[BTCC] 2015 BTCC news & rumours

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by jsmee

Shame it is blue!

Lee (the guy who does the BTCC Blueprint images) did a great mock livery which was black... Looked mega!

Same base colour as Jordan's Pirtek sponsored car. Much easier for the team when it comes to spare panels.

Mock-up looks good in plain colours with no sponsorship, but that was never an option. Once you've applied all the various uncoordinated stickers I don't think black, blue, or any other base colour would make any difference.

[Bramzel]

From the pics on Touringcartimes.com it doesn't seem that anything has changed on Austins A4's. No new aero or A5 bodytypes, so I guess their big shock will be in the shape of a new sponsor or funky livery or something.

[CM388]

The rear aero has changed slightly, the wheel arches have been better blended into the back of the car and it looks as if the bumper is different too.

[Bramzel]

Ah, you're right, and they added some post-facelift lights as well:

https://www.facebook.com/30054884632...876321/?type=1

Old situation:
https://www.facebook.com/30054884632...106321/?type=3

[redshoes]

Rear arches have changed forward of the wheel as well. Flaring on the arch starts part way up the rear door, previous it went all the way to the sill.

Old:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/revgea...57648171207932

New:
http://psp-images.photoshelter.com/g...000Hbuy8a_cjpU

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by 850Estate

Aye I'm 99.9999% sure that it is the brand you are thinking of.

They did well to stop that news leaking out

[Craner Curves]

I'm sure they'll be relieved when they can announce it.

[medius]

No Marc Hynes and no third MG for 888 this year. Marc hopes to be back in 2016. So thats one unused TBL available.

[CarsCarsCars]

Well its different

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

looks like the list is now complete

1 Neal - Honda Racing
2 Shedden - Honda Racing

3 Jordan - 888
4 Goff -888

5 Todoff - WSR
6 Priaux - WSR
7 Collard - WSR

8 Hawken - Infiniti
9 Palmer - Inifniti

10 Martin - Dexta / Team Parker
11 J. Smith - Eurotech
12 Deeper - Eurotech

13 A. Smith - BMR
14 Scott - BMR
15 Plato - BMR
16 Turkington - BMR

17 Morgan - Cicely/WIX
18 Moffat - Laser Tools

19 Belcher - Handy Motorsport
20 Ingram - Speedworks

21 Austin - RAR
22 Abbot - RAR

23 Gallagher - HARD

24 Bushell - AMD
25 Hamilton - AMD (S3)

26 Newsham - Power Maxed
27 Cook - Power Maxed

28 Wilmot - Welch Motorsport
29 Welch - Welch Motorsport

30 Lines - Houseman Racing




31 Jackson - Motobase (2nd half season) ??
32 Cole - Motorbase (2nd half season) ??

In the Autosport article regarding Marc Hynes, the final sentence reads:
'the BTCC has again attracted a capacity 31-car entry, although Motorbase's funding issues mean 28 cars are set to start' If this is factually correct, then it appears that Motorbase had 3 entries on the list, and one of the 32 above is not entered.

Edit: I have seen a quote from Alan Gow stating that 'All 30 of the TBLs assigned to the teams are currently allocated and TOCA has loaned its remaining two licences, for this season, to incoming manufacturer Infiniti'. So there are 32 entries, down to 30 with Motorbase withdrawal - making Autosport's numbers inaccurate.

[CM388]

Also they're still respecting the embargo on the news of Nic Hamilton, as are most respectable websites/publications.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by jsmee

Support Our Paras/Infiniti have a 'very very exciting' announcement at 2pm tomorrow. [/img]

Surely this isn't the 'very very exciting' announcement?

[psq43]

I make it 1437. They've announced they've spent a day at Red Bull F1.

Was that the announcement?

[850Estate]

Originally Posted by psq43

I make it 1437. They've announced they've spent a day at Red Bull F1.

Was that the announcement?

What next?

BREAKING: Rob Austin visits Burger King on way home from test day

[psq43]

Originally Posted by 850Estate

What next?

BREAKING: Rob Austin visits Burger King on way home from test day

Nah, he's more of a Nandos kinda guy

[jsmee]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Surely this isn't the 'very very exciting' announcement?

Bit of an anticlimax.... Nothing like building up to nothing eh?

[jsmee]

Looked like quite a challenging day for Honda today... First lap for Shedden in the new car - broke down before turn 2.

First lap for Neal in the Tourer (presumably with a new engine or summat) - broke down in the first half of the lap and never returned.

Seemed to be little problems throughout the day though with puzzled looks from mechanics and rushing the car in and out of the garage. Not an easy build up to the season! Car looks mega, but that doesn't score you points...

[jsmee]

Just read that the Andy Wilmot livery used in testing is not the final design. This is purely a marketing stunt for the main sponsor. The final livery will be launched at media day and will 'break the mould' and be 'very different'.

[CM388]

Originally Posted by jsmee

Just read that the Andy Wilmot livery used in testing is not the final design. This is purely a marketing stunt for the main sponsor. The final livery will be launched at media day and will 'break the mould' and be 'very different'.

I hear he tangled with Jeff Smith today?

[jsmee]

Originally Posted by CM388

I hear he tangled with Jeff Smith today?

He did. Coming through Surtees, Wilmot went a little wide and Jeff shoved his nose on the inside where, quite frankly, there was no room. Racing - maybe this should be investigated but in testing, Smith should have been much more patient than he was. He hit the inside of Wilmot sending his Proton pirouetting into the grass with Smith following him. Little damage though from what I saw, but happy to be corrected if I'm wrong!

Got a photo on my camera middway through the incident, will share if it is decent enough.

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by jsmee

The final livery will be launched at media day and will 'break the mould' and be 'very different'.

That's a big statement to make!

[jsmee]

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by jsmee

Seemed to be little problems throughout the day though with puzzled looks from mechanics and rushing the car in and out of the garage. Not an easy build up to the season! Car looks mega, but that doesn't score you points...

that's why tests are so good , to find and neutralize the gremlins , maybe this issues are related to a single problem with new engine

heck if they don't solve it they can always return to the 2014 Turer engine

[jsmee]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

that's why tests are so good , to find and neutralize the gremlins , maybe this issues are related to a single problem with new engine

heck if they don't solve it they can always return to the 2014 Turer engine

Of course!

Have to say having seen both cars break down it is pretty funny to read the press comments from Matt Neal with no mention of the gremlins...

[Dudley]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

Considerably more, otherwise there would be a queue for those seats and the smaller teams seats wouldn't fill up until the others are taken.

One of the resons Jacksons deal was so late last year was the asking price for the seat went up & Jackson had to take less of a cut from his personal sposors.

You generally get what you pay for!

Which is interesting, because does that mean he's now paying Motorbase prices to be run by a team that, while excellent, has never raced in this series.