REVERSED PIT GARAGE PLAN TO IMPROVE BTCC FAN EXPERIENCE
Back-to-front garages to allow spectators to look directly at teams working on machines
Bosses of the British Touring Car Championship will trial reversed pit garage access next month at Silverstone to increase fan access ahead of a possible part-time 2020 introduction.
Proposed by BTCC chief executive Alan Gow, all cars will face out the back of the garages and towards the paddock, rather than the pitlane as is customary.
Although the BTCC offers pit lane walks, it is hoped this measure will enable more fans to see the cars being worked on by mechanics.
The scheme will be trialled across the September 28-29 round on the Silverstone National circuit, ahead of a planned introduction for the two Silverstone meetings in 2020, plus Donington Park and Snetterton next year.
“The garages will all be dressed up, the cars will be at the front,” said Gow. “Then the public get to see everything going on. At the moment, we dress up the garages to face the pitlane and be seen just by ourselves. The fans only ever get to see the back of the cars, and the oil drums.
“If it works, which it will, you can do it at both Silverstones, Donington, Snetterton – somewhere where you’ve got plenty of room behind the garages.
“That will create a really good atmosphere so the fans can stand there and watch the cars. When teams go into the pitlane for a session they just push the car out the other door. It’ll also give the teams and drivers more time to interact with the public because they’ll be in front of the garage all the time.”