BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[porsche962fan]

^ Hill himself at TTT

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

Jake Hill speculates that Hyundai engine has some secret qualy setup because it's always the fastest in speed traps

Not quite what he said.

He said "it's like they have another engine mode or something they can go to for qualifying".

It seemed to me that it was just the perception he gets from the outside. I think the reality is that the Hyundai just has a better aero profile at high speed. It didn't come across as a suggestion of anything untoward.

I also think that it's a bit of a strange item to bring up about your rival (their qualifying speed) when you look at the performance Turkington had in the same car as he did for qualifying through the season.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Not quite what he said.

He said "it's like they have another engine mode or something they can go to for qualifying".

It seemed to me that it was just the perception he gets from the outside. I think the reality is that the Hyundai just has a better aero profile at high speed. It didn't come across as a suggestion of anything untoward.

I also think that it's a bit of a strange item to bring up about your rival (their qualifying speed) when you look at the performance Turkington had in the same car as he did for qualifying through the season.

Don’t TOCA monitor the engine performance of every car? If a motor was outside of its BOP then surely they would see it. Or are we back to “it’s been turned up” again despite there being no proof of it ever happening

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Don’t TOCA monitor the engine performance of every car? If a motor was outside of its BOP then surely they would see it. Or are we back to “it’s been turned up” again despite there being no proof of it ever happening

Exactly that - there is nothing to see here.

It might be true that they have a different map for qualifying. But it will still be fully within the permitted parameters.
It might also be that the car is just better on aero.

Either way, there will be nothing 'secret' about it or anything devious going on.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Exactly that - there is nothing to see here.

It might be true that they have a different map for qualifying. But it will still be fully within the permitted parameters.
It might also be that the car is just better on aero.

Either way, there will be nothing 'secret' about it or anything devious going on.

It was a silly, throwaway comment that he really shouldn't have made. I say that because when you look at the simplified explanations of the rules from the BTCC website - not even in the detailed technical regulations - then you see the following:

Electronics:

• The entire vehicle strategy system has been packaged into one unit from 2022. This means that the battery management, motor control strategies, cooling and all of the control surrounding the internal combustion engine is managed by the Cosworth Antares 8 ECU (Electronics Control Unit)

• Common power management box and switch panels
• Common Cosworth wiring loom design

• Judicial camera system to be run by all cars

I would imagine that, like the engines themselves, all the electronics are sealed and monitored by the BTCC scrutineers, and that any special settings would also be available to all the teams.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

I would imagine that, like the engines themselves, all the electronics are sealed and monitored by the BTCC scrutineers, and that any special settings would also be available to all the teams.

You are right - but there is still a little bit of freedom to amend the maps by the teams. These maps are also specific to each engine, although the common ECU is used to provide this.

Note the comments from Christian Dick in 2023 when they moved to their own power unit:
“It’s little bits of detail. If we want to take a risk in terms of how close we run to the actual boost limit or temperatures and suchlike, that’s up to us – we’re not told by our engine company. We’ll [now] be advised by our engine company, but we can override that if we want to.”

And it could simply be this 'freedom' that Excelr8 are using in qualifying. They might be pushing the boundaries in terms of boost and temperatures, and having to dial back for their race setting?

[redshoes]

Or it could just be that car and driver are quick over a single lap. Turkington was constantly quick in qualifying but I don't see anyone suggesting that he was using a super secret extra boost setting

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Or it could just be that car and driver are quick over a single lap. Turkington was constantly quick in qualifying but I don't see anyone suggesting that he was using a super secret extra boost setting

Maybe - but Hill was specifically referring to the speed traps rather than the whole lap.

Which made me wonder - is he right to suggest the Hyundai was top of the speed trap times?

Looking at the evidence, there seems to be little there. It may be a bit of recency bias looking at the last two weekends, but it also is something that has little reason to worry about.

So what if a car is bit quicker at top speed in qualifying only, if you are still getting a better overall lap time?

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

So what if a car is bit quicker at top speed in qualifying only, if you are still getting a better overall lap time?

exactly

remember the subarus were always bottom of the speed trap and usually at the top of the lap times

the lap time is only thing that matters

[auroan]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

exactly

remember the subarus were always bottom of the speed trap and usually at the top of the lap times

the lap time is only thing that matters

Maybe in qualy, but in a race it's very different. The scoobies were only any good when they led from the front or on tight and twisty tracks. Once in traffic they struggled when cars out dragged them down the straights.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by auroan

Maybe in qualy, but in a race it's very different. The scoobies were only any good when they led from the front or on tight and twisty tracks. Once in traffic they struggled when cars out dragged them down the straights.

we are talking about qualifying speeds

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

exactly

remember the subarus were always bottom of the speed trap and usually at the top of the lap times

the lap time is only thing that matters

And the Protons were always fastest through the speed traps but never got a pole.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by sceptic

And the Protons were always fastest through the speed traps but never got a pole.

Which ones? The works ones that ran in the 00s or the Welch one which ran in the 10s? Just curious

[auroan]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

we are talking about qualifying speeds

And ? I made a point that quali lap time isn't the be all and end all of a car's success. The levorg was rubbish in traffic.

So top speed can/is important past quali.

[v8supes]

Its very obvious that there was something special with the Hyundai, look how Ingram drove through the field at times. Especially last weekend. Just like with Sutton last year. Then all of a sudden this year Suttons car is "normal"..... Yeah, ok...

[TinTopGrumpy]

Originally Posted by v8supes

Its very obvious that there was something special with the Hyundai, look how Ingram drove through the field at times. Especially last weekend. Just like with Sutton last year. Then all of a sudden this year Suttons car is "normal"..... Yeah, ok...

Depends on how you look at it. Say the Focus was at 99% of what it was capable of last year and the Hyundai was at 90% at the time. Alliance were the first of the big teams to spend really spend the winter developing every aspect of the car to the max so got a seasons head start.

[MarcusH26]

Fans choice award nominations announced

https://btcc.net/fans-choice-award/

Nominees

Toyota's Snett 1-2-3

Hills pass on Ingram to win the title

PMR independents title sweep and double overall podium

Ronan Pearsons win at Brands Indy

Bobby Thompsons debut 2nd at Snett

WSR/BMWs 10th manufacturer title

Ingram's second place at Donington GP from the back

Napas hat-trick of teams titles

Daryl DeLeons 7th place at Brands GP

Restarts Independent win at Croft

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

Bobby Thompsons debut 2nd at Snett

Not saying that would necessarily be my vote, but I'll predict this as the popular choice.

[BTCC frog]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

Fans choice award nominations announced

https://btcc.net/fans-choice-award/

Nominees

Hills pass on Ingram to win the title

It has to be this one. It isn't often the case that a driver has to pass his title rival on track to win the championship.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Not saying that would necessarily be my vote, but I'll predict this as the popular choice.

I dunno, I think Restart’s independent win will be tough to beat!

[antnee]

Originally Posted by Evantra

I dunno, I think Restart’s independent win will be tough to beat!

How is that one even on the list?

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by BTCC frog

It has to be this one. It isn't often the case that a driver has to pass his title rival on track to win the championship.

Yes that was one of the best BTCC finales in recent times

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by antnee

How is that one even on the list?

I guess they wanted something for each team at least.

[S griffin]

To be fair every team had their moment in the sun