BTCC entries/rumours that never came to be

[AnonymityRules]

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...hant-of-venice - This article about Roberto Ravaglia mentions the possibility of BMW continuing to compete in the BTCC in 1997.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Nononsensecapeesh

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...996/5/december - BMW GB wanted Steve Soper back for 1996.

That really demonstrates the BMW hierarchy pulling all the strings. I guess the plans from Munich for Soper to race elsewhere were a higher priority than BMW GB's wishes?

It goes to show how the manufacturer influence can also detract from the profile of a series (if you accept that Soper was one of the biggest names for the British public at the time).

[AnonymityRules]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

That really demonstrates the BMW hierarchy pulling all the strings. I guess the plans from Munich for Soper to race elsewhere were a higher priority than BMW GB's wishes?

It goes to show how the manufacturer influence can also detract from the profile of a series (if you accept that Soper was one of the biggest names for the British public at the time).

Tell us about it, according the Ravaglia article above, many pundits expected Peter Kox to drive for BMW full-time in the 1996 BTCC.

[Petoli]

Originally Posted by Nononsensecapeesh

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...996/5/december - BMW GB wanted Steve Soper back for 1996.

14: At a press conference in Detroit, a tentative 18-car entry is announced for the inaugural North American Touring Car Championship.

I bet a number of cars on that entry list never made an appearance

That year only 20 drivers took part across the season several of them shared the same car

The Highest number that appeared at any one round was 11

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by Petoli

14: At a press conference in Detroit, a tentative 18-car entry is announced for the inaugural North American Touring Car Championship.

I bet a number of cars on that entry list never made an appearance

That year only 20 drivers took part across the season several of them shared the same car

The Highest number that appeared at any one round was 11

Yes, I noticed that as well but, strictly speaking, this thread is for BTCC entries that never raced, there is a similar thread for other touring car series. - https://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4082651#post4082651

[AnonymityRules]

Originally Posted by Petoli

14: At a press conference in Detroit, a tentative 18-car entry is announced for the inaugural North American Touring Car Championship.

I bet a number of cars on that entry list never made an appearance

That year only 20 drivers took part across the season several of them shared the same car

The Highest number that appeared at any one round was 11

Yes, former BSCC/BTCC drivers Nigel Smith and Albert Mirko were among the entries in the NATCC's first season, Peter Hardman as well after his failed 1995 BTCC entry.

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by AnonymityRules

Yes, former BSCC/BTCC drivers Nigel Smith and Albert Mirko were among the entries in the NATCC's first season, Peter Hardman as well after his failed 1995 BTCC entry.

That's all very well but back on subject.

[AnonymityRules]

Weren't Rotek and Robb Holland intending to run a two-car effort in 2015?

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by AnonymityRules

Weren't Rotek and Robb Holland intending to run a two-car effort in 2015?

Yes, and Tony Gilham was due to stand in for Robb at the final meeting of 2014, the team eventually pulled out completely.

[AnonymityRules]

Originally Posted by Nononsensecapeesh

Yes, and Tony Gilham was due to stand in for Robb at the final meeting of 2014, the team eventually pulled out completely.

Holland claimed he had a potential 2nd entry lined up for the post-Dunlop tyre test part of the 2014 Season, citing two Americans and a Frenchman as potential drivers, no names were mentioned however. - https://www.touringcartimes.com/2014/07/22/international-interest-in-second-rotek-racing-audi/

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by AnonymityRules

Holland claimed he had a potential 2nd entry lined up for the post-Dunlop tyre test part of the 2014 Season, citing two Americans and a Frenchman as potential drivers, no names were mentioned however. - https://www.touringcartimes.com/2014/07/22/international-interest-in-second-rotek-racing-audi/

Yes, Rotek also aimed for a part-time return in 2015, ahead of a full-time return in 2016. - https://www.touringcartimes.com/2015/02/26/robb-holland-looking-at-partial-btcc-wtcc-programme-in-2015/

[S griffin]

I would have liked to have seen Rotek back in 2015, but I think they would have struggled to go any further, especially into 2016

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I would have liked to have seen Rotek back in 2015, but I think they would have struggled to go any further, especially into 2016

I'm just intrigued as to who the two Americans and the Frenchman could have been.

[S griffin]

There are no obvious names that spring to mind, so I guess we will never know?

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by S griffin

There are no obvious names that spring to mind, so I guess we will never know?

I guess not which is a bummer.

[AnonymityRules]

Originally Posted by S griffin

There's a few 94 rumours here:

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...ensible-season

Perhaps the strangest is Ralf Schumacher being linked to Volvo!

It got some seats right at least:

Ford retaining Andy Rouse and Paul Radisich

Renault retaining Tim Harvey and Alain Menu

Vauxhall retaining John Cleland and Jeff Allam

Toyota retaining Julian Bailey and Will Hoy

Nissan retaining Keith O'dor and replacing Win Percy with Eric van de Poele

Alfa Romeo entering with Gabriele Tarquini as lead driver but no mention (yet) of Giampiero Simoni or indeed a teammate for Tarquini full stop

Volvo entering with Tom Walkinshaw Racing, no mention of Rickard Rydell or Jan Lammers at this point

BMW retaining Steve Soper but Jo Winkelhock was yet to be confirmed at this point

Now for those that didn't happen:

Ecurie Ecosse continuing with David Leslie and Harry Nuttall though it did say budget-permitting

Peugeot retaining Robb Gravett, no mention of Eugene O'Brien though he was retained

Leslie, Cleland and Hoy all linked to TWR Volvo but this was purely speculation in each case

Armin Hahne linked to Volvo though he would drive for them in place of Kelvin Burt for the 1997 RAC Tourist Trophy

Ralf Schumacher, Geoff Lees and David Brabham linked to Volvo, the latter would of course drive for BMW in 1995

A 3rd Alfa Romeo run by Prodrive and driven by a British driver, Prodrive would run the Alfas in 1995 with Derek Warwick initially replacing Tarquini

Since Joachim Winkelhock was not yet confirmed, there was a rumour that the German would switch seats with Johnny Cecotto and partner Roberto Ravaglia in the Italian TCC, the Venezuelan would partner Soper in the BTCC. Winkelhock and Ravaglia would be BMW BTCC teammates briefly in 1994 and full-time in 1996. Cecotto would race for BMW in the 1995 BTCC

Steve Neal taking over the running of the Mazda works effort with support from Noel Edmonds and Matt Neal as lead driver. No mention of David Coulthard or indeed a No. 2 as of yet

The last of those sure poses an interesting question, one that is admittedly a bit off subject but the thing is, who would have partnered Damon Hill at Williams in F1 after the death of Ayrton Senna if DC had taken up the Mazda seat in the BTCC, at least when Nigel Mansell was unable to race due to his Indycar commitments?

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by AnonymityRules

It got some seats right at least:

Ford retaining Andy Rouse and Paul Radisich

Renault retaining Tim Harvey and Alain Menu

Vauxhall retaining John Cleland and Jeff Allam

Toyota retaining Julian Bailey and Will Hoy

Nissan retaining Keith O'dor and replacing Win Percy with Eric van de Poele

Alfa Romeo entering with Gabriele Tarquini as lead driver but no mention (yet) of Giampiero Simoni or indeed a teammate for Tarquini full stop

Volvo entering with Tom Walkinshaw Racing, no mention of Rickard Rydell or Jan Lammers at this point

BMW retaining Steve Soper but Jo Winkelhock was yet to be confirmed at this point

Now for those that didn't happen:

Ecurie Ecosse continuing with David Leslie and Harry Nuttall though it did say budget-permitting

Peugeot retaining Robb Gravett, no mention of Eugene O'Brien though he was retained

Leslie, Cleland and Hoy all linked to TWR Volvo but this was purely speculation in each case

Armin Hahne linked to Volvo though he would drive for them in place of Kelvin Burt for the 1997 RAC Tourist Trophy

Ralf Schumacher, Geoff Lees and David Brabham linked to Volvo, the latter would of course drive for BMW in 1995

A 3rd Alfa Romeo run by Prodrive and driven by a British driver, Prodrive would run the Alfas in 1995 with Derek Warwick initially replacing Tarquini

Since Joachim Winkelhock was not yet confirmed, there was a rumour that the German would switch seats with Johnny Cecotto and partner Roberto Ravaglia in the Italian TCC, the Venezuelan would partner Soper in the BTCC. Winkelhock and Ravaglia would be BMW BTCC teammates briefly in 1994 and full-time in 1996. Cecotto would race for BMW in the 1995 BTCC

Steve Neal taking over the running of the Mazda works effort with support from Noel Edmonds and Matt Neal as lead driver. No mention of David Coulthard or indeed a No. 2 as of yet

The last of those sure poses an interesting question, one that is admittedly a bit off subject but the thing is, who would have partnered Damon Hill at Williams in F1 after the death of Ayrton Senna if DC had taken up the Mazda seat in the BTCC, at least when Nigel Mansell was unable to race due to his Indycar commitments?

That's just the kind of question for this thread -
https://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4082903#post4082903

[AnonymityRules]

Originally Posted by Nononsensecapeesh

That's just the kind of question for this thread -
https://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4082903#post4082903

Thank you.

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by AnonymityRules

Thank you.

You're welcome.

[AnonymityRules]

https://1990sbtcc.com/2018/12/03/the...r-engineering/ - It mentions Alain Prost and it also says at the bottom that Andy Priaulx tested the Laguna at Pembrey at the of the 1999 Season as his prize for winning the Renault Spider Cup.

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by AnonymityRules

https://1990sbtcc.com/2018/12/03/the...r-engineering/ - It mentions Alain Prost and it also says at the bottom that Andy Priaulx tested the Laguna at Pembrey at the of the 1999 Season as his prize for winning the Renault Spider Cup.

It mentions that Arena had two Lagunas but only ran one. Had they run both, could Russell Spence and Will Hoy have done the entire season, I wonder?

[S griffin]

I seem to remember reading that Vauxhall tried to persuade Aiello to change his mind about retiring at the end of 05 so he could drive for them the following year in place of the WTCC bound Muller. When that failed, they then went with Gio instead

[AnonymityRules]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I seem to remember reading that Vauxhall tried to persuade Aiello to change his mind about retiring at the end of 05 so he could drive for them the following year in place of the WTCC bound Muller. When that failed, they then went with Gio instead

Yes, I vaguely remember Laurent Aiello being linked to a possible return with Vauxhall for 2006, would have made sense as he had recently driven for Opel in the DTM

[S griffin]

According to his Wiki, Dan Eaves was linked to 888 in 2013-14

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by S griffin

According to his Wiki, Dan Eaves was linked to 888 in 2013-14

Really? Wow! That would have been something but since it's a wiki, it's bound to have that air of pinch of salt about it, I'm not disputing that though.