[BTCC] BTCC News & Rumours 2025

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

May be one to watch, but MB Partners have just announced LKQ Euro Parts as a Partner going forward. Could we see a change in sponsorship or supported driver(s) for next season?

MB Partners is a separate business to MB Motorsport. Thus MBP's partnership with LKQ has got nothing to do with, and will not affect, MB Motorsport's BTCC affairs.

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by auroan

They seem to have a record of "taking" Moffat's sponsors if LKQ do move to MB partners

What "record" is that?

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by SV8Predator

What "record" is that?

Presumably when Laser moved over to MB from Moffat

[Craner Curves]

Probably want a bit more expertise behind their promo efforts with Napa dominating everyone's eyeballs.

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Probably want a bit more expertise behind their promo efforts with Napa dominating everyone's eyeballs.

MBP's partnership with LKQ has got nothing to do with, and will not affect, MB Motorsport's BTCC affairs.

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by SV8Predator

MBP's partnership with LKQ has got nothing to do with, and will not affect, MB Motorsport's BTCC affairs.

But Craner Curves could be right there. MBP is a marketing arm, so Caner's post about it being part of a strategy to move eyeballs from their rivals away from NAPA is naturally part of that. BTCC or not.

[auroan]

Originally Posted by SV8Predator

MBP's partnership with LKQ has got nothing to do with, and will not affect, MB Motorsport's BTCC affairs.

Who do you think goes and gets the sponsorship for mb motorsport ? The two are very much linked. It even shouts about it on their website.

[crmalcolm]

In 2022, LKQ partnered with Laser Tools as part of the Team HARD entry.

For 2023, Laser Tools moved to MB Motorsport as part of Jake Hill's entry.
In the meantime, LKQ entered into a 2-year partnership with One Motorsport.

Since that time, LKQ has seen their former partner go on to receive the exposure that comes with a BTCC title, whereas they moved to Speedworks (after One Motorsport's withdrawal).

MB Partners already works with Andrew Watson and Howdens on the other side of the Speedworks Garage, and so it would make sense for LKQ to want to partner with MBP as well.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by auroan

Who do you think goes and gets the sponsorship for mb motorsport ? The two are very much linked. It even shouts about it on their website.

Just because MBM has sponsorship provided through MBP, that doesn't mean that all of MBP's partners will sponsor MBM.

Take Howden's for example. An MBP Partner, but not on the MBM Car.

[coffinpilot]

The chances are that Alex Watts is the MBP account manager for the MBP/LKQ deal. He's the guy who has effectively pulled together and managed all the deals that puts Jake Hill on the grid and some for Andrew Watson.
Simon Hill was offering up lots of praise when I asked him earlier this year about how they managed to pull Laser Tools 'out of retirement.' He said for a someone who hadn't at that point reached 30 years old, he was just a genius in marketing strategy.
If he is the managing director of MBP and in a similar role with MB Motorsport, including Andrew Watson, then he's certainly been in the same eco-system, hence the partnership with MB.

I haven't seen the release, if anyone has a link?
Could there just be more of a hospitality and engagement change on race weekends? A better marketing activation surrounding their BTCC involvement, after all MBP is a sports marketing agency, it would make sense when you look at the team behind the NAPA marketing for the last three seasons and what they've done. Its something LKQ needs mind, I don't notice so many Euro Car Parts vans and lorries on the roads these days, but NAPA, there's loads of them. It all counts!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

I haven't seen the release, if anyone has a link?

https://www.wearembp.com/news/mbp-we...tner-programme

[mprmke]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

I don't notice so many Euro Car Parts vans and lorries on the roads these days, but NAPA, there's loads of them. It all counts!

Depends where you are I think. I see numerous Euro Car Parts vans, with LKQ logos on the road every day, but I've only ever seen 1 or 2 NAPA vans.

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

https://www.wearembp.com/news/mbp-we...tner-programme

Thanks CRMalcolm.

Got to say this quote makes it sound like it's just a boost to the current team. 'From Strength to Strength' doesn't sound like they're putting Andrew Watson in a LKQ WSR BMW. Comes across as a kick in the backside to level up with NAPA via Speedworks.

Commenting on the announcement LKQ Euro Car Parts Group Marketing Director, Colin Cottrell, said:

*“As our LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ British Touring Car team goes from strength to strength, we’re excited to continue building our profile in the sporting world. We’ve heard great things about the MBP Official Partner Programme and are confident that joining will allow us to foster relationships with existing partners and develop new connections across the sporting network and beyond.”

[tocatrucky]

Some of Aiden's comments this year went down like a lead balloon with both the team and sponsors.

Justified or not he's burnt some important bridges which would haven't helped him stay in the BTCC next year.

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

In 2022, LKQ partnered with Laser Tools as part of the Team HARD entry.

Laser Tools did not "partner" with LKQ. At that time the secondary (as opposed to title sponsor) was Synetic. LKQ were a very minor sponsor at that time.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by SV8Predator

Laser Tools did not "partner" with LKQ. At that time the secondary (as opposed to title sponsor) was Synetic. LKQ were a very minor sponsor at that time.

Colin Cottrell, Marketing Director at LKQ Euro Car Parts, said: "Our partnerships with Laser Tools Racing and Team HARD. and their talented drivers are part of our ongoing commitment to supporting BTCC"

Bob Moffat, Team Principal of Laser Tools Racing, added: "It’s fantastic to be backed by LKQ Euro Car Parts for the BTCC 2022 season."

One of the cars was entered as 'UptonSteel with Euro Car Parts Racing' (which coincidentally also had Howdens on the bonnet) with the Laser Tools cars also running LKQ branding (admittedly as a minor sponsor).

It is this relationship that I was drawing attention to and the subsequent relationships between Laser, Howdens and MB Partners. The scale of their sponsorship is not really relevant, but more of how they will have observed those other brands' profiles in the following two years.

[S griffin]

I wonder if HARD will continue? Times have changed. Teams need a good package to compete in the series. I wonder also if MB Partners might fancy a change, a new challenge?

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I wonder if HARD will continue?

I thought they had folded?

[Evantra]

WSR interview with Dick Bennetts on Facebook where he says two 2-car teams for next year. So presumably two under the MB banner then.

And when asked about drivers, “two of them will be the same” as this year.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...00063594548957

[tee.1s]

Originally Posted by Evantra

WSR interview with Dick Bennetts on Facebook where he says two 2-car teams for next year. So presumably two under the MB banner then.

And when asked about drivers, “two of them will be the same” as this year.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...00063594548957

"Adam's car did a whole season with one engine"-Now that's impressive reliability from WSR/BMW!

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by Evantra

WSR interview with Dick Bennetts on Facebook where he says two 2-car teams for next year. So presumably two under the MB banner then.

And when asked about drivers, “two of them will be the same” as this year.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...00063594548957

So that's Jake and Colin back and time to speculate on the other 2... Watson surely with the MB connection and Bobby T if Dick is only describing the Zeus debacle as a hiccup?

[Sodemo]

I’d love to see Jordan back though I understand the chances of that are almost zero.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by tee.1s

"Adam's car did a whole season with one engine"-Now that's impressive reliability from WSR/BMW!

The way the rules are designed this is supposed to be the case. RPMs and boost pressures are run way lower than the engines are capable of, which greatly enhance longevity and reliability.

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

So that's Jake and Colin back and time to speculate on the other 2... Watson surely with the MB connection and Bobby T if Dick is only describing the Zeus debacle as a hiccup?

I'd love to see Jake and Bobby as team mates, that would produce some fireworks!

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Pickles

I'd love to see Jake and Bobby as team mates, that would produce some fireworks!

Doubt it would happen. I’m sure Jake will very much be in demand now. Bobby’s most realistic hope is with WSR