[BTCC] 2014 BTCC speculation, rumours and news

[medius]

Lets have a bit of rampant speculation then.

All the media outlets said that when announced, TOCA was to issue 30 TBLs, with two being reserved for teams deemed suitable entrants. Seeing as we have 31 entrants this year, who has possession of one of the ''extra'' entries? My obvious thought is Lea Wood or Robb Holland, both are new single-car teams but not new-to-the-BTCC drivers.

And do these ''extra'' entries run to the same restrictions as full time TBLs? (By that I mean, max one driver change per year). And can the 32nd TBL be issued after the season starts? i.e. Could Mr Gravett or whoever find the budget to source a car and get it out at a later date?

Also, spotted on the BTCC link I posted there, it says two extra cars for celebrities/guests are possible, so we could have a grid of 34 cars.....assuming 34 NGTC cars existed.

TOCA may allow up to two extra cars on top of the 32 TBLs to participate at selected events. These will be as ad-hoc, celebrity or R&D entries and will not gain championship points or count towards eligibility for a TBL.

[Sodemo]

However 32 is the limit at Brands Indy and Knockhill? So any such guest appearances would have to be at other venues...?

[gregc]

Alan Gow talked about this quite extensively on TTT the other evening. If I understood him correctly:

- There are 32 TBL's in total
- Originally he wanted to issue 30 and keep 2 back - as he put it, he doesn't want to be in a position of having to turn down Mercedes (or whoever) if they come knocking on his door halfway through the season.
- He/TOCA ended up issuing 31 for this season, however he fully intends that as soon as one becomes free he will be taking it back and keeping hold of it.
- All the TBL holders run to the same rules and restrictions

Additional guest entries I assume would be handled on an ad-hoc basis by TOCA.

[Aunt Sally]

Originally Posted by medius

And can the 32nd TBL be issued after the season starts? i.e. Could Mr Gravett or whoever find the budget to source a car and get it out at a later date?

I don't think Mr Gravett will be part of it!!

But as I have said, It will be a nice new car!!!

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by Aunt Sally

I don't think Mr Gravett will be part of it!!

But as I have said, It will be a nice new car!!!

at Brands Indy or later this season ?

[Aunt Sally]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

at Brands Indy or later this season ?

Later.

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by Aunt Sally

Later.

So is that why Mr Gow is so keen on keeping at least one back then?

Would it also explain why Simon Hill said Jake will be in the BTCC later this year? (He wasn't referring to his Porsche deal either)

[BertMk2]

The track activity has started at Brands with the practice sessions for the support categories - the numbers that have been out in each so far (may not be all of them):

Formula Ford: 15
Ginetta GT4: 15
Ginetta Junior: 21
Porsche: 13
Clio: 13

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

The track activity has started at Brands with the practice sessions for the support categories - the numbers that have been out in each so far (may not be all of them):

Formula Ford: 15
Ginetta GT4: 15
Ginetta Junior: 21
Porsche: 13
Clio: 13

Disappointing numbers overall. The juniors look quite healthy though. Quite why they don't allow older cars to partake as well, I don't know (if they can see the numbers are going to be low).

[jsmee]

Updated MG front-end makes the livery look somewhat better...

[porsche962fan]

^ I think MG has the worst livery this season

[andyjr0999]

Support Race for this season numbers as follows after Fridays Sessions:

Formula Ford: 14 (Should rise to 15 as of Saturday)
Ginetta GT4: 16 (Should rise to 17 as of Saturday)
Ginetta Junior: 21 (Could rise to 22 as of Saturday)
Porsche: 13
Clio: 13

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by andyjr0999

Support Race for this season numbers as follows after Fridays Sessions:

Formula Ford: 14 (Should rise to 15 as of Saturday)
Ginetta GT4: 16 (Should rise to 17 as of Saturday)
Ginetta Junior: 21 (Could rise to 22 as of Saturday)
Porsche: 13
Clio: 13

These are good numbers. Clios and Porsche have introduced new cars, Porsche grid has nearly doubled since Rockingham last year. The Clio grid is quality, dont doubt that. The package overall looks a lot healthier.

[davyboy]

Agreed Lee the poor grids here are mainly down to the car transition... this is normally what happens. It'll likely pick up over the next couple of years.

[Andrew Abbott]

Originally Posted by rich07

Someone got a link to the drivers group photo?

http://www.touringcars.net/gallery-2?g2_itemId=9703

[davyboy]

With Dan Welch a DNA, we're down to 30 cars at Brands. In any event, I guess the 2014 speculation and rumor's done now that the season's started in Brands today.

[andyjr0999]

Did anybody manage to watch qualifying on ITV or did everyone get a stupid message saying update your flash player? Mine is as up to date as it gets so really don't know what its on about.

Just wish Toca and ITV sorted it out and put qualifying on ITV4 on Saturdays for 45 mins. Beats all this rubbish!

[FIRE]

With the first race weekend behind us it's time to close this topic.
From now the race topics are the place for discussion.