BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[Sodemo]

For a while now the message has been that EVs are the future, but recently there has been disruption to that sentiment. I do think EVs have a place in society, but I think perhaps hydrogen power is the way to go.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

For a while now the message has been that EVs are the future, but recently there has been disruption to that sentiment. I do think EVs have a place in society, but I think perhaps hydrogen power is the way to go.

I agree. Too much reliance on EV, without thinking of alternatives. Thankfully people are starting to come to this thinking. EV will still have a place, but it won't be the be all and end all

[cameronpoe]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Does that mean to say that the BTCC could move back towards NA 4-bangers? I'd love that personally.

I have no knowledge of the future direction of BTCC , personally having seen it close up with Dynamics and Alliance , I am amazed at the effort required to run the NGTC cars at the Circuit and at the Workshop. I would think making them simpler to work on is a big thing for the new regulations. Personally I would go for a larger engined formula on a synthetic fuel .. currently engine development is expensive to gain a few HP here and there and the motors are really quite edgy and need a lot of cooling which again adds costs .. I think Silhouette, spec parts and a big lower maintenance engine ( think a 4 litre Porsche is a good template ) would be way to go .. one thing I do know is there a lot of thought and effort going in .. I think the series will thrive as it’s still the place to be in UK motorsport

[antnee]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

For a while now the message has been that EVs are the future, but recently there has been disruption to that sentiment. I do think EVs have a place in society, but I think perhaps hydrogen power is the way to go.

Do you know how much energy is required to get hydrogen into the correct state for usage in a vehicle? Hydrogen is suited to big stuff (some HGVs, ships, planes) but it will be niche option for cars. EV's of today are suitable for 95% of drivers with only a small adjustment needed to their approach to motoring.


Anywayyyyyyyyyyyyy, there doesn't seem to be any demand for EV racing outside of manufacturer backed formats, therefore I can see synthetic fuels being used for national motorsports including BTCC. What the BTCC needs is a long term strategy detailing when major rule set changes will occur (ideally at set intervals) which then allows teams to build their business cases to get more investments and sponsorships in place - which in turn could reduce the budget that a driver needs to bring along.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by antnee

What the BTCC needs is a long term strategy detailing when major rule set changes will occur (ideally at set intervals) which then allows teams to build their business cases to get more investments and sponsorships in place - which in turn could reduce the budget that a driver needs to bring along.

they already do that
they have 5 year periods for any major rule changes or updates and the teams are heavily involved in the decisions
next one is due 2027

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by cameronpoe

I think Silhouette, spec parts and a big lower maintenance engine ( think a 4 litre Porsche is a good template ) would be way to go

Sounds like the old STCC "solution F" cars to me. If you go for a common spaceframe/engine then you're basically accepting that you won't have any manufacturer involvement (not saying that's necessarily a bad thing).

[coffinpilot]

As a follow on to what BertMk2 posted above, what advantages are there to manufacturer involvement right now?
I don't know enough beyond WSR getting some chassis back in 2019 and data before their build, and I assume some teams get a bit of a small cash thing and a few bits and bobs - but if the teams are essentially raising their own funding, and the current manufacturers aren't using the BTCC as a marketing platform, then is there a point in worrying about that?

I'm sure some of you will know the answer and put me in a box ;-) !!

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Sounds like the old STCC "solution F" cars to me. If you go for a common spaceframe/engine then you're basically accepting that you won't have any manufacturer involvement (not saying that's necessarily a bad thing).

The Australia MARC Cars model worth a look

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

As a follow on to what BertMk2 posted above, what advantages are there to manufacturer involvement right now?
I don't know enough beyond WSR getting some chassis back in 2019 and data before their build, and I assume some teams get a bit of a small cash thing and a few bits and bobs - but if the teams are essentially raising their own funding, and the current manufacturers aren't using the BTCC as a marketing platform, then is there a point in worrying about that?

I'm sure some of you will know the answer and put me in a box ;-) !!

To be honest I’ve rarely seen btcc influenced marketing beyond what I saw trackside at a BTCC event. When Nissan won the teams championship in 1998 I saw an advert on TV where the Primera GT BTCC car was being driven around Brands Hatch GP circuit.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

To be honest I’ve rarely seen btcc influenced marketing beyond what I saw trackside at a BTCC event. When Nissan won the teams championship in 1998 I saw an advert on TV where the Primera GT BTCC car was being driven around Brands Hatch GP circuit.

More recently Airwaves had an advert with the Motorbase Focus too.

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

To be honest I’ve rarely seen btcc influenced marketing beyond what I saw trackside at a BTCC event. When Nissan won the teams championship in 1998 I saw an advert on TV where the Primera GT BTCC car was being driven around Brands Hatch GP circuit.

Yeah, the only recent-ish major marketing campaigns influenced by the BTCC that I can remember have been sponsor-led rather than manufacturer-led. I remember Airwaves ran TV adverts in c.2013-2014 with one of the Motorbase Ford Focuses they sponsored. Maybe not on TV, but I also seem to vaguely recall that Tesco did some marketing featuring Plato's MG (so 2012-2014), probably something to do with KX Energy Drink or Tesco Fuel Stations.

[crmalcolm]

Howdens are currently running a campaign where you can get your branding on the toyotas.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by Evantra

More recently Airwaves had an advert with the Motorbase Focus too.

Your right I forgot about the Airwaves ad.

[ScottS]

Talking of EV cars, has anyone else heard what a BTCC car sounds like running on pure EV power? Jake Hill uploaded a YouTube Short for us to enjoy.

https://youtu.be/nkrdiKQiDe4?si=vd-QZUYnEirSsicM

I don't know about anyone else, but I was expecting silence.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by ScottS

Talking of EV cars, has anyone else heard what a BTCC car sounds like running on pure EV power? Jake Hill uploaded a YouTube Short for us to enjoy.

https://youtu.be/nkrdiKQiDe4?si=vd-QZUYnEirSsicM

I don't know about anyone else, but I was expecting silence.

I couldn't determine whether it was the hybrid system or Hill's normal whining that I could hear!

Seriously, the sound was from inside a fairly bare metal box so sound would be amplified and doesn't reflect what it would sound like from outside. I remember watching EV saloons racing on the TV some time ago, and apart from a lot of tyre screeching, the rest of the sounds of the car was exactly pleasing to the ear. But then I'm biased towards ICE motors.

[coffinpilot]

Does anybody know about the EV part yet? I asked a couple of pages back, and haven't seen anything in the public domain.
They did the planned lining up at the back of the grid, then going into their slots one by one at Donington on EV power.
At Brands they went to the grid on ICE.

They can't get it to work can they?

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

I couldn't determine whether it was the hybrid system or Hill's normal whining that I could hear!

He speaks very highly of you, though.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Does anybody know about the EV part yet? I asked a couple of pages back, and haven't seen anything in the public domain.
They did the planned lining up at the back of the grid, then going into their slots one by one at Donington on EV power.
At Brands they went to the grid on ICE.

They can't get it to work can they?

they just did that at Donington for a tv feature

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

they just did that at Donington for a tv feature

Have they updated the regulations? The latest version I have seen reads:

'Prior to arriving on the grid all drivers must stop at a pre-designated area, switch to Hybrid power only then continue to their grid positions using Hybrid power only.'

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Have they updated the regulations? The latest version I have seen reads:

'Prior to arriving on the grid all drivers must stop at a pre-designated area, switch to Hybrid power only then continue to their grid positions using Hybrid power only.'

I thought it was in the regs - thanks for that crmalcolm. I'm sure Pearson went to the grid at Donington on the ICE but had to get clearance due to a problem. I know in the grand scheme of things its not much, but it'll be interesting to see if it happens this weekend.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Does anybody know about the EV part yet? I asked a couple of pages back, and haven't seen anything in the public domain.
They did the planned lining up at the back of the grid, then going into their slots one by one at Donington on EV power.
At Brands they went to the grid on ICE.

They can't get it to work can they?

Love the negatively

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Love the negatively

Pun of the week that is.

[antnee]

Originally Posted by ScottS

Talking of EV cars, has anyone else heard what a BTCC car sounds like running on pure EV power? Jake Hill uploaded a YouTube Short for us to enjoy.

https://youtu.be/nkrdiKQiDe4?si=vd-QZUYnEirSsicM

I don't know about anyone else, but I was expecting silence.

Isn't that mainly gearbox noise? The whine of straight cut gears?

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by antnee

Isn't that mainly gearbox noise? The whine of straight cut gears?

He's going a bit slow to generate that amount of whine, I think.

[TinTopGrumpy]

I know the motor drives the gearbox input shaft directly but as it's offset from the shaft I'm assuming there is a chain/belt/gear to transfer the drive there. How noisy is that I wonder?

Straight cut gearboxes are loud though. I know mine makes hell of a racket at low speeds when the engine isn't drowning it out. I hate to think what it would sound like with no engine and running faster.