[BTCC] BTCC News & Rumours 2025

[Matt K]

Intriguing... whenever you think of some options they either wouldn't fit BTCC or GT3. A FWD saloon seems like Audi or Merc, possibly Mazda. But the first two can't be as they already have GT3 cars and Audi's withdrawing from there. Nissan? Sounds reasonable in terms of their good presence in Britain and would fit in GT3 but what about BTCC? Qashqai is not a saloon and doesn't seem a natural touring car (not for now anyway). Anyway, hopefully it happens, whatever it is.
Wonder how much they can improve the Focus for 2025.

[S700UBO]

I was thinking maybe the Octavia?

[Sodemo]

The Octavia is actually a decent looking motor.

[Mike Harte]

I'm surprised that no one has yet mentioned that old chestnut, KIA.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by S700UBO

I was thinking maybe the Octavia?

Is there a Saloon variant?

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

Can't see anyone developing a new car before the 2027 rules until we know exactly what direction things are going to go in.

this post didnt age well

[TinTopGrumpy]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

this post didnt age well

Presumably the teams know which direction things are going though?

Gow has said in public the cars will be an evolution and existing cars can easily be modified so I expect the teams will know even more.

[antnee]

Originally Posted by TinTopGrumpy

Presumably the teams know which direction things are going though?

Gow has said in public the cars will be an evolution and existing cars can easily be modified so I expect the teams will know even more.

While cars might be modify-able to the evolution rule set, however that might bake in a load of compromises to the vehicle homologation. Most teams will want to wait a year into the updated rules to get their heads around it before designing a new car.

[S700UBO]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Is there a Saloon variant?

Yup both on sale early 2025

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by S700UBO

Yup both on sale early 2025

Ah - I haven't seen any publicity for it. Only the 2024 facelifted Hatchback and Estate versions.

You don't happen to have a link to a press release by any chance?

[S griffin]

Be good to see what car Alliance have in mind, if it does happen. Shame we will probably have to wait for 2026 to find out, rather than next season

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by TinTopGrumpy

Presumably the teams know which direction things are going though?

Gow has said in public the cars will be an evolution and existing cars can easily be modified so I expect the teams will know even more.

Yeah I expect the teams know a lot more internally than an Alan Gow interview to Autosport has let on. It's also great for the series to have a team commit to the costs of a brand new car and bringing a "new" manufacturer to the grid.

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

Yeah I expect the teams know a lot more internally than an Alan Gow interview to Autosport has let on. It's also great for the series to have a team commit to the costs of a brand new car and bringing a "new" manufacturer to the grid.

But the Autosport interview was with Marcus Simmons. I mean he was around BTCC in the Super Touring days and was matey with Gow then, and you see himfreely walking into the TOCA hospo for nuggets.

On the Alliance thing. Is the rule changing about Le Mans. I thought they were only allowing GT3 cars from manufacturers who are in, or confirmed to be soon entering the Hypercar (or LMDH or whateve it's called) category. I'm sure I read somewhere that it had upset the likes of Mercedes, because they won't be allowed in, and with Audi ditching everything away from F1.

By that it narrows things. Aston (coming with a Hypercar), Lamborghini, Ferrari, Caddilac, Porsche, Toyota, BMW, Alpine, Peugeot. What from those could put out a FWD BTCC car and a GT3 machine?

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

By that it narrows things. Aston (coming with a Hypercar), Lamborghini, Ferrari, Caddilac, Porsche, Toyota, BMW, Alpine, Peugeot. What from those could put out a FWD BTCC car and a GT3 machine?

And, which from those, would feel the need to task a British touring car team with no recent GT3 racing experience (let alone development) to build them a car rather than do it in-house or with a proven race car manufacturer?

I feel the lines have been crossed somewhere with the GT3 comment.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

On the Alliance thing. Is the rule changing about Le Mans. I thought they were only allowing GT3 cars from manufacturers who are in, or confirmed to be soon entering the Hypercar (or LMDH or whateve it's called) category. I'm sure I read somewhere that it had upset the likes of Mercedes, because they won't be allowed in, and with Audi ditching everything away from F1.

By that it narrows things. Aston (coming with a Hypercar), Lamborghini, Ferrari, Caddilac, Porsche, Toyota, BMW, Alpine, Peugeot. What from those could put out a FWD BTCC car and a GT3 machine?

I thought it was restricted to those manufacturers represented in the WEC, not just Hypercar.
If so, that would open up Lexus (ES) as an option (although that would have implications for the Toyota entry).

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I thought it was restricted to those manufacturers represented in the WEC, not just Hypercar.
If so, that would open up Lexus (ES) as an option (although that would have implications for the Toyota entry).

Might have been that. I don't follow the endurance stuff much - I don't have the attention span!!

I forgot to add that Hyundai are joining WEC in the top class too. So Alliance would have to elbow WSR to get the FWD BMW 2 series, Speedworks for Toyota/Lexus or Excelr8 for a Hyundai, if they bring a saloon back? Or Pug would need to develop a GT RWD car to go up against Aston, Lamborghini and the like? What about Cadillac building a RHD CT4 for the UK market??!!

[coffinpilot]

A thing about Zelos, sorry if it has been mentioned before. Davanti Tyres. On social media there was always a thing from fans you'll have seen 'Zelos can't race with Davanti sponsorship.'

I wonder if that has turned out to be true considering they were nowhere to be seen for the last three rounds? Or could there be a commercial adjustment to allow them in for next year that couldn't be re-negotiated for this year?

Clearly he has the ability to make an impact in BTCC, it was fairly obvious in Minis, but he's come in and (even though Pearson won a race) made people question the difference in ability between him and Pearson that was obvious in JCW, and still obvious now. I wonder what his next steps are. He's shown he's capable, but how strong is his entourage as far as raisning the correct notes without Davanti if that is the case?