[BTCC] BTCC News & Rumours 2025

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

Speedworks remain the great unknown , I'd expect Huff back but the other 3 seats seem up for grabs. Think the 2 currently non TGR branded cars would need someone with a major title sponsor to come along and I don't know how many drivers have sponsors at that kind of financial level.

Don’t forget that Mr Hamilton snr had assembled enough sponsorship for a 2 car team for Nic and another (probably paying) driver for this season, they had a team lined up to run the cars, BUT they couldn’t secure the ‘spare’ Cupra’s because of the amount of people claiming ownership of them, hence the plans fell through.

I have no insight if Nic is still looking to get on the grid for 2025, just saying there are some people with sufficient backing!

[ScottS]

From the following video, he very much is hoping to be on the grid in '25.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qOR-6lo1no

[Protonman]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

I think the big question out of that Autosport article is where does this leave Josh Cook? If he's not coming to WSR with Moffat and Autosport are convinced he's got a deal elsewhere I wonder how this will all shake out as he's never been someone with big personal sponsors.

The situation for Cookie is always intriguing. Quick enough to win and possible championship contender but does his face fit in many of the remaining seats . 3rd car at Hyundai would give him the equipment but Ingram Chilton and Halstead bring extra funding which Cook doesn’t normally have . Also would he want to partner a fellow championship contender or prefer a car built around him . He has complained often that his car didn’t suit since driving so well in an under powered but good handling Honda. Could team up with Dudman and Honda if money available but it’s been very quiet in that region so don’t hold your breath. Would love to know what Autosport know that we don’t .

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by Protonman

The situation for Cookie is always intriguing. Quick enough to win and possible championship contender but does his face fit in many of the remaining seats . 3rd car at Hyundai would give him the equipment but Ingram Chilton and Halstead bring extra funding which Cook doesn’t normally have . Also would he want to partner a fellow championship contender or prefer a car built around him . He has complained often that his car didn’t suit since driving so well in an under powered but good handling Honda. Could team up with Dudman and Honda if money available but it’s been very quiet in that region so don’t hold your breath. Would love to know what Autosport know that we don’t .

It's such an interesting conundrum with Cooky, quick enough to win the title but I don't know if he'll ever fit a title contending teams lineup given most are cemented in with lead drivers already. All I can potentially think is someone has a satellite deal lined up for either the spare Alliance Focuses that Pete Osborne and Olly Collins have said could be available for a new team or potentially Excler8 do a similar thing with the Hyundai's.

I think if One were genuinely coming back we'd have heard something from someone by now. It's all far too quiet and I'd have expected they would have been testing by now if they had major updates done.

[Protonman]

[QUOTE=ScottS;4234460]From the following video, he very much is hoping to be on the grid in '25.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qOR-6lo1no[/QUOTE
]
Yep he said as much in the recent interview on sky but he also said he wasn’t expecting his family to find budget . Potentially could take up the now spare Toyota with a teammate to help if wished. I also wonder if Scott Sumpton could finance himself in a Toyota . The TGR cars could continue as last year with Pearson possibly replacing Watson who took a bit of a battering last year. Would like Watson to try again , maybe back at PMR or if rumours of links with MB prove accurate he is another connected to BMW .

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

One? They did say they would return and publically loathed Hybrid

Yes, One will be back with Cook as one of their drivers. Moffat almost certain at WSR, Turks likely to be back, with ‘a returning driver’ in another car.

Pearson in at Speedworks. Nic Hamilton will be back on the grid & ReStart will be ditching the Cupra & running a car that is already on the current grid.

Still plenty to shake out though.

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by Overboost

Yes, One will be back with Cook as one of their drivers. Moffat almost certain at WSR, Turks likely to be back, with ‘a returning driver’ in another car.

Pearson in at Speedworks. Nic Hamilton will be back on the grid & ReStart will be ditching the Cupra & running a car that is already on the current grid.

Still plenty to shake out though.

Are One going to run the Civic?

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by Overboost

Yes, One will be back with Cook as one of their drivers. Moffat almost certain at WSR, Turks likely to be back, with ‘a returning driver’ in another car.

Pearson in at Speedworks. Nic Hamilton will be back on the grid & ReStart will be ditching the Cupra & running a car that is already on the current grid.

Still plenty to shake out though.

Fascinating. If One is a two car entry, WSR add an additional entry, and Unlimited expand that would be the magic 24.

Although I am not convinced without LKQ/Eurocar Parts that Speedworks would stay at four entries.

[MarcusH26]

5 at WSR would be very interesting , assuming Moffat would be his own entry and not an LKQ with MB stablemate for Hill.

I guess the question mark with WSR will be if Morgan is back or if that seat goes to someone else.

Speedworks I'm wondering if it will be Huff/Pearson/Sumpton/Hamilton? Christian Dick has tried to do a deal for Nic in the past. That would get them to the 4 cars but the branding might be a bit all over the show.

One coming back is a genuine surprise as it's been completely radio silence, an interesting move for Cooky if they can get the car developed enough that it can mix it at the sharp end.

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

5 at WSR would be very interesting , assuming Moffat would be his own entry and not an LKQ with MB stablemate for Hill.

Five cars at WSR? Where is the 5th car?

LKQ/Eurocarparts is Moffat's sponsor and certainly nothing to do with MB Motorsport who already have a title sponsor.

[auroan]

Originally Posted by SV8Predator

Five cars at WSR? Where is the 5th car?

LKQ/Eurocarparts is Moffat's sponsor and certainly nothing to do with MB Motorsport who already have a title sponsor.

2 cars back from Cicley ontop of the 3 cars WSR had equals 5.

On the LKQ thing. Now the other bit of MB is managing the sponsorship... it's doesn't take much of a stretch for it to feed into MB motorsport.

This is a rumours thread after all.

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by Overboost

ReStart will be ditching the Cupra & running a car that is already on the current grid.

A Toyota sounds good to me.

[Pickles]

Can we see Sumpton taking his Cupra to Un-Limited?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by SV8Predator

Five cars at WSR? Where is the 5th car?

LKQ/Eurocarparts is Moffat's sponsor and certainly nothing to do with MB Motorsport who already have a title sponsor.

There are six 330s built.

G20-023-01 last raced in 2022 and is now in a private collection
G20-023-02 was raced in 2023 and was a spare in 2024
G20-023-03 was raced by Hill in 2024
G20-023-04 was raced by Morgan in 2024
G20-023-05 was raced by Thompson in 2024
G20-023-06 was raced by Turkington in 2024

2024 saw three teams running BMWs (in terms of sponsorhip):

Team BMW
Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport
Zeus Cloud Racing with WSR

So it's not a stretch by any means to consider an entry for LKQ Euro Car Parts with WSR (or LKQ EuroCarParts with MB Motorsport) alongside Team BMW and Laser Tools entries.

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by auroan

Now the other bit of MB is managing the sponsorship...

MB Partners is not "managing the sponsorship" — the MB Partners deal with LKQ/Eurocarparts has got nothing to do with sponsorship.

[S griffin]

I’m sure Jake Hill will continue getting a good sponsor, there’s plenty out there

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I’m sure Jake Hill will continue getting a good sponsor, there’s plenty out there

Laser Tools is confirmed I believe.

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

Speedworks I'm wondering if it will be Huff/Pearson/Sumpton/Hamilton? Christian Dick has tried to do a deal for Nic in the past. That would get them to the 4 cars but the branding might be a bit all over the show.

I think Hamilton's best chances of returning would be with Speedworks or potentially Restart. Whilst Toyota have no financial involvement, if Hamilton could get the funding together the optics would be great for Toyota UK's PR team. A disabled driver in a Toyota, who are a long-time sponsor of the Paralympic Games and other disability/mobility initiatives.

[auroan]

Originally Posted by SV8Predator

MB Partners is not "managing the sponsorship" — the MB Partners deal with LKQ/Eurocarparts has got nothing to do with sponsorship.

MB partners are a marketing organisation with a high degree of focus on sponsorship packages and how they are applied across sports. What else do you think LKQ going to them means ?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by auroan

MB partners are a marketing organisation with a high degree of focus on sponsorship packages and how they are applied across sports. What else do you think LKQ going to them means ?

There are many things that MB Partners do, that is more than just sponsorship.

Their five key activities are all related to marketing:

Sponsorship, Talent, Events, Digital and Partner Programme.

Sponsorship - Laser Tools, Howdens and Andrew Watson are examples of their sponsorship work.

Talent - Jake Hill, Andrew Watson and Gary Paffett are examples of their talent work.

Events - An evening with Mark Blundell alongside Carrier HVAC, The Arbuthnot Latham Ryder Cup and Celebrity Masterchef meets Ready Steady Cook with Convera are examples of their event work.

Digital - Social content creation and videography for the British Touring Car Championship, Corporate documentation and literature for RoamingExpert and Full turnkey suite of digital marketing services on behalf of Walero are examples of their digital work.

Partner Programme - Inspiring and engaging Future Leaders alongside 1762 RBC Brewin Dolphin and Targeted prospecting and introductions with Investec are examples of their Partner Programme work.

It is the Partner Programme that LKQ has joined. That does not mean that they will not also expand / alter their sponsorship direction, and some would say that it is now more likely. But it might have no relation to any BTCC activities at all.

All of the outcome might be networking, introductions and corporate events. But equally it might see a shift in presence on the BTCC grid.
Toyota GAZOO, Speedworks, Mercedes-AMG, PMR and WSR have all had working relationships with MB Partners. A connection doesn't guarantee that sponsorship will happen, but it does make it more likely.

[TinTopGrumpy]

Interesting insight from ATS recently. He has over 30 sponsors to get his car on the grid. People talk about "a" sponsor when for the majority of the drivers it's far more complex than that.

[S griffin]

He has a unique perspective ATS. No wonder so many sponsor him. Sponsors are everywhere, although there usually is one main one

[redshoes]

That's by no means unique. Jack Goff used to be well known for having dozens of separate sponsors, each bringing in a relativity tiny amount of funding.

[porsche962fan]

WRC to drop hybrid for 2025 due to escalating costs , coincidence ?

[S griffin]

I think people are realising that hybrid isn’t necessarily the be all and end all. There are other alternatives out there