[BTCC] Oulton Park, 17/18 June 2023, Rounds 13/14/15

[redshoes]

I'll let someone else fill in the remainder of the details but need to start a new thread as TV coverage has been announced

https://www.btcc.net/2023/06/07/itv1...om-oulton-park
Coverage will start on ITV1 at 12:00 with BTCC plus F4 and Carrera Cup races, then swap to ITV4 at 14:00 until 18:15

https://www.barc.net/wp-content/uplo...tonPark_V3.pdf
Timetable for the weekend

Qualify will use the Top Ten Shootout format, and after Thruxton we are back to an option tyre weekend.

[thetool]

BTCC the last race of the day again at one of the circuits which is terrible for traffic getting out of the venue. I know it's not easy to fit the 3 races into Oulton's compressed race day but it would make everyone's life so much easier at the end of the day if BTCC Race 3 wasn't the final event.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by thetool

BTCC the last race of the day again at one of the circuits which is terrible for traffic getting out of the venue. I know it's not easy to fit the 3 races into Oulton's compressed race day but it would make everyone's life so much easier at the end of the day if BTCC Race 3 wasn't the final event.

Haven't seen the timetable but is the issue the time between each BTCC race for the teams to prep the cars?

[thetool]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Haven't seen the timetable but is the issue the time between each BTCC race for the teams to prep the cars?

Race 1 to Race 2 has a 90 minute gap from finishing to pitlane opening. Replicating that between Race 1 and Race 2 would allow them to get Race 3 going 20 minutes earlier and then still have time for the F4 race comfortably before the 18:30 curfew.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by thetool

BTCC the last race of the day again at one of the circuits which is terrible for traffic getting out of the venue. I know it's not easy to fit the 3 races into Oulton's compressed race day but it would make everyone's life so much easier at the end of the day if BTCC Race 3 wasn't the final event.

We went a few years ago, and that time they had 2 races after the BTCC and it was still a nightmare, both just exiting the circuit from Hislops' car park but also all the roads around the area.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

We went a few years ago, and that time they had 2 races after the BTCC and it was still a nightmare, both just exiting the circuit from Hislops' car park but also all the roads around the area.

It's never good. If it weren't for the fact the track has been there decades you'd not get away with building it with such poor access.

I love the track, it's my local venue and where I got into racing/BTCC in the 90s, but it feels like the modern day BTCC has outgrown it on track (it's rarely a particularly exciting meeting these days) and off track.

[Mike Harte]

For certain events, I think that all the tracks have traffic issues. 7 years ago my sons and I went to the GP at Silverstone in two cars because one of them was going South whilst we were going North. Although we left to leave the circuit at the almost same time, just a couple of minutes different, we were directed into different lanes to enter the A43.

We were fed onto the west bound carriageway which was virtually empty and we sailed along until we got to the last roundabout before the M1, whilst my other son was fed onto the east bound side which was almost at a standstill.

As a result of this traffic management, we ended up arriving up in Yorkshire before he got back to the M25.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

We were fed onto the west bound carriageway which was virtually empty and we sailed along until we got to the last roundabout before the M1, whilst my other son was fed onto the east bound side which was almost at a standstill.

Surely the M1 is actually eastbound of Silverstone?

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by thetool

BTCC the last race of the day again at one of the circuits which is terrible for traffic getting out of the venue. I know it's not easy to fit the 3 races into Oulton's compressed race day but it would make everyone's life so much easier at the end of the day if BTCC Race 3 wasn't the final event.

I’ve waited over an hour in the past to get out of Donington (I think it was 1999) and more recently I went to Snetterton and again I think it was 90 minutes of standstill before we made any progress.

[S griffin]

Donington is usually ok to get out of, although we have had problems getting out of their before. I feel the situation has improved there. I went to Snetterton this year and we had no problems getting in or out.

[Mike Harte]

Just a reminder to one and all that Sunday's TV coverage starts on ITV1 at 12:00 before swapping to ITV4 at 14:00.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Just a reminder to one and all that Sunday's TV coverage starts on ITV1 at 12:00 before swapping to ITV4 at 14:00.

Incoming barrage of comments from fans that find that concept too much to manage…

Bit annoying we don’t get any build-up though and get thrust into the first race.

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Incoming barrage of comments from fans that find that concept too much to manage…

Bit annoying we don’t get any build-up though and get thrust into the first race.

I prefer that. I always fast forward to the parade lap.

[pimmy]

Yeah, we don't need an hour of waffle before the racing starts, just get on with it.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Just a reminder to one and all that Sunday's TV coverage starts on ITV1 at 12:00 before swapping to ITV4 at 14:00.

ITV 1 - impressive

[AnnoyedMoose]

Guarantee that the official BTCC social media will be full of people saying they weren't told despite the same channels telling them multiple times. If like last year probably all the team socials as well before Sunday.

[redshoes]

Looks like a good chance of a few showers on Sunday. Coul,d make things interesting if they arrive at the right/wrong time

[coffinpilot]

Where does Lord Palmer park his helicopter (obviously not on the grass haha!) when he graces Oulton with his presence?

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Where does Lord Palmer park his helicopter (obviously not on the grass haha!) when he graces Oulton with his presence?

I would imagine in the same area as the heli-med that the BTCC have on standby, or certainly used to. He is also not the only one that has the use of a helicopter to go to the circuits; others such as Jason Plato used to fly in, and Lewis Hamilton has also flown in when visiting his brother on race days.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

I would imagine in the same area as the heli-med that the BTCC have on standby, or certainly used to. He is also not the only one that has the use of a helicopter to go to the circuits; others such as Jason Plato used to fly in, and Lewis Hamilton has also flown in when visiting his brother on race days.

Plato was fixed wing and the Medical chopper used to park next to the Medical Centre

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Plato was fixed wing

Definitely rotary and not fixed wing for his visits to BTCC venues:



He used to fly fixed wing between Monaco and the UK when he lived there, but flew helicopter to BTCC race venues (including his time as a WestlandAgusta ambassador).

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Where does Lord Palmer park his helicopter (obviously not on the grass haha!) when he graces Oulton with his presence?

https://msvstatic.blob.core.windows....ctions_NEW.pdf

He has a dedicated parking spot next to the Fogarty Moss Centre on the infield

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Looks like a good chance of a few showers on Sunday. Coul,d make things interesting if they arrive at the right/wrong time

As long as it doesn't rain the whole day. It's a much better atmosphere there when it's sunny

[S griffin]

Has there ever been a perfect era? Certainly there's been some years better than others. Like I believe 92-93 was when Super Touring at it's best.

[AnnoyedMoose]

One theory I have is that now the top guys all know you win a championship by racking up points rather than winning races at the risk of not finishing. Plato always went for wins and Sutton did as well in his first few seasons. I feel that there isn't a top end driver now who will go all out to win rather than banking points.