British Touring Cars know how to draw the crowds

The British Touring Car Championship was competing at Oulton Park, Cheshire, England (south-east of Liverpool) in the weekend. Have a look at the main picture above and the crowds of spectators at the event.

While there hasn’t been an official attendance figure released, Jonathan Palmer, the circuit boss, said there were 40,000 people in attendance. Compare this with the Galstonbury music festival on the same weekend with an attendance of 50,000.

The Oulton Park round of the BTCC is always one of the best-attended races. This is due mainly to its geographical location in the north (for many, it’s the only circuit within two hours, and it’s easy driving distance for Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Stoke, Chester, Preston, Blackpool and plenty of other big towns in the north-west and wales).

Its position in the calendar virtually guarantees baking-hot weather. Plus it’s old-school; one of the few tracks where the first fans in can park their cars next to the barriers (on the run from the hairpin up to Hislops chicane) and watch the racing.

Attendance at most BTCC rounds seem to be at least around 35,000 people. Entry tends to be about £30-35 per adult (under-16s free) for the day and they get three BTCC races plus normally 6-7 support races.