BTCC entries/rumours that never came to be

[AnonymityRules]

Originally Posted by Nononsensecapeesh

Really? I don't remember but I won't dispute that. He was also linked to Honda for 2003.

Enzo Mucci and Danny Wright were supposed to drive for JSM in 2001 as was...Ted Rennick?

You mean Ted Reddick.

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by AnonymityRules

You mean Ted Reddick.

My mistake.

Simon Harrison tested the JSM Alfa 147 before joining HTML in the Production Class in 2001.

Apparently, prior to Harrison's appointment, Norwegian driver Thomas Faraas was linked to the HTML Peugeot seat alongside Roger Moen?

[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

According to a past thread, there was a rumour Aiello would come back in 2001 to lead the Peugeot effort. After the success he had in Germany with the Supertouring 406, that would have made sense.

[Nononsensecapeesh]

John Bintcliffe was apparently meant to run two other Nissans in addition to the one entered for Matt Kelly in the Production Class in 2001?

[S griffin]

I think Audi were originally planning to enter in 95 with Pirro as their driver

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I think Audi were originally planning to enter in 95 with Pirro as their driver

It would have made sense for Audi run Emanuele Pirro and Frank Biela too?

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Jean Ragnotti was test driver for Renault ahead of their 1993 BTCC entry. This was why the Renault 19 was still equipped with a handbrake at first because of Ragnotti being a rally driver.

[Nononsensecapeesh]

According to the similar thread for unrealised F1 rumours, the Williams F1 team had Alain Menu lined up as a possible team-mate for Damon Hill in 1996 if they couldn't get Jacques Villeneuve out of his Indycar contract. If this had come to pass, I wonder who would have partnered Will Hoy? Did Renault still have a test driver then? Or maybe the J-C Boullion/Gianni Morbidelli/Jason Plato shoot-out or something have happened a year early?

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I think Audi were originally planning to enter in 95 with Pirro as their driver

You're right in that respect. By studying the Motorsport Magazine Archives, I've discovered that Audi did consider entering the 1995 BTCC but decided against it, then possibly appearing towards the end of the 1995 season (like MG would in 2001). Haven't yet found anything pertaining to potential drivers though. It was believed Audi signed with the 3001 International team of Mike Earle in preparation for the 1995 BTCC.

Also, according to the Motorsport Magazine archives, Chrysler were interested (or at least rumoured as such) in a possible BTCC entry in the mid-90s.

John Bintcliffe tested for Renault at the end of 1994.

[saxoflute03]

So much for Ash Sutton in a Jaguar for 2022

[saxoflute03]

Apparently, the front runners of the 1988 British Rally Championship (Malcolm Wilson, David Llewellin, Dave Metcalfe, Jimmy McRae and the late Mark Lovell) were due to race as part of a two driver BTCC race in 1988. However they were stopped as they did not have the correct licence.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by saxoflute03

Apparently, the front runners of the 1988 British Rally Championship (Malcolm Wilson, David Llewellin, Dave Metcalfe, Jimmy McRae and the late Mark Lovell) were due to race as part of a two driver BTCC race in 1988. However they were stopped as they did not have the correct licence.

That's interesting. Who were thy supposed to be sharing cars with?

[S griffin]

I think I've something like that before, but not sure how true it was or what cars they were linked with

[saxoflute03]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

That's interesting. Who were thy supposed to be sharing cars with?

Who knows?

Did BMR pitch Nissan to use a Pulsar before switching to the Subaru Levorgs?

[S griffin]

There must be a few sources somewhere. BMR probably looked into a few manufacturers. I am sure they probably talked to someone like Nissan, but they went with the Scooby in the end

[saxoflute03]

Edenbridge looked into the possibility of running Vauxhalls in the Touring class for 2001, before clinching the Production Class BMW deal. They quickly ruled out the likes of Tom Kristensen and Oliver Gavin as potential drivers in favour of younger drivers.

[saxoflute03]

1991:

We've had the Trackstar Audi 80s.

James Weaver continuing with Prodrive BMW and a possible 3rd entry for Jimmy McRae.

Frank Sytner teaming up with the late Heikki Salmenautio in another BMW team.

A 2nd Trackstar Ford Sapphire for either Mike Smith or Sean Walker.

A privateer Renault.

A privateer Lancia.

As for the proposed Honda Concerto entry, I'd have thought Ray Armes would have been more likely to drive it since he'd have had recent experience with the Civic, or any other potential CRX Series graduate.

[saxoflute03]

Apparently the late Gunnar Nilsson was due to share a BMW 530i with Dieter Quester in 1978. Obviously the cancer that later claimed his life put paid to that.

[saxoflute03]

Phiroze Bilimoria in the Production Class in 2003, could have been the GA Alfa Romeo, could have been the Edenbridge BMW. Plus, Colin Neill hired him for 2009, only to ditch him for Adam Jones

[saxoflute03]

Obviously, they weren't serious but Richard Burns and Max Mosley got to test for Alfa Romeo in 1995.

In 1996, David Ginola tested for Renault and any one of either Anthony Reid, Hans-Joachim Stuck, Emanuele Pirro, Julian Bailey and Will Hoy could landed an Audi seat.

Bryce Wilson tested for Renault in 1997 and tried to raise the funds for a works drive during his stint as Nissan's test driver in 1998 and 1999.

Giampiero Simoni was offered a Renault seat for 1995.

Vincent Radermecker would have stayed at Volvo had they continued to compete in 2000.

[saxoflute03]

When Renault pulled out of the BTCC at the end of 1999, there were rumours linking Williams to a potential partnership with BMW, would have made sense with BMW becoming Williams' F1 engine supplier in 2000.

Peter Enckelman intended for Encke Sport to upgrade to Super 2000 cars for 2008.

Was Chris Goodwin the test driver for the works Vauxhall team in 1994, or at least, supposed to be? I recently came across a Vauxhall team group photo from the 1994 season and it depicts Goodwin with John Cleland and Jeff Allam in spite of the fact that Goodwin drove the Roy Kennedy Racing Vauxhall that year.

Dario Franchitti also got to test for Vauxhall in 1994.

Once again, obviously not serious but Steve Rider infamously tested Kelvin Burt's Volvo at Brands Hatch in 1997, recently saw the video in which he ended up in the gravel.

[chunterer]

Apparently Burns did various Prodrive programme tests as his feedback was highly regarded.
The Alfa run was comsidered a precursor to a one off drive but it didn't happen.

[saxoflute03]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Apparently Burns did various Prodrive programme tests as his feedback was highly regarded.
The Alfa run was comsidered a precursor to a one off drive but it didn't happen.

In the same vein as NASCAR star Mark Martin making a one-off appearance for Ford in 1995 that also didn't happen?

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by saxoflute03

In the same vein as NASCAR star Mark Martin making a one-off appearance for Ford in 1995 that also didn't happen?

Burns was a Prodrive enployee anyway so they were probably just interested in his views, presumably on some mod or other as the '95 car struggled.

[saxoflute03]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Burns was a Prodrive enployee anyway so they were probably just interested in his views, presumably on some mod or other as the '95 car struggled.

I guessed that.

Ian Flux intended to continue in a privateer Peugeot in 1994.

Team Dynamics were, at one point, in the frame to take over the running of the Ford works team in 1996. Paul Radisich even tested Matt Neal's 1995 independent title-winning car.

Mike Briggs was the initial tester of the Ray Mallock-prepared Vauxhall Vectra ahead of its 1996 debut.

Jenson Button got to test for Nissan in 1998.