BARC welcomes Champions’ Return as BTCC gets ready for 2014

The British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) has welcomed the news that former double champions Fabrizio Giovanardi and Alain Menu are to return to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship this season.

Following Menu’s deal to race for Team BMR which was announced earlier this year, it was confirmed on Tuesday this week that fellow BTCC title-winner Giovanardi is also set to rejoin the grid after agreeing terms with Airwaves Racing.

Double BTCC Champion Menu already has 36 BTCC triumphs to his name having raced between 1992 and 2000. The Swiss racer admits that he is a big fan of Thruxton with its high speed layout – its been a while having last raced at the Hampshire circuit which was for the VX Racing team in the 2007 season finale supporting the title bid of a certain Sig. Fabrizio Giovanardi.

Giovanardi with 24 BTCC victories in his career, and also a previous double champion taking the 2007 and 2008 drivers’ crowns is clearly also going to be a man to watch. The Italian’s last appearance in the series was at Thruxton in 2010 where he took double win proving its clearly a circuit he enjoys too – he has been on the podium 7 times there.

BARC Business Manager Ian Watson admits the club is thrilled that its headlining championship is revving up for what could well be the most exciting and fiercely-contested campaign in its 56-year history and said:

“The BTCC is the jewel in the BARC’s crown, and over the years, it has provided some real edge-of-the-seat, breathtaking entertainment,” said Watson. “This year, there will be at least six champions on the starting grid, and with a field that looks set to be filled to capacity again, fans are in for a blockbuster season. We are delighted that BARC circuits play host to two of the ten rounds on the schedule, and both Thruxton and Croft invariably generate superb wheel-to-wheel, doorhandle-to-doorhandle racing. We are very much looking forward to seeing Alain and Fabrizio getting stuck in once more – and who knows, perhaps back on the top step of the podium, too.”

BTCC competitors will feature in the Thruxton test on 18 February, with the championship’s 2014 campaign set to kick off at Brands Hatch on 29-30 March.

Many thanks to BARC.

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