[BTCC] BTCC News & Rumours 2025

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Cannot see Audi going to a non German Team with no GT experiance or indeed car building experiance at all

There is a point in there. Would any manufacturer agree to have their GT3 car developed by a team without experience today? Can you develop a GT3 car with out SRO/Involvement in the go ahead?

I'd imagine if Alliance are involved with a major manufacturer in GT3 it will be with outside involvement.

[tocatrucky]

I heard at the weekend that a currently confirmed driver isn't quite as confirmed as they thought after losing a backer, and might only have the budget to do the first couple of weekends unless something comes along.

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by tocatrucky

I heard at the weekend that a currently confirmed driver isn't quite as confirmed as they thought after losing a backer, and might only have the budget to do the first couple of weekends unless something comes along.

And who would that be...?

[BrakeDiegoBrake]

Originally Posted by SV8Predator

And who would that be...?

Max Hall is questionable now if I was being told the truth this morning. Unless Trucky heard something unrelated?.

[Protonman]

Originally Posted by BrakeDiegoBrake

Max Hall is questionable now if I was being told the truth this morning. Unless Trucky heard something unrelated?.

Just when it was all going so well. Hope the young man can make it . Their are others who could step in as it’s likely to be one of the cheaper seats
One have just confirmed they are using the M sport TOCA engine . Engines due within days and planning to test April 2nd at Croft

[Mike Harte]

I may be wrong, however my initial thoughts when reading that press release was that One appear to have left it awfully late to decide on and agree to a new engine deal. It is almost as if they were unsure that they would get the financial backing to actually make it onto the grid this year.

Considering that they still have to engineer their way to install a different engine, they have very little time to get it all just right as there's only 3 weeks to go.

[AJD]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

I may be wrong, however my initial thoughts when reading that press release was that One appear to have left it awfully late to decide on and agree to a new engine deal. It is almost as if they were unsure that they would get the financial backing to actually make it onto the grid this year.

Considering that they still have to engineer their way to install a different engine, they have very little time to get it all just right as there's only 3 weeks to go.

I'm sure with all that "extensive development" they've been doing during the sabbatical will make up for the late engine deal...

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by AJD

I'm sure with all that "extensive development" they've been doing during the sabbatical will make up for the late engine deal...

All that testing must have been difficult when the engines haven’t even been delivered yet!

Seems like it’s Jelley in the second seat then?

[Matt K]

https://speedcafe.com/supercars-news...owndes-murphy/

That's certainly interesting. Remember that Sutton and Tom Onslow-Cole also had some Supercars ambitions in the past.

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Seems like it’s Jelley in the second seat then?

When did I miss that?

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Matt K

https://speedcafe.com/supercars-news...owndes-murphy/

That's certainly interesting. Remember that Sutton and Tom Onslow-Cole also had some Supercars ambitions in the past.

I remember him saying he wasn’t interested in racking up BTCC titles, once he had achieved it he wanted to go off and do other stuff.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Pickles

When did I miss that?

A couple of posters are saying as much, rightly or wrongly, and it fits with the race winner rumours. But I certainly don’t know anything personally.

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Evantra

A couple of posters are saying as much, rightly or wrongly, and it fits with the race winner rumours. But I certainly don’t know anything personally.

Ah, gotcha. I hadn't seen anything relating to that here or anywhere else so was a bit of a surprise.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Matt K

https://speedcafe.com/supercars-news...owndes-murphy/

That's certainly interesting. Remember that Sutton and Tom Onslow-Cole also had some Supercars ambitions in the past.

Anyone who knows Speedcafe down knows to take stories like that with a large pinch of salt. I am sure was being polite but in reality the transition to the main game from Europe would be ambitious and which team would risk it

[S griffin]

Sounds like Jake is saying it’s a nice idea, but not something he would do for definite

[thlbtcc]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Anyone who knows Speedcafe down knows to take stories like that with a large pinch of salt.

The world's best motorsport outlet in my opinion - genuinely breaks news first as it employs at least two full time online journos to cover its national touring car championship. The BTCC could only dream of this!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

The world's best motorsport outlet in my opinion - genuinely breaks news first as it employs at least two full time online journos to cover its national touring car championship. The BTCC could only dream of this!

It at least has the added benefit of the article writers openly declaring their identity, and validating the sources for their material. Not anonymous submissions with no credible reference.

Regarding Hill's comments - it seems like he might want to dip his toe in the water first before he commits to moving to the other side of the globe.

[TyH]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

It at least has the added benefit of the article writers openly declaring their identity, and validating the sources for their material. Not anonymous submissions with no credible reference.

Regarding Hill's comments - it seems like he might want to dip his toe in the water first before he commits to moving to the other side of the globe.

Could be worse though, could have someone take sly digs at others on a ‘fan’ forum yet not take up the offer/ opportunity to discuss it in more depth privately. Each to their own I suppose

[Protonman]

Originally Posted by Evantra

All that testing must have been difficult when the engines haven’t even been delivered yet!

Seems like it’s Jelley in the second seat then?

As a theory that may seem a little wobbly (bad Joke) Stephen J from my recollection has only raced RWD cars before and had little or no FWD experience so it would be like starting again . His seat was with Parker’s in Porsche and they have a very long relationship and he didn’t have a great season last year . Rumours could be true though and if so would be interesting how it would pan out .

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Protonman

As a theory that may seem a little wobbly (bad Joke) Stephen J from my recollection has only raced RWD cars before and had little or no FWD experience so it would be like starting again .

He did have one season (2017) in a FWD Focus, so he knows the challenge he would face.

His following season was back in RWD, and not much better. I would suggest, from his previous results, that he might have a period of adjustment to BTCC driving to go through.

[MarcusH26]

After Jelleys comments last off-season about budgets being out of hand in BTCC and finding hard to justify staying in the championship when he had family money behind him I am surprised to see him linked with a return.

[antnee]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

I may be wrong, however my initial thoughts when reading that press release was that One appear to have left it awfully late to decide on and agree to a new engine deal. It is almost as if they were unsure that they would get the financial backing to actually make it onto the grid this year.

Considering that they still have to engineer their way to install a different engine, they have very little time to get it all just right as there's only 3 weeks to go.

They used the same engine in 2022 - only difference being is the hybrid has now been dropped.

[Protonman]

Originally Posted by antnee

They used the same engine in 2022 - only difference being is the hybrid has now been dropped.

Was that the M Power unit or the old Swindon engine ? If so performance seemed to have been reduced not improved . In 2021 they were competitive but in 2022 all the drivers complained of poor top end speed . No sign of that problem in Vauxhalls last year .

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Protonman

Was that the M Power unit or the old Swindon engine ? If so performance seemed to have been reduced not improved . In 2021 they were competitive but in 2022 all the drivers complained of poor top end speed . No sign of that problem in Vauxhalls last year .

The 2022 BTC Civics and 2024 Astras both used the same M-Sport engine.

[TyH]

Been told that Nic Hamilton could well be running the 3rd Unlimited Cupra.

Thoughts on how plausible it is?