BTCC entries/rumours that never came to be

[saxoflute03]

What exactly was the 1961 race where Steve McQueen drove the John Whitmore Mini? Obviously, it was a non-Championship race and a seemingly little known one at that, still doing the research at present.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by saxoflute03

What exactly was the 1961 race where Steve McQueen drove the John Whitmore Mini? Obviously, it was a non-Championship race and a seemingly little known one at that, still doing the research at present.

Thread here - https://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42967

Sir John Whitmore article here - https://motorsport.sportingmemories....steve-mcqueen/

Dominik Wilde article here - https://dominikwilde.com/when-steve-...d-in-the-btcc/

MotorSport Magazine article here - https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a.../steve-mcqueen

[saxoflute03]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Thread here - https://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42967

Sir John Whitmore article here - https://motorsport.sportingmemories....steve-mcqueen/

Dominik Wilde article here - https://dominikwilde.com/when-steve-...d-in-the-btcc/

MotorSport Magazine article here - https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a.../steve-mcqueen

Thank you.

Still can't have been that well-known if Frank de Jong's website doesn't cover it.

[saxoflute03]

Klaus Ludwig and Paula Cook got to test the out-going Vauxhall Cavalier at the end of 1995.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by saxoflute03

Thank you.

Still can't have been that well-known if Frank de Jong's website doesn't cover it.

It's not covered on that site because it wasn't a BSCC race (championship or otherwise).

[saxoflute03]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

It's not covered on that site because it wasn't a BSCC race (championship or otherwise).

I did ask in the first place what the nature of that race was.

[saxoflute03]

Matt Neal was offered a seat at Ecurie Ecosse for 1992. He would have driven the Vauxhall Cavalier that Bobby Verdon-Roe and Alex Portman ended up driving.

[saxoflute03]

Gabriele Tarquini came close to joining Renault for 1997.

[saxoflute03]

1996:

Anthony Reid contesting selected BTCC rounds in the Andy Rouse-run Nissan Primera.

Andy Rouse in a privateer Ford Mondeo.

A possible Toyota entry but more likely as a privateer. This was before Lee Brookes was confirmed.

A possible late season Hyundai entry run by Prodrive after Alfa Romeo pulled out.

A possible Reynard-influenced Chrysler Stratus entry, depending on its NATCC performance.

Between 6 and 8 privateers but only Matt Neal and Richard Kaye were mentioned.

Most of this coming from the same magazine that claimed a Renault and a Lancia would appear as privateers in the 1991 BTCC.

[saxoflute03]

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/ne...acing-drivers/ - Test with the Mazda BTCC team? A typing error or ultimately misplaced optimism with regards to the possibility of Mazda returning as a works team in 2006?

On the subject matter of the article in question, did Natasha Firman get to do her BTCC test in the end? I just know it was supposed to have been in a Team Dynamics Honda.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by saxoflute03

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/ne...acing-drivers/ - Test with the Mazda BTCC team? A typing error or ultimately misplaced optimism with regards to the possibility of Mazda returning as a works team in 2006?

https://www.touringcartimes.com/2006...nault-to-wtcc/

[saxoflute03]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

https://www.touringcartimes.com/2006...nault-to-wtcc/

Thank you but Mazda did also consider returning to the BTCC in 2006 and that news report from the Northern Echo implies as such unless it was a typing error.

I do know that Ralph Firman got to test a VX Racing Vauxhall Astra Coupe ahead of the 2004 Season, it said so in Autosport's 2004 BTCC Preview.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by saxoflute03

Thank you but Mazda did also consider returning to the BTCC in 2006 and that news report from the Northern Echo implies as such unless it was a typing error.

So which is it. Details of a Mazda entry, or a typing error?

This article would suggest that the Northern Echo article was a bit off:

http://speedqueens.blogspot.com/2010/09/formula-woman.html?m=1

The Northern Echo article was written in 2005, Mazda had already withdrawn their support. "For 2005, support was dropped by Mazda and instead drivers competed in Caterham 7s."

[saxoflute03]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

So which is it. Details of a Mazda entry, or a typing error?

This article would suggest that the Northern Echo article was a bit off:

http://speedqueens.blogspot.com/2010...woman.html?m=1

The Northern Echo article was written in 2005, Mazda had already withdrawn their support. "For 2005, support was dropped by Mazda and instead drivers competed in Caterham 7s."

I'd suspect a typing error unless the Northern Echo was somehow aware of the possibility of Mazda returning to the BTCC in 2006. I knew all of the above so I suspected the article was off myself when I came across it. I was just trying to find out if Natasha Firman ever got to do her BTCC Test as her prize for winning Formula Woman in 2004 and, if so, it was supposed to be in a Team Dynamics Honda, at least according to this. - https://www.carpages.co.uk/mazda/maz...1_27_07_04.asp

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by saxoflute03

I was just trying to find out if Natasha Firman ever got to do her BTCC Test as her prize for winning Formula Woman in 2004.

Yes.

[saxoflute03]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Yes.

Thank you. I was just curious as I was having a hard time finding proof online.

What really sparked up my curiosity though is Motorsport News once reporting that Team Dynamics allegedly wanted to run Jodie Kidd in their 3rd Integra for a one-off appearance in 2005.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by saxoflute03

Thank you. I was just curious as I was having a hard time finding proof online.

The speedqueens.blogspot.com article was written 5 years after the test, and referred to it in the past tense.

[saxoflute03]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

The speedqueens.blogspot.com article was written 5 years after the test, and referred to it in the past tense.

My apologies, I hadn't read it from cover to cover until now.

Duncan Huisman tested the Edenbridge BMW alongside the team's regular driver Justin Keen just before they pulled out in 2004.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by saxoflute03

My apologies, I hadn't read it from cover to cover until now.

No problem.

[saxoflute03]

Doesn't look like Jordan King is going to capitalise on his test for Motorbase last November at the rate things are going.

[saxoflute03]

I'm intrigued as to the rumours Andy Rouse referred to in his end-of-season interview in 1988.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by saxoflute03

I'm intrigued as to the rumours Andy Rouse referred to in his end-of-season interview in 1988.

And what were they? For those who either don't remember or weren't around at the time?

[saxoflute03]

Originally Posted by chunterer

And what were they? For those who either don't remember or weren't around at the time?

Your guess is as good as mine. Andy just simply spoke of the rumours he'd heard and hoped they'd come to fruition or at least half of them would.

[crmalcolm]

I think he was referring to the planned Ford Manufacturer entry, which was then shelved because the RS500 was so popular.

[saxoflute03]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I think he was referring to the planned Ford Manufacturer entry, which was then shelved because the RS500 was so popular.

That's possible.

Speaking of Andy Rouse, he was said to be hinting at retirement at the end of the 1992 Season.