BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[STEVN111]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Noticed that Bobby Sharpless has been pushing some rebranded Team HARD socials under the Un-Limited banner tonight.

First time I've seen the man online, actually looks like a mini Tony Gilham!

His instagram is only followed by 1 person mutual to me, a Mr Crees...

Theres a couple more pictures of the Cupra on there and the un.limited IG pages too

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by Pit Lane Lurker

Yup - which is also reflected in the number of folk in TCR not completing a full season.

Driver dropouts mid season being something which, Team Hard and their driver merry go round aside, is pretty unusual in BTCC.

I think that's more of the club racing mentality. Only Steve Gales dropped out last year (and that was because of a massive crash at Oulton putting him off.) The rest of the field were a mixture of planning a limited campaign like Sargeant/Camp/Lewis or the odd damage problem. There were a couple of disagreements leading to Brown dropping after one round and Kent dumping the final. Pretty much the norm for a club series. That's reinforced by the smaller than average grid at Knockhill. Almost every UK series that goes there faces a similar drop in entries - hence why they didn't go back this season.

If TCR was run a little better it could have built on it's direction of becoming a Division Two tin top championship, but some really poor management choices have dregged it back down to a point where doing a Smiley is pointless.

[peebee2]

On BTCC, anyone else hearing of TOCA changes, with MSV maybe taking the business over?

(I heard this from outside of the UK)

[STEVN111]

Originally Posted by STEVN111

His instagram is only followed by 1 person mutual to me, a Mr Crees...

Theres a couple more pictures of the Cupra on there and the un.limited IG pages too

Looking at one of the pics of the rear of the car, there's a couple of "TMS" logos. Bit of digging and its a Train preventative maintenance company?

https://www.tmstechnic.com/en/our-services/

If anyone knows how or why this is linked in any way

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by STEVN111

His instagram is only followed by 1 person mutual to me, a Mr Crees...

Theres a couple more pictures of the Cupra on there and the un.limited IG pages too

Possibly the most Tragic story ever told….

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by peebee2

On BTCC, anyone else hearing of TOCA changes, with MSV maybe taking the business over?

(I heard this from outside of the UK)

When the BTCC contract to run comes up for renewal, there will be a few interested parties, and (as in recent years), MSV will be on the list.

[coffinpilot]

So, if we piece together the rumours on this page does that mean if Un-Limited are legitimate and it actually works, that they'll enter a second Cupra for a part season for Crees?

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by SV8Predator

When the BTCC contract to run comes up for renewal, there will be a few interested parties, and (as in recent years), MSV will be on the list.

Yes, but that’s not what I said though.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by peebee2

On BTCC, anyone else hearing of TOCA changes, with MSV maybe taking the business over?

(I heard this from outside of the UK)

MSV taking ownership of TOCA, or taking over as promoter of BTCC?

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Possibly the most Tragic story ever told….

It is absolutely tragic, the guy was sold a dream that has spectacularly failed, he's now trying to make it work while having to explain to people that it's now his team and not Tony's. His other option would have been to walk away and write off the massive debt. Fair play to him, he owns a property maintainance company, he never wanted to end up owning a BTCC team!

[stuart thompson]

WSR confirmed that only the 3 cars for Donington, but talks still ongoing for future rounds.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by stuart thompson

WSR confirmed that only the 3 cars for Donington, but talks still ongoing for future rounds.

Gutted, if not overly surprised.

[MarcusH26]

Disappointed the 4th Beemer isn't going to make the first round , hopefully it will make Brands. Did feel quite optimistic to get a deal together for Donny.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by stuart thompson

WSR confirmed that only the 3 cars for Donington, but talks still ongoing for future rounds.

So what happened to the four drivers WSR had to choose from?.....

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

So what happened to the four drivers WSR had to choose from?.....

They never said they had four to choose from did they?

[thetool]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

They never said they had four to choose from did they?

Not quite:

“We’ve got four guys in the running, and that’s about all I can say at the moment,” Bennetts told Autosport.

https://www.autosport.com/btcc/news/...ason/10559385/

[redshoes]

Interesting comment on the BTCC sub-reddit regarding the HARD/Un-Limited situation.

So I've been speaking to Bob Sharpless today, basically he is owed a lot of money by Tony and has taken over the company to try to recoup some of what he is owed. It is a completely new set up to Team HARD, and not just renaming and hoping that nobody notices. He's fully aware of the damaged reputation of HARD and is very keen to emphasise that this is a new operation. He's put a lot of money into getting the DeLeon car rebuilt as he needs it to perform on track. He is also very new to this, as pointed out his main company is PMSE (Property Maintenance South East) but after starting out as a sponsor and then getting sold the dream by Tony Gilham and Gary Allen he has ended up with Un-Limited Edition (fibreglass and carbon fibre) and Un-Limited Motorsport (the bare bones of a BTCC team).

[tocatrucky]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

MSV taking ownership of TOCA, or taking over as promoter of BTCC?

From what I understand, MSV is interested in buying TOCA whole.

[v8supes]

I told you all that Team HARD were a serious outfit and were set for big things this year but you all mocked me.

[Pit Lane Lurker]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Interesting comment on the BTCC sub-reddit regarding the HARD/Un-Limited situation.

Assuming all that to be true, I wish Un-Limited all the very best for the year ahead and hope they can put together a competitive package.

Glad to see them trying to distance themselves from the circus.

But…… I do find it hard to believe there’s not ‘some’ sort of Gilham / Hard involvement if I’m honest.

[touringlegend]

Originally Posted by tocatrucky

From what I understand, MSV is interested in buying TOCA whole.

I guess Alan Gow isn’t getting any younger. And if MSV take over maybe we will get the season opener in Spain ??

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by tocatrucky

From what I understand, MSV is interested in buying TOCA whole.

Yep, that’s what I was told this morning. Let’s see.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

They never said they had four to choose from did they?

Dick Bennetts was quoted in Autosport

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Dick Bennetts was quoted in Autosport

If I'm recalling the quote you refer to correctly, he said that four drivers were in the running. Not that they had four drivers to pick from.

All four of those will have fallen out of the running for various reasons.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by thetool

Not quite:

“We’ve got four guys in the running, and that’s about all I can say at the moment,” Bennetts told Autosport.

https://www.autosport.com/btcc/news/...ason/10559385/

.