BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[MarcusH26]

https://www.btcc.net/2024/03/27/evans-halshaw-power-maxed-racing-lift-the-covers-on-2024-livery/

PMR livery looks pretty smart , no mention of a third car to be revealed. Just ATS and Doble it seems.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

https://www.btcc.net/2024/03/27/evans-halshaw-power-maxed-racing-lift-the-covers-on-2024-livery/

PMR livery looks pretty smart , no mention of a third car to be revealed. Just ATS and Doble it seems.

Not bad, but feels like every year there’s a little bit less done with it, for better or worse - completely blank front bumper for example.

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Not bad, but feels like every year there’s a little bit less done with it, for better or worse - completely blank front bumper for example.

Would you not prefer that over sticker bombing?

[ACF_]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Not bad, but feels like every year there’s a little bit less done with it, for better or worse - completely blank front bumper for example.

I agree. The front bumper being all white just looks like it's been added as a temporary replacement between races. A bit of blue & yellow on it would tie it in better with the rest of the livery in my opinion. Good to see them on the grid tho, even if it is one car less than expected

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Evantra

completely blank front bumper for example.

You mean completely blank apart from the 9 associate sponsor logos, plus tyre supplier and series title sponsor ?

I remember when the 95 Vauxhall or 96 Audi were considered classic liveries. They contained vast areas of just a plain colour. These days people complain if the car isn't an entire Jackson Pollock painting.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Not bad, but feels like every year there’s a little bit less done with it, for better or worse - completely blank front bumper for example.

Or is being left blank until the 3rd car sponsor is announced?

[Protonman]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Or is being left blank until the 3rd car sponsor is announced?

Last year team were geared up for two cars but then an opportunity came to raise it to 3 and they coped much better than expected with this . Same situation this year but nobody has come forward to fill the void . Team not under pressure to have bigger number and probably very comfortable with just 2 cars in what is well run compact entry . Still could change but unlikely in current times. What happened at Hard should prove a sound warning about fielding extra cars for a perceived but ill thought out move . PMR presence is very welcome and probably sustainable, whilst free from controversy . Still don’t know if Hard will magic up that 2nd entry or if this is then clinging onto a sinking ship .

[Protonman]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Not bad, but feels like every year there’s a little bit less done with it, for better or worse - completely blank front bumper for example.

Unfussy livery but good to see others sponsors and the results of a little forward planning . Remember when they entered it was a walking advert for Power Maxed with nothing much else and they once entered a soap actor for the publicity it gave them . Now they employ hard working sensible drivers and occasionally discover a gem amongst them like last year . Wish Ash Hand was able to make up the set but money talks .

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Protonman

Last year team were geared up for two cars but then an opportunity came to raise it to 3 and they coped much better than expected with this . Same situation this year but nobody has come forward to fill the void . Team not under pressure to have bigger number and probably very comfortable with just 2 cars in what is well run compact entry . Still could change but unlikely in current times. What happened at Hard should prove a sound warning about fielding extra cars for a perceived but ill thought out move . PMR presence is very welcome and probably sustainable, whilst free from controversy . Still don’t know if Hard will magic up that 2nd entry or if this is then clinging onto a sinking ship .

Or indeed even the 1st.... some key suppliers still owed money i understand

[coffinpilot]

First official test at Brands next week, currently 19 confirmed drivers (would be very surprised if HARD are there before Donington) so I reckon 18 on track for the two days.

I know it used to be written in the regs about drivers entering a couple of rounds in getting a weight penalty, I assume that's the case with hybrid too? But what I'd like to know, and some of you seem connected enough to answer, say Toyota or WSR sign a driver late on, say in time for round three, how much work will it take to take on extra engineering staff/hospitality stuff etc, and how long would it take to get operating the other car up to standard?

[Moneyseeker]

That WSR is still scratching around the fill the 3rd car says something about the current climate for budgets!

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

That WSR is still scratching around the fill the 3rd car says something about the current climate for budgets!

Apt username!

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

I know it used to be written in the regs about drivers entering a couple of rounds in getting a weight penalty, I assume that's the case with hybrid too?

First a couple of definitions.
TOCA define a 'late entry' as being made after 22nd March, so any driver not yet on the entry list will be a late entry, regardless if they miss the first round or not.
The equivalent of success ballast is Hybrid Energy Modulation (HEM).

There is a stipulation in the regs that late entry HEM will apply. Actually the regs refer to a 'late registered car' rather than 'late registered driver'. However as will most things in the regs, it's at the "sole discretion of the Administrator", so the answer to your question is probably yes/no/maybe [delete as applicable]

[MarcusH26]

Did say in the Autosport article that WSR planned to have all 4 cars running at Snetterton today so I don't know how they'll manage the fourth car if there's no one confirmed

The new engine was shaken down in two cars at the MIRA proving ground last week, before WSR begins testing with all four of its cars at Snetterton on Wednesday this week.

[thetool]

It's not hard to have four cars running across three drivers during a whole day test. Not unusual at all for one driver to be behind the wheel of multiple chassis on the same day.

[SSmith]

https://twitter.com/BTCC/status/1772987020756836789

"ITV Sport and BTCC announce that every race of the upcoming 2024 season will be streamed LIVE around the globe via TikTok"

Didn't see that coming! Is associating with TikTok really a smart move though + vertical video orientation?

[sceptic]

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 . Thompson was complimentary about the updates used and the engineering expertise given by Barry Plowright , but the older cars were very inconsistent and never truly competitive . If he is using that same car Deleon will be lucky to be on the pace of Smiley and will be trying just to hang in there with the lower order drivers like halsteard and sumpton . Not a great prospect unless he drives the wheels of it, which will add to the possibilities of accident damage .

Doesn't DeLeon own that car?

Originally Posted by redshoes

First a couple of definitions.
TOCA define a 'late entry' as being made after 22nd March, so any driver not yet on the entry list will be a late entry, regardless if they miss the first round or not.
The equivalent of success ballast is Hybrid Energy Modulation (HEM).

There is a stipulation in the regs that late entry HEM will apply. Actually the regs refer to a 'late registered car' rather than 'late registered driver'. However as will most things in the regs, it's at the "sole discretion of the Administrator", so the answer to your question is probably yes/no/maybe [delete as applicable]

The car is registered, so there won't be any penalty. They don't have to nominate a driver for the entry. They certainly don't need to announce who that driver is publically.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by SSmith

https://twitter.com/BTCC/status/1772987020756836789

"ITV Sport and BTCC announce that every race of the upcoming 2024 season will be streamed LIVE around the globe via TikTok"

Didn't see that coming! Is associating with TikTok really a smart move though + vertical video orientation?

Catering for a younger audience at least! Can only be good for the series, hopefully qualifying will stay on YouTube though.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by SSmith

https://twitter.com/BTCC/status/1772987020756836789

"ITV Sport and BTCC announce that every race of the upcoming 2024 season will be streamed LIVE around the globe via TikTok"

Didn't see that coming! Is associating with TikTok really a smart move though + vertical video orientation?

In January this year, TikTok began to encourage horizontal videos.
Interestingly, if over one minute in length and landscape, then the video is eligible for View Boosting.


TikTok also recommends the maximum length of streams as being 30 minutes - so perfect for BTCC.

[BtccLee]

Been a lot of criticism about the outdated media/broadcast approach. This is a smart move, potentially a huge move for the series, and hopefully finally provides world-wide viewing opportunities. Very intrigued to see the impact of this move, and whether it leads to more brands/teams interested in the series beyond 2024.

[crmalcolm]

To summarise the registration (as per regulations):

• Registration of entry (with TBL) to be confirmed by 1st December 23.
• All drivers, entrants, teams and manufacturers/constructors to be registered by 15 March 24.
• Drivers who are accepted into the Championship after Friday, March 22nd, 2024, will be classified as Late Registrations and may incur a 20% entry fee surcharge at the Administrator’s discretion.
• Cars registered for the Championship after March 22nd, 2024, and/or those cars that miss one or more Championship Meetings may carry a Late Entry HEM, the amount of which will be stipulated at the sole discretion of the Administrator.
• Any driver, including substitute drivers, who takes-over the registered car of another driver will also take over the HEM of the departing driver up to that time, or an amount stipulated at the sole discretion of the Administrator.
• Any subsequent change to an Entrant's registered car, or driver, during the course of the Championship is by application to and approval of the Administrator.

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by sceptic

Doesn't DeLeon own that car?

No, the man behind Unlimited Edition owns both Cupras and was the one who got De Leon into the seat. The whole project exists purely so he can try to recoup some of what he's owed. Leading up to a new season HARD would be posting updates and hashtags everywhere, they've been keeping quiet to say the least.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

TikTok also recommends the maximum length of streams as being 30 minutes - so perfect for BTCC.

That's cutting it a bit fine if you include the green flag lap, and especially if there's a safety car. 2 of the 3 races at Donington round 1 last year were over 29 mins with the third over 30 mins, and that's just taking lights to flag.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by redshoes

That's cutting it a bit fine if you include the green flag lap, and especially if there's a safety car. 2 of the 3 races at Donington round 1 last year were over 29 mins with the third over 30 mins, and that's just taking lights to flag.

It's not a hard stop - just a recommendation, so a (for example) 35 minute video will be fine. I think it's more to deter 1hr+ streams from the platform.

[v8supes]

I agree, this can only be a good thing. Just wish they'd leave the streaming on after qualifying so we can watch the support races. They film them to show on the Sunday already anyway so it cant be that much work to stream it?