Goodwood is excited to announce that six of the top cars in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will take to the Goodwood Festival of Speed Hillclimb in a spectacular timed shootout, bringing all the drama of the UK's top motorsport series to the world’s biggest motoring garden party.

 Championship-winning cars and drivers will battle it out over the 1.16-mile Hillclimb course in what is sure to be an extremely close and entertaining affair. At Brands Hatch season opener, the top 20 cars were separated by less than one second in qualifying with three different drivers making trips to the top step of the podium.

 Reigning champions Halfords Yuasa Racing will lead the way with their Honda Civic Type-R and champion drivers Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal, followed by Jason Plato in the brand new manufacturer-backed Subaru Levorg of Team BMR. 2013 champion and Goodwood House Captain Andrew Jordan will compete in his Motorbase Performance/Pirtek Racing Ford Focus, while 2014 Manufacturers’ Champions Triple Eight Racing will be looking to top the category with their MG6.

Joining the list of champions charging up the hill will be Brands Hatch race-winner Adam Morgan driving his Ciceley Racing Mercedes-Benz A-Class, while Sam Tordoff will tackle the hill in the West Surrey Racing BMW 125i M-Sport.

With a handful of the best drivers that the championship has to offer and the added incentive of a timed shootout igniting the infamous touring car driver competitive spirit, some impressive times can be expected up the Hill in what is sure to be a must-see element of a packed 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed schedule.       

Andrew Jordan said: ‘For the first time in years the BTCC and FOS don't clash, which means we can come and join in the fun. Obviously it's a huge event and with the BTCC being the premier race series in the UK it's great to have a variety of cars running up the Hill. We are all stupidly competitive so, yes, it's a fun weekend but we'll all want to win the shootout. I may even have a look for some super-soft tyres, not that I'm taking it seriously.’ 

Lord March said, ‘We are delighted to welcome the British Touring Car Championship to the Festival of Speed. The BTCC is one of the most-loved motor racing championships in the world and features some of the very best drivers. I’m sure their presence here will be hugely popular and the timed shoot-out on our Hillclimb spectacular.”

 (ENDS)

EDITORS’ NOTES:

The Festival of Speed will take place from 23-26 June 2016.

Tickets and hospitality packages for both events are on sale with Saturday and Weekend tickets already in limited numbers. More information is available via www.goodwood.com/tickets or via phone 01243 755055.

Staged every summer since 1993, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is the world’s largest automotive garden party; set against the spectacular backdrop of Goodwood House in West Sussex, UK. Over 600 cars and motorcycles spanning the phenomenal history of motoring and motor sport take part with some of the most legendary figures from the sport as well as international celebrities regularly attending. Highlights of the 2015 event, which took place on June 25-28, included the Moving Motor Show presented by the AA in association with The Telegraph, Forest Rally Stage, Michelin Supercar Paddock, Michelin Supercar Run, F1 paddock presented by Sky Sports F1, Drivers’ Club presented by TAG Heuer, GAS Arena powered by TomTom Bandit, Cartier Style et Luxe Concours d’Elegance, Aviation Exhibition and Bonhams Auction.

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