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.

2010 Sporting Predictions - Will Any Of Them Be Right?

As ever 2009 has been another fine year in British Sport. Jenson Button became F1 World Champion, England retained the Ashes, Ryan Giggs won the PFA Player of the year as well as BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Then of course there was continued British pride in the Tour de France where Bradley Wiggins came 4th overall and Mark Cavendish won 6 stages including the famous Champs Elysees

2010 should be a stellar year for British and World Sport overall, as there’s just so much to look forward to. At the end of the day there will be winners and losers, with talents emerging and teams possibly on the down-side looking for one last hurrah. Sport is something that can grip a nation and with more and more technology and interactivity in today’s sports coverage, there’s even more sport out there to follow. That should hopefully get more people interested in sport and should get some people inspired, particularly the young and get them active in their lives. I’m all for laptops and PS3’s but at the same time it’s dreadfully important to keep our fitness up.

Anyhows, here’s my predictions for the sporting year ahead. I've only predicted the sports that i know about mostly and Whatever your feelings are on the sporting year ahead remember to comment at the end of this post and type your own, let’s see if great minds think alike?

Cricket: It should be quite an interesting year for England, as all eyes will be focused on November when the Ashes series starts down under as Andrew Strauss's team look to retain the Ashes. It should be another entertaining series and I’m sticking my neck on the line and tipping the series to be drawn 1-1. It could very well be the final stage for Ricky Ponting as Australia captain and it wouldn't surpise me if he calls it a day. A name to look out for this summer for England fans could be Michael Carberry who has grown into a fine batsman at Hampshire and is on the fringes of selection. In terms of bowlers it would be good if the selectors could find a nasty bowler who would clean up the tail - Chris Tremlett perhaps? Before the Ashes though, England face the 'mighty' Bangladesh in 4 tests (2 home and away) where Adil Rashid should figure ahead of Monty Panesar if the selectors wish to experiment. After that England face an always colourful and passionate Pakistan side in the summer. England should be too good for Pakistan, but by the end of the series everyone will have heard of Mohammed Aamer who will be talked about as the next Wasim Akram. There's also the World Twenty20 to look forward to at the start of April. England will be edged out in the second round, with South Africa finally claiming their first ICC tournament trophy with AB De Villiers top scoring in the final.

Football: Well the biggest prize on offer this year is the World Cup, and as much as I’d love England to win it, Brazil look the best built team to win it and I can see them beating us in the semi-final on their way to winning the trophy. Don’t worry Ireland fans, France will not get anywhere near winning the tournament, after all Domenech can’t surley get them to another world cup final, can he? England and the FA are jubilant come the end of the year as the much maligned 2018 bid wins the rights to host the 2018 World Cup edging the Iberian bid by Portugal and Spain. On the domestic front, I think Chelsea will overcome their recent form and the lack of their African stars (Drobga basically) in the new year to just edge Manchester United to claim the Premiership. I've got a feeling Aston Villa will win something next year, think they may be losing finalists to Manchester United in the Carling Cup but can see them winning the FA Cup for some reason, edging out Liverpool in the final.

Speaking of Rafa Benitez, he'll still be in a job come the start of next season but will have to win big as I think they're just be edged out of the top 4 on the penultimate day of the season. Sadly for Bolton, Wolves and Portsmouth fans i think your teams will get relegated, Newcastle and WBA will romp to promotion with Cardiff edging out Nottingham Forest in the playoff final to join them in the top flight. In the other competitions that will be talked about, Real Madrid will go out in the Champions League semi-finals with their arch-rivals Barcelona beating Arsenal along the way to win the final at the Bernabéu. Valenica will also cap a good year for Spain in Europe by winning the Europa League, which should be a great conclusion to David Villa's career with the club. Next move England perhaps?

Motor Sport: Michael Schumacher's return to the sport to claim a remarkable 8th World Title will be the story of the next Formula 1 World Championship. Providing his Mercedes GP team are able to build on Brawn's success, you’d have to be insane to rule it not happening. A rejuvenated Fernando Alonso at Ferrari will look to beat Schumacher once again for the championship as the Italian team will challenge for this year's title. As for the Brits at McLaren, i think both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button will challenge for this year with the 2008 Champion just edging out Alonso to claim his second world title.

In Touring Cars, providing he's signed up for next season James Plato will edge out Colin Turkington to claim the BTCC title. In the World Touring Car Champ, both Andy Priaulx and Rob Huff will win races, but will be beaten to the title by talented Brazilian Augusto Farfus. In Moto GP, a fully fit Casey Stoner will get back to winning ways and edge out the talented Jorge Lorenzo to claim the title. Valentino Rossi will see out his final year as a Yamaha rider before switching to a Ducati bike for 2011. James Toseland should bounce back well in Superbikes, but will be edged out by Aussie Chris Vermuelen to the title.

Rugby Union: In another fiercly competitive 6-Nations France will edge a startling England outfit to the title. I think it'll be slightly too much for Ireland and Wales who are probably the two most committed teams to watch in the 6-Nations. Andy Robinson's Scotland team should improve and it wouldn't surprise me if they give England a scare at Murrayfield like they've done famously over the last decade. On the domestic front Saracens are currently sitting top of the Guinness Premiership, but Northampton with Shane Geraghty i feel will end the season well and claim glory at Twickenham in the Final to claim a fine season for Jim Mallinder's team. Toulouse look well placed to win the Heineken Cup, but the Osprey's could be a dark-horse to win it.

Other Sports: Mark Selby to win the World Snooker Championships, with the only 147 in the tournament going to Ding Junhui. After Phil Taylor claims yet another PDC Darts Title, attention turns to the Lakeside where Tony O'Shea aka Silverback, claims the BDO World title. St Helens will win the Super League Final, whilst Wigan will claim prestigious Challenge Cup. Athletics fans will see Jessica Ennis and Phillips Idowu claim gold at the European Athletics Championship in Barcelona. Lisa Dobriskey in the 1500m should get a medal as should Christine Ohuruogu in the 400m.

Celtic Manor, in Wales will be the scene for Europe to retain the Ryder Cup and there's good chance of another European winner at the Masters in Augusta. Young Rory McIlroy will do the whole of Britain proud by making a real challenge at the Open before falling short on the last round. Cycling fans will also have good reason to cheer next year as Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky should have a good year on the UCI tour. Alberto Contador will storm to his third Tour de France title, but Wiggins will finish again in the top 10 whilst Mark Cavendish will fullfil his destiny and win the Green jersey. As for the Winter Olympics coming up in February, Team GB will claim three medals with one of them shockingly a gold. Last but not least Andy Murray will overcome the competition and reach two Grand Slam semi's falling short in 5 sets on both occasions.

Posted by Adam Dennehey, SportTrades Report Manager