<I>ITV</I> extends Finals Day coverage.
Fans unable to make it to Brands Hatch for the final rounds of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship won't miss out on any of the action after ITV4 confirmed that it will broadcast live coverage of all three BTCC races on Finals Day.
The coverage had been due to start at 12.30, featuring race one in full followed by live coverage of races two and three - as well as action from the various support categories in action at the Kent circuit.
Fans unable to make it to Brands Hatch for the final rounds of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship won't miss out on any of the action after ITV4 confirmed that it will broadcast live coverage of all three BTCC races on Finals Day.
The coverage had been due to start at 12.30, featuring race one in full followed by live coverage of races two and three - as well as action from the various support categories in action at the Kent circuit.
However, with Fabrizio Giovanardi needing just nine points to secure the 2008 title - and a strong chance that he could pick up those points in the first race of the weekend - the live ITV4 coverage will now start an hour earlier at 11.30am, ahead of round 28 of the BTCC season which is due to start at 11.45am.
The programme will end at its usual time of 5.30pm, meaning six hours of live action for armchair fans to enjoy.
"As there is a strong likelihood that Fabrizio could wrap it up in race one, ITV clearly acknowledges that our many hundreds of thousands of fans would prefer to see it happen live on TV, as obviously they all can't make it to Brands Hatch," series director Alan Gow said. "ITV should therefore be applauded for responding with this extra live coverage.
"This move further underlines ITV's fantastic commitment to the BTCC - its coverage of the championship is the envy of every other motor sport series in the UK and, indeed, many others around the world."
The regular highlights show will then air as normal after the weekend on ITV1, ITV4 and Men & Motors.
