanardi has been signed on initially for just the season opener at Thruxton, but there is a huge possibility if it goes well he could race the whole year.