The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship has issued its provisional calendar of race dates for 2011.

The season will incorporate ten events and run the length and breadth of the country. Each event will include three points-scoring races.

Brands Hatch and Silverstone will play host to the season’s opening and closing rounds respectively.

Other venues to stage fixtures will continue to include Donington Park in Leicestershire, Thruxton in Hampshire, Oulton Park in Cheshire, Croft in North Yorkshire, Snetterton in Norfolk, Knockhill in Fife and Rockingham in Northamptonshire.

BTCC Series Director Alan Gow said: “Thanks to all our circuits and the British Automobile Racing Club for enabling us to be so ahead of the game in informing our competitors, partners, the media and public of next year’s BTCC calendar "By doing so, we also hope other high-profile motor sporting events can plan around these dates and hopefully avoid some of the ridiculous clashes that in recent years have proven to be highly frustrating for both fans and organising clubs, whose resources have been stretched to breaking point.”

He added: “Above all, the BTCC in 2011 will continue to race at the premier motor sporting venues around the country – a geographical spread that is of huge importance to sponsors and which also enables hundreds of thousands of fans from almost every corner of the UK to see the BTCC in action in their own back yard. We very much look forward to seeing them again in 2011.”

Calendar: 2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (provisional)

1 April 2-3, Brands Hatch, Kent

2 April 16-17, Donington Park, Leicestershire

3 April 30 - May 1, Thruxton, Hampshire

4 June 4-5, Oulton Park, Cheshire

5 June 18-19, Croft, North Yorkshire

6 August 6-7, Snetterton, Norfolk

7 September 3-4, Knockhill, Fife

8 September 17-18, Rockingham, Northamptonshire

9 October 1-2, Brands Hatch, Kent

10 October 15-16, Silverstone, Northamptonshire

* All fixtures are Saturday-Sunday