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BTCC unlikely to use full Oulton Park layout again after criticism

The Oulton Park International circuit is unlikely to be used again next season after British Touring Car Championship drivers and team bosses criticised the races last weekend as boring

The BTCC returned to the 2.7-mile configuration last weekend for the first time in nearly two decades.

Although drivers generally liked the challenge, the lack of overtaking opportunities attracted criticism.

Triple Eight boss Ian Harrison said: "It was a procession. It's the worst touring car races I've seen in 10 years.

"It's the wrong circuit. All the cars are developed to the nth degree now and you need a circuit where the drivers have the opportunity to make a difference."

Jason Plato added: "They've taken away two overtaking opportunities. It was never going to work.

"The first two races were dull. There was no need to change it - you can't get the spectators down there and the cars come by fewer times."

Honda driver Gordon Shedden said "we need to go back to the other circuit" and series boss Alan Gow conceded a switch back to the 2.2-mile Island circuit was likely.

"The circuit layout resulted in the loss of a couple of key overtaking opportunities, into and out of the Island hairpin," he said.

"But I put my hands up - in hindsight it was a mistake to use it and the blame lies with me, but we have to try these things.

"However, I know [circuit owner] Jonathan Palmer is intending to do some major work realigning some corners and chicanes and we will provide a lot of input into that project.

"If it results in some more good overtaking opportunities and a new challenge then of course we would look at using that new layout. Otherwise we would go back to using Island."

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