[BTCC] Rounds 1,2,3 Brands Hatch Indy 2017

[skells22]

It that time of year again when the British touring car championship starts its 30 race championship. 32 cars.

Who will be 1st to put it in the gravel?
Who will get pole for race 1?
will the meeting past without a visit from the safety car/red flag?
and who will leave Brands hatch with the points lead?

all questions will be answered next weekend as its time for action

[BLiTZ]

It'll be a typical Brands Indy weekend...

I reckon we'll see some decent qualifying from the likes of Ingram, Taylor-Swift and Morgan but races ultimately won by the BMWs and Subarus. Honda will get stuck mid pack and will be down on straight line speed and despite much promotion by ITV4 in the build up, Vauxhall will DNF in a least two of the races and the drivers will have to resort to "we're treating this as an extended shakedown" cover ups in the interviews.

We'll see far too much of Mrs Turkington and Louise Goodman will get someone's name/car/team wrong.

[BillWiskins]

Originally Posted by BLiTZ

It'll be a typical Brands Indy weekend...

I reckon we'll see some decent qualifying from the likes of Ingram, Taylor-Swift and Morgan but races ultimately won by the BMWs and Subarus. Honda will get stuck mid pack and will be down on straight line speed and despite much promotion by ITV4 in the build up, Vauxhall will DNF in a least two of the races and the drivers will have to resort to "we're treating this as an extended shakedown" cover ups in the interviews.

We'll see far too much of Mrs Turkington and Louise Goodman will get someone's name/car/team wrong.

Throw in a 'quali red flagged for 10 minutes after someone dumps it in the gravel all by themselves' and that's pretty much the weekend done and dusted in a few seconds! What'll we do with all the time you've saved us?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by BLiTZ

It'll be a typical Brands Indy weekend...

Honda will get stuck mid pack and will be down on straight line speed

Not much straight on the Indy circuit to be down on speed on, and I guess a 2,3 finish followed by a 1,2 means last year was not a normal Brands Indy?

And Hondas winning R2 and R3 in 2015 was not a normal Brands Indy?

And a Honda winning R1 and R2 in 2014?

[BLiTZ]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Not much straight on the Indy circuit to be down on speed on, and I guess a 2,3 finish followed by a 1,2 means last year was not a normal Brands Indy?

And Hondas winning R2 and R3 in 2015 was not a normal Brands Indy?

And a Honda winning R1 and R2 in 2014?

You're quoting my posts out of context again, then fact checking your own version to make me look stupid.

I'm actually a Neal/Honda fan, but having to learn to accept that this year will be tough as I can't see them pushing the RWD teams unless there's been some pegging back. It's getting to a stage where a Honda win is hard fought (and occasionally dirty I agree), where the RWD wins seemed to be easy looking (usually crossing the line with a decent gap).

*Waits patiently for crmalcolm to quote this post then edit it to his liking and provide a table of every Honda win with gaps to 2nd to suggest that they had it easy*

[Bramzel]

Originally Posted by BLiTZ

You're quoting my posts out of context again, then fact checking your own version to make me look stupid.

I'm actually a Neal/Honda fan, but having to learn to accept that this year will be tough as I can't see them pushing the RWD teams unless there's been some pegging back. It's getting to a stage where a Honda win is hard fought (and occasionally dirty I agree), where the RWD wins seemed to be easy looking (usually crossing the line with a decent gap).

*Waits patiently for crmalcolm to quote this post then edit it to his liking and provide a table of every Honda win with gaps to 2nd to suggest that they had it easy*

Seriously, quit your stupid victim role and stop feeling sorry for yourself. He only quoted the relevant bits and replied to them with arguments. FFS, it's a discussion forum, start a blog if you don't want anybody replying to your posts...

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by BLiTZ

I comment that it will be a typical Brands Indy weekend, then give a scenario that is nothing like the previous few years Brands Indy weekend...

So I will wait patiently for crmalcolm to quote this post then edit it to his liking and provide a table of a Honda win with gap to 3rd to suggest that they had it easy

Is this what you are waiting for:

P/No/Independent/Driver/Car/Laps/Gap
1. 52 (M) Gordon Shedden - Honda Civic Type R - Laps 26
2. 25 (M) Matt Neal - Honda Civic Type R - Laps 26 - Gap 0.848
3. 40 (I) Aron Smith - Volkswagen CC - Laps26 - Gap - 3.132


If I see the same result this season, I will join you in celebrating Honda success (in fact anything other than Plato on the podium and I'll be happy).

[BLiTZ]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

What is a typical Brands Indy weekend?

From previous weekends, I would expect that to see Hondas run well, a new, or heavily re-developed car to surprise with a strong showing, and for one of the pre-season favourites to come away with little or no points.

My own preference would be to see a Honda podium lock-out all weekend, but I fear that Simpson may only get on two of the three podiums (pipped by Chilton for the third).

My reference to 'typical weekend' was more aimed at the fact we'll see some good qually from the young guns, who then fall back during the race itself. The comments regarding Honda more predictions/expectations than anything else.

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Is this what you are waiting for:

P/No/Independent/Driver/Car/Laps/Gap
1. 52 (M) Gordon Shedden - Honda Civic Type R - Laps 26
2. 25 (M) Matt Neal - Honda Civic Type R - Laps 26 - Gap 0.848
3. 40 (I) Aron Smith - Volkswagen CC - Laps26 - Gap - 3.132


If I see the same result this season, I will join you in celebrating Honda success (in fact anything other than Plato on the podium and I'll be happy).

Well played

Agreed, I really hope Honda can make it 3 on the bounce but if not, as much as I dislike Turkington (I personally think he's overated) I really want to see him get his own back at Plato and royally show him up!

[ATF]

Juts my (lighthearted for a Monday morning) opinions here...

Originally Posted by BLiTZ

We'll see far too much of Mrs Turkington...

Not sure that's possible!

Originally Posted by S griffin

They are showing the advert for the championship on ITV4 a lot.

I don't think I've watched ITV4 since last October.

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

...anything other than Plato on the podium and I'll be happy).

Amen to that!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by BLiTZ

It'll be a typical Brands Indy weekend...

What is a typical Brands Indy weekend?

From previous weekends, I would expect that to see Hondas run well, a new, or heavily re-developed car to surprise with a strong showing, and for one of the pre-season favourites to come away with little or no points.

My own preference would be to see a Honda podium lock-out all weekend, but I fear that Simpson may only get on two of the three podiums (pipped by Chilton for the third).

[porsche962fan]

and JP moaning about RWD start advantage ?

[Matt K]

I think that BMW will be the team to beat, especially Turks and Collard as Jordan will be struggling to match the pace of his team mates cause of lack of RWD experience. However my bold prediction is that Subaru will not be that strong as everyone thinks.

[Sodemo]

I think the likely cool temperatures wont help the RWD teams. My money is on Honda and TIngram / Morgan to be at the front. Brands has never really been a RWD circuit.

[luckn002]

Austin has gone well round Brands Indy in Sherman before, and him and the Avensis seem to be going really well since the later parts of 2016 (Brands GP especially) so I reckon he could get an unlikely win, maybe from R3.

[S griffin]

They are showing the advert for the championship on ITV4 a lot. Can't wait. Can anyone topple Honda? Who will be the better RWD car? How will Vauxhall go? How will Team Parker do now with two experienced hands? And so much more

[850Estate]

Turkington overrated? Really?

[thlbtcc]

Simply can't wait for the season to start. Qualifying will be really interesting with such a strong grid.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

Simply can't wait for the season to start. Qualifying will be really interesting with such a strong grid.

With all the cars on base weight, I expect the times will be very close across most of the field.
If they don't nail a perfect lap, expect to see many of the favourites starting outside the top ten.

It would not surprise me if we saw two TD cars, two WSR cars, two Motorbase cars and three BMR cars outside the top ten having all failed to set a perfect lap (and still be within a second of the front row).

[thlbtcc]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

With all the cars on base weight, I expect the times will be very close across most of the field.
If they don't nail a perfect lap, expect to see many of the favourites starting outside the top ten.

It would not surprise me if we saw two TD cars, two WSR cars, two Motorbase cars and three BMR cars outside the top ten having all failed to set a perfect lap (and still be within a second of the front row).

Indeed. A close, competitive field and a short track. Being slightly off-line or not perfectly clipping every apex will result in several positions lost.

I expect all quotes after qualifying to be along the lines of "We're close, it's such a tight grid here, we didn't quite get the perfect set-up or make the most of the new tyres" ad nauseam.

[pagey318]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

Indeed. A close, competitive field and a short track. Being slightly off-line or not perfectly clipping every apex will result in several positions lost.

I expect all quotes after qualifying to be along the lines of "We're close, it's such a tight grid here, we didn't quite get the perfect set-up or make the most of the new tyres" ad nauseam.

"we're there or there abouts" is a common one amongst racing drivers!

[S griffin]

Nothing wrong with Colin's unhurried style. Anyway he does pull off some great overtaking moves time after time. And he managed to keep his cool when in the pack in his 2009 title.

Anyway it's not just the BTCC we've got to look forward to, let's also hope the support package is as good

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Nothing wrong with Colin's unhurried style. Anyway he does pull off some great overtaking moves time after time. And he managed to keep his cool when in the pack in his 2009 title.

Anyway it's not just the BTCC we've got to look forward to, let's also hope the support package is as good

Clio's Clio's!!!

[Alfisti]

I have two Alfas. That makes me deranged, not flamboyant...

As for Brands: I see Turks on R1 pole, with a Tingram close by. And a certain Mr Austin.

Mr Rob Collard will qualify somewhere at the back and peddle like a madman to the front.

Louise will go to the wrong side of at least one car when looking for the driver.

I'm going to quit guessing whilst I'm ahead.

N.B. utterly unrelated but drove the new new Honda this week. Nice motor 😀 Only 12 months 'till the stickered up racer...

[BLiTZ]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I have two Alfas. That makes me deranged, not flamboyant...

I'd call you optimistic!

[BSchneiderFan]

Two Alfas is belt and braces, surely?