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Brands Hatch has got the green light to host the final round of the British Touring Car Championship - but a decision has yet to be made over this weekend's truck racing.
The British Truck Racing Championship is scheduled to visit Brands at the weekend and is due to be held infront of a crowd, albeit one that has been reduced due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Five BTRC races are set to take place over the weekend, in what is the final round of the championship, and Sunday is a sell-out. Those were scheduled before Saturday night's announcement that a new lockdown was coming into force this week, from Thursday.
Brands Hatch say they are studying the new guidelines, consulting with the relevant sporting authorities and will provide updates to everyone affected as soon as possible.
The weekend event is also set to include the Legends Championship, the Junior Saloon Car Championship and the Pickup Truck Championship. The event is traditionally followed by a firework display but that has been cancelled. Brands has said that: “Following talks with our local authority the previously advertised fireworks display will not now take place at this event.”
Dartford’s Simon Cole is set to be competing in the Division 2 event along with the Powell brothers from Kent, with Steve Powell sitting second in leader board. Division 1 is led by Ryan Smith, 45 points ahead of David Jenkins.
A decision on the British Touring Car Championship, which will run without spectators at the track, has already been decided, with the event taking place as planned on the weekend of November 14/15.
A statement from series organiser, TOCA, said: “The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has ratified that 'Elite Sport' will be able to continue behind closed doors during this latest period of lockdown. The BTCC is included in that category.
“Therefore, we are pleased to confirm that the final rounds of the BTCC season will be completed as scheduled.
“The BTCC has worked tirelessly to maintain the safety of its drivers, teams, staff and all personnel through its own strict protocols that actually exceed those of the government guidelines. TOCA will continue to ensure those protocols are strictly adhered to, so as to provide a very safe and secure environment for all participants at our final event.
“We salute the support and professionalism consistently shown by everyone involved in the BTCC, and acknowledge this is hugely positive news for our drivers, teams and suppliers whose livelihoods depend upon our events. Most importantly of all, it will particularly lift the spirits of the many hundreds of thousands of BTCC fans throughout the UK who will be able to watch the finale live on ITV4.”
