[BTCC] 2015 BTCC news & rumours

[S griffin]

Speaking of Neate, he said before the season that he was working on a comeback for 2015, but haven't heard since

[PeterY]

United Autosport have put the BTCC team up for sale, reported on Autosport site

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by PeterY

United Autosport have put the BTCC team up for sale, reported on Autosport site

Not quite. Zak Brown has but his share of the team up for sale and therefore they are looking for a new investor. This may eventually amount to some changes though, according to Richard Dean.

Dean told AUTOSPORT that he was looking for a partner to invest in the team and help it climb up the BTCC grid.
"To run at the head of the British Touring Car Championship, we need to go to the next level," he said.
"We want to push on and invest in the team to reach the front, and we are looking for someone to come on board and help us get there.
"If we can't get to that situation, then we still have plenty of programmes to run and we will scale back to a situation that we can manage. There are a lot of things to discuss at the moment."


http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116446

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

Not quite. Zak Brown has but his share of the team up for sale and therefore they are looking for a new investor. This may eventually amount to some changes though, according to Richard Dean.

But isn't the team ostensibly paid for by Zak Brown and run by Richard Dean ? I wonder does this decision affect all the UA outfits on the TOCA package ?

[RED55]

maybe 2014 was a toe in the water to see if Zak Brown would payroll it for the future, considering they underperformed as a team expected of much better results I guess the Big investor didnt want to waist his millions on a domestic entertainment show with no return.

Hopefully they can pull it together and continue , but you always have to be wary of teams more concerned about putting their own name on a car in big letters with no title sponsor, the money will run out and no one will seriously invest in something that wont give a return.

It appears Mr Brown has his business head screwed on right.

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by RED55

maybe 2014 was a toe in the water to see if Zak Brown would payroll it for the future, considering they underperformed as a team expected of much better results I guess the Big investor didnt want to waist his millions on a domestic entertainment show with no return.

Hopefully they can pull it together and continue , but you always have to be wary of teams more concerned about putting their own name on a car in big letters with no title sponsor, the money will run out and no one will seriously invest in something that wont give a return.

It appears Mr Brown has his business head screwed on right.

Maybe a chance for the recently mention Mr Neate or Mr Gilham! Both 'want' to return as drivers but also to run teams, if they have the funding it could be their chance! More than likely though it means we'll see two TBL's up for grabs and some spare Toyota's. Shame as I like UA, lets hope they find someone willing to buy Zak Browns share & keep it going.

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by davyboy

But isn't the team ostensibly paid for by Zak Brown and run by Richard Dean ? I wonder does this decision affect all the UA outfits on the TOCA package ?

Probably it is, I was just clarifying what UA are saying compared to the post, technically they are selling ZB's stake at the moment, this may well amount to selling/closing the BTCC operation in the end and due to economy of scale, their TOCA support?

The good thing about the TBL system though is that it actually makes the BTCC entry tangible, so they may well sell a stake or all of it to another party that wants to enter but can't get an entry (particularly now AG's sleeve has emptied) and of course the cars have a longer competitive life under NGTC regs.

[porsche962fan]

for the rumor mill

Moffat joins Morgan in the 2nd Mercedes , Morgan said that a 2nd Mercedes shall is already prepared

likely scenario the Cruze saloon is striped of the TOCA bits and the shall will be sold to BTC Racing

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

for the rumor mill

Moffat joins Morgan in the 2nd Mercedes , Morgan said that a 2nd Mercedes shall is already prepared

likely scenario the Cruze saloon is striped of the TOCA bits and the shall will be sold to BTC Racing

shell

[850Estate]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

for the rumor mill

Moffat joins Morgan in the 2nd Mercedes , Morgan said that a 2nd Mercedes shall is already prepared

likely scenario the Cruze saloon is striped of the TOCA bits and the shall will be sold to BTC Racing

Was thinking that myself.

Wee article from TCT on it: http://www.touringcartimes.com/2014/...-aiden-moffat/

[porsche962fan]

so now confirmed Aidan Moffat in 2nd Mercedes

let's see if the 2nd part of the rumor gets confirmed...

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

so now confirmed Aidan Moffat in 2nd Mercedes

let's see if the 2nd part of the rumor gets confirmed...

Aiden Moffat in a Mercedes and the chance if a 2nd one run by Ciceley, so potentially 3 Merc's on the grid, but 2 for sure

I think the second part of the rumour will depend on what £££ BTC have as they operate on a tight shoe string budget.

[cds_uk]

Originally Posted by Jiiiiiiim

I think the second part of the rumour will depend on what £££ BTC have as they operate on a tight shoe string budget.

You are probably right but to be fair to BTC they are making all the right noises with press releases etc, as is Chris Stockton, fingers crossed hey.

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by cds_uk

You are probably right but to be fair to BTC they are making all the right noises with press releases etc, as is Chris Stockton, fingers crossed hey.

Hopefully if Power Max commit to next year they will have the budget to change cars or do some serious testing with their Cruze

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

Hopefully if Power Max commit to next year they will have the budget to change cars or do some serious testing with their Cruze

Let's hope so, I felt desperately sorry for them with all the engine issues they had, I rate Chris as a driver, so would love to see them back, I also think there is potential in the Cruze too, maybe more so in the saloon.

[Inside BTCC]

A bit more on the Moffat story: http://www.insidebtcc.com/moffat-set...des-btcc-2015/

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by Inside BTCC

A bit more on the Moffat story: http://www.insidebtcc.com/moffat-set...des-btcc-2015/

Great article, made good lunchtime reading, don't suppose you can shed any light on the 3 TBL's that are question marks around? I would assume 2 of those are UA's if a buyer for Zak Browns shares can't be found?

I know I might be pushing my luck asking & realise you may not be able to say! But if you don't ask you don't get

[Inside BTCC]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

Great article, made good lunchtime reading, don't suppose you can shed any light on the 3 TBL's that are question marks around? I would assume 2 of those are UA's if a buyer for Zak Browns shares can't be found?

I know I might be pushing my luck asking & realise you may not be able to say! But if you don't ask you don't get

Can't say at the moment as their availability depends on various factors and it wouldn't be fair on the teams involved when they are still working on potential programmes.

All I can say is don't assume anything...

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by Inside BTCC

Can't say at the moment as their availability depends on various factors and it wouldn't be fair on the teams involved when they are still working on potential programmes.

All I can say is don't assume anything...

As Steel Wheels said, it was always worth asking. So in the absence of any firm information, we can continue to speculate.

I reckon that it's possibly three lower order Toyotas - two UA and Simon Belcher's.

[RED55]

Regarding the United Autosports TBLS

Didnt James Cole state earlier in the year that he had signed with them for 3 years ?

Maybe it should be that any Teams scoring less than a certain number of points at the end of the year, they have the TBLs called back in so other teams waiting can have a go .

whatever, the TBLs up for grabs are going to be like a Wonka bar golden ticket !

[rbs]

Originally Posted by Jiiiiiiim

Aiden Moffat in a Mercedes and the chance if a 2nd one run by Ciceley, so potentially 3 Merc's on the grid, but 2 for sure

I think the second part of the rumour will depend on what £££ BTC have as they operate on a tight shoe string budget.

Could even be more Merc's on the grid, How about Plato in one for a new team with Nicholas Hamilton as the second driver?

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by Inside BTCC

Can't say at the moment as their availability depends on various factors and it wouldn't be fair on the teams involved when they are still working on potential programmes.

All I can say is don't assume anything...

Thanks, I thought your lips would have to remain sealed!

If we are not assuming anything, the way I see things there are many many possibilities:

1-2 of 888's TBL's could be up for grabs if Plato takes his money elsewhere and no deals are forthcoming, though one would be kept for Hynes as I beleieve he has a deal in place. Though all 3 could still be used.

Pirtek, if they change cars would they still run 2, will Depper fund another year?

Dynamics, can't see them not enetering even if Honda did pull out.

WSR, look like they have more drivers wanting seats than they have cars and TBL's.

Motorbase, depends on replacing Airwaves, though would expect at least one for Clarke/Crabbies and another for a Ford and or possible 3 series BMW?

BMR can't see them adding more cars to the current 4, though did they buy the TBL's of Gilham/TeamHARD or just lease them?

RAR looking like staying as this year.

UA looking for an investors to take Zak Browns shares.

Laser Tools, look like one car Merc team linked up with WIX.

Houseman, want to be back, but did they have the 'loaned' TBL?

Speedworks and Handy, if backing is avaiable, though Handy are using Speedworks 2nd TBL I think.

Infiniti have 2 TBL's

WIX, AmD, Rotek want another TBL and Tony Gilham has stated although he wants to definately be back as a driver would also like to re-enter TeamHARD!!!

And thats without any of the 'under the radar' stuff!

[Aunt Sally]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

BMR can't see them adding more cars to the current 4, though did they buy the TBL's of Gilham/TeamHARD or just lease them?

and Tony Gilham has stated although he wants to definately be back as a driver would also like to re-enter TeamHARD!!!

I think the TBL's are BMR's and they may even let Gilham have one this year.

Let's face it, it was Team Hard's exploits in 2013 that help introduce them, so I would be really surprised if they belong to Gilham..

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Maybe the BTCC needs a(nother) feeder series...

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by Jiiiiiiim

Let's hope so, I felt desperately sorry for them with all the engine issues they had, I rate Chris as a driver, so would love to see them back, I also think there is potential in the Cruze too, maybe more so in the saloon.

has there been any case since NGTC introduction that a team with shoe string budget attempting to run their own engines ended up in anything else than a big failure ???


let's see the results so far

- Rob Austin tried with 3 engine suppliers before finally going the TOCA Swindon route, his problems partially cured after switch to TOCA unit
- Dan Welsh own engine so far wasn't anything but a big fiasco

- BTC Racing program again , once they switched to the TOCA unit Chris Stockdon said that they finally had reliability and he could could actually race other cars ...


the only teams who had reasonable success with their own engine where Dynamics, WSR and Motorbase but this teams also have reasonable budgets !!

a small exception was Frank Wrathall but not sure who paid for his Toyota NGTC engine