[BTCC] 2015 BTCC news & rumours

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by 850Estate

I think the best thing Welch could do now is relinquish the second TBL and focus on making Dan's car competitive. There's going to be little interest in the second car I'd imagine and it's an unnecessary and time consuming expense.

As has been said, Dan had the car going well in 2013. He's a good driver, and if the car runs reliably should be able to run in the lower end points quite consistently.

And Honda would happily pay for the TBL you imagine... If they were, hypothetically of course, to run a third car for Clarke next year.

[mark_l]

http://www.touringcartimes.com/2015/...inder-of-2015/

Is this really a surprise?

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by mark_l

Is this really a surprise?

A bit surprised TOCA pulled the licence. It's always been an option and several teams have been sailing close to the edge as far as the original wording of the rules, but I wasn't expecting TOCA to actually take that step.

Not at all surprised that the team are down to one car, even if the licence hadn't been taken back.

[850Estate]

Originally Posted by mark_l

http://www.touringcartimes.com/2015/...inder-of-2015/

Is this really a surprise?

Strong stuff from TOCA, but the correct move - and I applaud them for their bravery in taking it - SOPR were at risk of turning into Team HARD. from 2013.

Wonder if Welch will be next...What happens if they can't get a driver for the remainder of the season?

Shame for Max Coates, as he's a very talented driver. Hopefully one day he'll get the funding he deserves.

I bet Richard Hawken is having a little chuckle at that news tonight mind you!

[BtccLee]

A warning shot from TOCA, certain people taking the micky. Shows the TBL system isn't just for show and that the professionalism of teams will be scrutinised. Reckon Welch will lose a TBL and correct me if I'm wrong but aren't Infiniti's TBLs temporary anyway, for a new team? So they lose the second at the end of the year.

[redshoes]

http://www.insidebtcc.com/guest-entr...ond-paras-car/

So much for TOCA taking a hard line. Paras might be allowed to run a second car as a 'guest' entry without a licence, same as Nic Hamilton.

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by redshoes

http://www.insidebtcc.com/guest-entr...ond-paras-car/

So much for TOCA taking a hard line. Paras might be allowed to run a second car as a 'guest' entry without a licence, same as Nic Hamilton.

Yeah but that's fair enough, they don't just have a useless car with nothing to do. Can't score points.

[porsche962fan]

not like they would have scored anyway...

guest license also means this isn't secured for 2016 spot

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

not like they would have scored anyway...

guest license also means this isn't secured for 2016 spot

Yes - both TBL's are TOCA's and were loaned for this season.
We have now cancelled their use of one of those two TBL's.

(Also to clarify - the cancellation of their TBL means that the car can't appear as a 'guest' entry, as one or two very ill-informed journalists may speculate.)

Mr Gow has just lampooned that one... This is in response to the question regarding Infiniti's TBL as the two single year "manufacturer" TBLs.

[Inside BTCC]

The original story this morning was based on conversations with the team about the situation - a story with Alan clarifying TOCA's position is now online: http://www.insidebtcc.com/gow-clarif...as-tbl-stance/

[cos]

Confirmed that Welch have now also lost a TBL.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Well that's 2 spaces for cars that might actually race for points imo. No loss for the championship, both teams were staring these consequences right in the face from very early on...

[Bramzel]

Purely hypothetical and speculative, but what would be the odds of seeing Clarke appear in a third TD Civic for the last races of the season?

[steve_r]

I really hope Welch can get their problems sorted with the one remaining car. These are people who bit the bullet by building and entering NGTC cars way before almost everyone else. It's sad to see their cars that previously were solid midfield runners stuck at the back every race and forever breaking down.

[porsche962fan]

given the rather bad situation Team Dynamics is in the title fight it wouldn't make sense to bother with a 3rd car

[Bramzel]

That I don't agree on. A 3rd car means more data plus the opportunity to steal points from your competitors.

[porsche962fan]

the 3rd car doesn't score points AFAIK ? only 2 cars, cos otherwise Team BMR has a huge unfair advantage of having 4 cars for the Teams Title

[S griffin]

I think it's the top 2 in the teams title

[Bramzel]

He wouldn't score points for the team championship, but he would score points for the drivers championship. Points which can be taken away from other drivers.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Bramzel

He wouldn't score points for the team championship, but he would score points for the drivers championship. Points which can be taken away from other drivers.

The Regulations state that he would:

1.6.4. The Teams Championship: Points will be awarded to the two highest placed cars from each team
in each Race (provided that they are listed as a classified finisher in the Final Results) as per the
format of points scoring for the Drivers Championship except that the additional point for Pole
Position and the additional point for Fastest Lap and the additional point for leading a Race will
not be awarded.

So were a team to enter more than two cars (as BMR already have), they would score Teams Championship points with their first two finishers. The only requirement to nominate cars is for the Constructors Championship - with the nomination occuring on/before 1700hrs on the day of Qualy.

For example, if TD had entered Clarke in a third car at Snetterton, and had finished in 9th for all three races (pushing everyone else back) the impact on points (as I calculate it) would be that Shedden would have one point less in the championship compared to Turkington and Plato, but as a team they would be 19pts closer to BMR.

[redshoes]

Depends on how the car is classified. Chances are a one-off appearance of a third car would be treated as a guest entry, so wouldn't be eligible for points and wouldn't effect the allocate of points to other drivers.

[porsche962fan]

RAR got one of their TBL suspended for missing Knockhill

suspended not removed like Paras or Welch

[GregoryDG]

If Honda enters a third Civic in the BTCC, I'd rather see someone like Tom Ingram in the car. He really deserves a championship winning car to show what he's really made of.

Have there been rumours already about James Thompson returning to the BTCC next year? Would be massive! Hope he replaces James Cole at Motorbase, doesn't seem like the real deal to me...

[S griffin]

Tingram at Honda would be something. He's the future and we could see his true talent.

Agree on James Cole, seems Motorbase have got another Liam Griffin, competent, but nowhere near Jackson's level. Thommo I'd love to see back, some unfinished business maybe?

[touringlegend]

Confirmed now that Priaulx will miss Rockingham.

Do we get a BMW super sub I wonder?