BTCC 2007 News, Rumours, Entries...

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

Gavin Smith I assume? In any case, let's hope that comes off and that the BMWs are competitive, which didn't happen when they were up against BTC-spec cars. Has Rob Collard been linked with anyone for next year?

A satellite WSR-run MG was one suggestion I heard.

[thereal_tdb]

Originally Posted by AndySpeed

I've seen this on a few forums now, but have not seen any confirmation myself. Whilst I don't doubt that it's true, I am left wondering who/what the source is.

I'm the source!
And it is 100% fact!
The email sent to me by erkut is private, but the facts remain as i have posted elsewhere!

[rdjones]

The WSR/RAC car looks good, I am going to the show tomorrow so I am looking forward to seeing it in the felsh in about 12 hours time !!

[Tim Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

I'm just not getting my hopes up. After all, it took two and a half years for someone to take a punt on him after he last raced.

But for how much of that time did he have a license?

[Craner Curves]

2 years I think from memory.

[touringlegend]

RAC BMW is gorgeous! If its 2007 spec too that has pleased me greatly as going 2006 would put WSR at an immediate disadvantage.


Rob Collard is said to be leasing a ZS from WSR and reforming Collard Racing. Hope he got his truck back from TD.

[cos]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

RAC BMW is gorgeous! If its 2007 spec too that has pleased me greatly as going 2006 would put WSR at an immediate disadvantage.

Would Schnitzer/BMW/whoever sell right up-to-date BMWs to 3rd parties? Even if RAC have 2006-spec it's not a massive disadvantage surely? Those BMWs beat Leons regularly in the WTCC and the only other serious S2000 competition will come from unproven Vectras and (probably) Civics.

In other news, it's Turner to partner Plato (see the SEAT Sport site).

[Alfa Fan]

Yes, Schnitzer would sell them. They already do so to Roberto Ravaglia, Bart Mampaey and Proteam in the WTCC.

[touringlegend]

I guess Schnitzer will sell if you have the budget, although I am sure I've read before that they have to approve of you!


Also don't think it's mentioned but Synchro have pulled out of the BTCC, opting for Britcar. I hope we might see them back soon if TD builds some quick Civics.

[Andrew Abbott]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Also don't think it's mentioned but Synchro have pulled out of the BTCC, opting for Britcar. I hope we might see them back soon if TD builds some quick Civics.

But isn't that because they want to build their own car, and to race in this year's BTCC would mean building an S2000 car which is too expensive?

Kaye is looking for a BTCC drive, though.

[Alfa Fan]

Wonder where Kaye will turn up?

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by AndySpeed

But isn't that because they want to build their own car, and to race in this year's BTCC would mean building an S2000 car which is too expensive?

Kaye is looking for a BTCC drive, though.

Veteran Kaye needs to stay!

Of course for Synchro - the Accord is Super 2000 if they could grab and develop one of them from JAS etc.

Also, BTC-Spec cars are still elligible - so running the Civic or even the Integra should have been a possibility.

I don't believe it's building the S2000 car that's too expensive, just the BTCC in general if anything - maybe they expect to reap better rewards in Britcar.

[Tim Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

2 years I think from memory.

I thought it was much less, but I checked his site and you're right, it was just over two years.

From MN, Synchro don't want to build an S2000 car as it'll be too much to ask volunteers to do.

Also, have TD confirmed the Civics yet? From how I understood the MN article they are just assessing them, with support from Honda.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Hazard

Of course for Synchro - the Accord is Super 2000 if they could grab and develop one of them from JAS etc.

I don't believe it's building the S2000 car that's too expensive, just the BTCC in general if anything - maybe they expect to reap better rewards in Britcar.

S2000 is expensive if like Synchro you have no real budget to speak of. In the past they've used surplus parts from the production line, which has become more and more difficult for BTC-T and S2000 cars.

My guess is that they will build a new car based on either the new shape Civic or one of the other current models and race in Production S1 rather than the top Britcar class.

[BootsOntheSide]

A shame to lose Synchro, it was always quite nice to have them plugging away in the factory in their spare time. Maybe WTCC-specs are prohibitively expensive for teams to do that now?

[touringlegend]

As it's an "extra curricular" activity at the Honda plant they said they wanted to work with a car that they build there, so thats the Civic. I guess BTCT was far easier to work with for them as a lot of the parts were common to all cars.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

New Vectra looks great... Now that's a real touring car!

[Ranald]

Personally, I think it looks terrible. But I have only seen 3 photos.

[the interpreter]

Yes, the BTCC is back, well and truly!
Great news about Team RAC, Turner and the new Vectra.

However, it's now nearly mid-January and we haven't heard anything about Team Dynamics - it's getting awfully late in the day to build cars - I'm guessing (hoping) that they'll be getting two JAS Accords.

And about the Vectra - surely that BTC Touring-spec rear wing is not the final race version? There is no way they should be able to race with that! All the other S2000 teams would be disadvantaged - anyway, the big wing looks stupid on an otherwise terrific looking car.

[Craner Curves]

It's only a show car though. I expect the proper one to look a bit better.

[Alfa Fan]

Dynamics are building S2000 Civic 5-doors. It was in MN yesterday.

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by the interpreter

And about the Vectra - surely that BTC Touring-spec rear wing is not the final race version? There is no way they should be able to race with that! All the other S2000 teams would be disadvantaged - anyway, the big wing looks stupid on an otherwise terrific looking car.

They wouldn't really. The S2000 wing actually works, whereas the BTCC one is purely cosmetic with zero or little actual aerodynamic effect.

[the interpreter]

Any news on the plans of Arena Motorsport to field two 2006-spec BMW 320si's? I really hope that this deal can be finalised.

Re: Dynamics - that's good news about the Civics - any photos yet?

Also, is anyone likely to field Chevrolets?

[Alfa Fan]

Arena were planning to run a pair of 2006 BMWs, so that plan, if still going ahead, will be unaffected by WSR buying 2 2007-spec cars.

[Tim Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by the interpreter

Re: Dynamics - that's good news about the Civics - any photos yet?

Only mock-ups from MN. It doesn't seem like anyone has confirmed anything, except that TD are looking at the Civics, Honda will help them out a bit (if TD decide that the Civic is what they want to use) but it won't be a works effort.