BTCC set to drop S2000 class in 2014

Only four S2000 cars contested the last BTCC round at Snetterton and leading series figures believe the grid will be 100 per cent NGTC in 2014.

BTCC boss Alan Gow has not yet decided to banish the cars, which this year are competing for the Jack Sears Trophy, but told AUTOSPORT: "We've always said it can only work if there are enough cars.

"It's too early to say, but I don't think there will be enough. I think most competitors are looking to go NGTC."

Shaun Hollamby, whose AmD operation switched from its S2000 VW Golf to an S2000 Honda Civic at Snetterton, said: "If we're going to do touring cars again we need to have a good mid-way step, which is why we're racing the [ex-works] Civic.

"As I understand it, S2000 is dead in the water. NGTC is the future."

S2000 race winner David Nye expressed disappointment at the low number of class entries, particularly given the reduced costs compared to NGTC.

"I would have liked others to appear," he told AUTOSPORT. "It's an ideal opportunity for someone to get on the grid for less than with NGTC."

AUTOSPORT says
BTCC correspondent Kevin Turner

The S2000 class can certainly be considered one of the more successful touring car categories over the last decade or so.

It produced good racing, spread around the world, and some of the cars from that period are fine examples of tin-top engineering.

Given that buying an old S2000 is considerably cheaper than building a new NGTC machine, it also made sense to allow the cars to continue competing in the BTCC while the newer class got up and running.

But with NGTC clearly the future, most drivers aspiring to the BTCC are looking in that direction. Jack Sears Trophy or not, the appeal of running around near the back in older racers doesn't seem to appeal to enough people.

Doubts about its future in the championship are also unlikely to encourage others to take the plunge.

It would be a shame if drivers like Lea Wood - surely worthy of a shot in an NGTC car - were lost to the championship with S2000's demise. But it does few people any good to have such small numbers in the secondary class, particularly at a time when the BTCC field overall is a good size.