BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[Matt_123]

Originally Posted by thetool

Every driver is a pay driver.

Yh but i meant someone who brings in A LOT of money
Like A LOT A LOT

[coffinpilot]

Went to the Crazy Cart thing this evening.
Takeaways - some of the language from the drivers upset a couple of people (not me!) but I understand that some people don't like it (in contrast at Silverstone I heard Ingram tell a fan to lay off the language because kids were around.
It wasn't that fun, and a little cynical - I could hear them talking (a couple of drivers) about 'getting enough B-Roll to make the vid. A bit cynical.
As mentioned above, it's not for the fans that are there - even though it was rammed.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Went to the Crazy Cart thing this evening.
Takeaways - some of the language from the drivers upset a couple of people (not me!) but I understand that some people don't like it (in contrast at Silverstone I heard Ingram tell a fan to lay off the language because kids were around.
It wasn't that fun, and a little cynical - I could hear them talking (a couple of drivers) about 'getting enough B-Roll to make the vid. A bit cynical.
As mentioned above, it's not for the fans that are there - even though it was rammed.

Ingram is a perfect face for the championship.

The fans who aren’t there don’t get much out of it either

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Ant25

Looks like dynamics could be coming back with Bobby Thompson next season

Where are you getting that from? There was an article in Autosport these week where Neal offered the opinion that Thompson would be in his top 6 drivers, and talked about Thompson working with ex Dynamics Barry Plowman. Off the back of that Tim Harvet made a comment during qualifying that Thompson had caught the eye if Neal/Plowman.

But to suggest that it "looks like dynamics could be coming back with Thompson" is a bit of a leap.

[Matt_123]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Where are you getting that from? There was an article in Autosport these week where Neal offered the opinion that Thompson would be in his top 6 drivers, and talked about Thompson working with ex Dynamics Barry Plowman. Off the back of that Tim Harvet made a comment during qualifying that Thompson had caught the eye if Neal/Plowman.

But to suggest that it "looks like dynamics could be coming back with Thompson" is a bit of a leap.

maybe team hard run 2 of their cars as 'team dynamics' cars driven by bobby thompson et other

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Off the back of that Tim Harvet made a comment during qualifying that Thompson had caught the eye if Neal/Plowman.

Harvey and Neal are very good friends. Wouldn't be surprised if Harvey knew exactly what Matt Neal was thinking about.

[S griffin]

It would be good to see Dynamics back, although there’s not enough to suggest they will

[Jon411]

Will be interesting to hear/see what the "Big plans" WSR have that Dick Bennetts has just mentioned in his interview with Louise Goodman, as that's unusual to hear Dick/ WSR talking things up like that.

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by Jon411

Will be interesting to hear/see what the "Big plans" WSR have that Dick Bennetts has just mentioned in his interview with Louise Goodman, as that's unusual to hear Dick/ WSR talking things up like that.

Yeah, caught that one as well and I'm pretty curious about it. Could this be a new car or sponsor or something entirely different? Anyway, sounds good, hopefully this really is something big.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by Jon411

Will be interesting to hear/see what the "Big plans" WSR have that Dick Bennetts has just mentioned in his interview with Louise Goodman, as that's unusual to hear Dick/ WSR talking things up like that.

There has been mention of a FWD 2-Series recently. Since the Subaru, Infiniti and Audi have disappeared over recent seasons, the BMW is now the only RWD car left and it's no secret that TOCA would rather not have different drivetrains to balance. The initial NGTC concept specified FWD-only, and whilst this was quickly amended to accommodate BMW, the availability of FWD options mean it's back on the agenda.

[PlatoFan89]

Personally would love to see Nic Hamilton and JP back for 2024. Fingers crossed

[Dudley]

JP knows his time is gone, he'd be well behind any of the 3 title contenders in those teams (because they are superstars and 20 years+ younger) and he's already been an also ran in 2 of the other 3.

[Matt_123]

Tim Harvey's just said that Jelley does have an option for 2024 but there's a set date to which he can either confirm or WSR can offer the seat to another driver

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Dudley

JP knows his time is gone, he'd be well behind any of the 3 title contenders in those teams (because they are superstars and 20 years+ younger) and he's already been an also ran in 2 of the other 3.

Yeah, his Twitter bio says ‘working out the next chapter of my life after racing cars for thirty years’. Surprised he hasn’t turned up at least one round this year, at least not overtly!

[FFSM]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Yeah, his Twitter bio says ‘working out the next chapter of my life after racing cars for thirty years’. Surprised he hasn’t turned up at least one round this year, at least not overtly!

That's just a narcs way of hinting at taking retirement, isn't it?

[Sodemo]

Maybe Dick’s “big plans” is a court case to get some of the performance degrading measures lifted on the BMWs?

I really hope that they don’t go with the FWD 2-series.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Maybe Dick’s “big plans” is a court case to get some of the performance degrading measures lifted on the BMWs?

I don't think they'd get very far, considering the BMW has been the best car all season in 2023.

[Mike Harte]

I'm sure I heard or read that Dick Bennet wants to retire shortly and return to Australia. Maybe that's the big change coming, and then Turkington hanging up his driving gloves and taking over as principle at WSR.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

I'm sure I heard or read that Dick Bennet wants to retire shortly and return to Australia. Maybe that's the big change coming, and then Turkington hanging up his driving gloves and taking over as principle at WSR.

"Return to Australia " ? Isn't he from NZ ?

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

"Return to Australia " ? Isn't he from NZ ?

He certainly is! So won't be ever "returning to Australia". But he won't be retiring any time soon anyway.

[InYourMirrors45]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Yeah, his Twitter bio says ‘working out the next chapter of my life after racing cars for thirty years’. Surprised he hasn’t turned up at least one round this year, at least not overtly!

He was at Thruxton, I believe on the Saturday afternoon/evening.

[InYourMirrors45]

Originally Posted by PlatoFan89

Personally would love to see Nic Hamilton and JP back for 2024. Fingers crossed

I love JP and always have. Started following BTCC in the early 2000’s and he’s always been there. It was pretty sad to see his last race this time last year but Time moves on sadly, although you never know I suppose. But IMO a comeback now at his age would just not be successful, look at Soper, Menu, Gio etc

[S griffin]

I think JP is concentrating more on his own business. Although maybe he will be back for the odd race. I do agree he was mega in the 00s

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by InYourMirrors45

He was at Thruxton, I believe on the Saturday afternoon/evening.

Ah ok, thought ITV would’ve made every attempt to get a microphone under him!

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Ah ok, thought ITV would’ve made every attempt to get a microphone under him!

The JP of old would have made every attempt to have got on top of one!
Maybe that's all the indication we need to prove how much he's changed!