[BTCC] 2015 BTCC news & rumours

[850Estate]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

wasn't Tordoff rumored in talks with WSR ???

Aye he's linked with them in Motorsport News this week

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

new BMW 3-series' to be confirmed at Motorbase (with JP ending up there)

I would be genuinely amazed if Plato ended up at Motorbase. I'm sure the team would welcome the sponsorship budget he'd bring but after Knockhill last year I don't think David Bartum is Plato's biggest fan.

[Adamcas87]

Can't imagine there are many Plato fans up and down the pits so his options might be limited, personally would love to see the back of him after a year moaning but if Alan Gow changes it for platos benefit then he could stay for a long time

[porsche962fan]

I would love to have a Plato free season for once !!!

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

again not too exited about them

a team with no BTCC pedigree and drivers who never raced in BTCC either

a serious manufacturer would have made a partnership with an existing team ala 888, Motorbase etc and got high caliber experienced drivers who can do development work like Mat Jackson, Gio , Jordan, Menu etc

this looks like an half heartet effort for a supposed manufacturer entry, again they might be OK as a midfield privateer team but NOT as manufacturer entrey

Fully agree.

[JDMROB]

Seems more of a small team trying their luck/going to a manufacturer for some backing and using the charity as a selling point/getting people on their side/getting cheap rates/some tax relief. Richard Hawken is an investment banker so knows how to play the game. Quite clever and hats off to them for doing it but not excited about them at all, think they'll be racing with Dan Welch and co (with all respect to Dan as I rate him, just not the car!) Never gonna be up the front im afraid, but happy to eat my hat if im wrong...!

[divxx]

Agreed with the majority opinion on the new team, especially about how this would be great news if this gimmick was being done to launch an indie and not a supposed manufacturer backed team.

Really what nails it is the fact that they're even contemplating making a FWD racecar based on a RWD road car. The hell with the politics of regulations, that's just wrong.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by divxx

Really what nails it is the fact that they're even contemplating making a FWD racecar based on a RWD road car. The hell with the politics of regulations, that's just wrong.

thats funny. thats what manufacturers do in nascar (change front wheel drive to rear wheel drive) but that doesn't make the manufacturers effort any less plausible.

[pimmy]

Originally Posted by davyboy

Underwhelming ? It's a new marque with two new cars, a new team and two new drivers. Surely that's good news for the series, no ?

Of course it's good to have a new brand of car on the grid. The team and drivers are just a bit.. meh, really.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

autosport magazine says it is q50 for next year but will be the q30 in 2016 which is the same car underneath as the benz a-class.

That seems truly bonkers. Put a huge effort in to develop a car to bin it after one season?

Then again, that's what Honda have done with the Tourer this year, if that turd bucket is back next year I'll buy a hat and eat it.

[divxx]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

thats funny. thats what manufacturers do in nascar (change front wheel drive to rear wheel drive) but that doesn't make the manufacturers effort any less plausible.

Nascar is completely restrictive in its bodyshape, engine and drivetrain options, the BTCC is not. Besides, my main point is that it's one thing to turn a practical fwd family saloon into a rwd race car makes sense on a performance standpoint, going the other way is, well, weird.

Though I have to admit thinking about it now, the engines in the BTCC aren't reflective of their road car models...

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

That seems truly bonkers. Put a huge effort in to develop a car to bin it after one season?

Then again, that's what Honda have done with the Tourer this year, if that turd bucket is back next year I'll buy a hat and eat it.

It's not such a crazy idea, a few teams have already shown that they are able to change cars and become competitive in a relatively short space of time.
A different shell does make a difference, but as all the running gear can be transferred the change is not as significant is it may appear.

[Bramzel]

It'll still be a big aero-disadvantage though, with the sole purpose of marketing a newer model. For that reason I also wonder why Adam Morgan is running the A-class, wouldn't the CLA be a much better option?

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by pimmy

The team and drivers are just a bit.. meh, really.

You could say the same about all but a handful of the current grid.

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by davyboy

You could say the same about all but a handful of the current grid.

but those others don't claim to be manufacturers

[Aunt Sally]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

yes, manufacturer backed team

Doesn't mean a Manufacturer entry though! Apparently.

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

but those others don't claim to be manufacturers

But neither do this lot. According to the man from Infiniti, they're backed by Infinity in the same way Red Bull are.

[pimmy]

Originally Posted by davyboy

You could say the same about all but a handful of the current grid.

Yes, absolutely. There is quite a bit of 'fluff' out there.

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by davyboy

You could say the same about all but a handful of the current grid.

Originally Posted by pimmy

Yes, absolutely. There is quite a bit of 'fluff' out there.

I am sorry. Whilst I respect your opinion, which you are more entitled to, I completely and utterly disagree with it.

Yes I am very pro-BTCC but I think that is for good reason. Every single driver on this grid has achieved some notable success in their career or competed in very tough championships with some success. Even the much deplored Martin Depper was very eye catching in the VW Racing Cup and you could hardly call that the racing equivalent of tiddlywinks.

I think there is a great temptation to look back to the Super Touring era and the image of multiple manufacturer teams paying much to ex-F1 starts etc. Whilst these drivers may have competed at the highest level
and be considered sporting “greats” that didn’t necessarily make them good “Touring Car” drivers.

I firmly believe that we have a current grid filled with good and great drivers. Look how highly British GT and the calibre of driver in that series is considered and then notice how well Jeff Smith did when he raced in the series earlier this year. He received marginally less abuse than Depper!

I also disagree with anybody who finds this Infiniti entry, underwhelming. It is clearly a well thought through and organised project of worthy cause that knows what it is up against. The drivers aren’t superstars but have proved quick in their respective championships. The cars look great.

I firmly believe that the calibre of team and driver in the series is hard to match, looking back through history and globally right now. You don’t have to agree with me. I would be most surprised if you did.

[Aunt Sally]

Although I agree with you in principle BtccLee.

If you look at other drivers that have come into the BTCC after dominating other, dare I say smaller championships, the likes of Martyn Bell, Rick Kerry, Martin Depper to name a few, they have not performed in the BTCC. Hell, Even the great Fabrizio Giovanardi struggled this year!

So to expect a new team to the BTCC (yes they have much experience in other forms of racing, in particular Super Touring) with drivers that have been race winners in that class of racing, to be a front running team is, might I say, a bit optimistic.

As much as I am aware of the capabilities of the main people involved, Derek Palmer Snr and his team, many teams will tell you that they will have to learn to walk before they can run!

Me, personally? I wish them all the best and hope they start running soon!

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by BtccLee

I firmly believe that we have a current grid filled with good and great drivers.

With very few exceptions the BTCC is comprised of wealthy individuals [or individuals from wealthy families] capable of underwriting a very expensive hobby and who are reasonably competent racing drivers. The BTCC is not a driving meritocracy and the grid is definitely not filled with the good and the great. But I've no problem with that. It is what it is and provides great entertainment.

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by davyboy

With very few exceptions the BTCC is comprised of wealthy individuals [or individuals from wealthy families] capable of underwriting a very expensive hobby and who are reasonably competent racing drivers. The BTCC is not a driving meritocracy and the grid is definitely not filled with the good and the great. But I've no problem with that. It is what it is and provides great entertainment.

I cannot disagree with the last part....

[BtccLee]

I maybe mis-reading this but I believe Alex Morgan has suggested on social networking that the Megane has been built/is being built for 2015. He was involved in the project when it first surfaced...

[cds_uk]

Originally Posted by davyboy

It is what it is and provides great entertainment.

Absolutely, there are some very good drivers on the grid, with at least one world class one amongst them, but the racing is close on the whole, i mean how many different winners was there this year for a start?

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Alex Morgan is handy in a car and of course the Megane's were his Dad's project...