The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) has announced its launch date for the 2024 season, as well as three test days ahead of the official campaign starting in April.
The opening ceremony for the 2024 season will take place at Donington Park on 16 April, alongside the final pre-season test ahead of the competitive campaign beginning on the 27 April.
The gates open to the public from 10am and the paddock will be available for all spectators to view at their favourite cars and meet the drivers.
Prior to the season's launch at Donington’s National circuit, the first test day will take place at Brands Hatch (Indy) in Kent on 3 April, with the next scheduled for one week later (10 April) at Croft in North Yorkshire.
Every test day, including the season's launch at Donington Park, has free entry for spectators and there will be refreshments available throughout each day.
Testing will start at Donington from 10am and last until 4pm, with two three-hour sessions broken up by a lunch break. Spectators will be free to walk around the pit lane throughout the day.
This announcement comes after the tin-top championship revealed full dates and venues for the 2024 season in May last year - the earliest they have ever been announced.
The 2024 BTCC season will start at Donington in late April, followed immediately by Brands Hatch (Indy) and Snetterton (300) in May.
Races in June will take place at Thruxton and Oulton Park (Island) before Croft hosts in July.
August will bring a return to Knockhill and Donington Park (GP), before a visit to Silverstone (National) in September.
The series will conclude at Brands Hatch’s GP circuit on 5 and 6 October.
The BTCC said the calendar was decided so early because of the influx of sporting events in 2024, such as the Olympic Games in Paris and the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship tournament.
The 2024 season represents the 67th consecutive year in which the racing series has been held on the UK's circuits, with the first taking place in 1958 when Jack Sears won in an Austin A105 Westminster.
Here is the full list of race dates for the 2024 BTCC season:
| Round | Date | Circuit |
| 1, 2, 3 | 27/28 April | Donington Park (National) |
| 4, 5, 6 | 11/12 May | Brands Hatch (Indy) |
| 7, 8, 9 | 25/26 May | Snetterton (300) |
| 10, 11, 12 | 8/9 June | Thruxton |
| 13, 14, 15 | 22/23 June | Oulton Park (Island) |
| 16, 17, 18 | 27/28 July | Croft |
| 19, 20, 21 | 10/11 August | Knockhill |
| 22, 23, 24 | 24/25 August | Donington Park (GP) |
| 25, 26, 27 | 21/22 September | Silverstone (National) |
| 28, 29, 30 | 5/6 October | Brands Hatch (GP) |
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