[BTCC] BTCC News & Rumours 2025

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by BtccLee

Should’ve added, it is a returning driver not currently on the grid.

I’d heard the returning driver was in a WSR car not the 2nd MB one, but then you know what the rumours & Chinese whispers are like

[coffinpilot]

Could a literal WSR returning driver be Jelley?

[porsche962fan]

oh no, Jelley is out of his depth at WSR

they really need Bobby T, he clearly proved how good he is in that car

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Could a literal WSR returning driver be Jelley?

Was thinking Ricky Collard potentially...

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

Was thinking Ricky Collard potentially...

Two other’returning’ Names that were showing an interest in returning were George Gamble & Sam Tordoff.

[rdjones]

George Gamble tested a United Autosport McLaren at the WEC rookie test in Bahrain last week.

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

Two other’returning’ Names that were showing an interest in returning were George Gamble & Sam Tordoff.

This honestly feels like it's going to be one of those off seasons where the only thing that's too daft to suggest is AJ returning to WSR. Sounds like there's some big big surprises in the works.

[antnee]

It always seems there is promising talent at Speedworks but they can never quite get the consistency to really challenge for much.

Did Ingram's Speedworks engineer go with him to Exceler8?

[Dudley]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Watson back to PMR?
Rumoured here first??!!

Noted in Autosport today that Smiley talks about having Hamilton or Lloyd as a team mate would be good. Commercial boss Peter Jones replies "You can infer something from that...."

Even as a fan of both there are 2 very different levels of speed there.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by antnee

It always seems there is promising talent at Speedworks but they can never quite get the consistency to really challenge for much.

Did Ingram's Speedworks engineer go with him to Exceler8?

They need stability. I would say they need to keep Cook. Not sure what happened to Ingram's engineer, it's been quite a few years since Tingram left

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by antnee

It always seems there is promising talent at Speedworks but they can never quite get the consistency to really challenge for much.

Did Ingram's Speedworks engineer go with him to Exceler8?

Yes, Spencer went with him to Excelr8.

Hopefully with Huff there he’ll help steer the car’s development.

[Adamcas87]

Another off season and seems the same names been brought up to come back
Jelleys- tbh had his time
Tordoff- would be shocked as he is only keen in his historic racing
Gamble- I think GT3 would be his best bet seems handy in a GT car
Edwards- nope
Hamilton- his time and story has been run now
Shedden- same as Tordoff above

Would love to see Bobby T in a BMW he deserves a shot
Dan Lloyd as well very quick on his day
Ronan Pearson back would be good another quick young driver
Maybe some from the support categories too

[tee.1s]

Originally Posted by S griffin

They need stability. I would say they need to keep Cook. Not sure what happened to Ingram's engineer, it's been quite a few years since Tingram left

Seeing how Huff does with another year in the Corolla will be interesting. He had a pretty tricky first year back with a few good races but not as quick as cook

[Ant25]

Two or so weeks until the announcement of the licenses! Do we think there will be any changes?

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by Ant25

Two or so weeks until the announcement of the licenses! Do we think there will be any changes?

I think One will be back with 2 cars , Unlimited will have a second car , can't see much else changing. Don't think WSR will get to 5.

[coffinpilot]

Sumpton's new team apparently.

https://www.vortx.racing/?fbclid=IwY...ldvWdGBFdjHZzA

[Pickles]

The address is Restart's premises.

[Mike Harte]

And it's sort of interesting that they have chosen to use the name of a company that was dissolved in 2013. A really flash website, full of "promise" but not much about themselves or who they are.

[TyH]

Driver lineup of Sumpton and Nic Hamilton I would have a guess at.

If you look on the ‘drivers’ page on the website, the left silhouette looks very much like Nic Hamilton, and you’d have to assume the other would be Scott Sumpton based on him owning his car etc.

[Mondeo Man33]

On the Driver Lineup section of their site they have silhouette images of two drivers. The one on the left is Nicholas Hamilton, I’m not sure about the other though.

[MarcusH26]

So where does this leave Smiley and the Taylors? New cars under the Restart name? Or has this Vortx team acquired everything?

[Steel Wheels]

Could we see ReStart running a couple of Toyota’s & Speedworks scaling back to 2 cars? That would allow for One coming back with 2 TBL’s, an extra one for UnLimited and the extra BMW possibly?

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

So where does this leave Smiley and the Taylors? New cars under the Restart name? Or has this Vortx team acquired everything?

Yes, Smiley was talking about the fact they were changing cars recently, though didn’t confirm what car, only that it’s a model already on the grid.

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by TyH

Driver lineup of Sumpton and Nic Hamilton I would have a guess at.

If you look on the ‘drivers’ page on the website, the left silhouette looks very much like Nic Hamilton, and you’d have to assume the other would be Scott Sumpton based on him owning his car etc.

I wouldn't take too much notice of the silhouettes, they're off Google. So assuming that their second car is the one that Boardley is rumoured to have just sold.

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by Overboost

Yes, Smiley was talking about the fact they were changing cars recently, though didn’t confirm what car, only that it’s a model already on the grid.

Ah nice! There's quite a few ways they could go there based on what's available. Couple of Corollas could be rather interesting to see if a different team can get that car to work properly....