For the first time in recent memory, it looks like the British Touring Car Championship in 2011 will be contested solely by British drivers. Last year was pretty close: the only foreign involvement was Fabrizio Giovanardi’s brief first round appearance for Triple Eight.

So with everyone on the grid from this fair isle, and the entry list kindly noting their geographic location, it seem like a good idea to shove them on a map. While we’re at it, let’s differentiate between manufacturer (M), constructor (C) and independent (I) entries; and NGTC, S2000/NGTC-engine, and S2000 entries. Let’s add flags for the circuits the BTCC will be visiting in 2011 too.

Incidentally, I’ve not included the couple of drivers due to make appearances later in the season; I’ll believe them when I see them. I’ve also only mapped Tom Chilton and John George once, despite them both greedily listing two places for their location; I don’t believe that they exist in quantum states.

It’s bizarre how concentrated the drivers are along the diagonal from south-east England, up the M1 and M40, through the west midlands, and up the M6 to north-west England, and further north into Scotland. Nobody from Wales, Northern Ireland, East Anglia, north-east England, and only John George from south-west England.

Looking at the circuits though, it does sort of make sense. Other than Snetterton in East Anglia, and Croft in north-east England, the tracks are broadly in the region that the drivers are concentrated in.

The map also illustrates the obvious fact that most entries are independents – only Silverline Chevrolet & Honda Racing Team class as manufacturers, and Team Aon as constructors.

And you can clearly see from the colours that the grid will be dominated by S2000/NGTC-engine cars, with a fair number of full S2000 cars thanks to Chevrolet and BMW, and a just a few completely NGTC cars – to being with, at least.

Once the late entries have entered – if they do – then I’ll think about producing something a bit fancier on the make up of the grid, in terms of teams and cars.