[BTCC] BTCC 2022 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[Pdh]

Originally Posted by Evantra

No way that was nearly 4 years ago!!

Still a outright podium so it should make him illegible for jst

[Squiggs]

Originally Posted by Pdh

Still a outright podium so it should make him illegible for jst

I'm fairly certain that Evantra was merely expressing surprise at how long ago it was?...

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Squiggs

I'm fairly certain that Evantra was merely expressing surprise at how long ago it was?...

Yes exactly Feels like one or two years ago at most!

[Squiggs]

Yes, I read it as such, because it took me by surprise too!

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Evantra

No way that was nearly 4 years ago!!

I know! He should have retired years ago

[crmalcolm]

Current JST eligible drivers:

Osborne,
Butel,
Edwards,
Patterson,
Parfitt Jr,
Thompson,
Gamble.

Based on experience and team / car combination - I personally think it is between Osborne and Butel.

[porsche962fan]

you don't Gamble ?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

you don't Gamble ?

Like I said - it's based on the experience that Butel and Osborne both have in the series, and their respective cars and teams.

For Gamble - he's a rookie in a car that Chilton only finished 19th in last season. I'd be happy to see him do well, but I think experience will tell in the end.

[Evantra]

Should go to Thompson, but it'll be a struggle for 'well-documented' reasons!

[Millvi]

https://twitter.com/btcc_bert/status/1512147017967058964?s=21&t=SAN9z6DL1kXdgsPNyfEdbA

Bert Taylor announcement Monday at 10am. What do we think? Smiley in a Cupra and Restart Racing as part of the Team Hard empire? Or TCR perhaps?

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Current JST eligible drivers:

Osborne,
Butel,
Edwards,
Patterson,
Parfitt Jr,
Thompson,
Gamble.

I think it's likely that at least one of the unannounced drivers will be eligible for the JST.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Millvi

https://twitter.com/btcc_bert/status/1512147017967058964?s=21&t=SAN9z6DL1kXdgsPNyfEdbA

Bert Taylor announcement Monday at 10am. What do we think? Smiley in a Cupra and Restart Racing as part of the Team Hard empire? Or TCR perhaps?

Looking through his tweets (take what you may!), last week he retweeted a Honda TCR post and said 'only the best will do, #family.' So that would suggest something Honda?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by sceptic

I think it's likely that at least one of the unannounced drivers will be eligible for the JST.

Agreed, I think both will...

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Millvi

https://twitter.com/btcc_bert/status/1512147017967058964?s=21&t=SAN9z6DL1kXdgsPNyfEdbA

Bert Taylor announcement Monday at 10am. What do we think? Smiley in a Cupra and Restart Racing as part of the Team Hard empire? Or TCR perhaps?

I can't see him going to all he trouble of setting up a new team just to become part of the Hard empire. TCR seems more likely.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by redshoes

I can't see him going to all he trouble of setting up a new team just to become part of the Hard empire. TCR seems more likely.

Do we have evidence that the final unannounced seat is at HARD?

We're assuming that because it is one of the Carl Boardley TBLs, and HARD used a Boardley TBL last season

But what if Bert has done a deal with Carl Boardley?

[BTCC frog]

Originally Posted by sceptic

Do we have evidence that the final unannounced seat is at HARD?

We're assuming that because it is one of the Carl Boardley TBLs, and HARD used a Boardley TBL last season

But what if Bert has done a deal with Carl Boardley?

From Team HARD's own website today,

'Safuu will join Yazoo as the title partners on the multiple race winner, Aron Taylor-Smith and his, yet to be confirmed teammates’ Cupra Leon for the 2022 season.'

So that last TBL will be a Team HARD Cupra. Bert Taylor and Chris Smiley must be moving to a different series, at least for now.

[Pdh]

Ash hand at power max

[Robin Marriott]

Originally Posted by Pdh

Ash hand at power max

That’s the first surprise of the year.

[thetool]

GT4 champion from a few years ago so he does have some pedigree.

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by thetool

GT4 champion from a few years ago so he does have some pedigree.

He only just lost out on being Clio Champ to a certain Mr Sutton too!

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

That’s the first surprise of the year.

Total surprise. He's a fine racer though, so I'm not sure why I'm so surprised... maybe I'm just pleasantly surprised it's a good racer rather than a someone with more £££ than talent!

[Pickles]

Did anyone honestly see this coming?

[BTCC frog]

Well that is a big surprise and a great signing. I was wondering recently what happened to Ash Hand after he almost beat Ash Sutton in the Renault Clio Cup (and all I could find was something about Deadite Linda biting Ash's Hand and causing it to become evil). I suspect he could be in with a good chance of winning the Jack Sears Trophy, and some outright podiums.

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by Pickles

Did anyone honestly see this coming?

No, nice surprise too Another talented rookie, who is deserving of a place on the grid, good stuff

[Matt K]

Yep, I never expected that, kind of forgot about him... But as you guys say, he made life a bit harder for the other Ash in Clios so hopefully there's a lot of potential left in him. Will keep my fingers crossed he can do well and stay in the BTCC longer.

Looks like there are two disappointing absences on the grid this year, however - Senna Proctor and Chris Smiley. Smiley has been a bit of a mainstay and it's quite sad he's gone. He may not have been a title contender but still a solid driver.