BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[Protonman]

Just to recap we have 19 confirmed entries with another 4 showing TBA . Personally I get the impression that PMR have admitted defeat and will be content with 2 car entry , which leaves BMW Toyota and Hard . Will be shocked if Toyota continue to have spare seat given its one expected to carry Cazoo livery but the other 2 seem more iffy . Testing starts next week and would expect confirmation before then hopefully . Is 20 or 21 sufficient I wonder to maintain series prestige. It’s more than TCR but sadly lacking the sports GT series which has a full grid this year . Let’s hope the competition and driver quality wins it over .

[MarcusH26]

I think 22-23 cars is absolutely fine as a grid. Just not sure what the final makeup will be in terms of drivers etc. I'm assuming Huff to Toyota is still happening but the other remaining seats could genuinely be anyone's guess.

[Evantra]

PMR livery reveal at 9:00 on Wednesday. Seems like just the two drivers for now.

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by Protonman

Just to recap we have 19 confirmed entries with another 4 showing TBA . Personally I get the impression that PMR have admitted defeat and will be content with 2 car entry , which leaves BMW Toyota and Hard . Will be shocked if Toyota continue to have spare seat given its one expected to carry Cazoo livery but the other 2 seem more iffy . Testing starts next week and would expect confirmation before then hopefully . Is 20 or 21 sufficient I wonder to maintain series prestige. It’s more than TCR but sadly lacking the sports GT series which has a full grid this year . Let’s hope the competition and driver quality wins it over .

The current state of Cazoo does make you wonder what level of involvement will they have. If they sell all their stock and try to rival Autotrader how will they reinvest their cash PR wise? Not knocking the BTCC, but a sticker over a wheel arch won't have gotten any traction, so it's down to whether or not their new direction requires BTCC hospitality.

[MarcusH26]

I think there might have been some confusion here , I'd be surprised if Cazoo had the backing for a BTCC sponsorship deal given their financial situation. Think someone (Laser Tools when they had Sutton?) had Cinch as a minor sponsor though.

Toyota Gazoo Racing works colours is the livery I'd expect the livery to be for the other 2 Corollas.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Protonman

If my memory serves me well didn’t DeLeon take over when Edward’s jumped ship last year. If so the car used was one of the older more well used cars which may have suffered much damage before . Assuming Restart have taken the pick of last years cars , used by Thompson or Lloyd .

Restart have the two 2023 built cars as used by Lloyd and Thompson/Cress.

DeLeon did indeed take over the car from Edwards last year (Geddie/Michell in 2021, Powell/Oliphant/Boardley in 2022). I believe he will be in the same car this year.

I'm anticipating the two Restart cars to be significantly better that the Hard pair.

[Protonman]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Restart have the two 2023 built cars as used by Lloyd and Thompson/Cress.

DeLeon did indeed take over the car from Edwards last year (Geddie/Michell in 2021, Powell/Oliphant/Boardley in 2022). I believe he will be in the same car this year.

I'm anticipating the two Restart cars to be significantly better that the Hard pair.

Just to clarify typo in my previous text, meant to say Gazoo

[Evantra]

If you turn brightness up to max, you can easily see WSR’s livery. Just two cars, Morgan and Turkington as expected. Retain BMW backing.

https://x.com/official_wsr/status/17...T11pmdgnSSDQzA

[Craner Curves]

Turkington running 20 for his 20th season.

[touringlegend]

Originally Posted by Evantra

If you turn brightness up to max, you can easily see WSR’s livery. Just two cars, Morgan and Turkington as expected. Retain BMW backing.

https://x.com/official_wsr/status/17...T11pmdgnSSDQzA

It’s now been reposted with no names or numbers on windows when brightness turned up.

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by Evantra

If you turn brightness up to max, you can easily see WSR’s livery. Just two cars, Morgan and Turkington as expected. Retain BMW backing.

https://x.com/official_wsr/status/17...T11pmdgnSSDQzA

So what do we reckon the chances are the 4th (and possibly 5th) BMW will turn up in a different livery?

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

So what do we reckon the chances are the 4th (and possibly 5th) BMW will turn up in a different livery?

This is the only way I can see the other car making the grid is if it's not in Team BMW livery. I guess we'll find out later if it's mentioned in the press release for announcing Turkington and Morgan.

[Millvi]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

This is the only way I can see the other car making the grid is if it's not in Team BMW livery. I guess we'll find out later if it's mentioned in the press release for announcing Turkington and Morgan.

A 4th Astra perhaps? Does TOCA need a certain percentage of M-Sport powered cars to meet a contractual obligation?

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Millvi

A 4th Astra perhaps? Does TOCA need a certain percentage of M-Sport powered cars to meet a contractual obligation?

Even if that is the case, the number has probably already been met hasn't it? With the established teams either dropping out or reducing numbers I'd be very surprised to see anyone new entering now.

[Protonman]

Originally Posted by Pickles

Even if that is the case, the number has probably already been met hasn't it? With the established teams either dropping out or reducing numbers I'd be very surprised to see anyone new entering now.

Sad prospect but not totally unexpected that Theirs no replacement for Jelley. The pre Christmas clamour probably moved elsewhere or couldn’t raise the Money needed , unless MB racing want a second car. There are 6 cars expected to run the TOCA engine . Not as much as usual but it does amount to more than a quarter of the entry so seems fair and acceptable . All cars contesting the Indy class will have equal power units this year , unless Cook/Moffatt count towards it .

[Protonman]

Just a bit of fanciful thinking regarding the fourth Hard car , don’t suppose Rob Austin would fancy a comeback , previous race winner and capable of dragging pace out of cars run on the proverbial shoestring . Put him in an Infinity if no supra fit to run . Would add a little devil may care the championship needs .

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Protonman

Just a bit of fanciful thinking regarding the fourth Hard car , don’t suppose Rob Austin would fancy a comeback , previous race winner and capable of dragging pace out of cars run on the proverbial shoestring . Put him in an Infinity if no supra fit to run . Would add a little devil may care the championship needs .

Pretty sure he’s focusing on his family now. Especially don’t expect he would want to return to a team at the back.

Had/has a strong connection to Speedworks in through Christian Dick and Close Brothers, so would’ve thought if he had been keen or funded enough to continuing driving he might’ve appeared there in previous years.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Millvi

A 4th Astra perhaps?

Are we even getting the third at this point?

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Are we even getting the third at this point?

I did think that when they set their livery launch. Either media days going to be busy or we’ll be seeing a few spare cars parked up for the season.

[MarcusH26]

Unfortunately I could easily see the 4th BMW and 3rd Astra not running , unless someone comes out of nowhere with funding.

[Moneyseeker]

I think WSR's hopes of a 3rd car excluding Hill probably ended when Ricky Collard went to GT instead.

Nick doesn't like running cars cheaply so I doubt there will be a 3rd car, anyone with his sort of budget requirements will be elsewhere by now.

Sent from my SM-M336B using Tapatalk

[Matt K]

As things stand now the things look even worse than it seemed some time ago. Kind of thought the 3rd Astra and 4th BMW are certainties, more about who can be there. Now it increasingly looks likely there'll be neither of them, meaning we're left with what, 20-21 cars on the grid? A very steep decline.

[Mondeo Man33]

Turkington and Morgan just confirmed at WSR

[MarcusH26]

https://www.btcc.net/2024/03/26/team-bmw-confirms-turkington-and-morgan-as-2024-challenger-is-unveiled/

WSR announcement, New engine with NBE and BMWs engine plant at Hams Hall developing it.

Fourth WSR-run car announcement to follow in due course.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

Fourth WSR-run car announcement to follow in due course.

Good to hear.