[BTCC] 2015 BTCC news & rumours

[BtccLee]

I cannot remember a silly season for some time when so little was known at this stage.

Early/Mid November will be when we hear about any rule amendments, when Gow has the teams for tea.

Then I think things will emerge somewhat faster, as has been said in several publications we maybe will start to get a view of the value of a TBL.

Support package is looking for a great boost, MSA Formula, Porsche reducing rounds and adding prize funds, Clio teams expanding and Ginetta as well…

2015 hasn’t even started to take shape yet. When it does, it should be mouth-watering.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

tbh a lot of teams have commented on 2015 but not much has been confirmed yet.

As for the supports, MSA Formula should attract some genuine F1 potential to the TOCA package for the first time since Alex Lynn was dominating FR UK in 2011. That will be nice to see. Hopefully the quality of the racing can match the FFs from the 2nd half of this season as well!

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by TimRTC

If there were spare chassis, running guest entries would allow teams to at least make some revenue off a car if they have built one but are unable to get a space.

Teams don't have spare chassis. There's not enough money around for teams to build extra cars they don't need and aren't going to be able to use.

Likewise no potential team with any sense is going to start building a car without be sure they had a TBL first.

[davyboy]

The introduction of the TBL system has significantly devalued the cars - fixed demand [max 32] and too much supply - which is possibly why so many of them are being recycled to build replacements.

[RED55]

on one hand it is good to be able to retain the main parts, on the other it has made the cars almost throw away and an investment say like BMR have done with the CC has made 2 Insignias (removing another manufacturer from the series ,but swamping the grid with 4 of the same make ) worthless as there is no spare room because of the TBL license .

I would say that TBLs have more value than a BTCC NGTC bodyshell right now. so Warren Scott has probably the best part of 100k sat there as scrap rather than usuable racecars as nobody can get a licence to re use them.

Im only using the Insignias as an example, it wasnt the best car for results but it was to be fair one of the first cars to NGTC spec.

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by RED55

on one hand it is good to be able to retain the main parts, on the other it has made the cars almost throw away and an investment say like BMR have done with the CC has made 2 Insignias (removing another manufacturer from the series ,but swamping the grid with 4 of the same make ) worthless as there is no spare room because of the TBL license .

I would say that TBLs have more value than a BTCC NGTC bodyshell right now. so Warren Scott has probably the best part of 100k sat there as scrap rather than usuable racecars as nobody can get a licence to re use them.

Im only using the Insignias as an example, it wasnt the best car for results but it was to be fair one of the first cars to NGTC spec.

If there was a series elsewhere - either here or abroad - then there would be a second hand market for the cars. Unfortunately there isn't, so they're being hacked up.

[850Estate]

Saw this on Facebook, would free up a couple of TBL's

"With Zak Brown selling his part of United Autosport and with Glynn Geddie being taken out of racing because of his being accused of Drink Driving. Jim Geddie unlikely to support UA in BTCC so they may not be in it next year!"

[porsche962fan]

well I guess this is the end of United in BTCC

that frees up a TBL for Rotek who wanted to enter a 2nd Audi

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by davyboy

If there was a series elsewhere - either here or abroad - then there would be a second hand market for the cars. Unfortunately there isn't, so they're being hacked up.

The cars could run in other series - like Britcar or VLN.

[porsche962fan]

when is the post season team meeting where rules tweaks are discussed ?

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by sceptic

The cars could run in other series - like Britcar or VLN.

Nope for VLN... too much of a silhouette racer to go into the regular SP classes and probably not enough lobbying power to be put into SPX.

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by sceptic

The cars could run in other series - like Britcar or VLN.

As has been pointed out I'm not sure they would be allowed in VLN and they're too expensive and slow for club racing. What I was trying to get at is that there isn't (yet) another national or international touring car series that's adopted NGTC. If/when there is, that issue will be solved.

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

tbh a lot of teams have commented on 2015 but not much has been confirmed yet.

As for the supports, MSA Formula should attract some genuine F1 potential to the TOCA package for the first time since Alex Lynn was dominating FR UK in 2011. That will be nice to see. Hopefully the quality of the racing can match the FFs from the 2nd half of this season as well!

Think MSA Formula should be really well supported in 2015. That's great as TOCA really needs a very strong single seater series on the programme. I understand Porsche are doing everything possible to increase numbers but it's not working. Clios aren't in great shape either. Ginettas (Junior and Cup) should be OK. In terms of entertainment, the Juniors are the best series on the TOCA schedule and next year should be another cracker.

[Sodemo]

I must say, the support series has gone from a "rarely miss it" to a "give it a miss" now. For a start, there is too much repetition of races, this never used to be the case. Ok you might have got a race doubled up over the weekend from the Saturday to the Sunday, but not every support and not doubled up on the Sunday. Only really the Clios are consistently entertaining, and even they are struggling with grid numbers. I miss the ford fiestas, they were amazing.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Sodemo, you didn't watch the Ginetta Juniors last season did you? Every race was so much fun...

[cds_uk]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

Sodemo, you didn't watch the Ginetta Juniors last season did you? Every race was so much fun...

Couldn't agree more, the Juniors was a brilliant series this year. On another note i really do have high hopes that the MSA Formula takes off next year, certainly the quality of teams that seem to be showing an interest is a reason for some optimism.

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by cds_uk

Couldn't agree more, the Juniors was a brilliant series this year. On another note i really do have high hopes that the MSA Formula takes off next year, certainly the quality of teams that seem to be showing an interest is a reason for some optimism.

Yep, the Ginetta Juniors this past year had some of the best car racing I've ever seen - yes EVER !

I was chatting to people involved in promoting/administering the series and MSA Formula is set for a bumper year. It'll have quantity, and with drivers of the calibre of World Karting Champion Lando Norris, quality too.

... maybe we should have a thread for 2015 TOCA Support Silly Season... Mods, what do you think ?

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

I'm all up for contributing for that. I really like seeing the prospects, in the two sports I love most, motorsports and football!!! I guess it's the satisfaction when you see a guy and think 'they can go the whole way' and then they do! I've had that feeling with AJ in the BTCC already and I think I'll have it a few more times!!!

Plus, it'll be it'll be interesting to see what happens regarding the grids in the Porsches and Clios, seeing if the new car picks up more entries.

[Sodemo]

I do like the juniors more than the g50's or whatever they are called now. They can offer good racing, but not with a 10 car grid, after a few laps it all gets spread out and there are no battles. I personally miss the vectra v6 supports, they sounded amazing and was like a btcc-lite series. Same with the Leon supercup, great looking, great sounding, close hard battles.

[porsche962fan]

from Gilham's Twitter , any idea what it is with this shell ? a new NGTC car ?
https://twitter.com/tonygilham34

[pinkd56]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

from Gilham's Twitter , any idea what it is with this shell ? a new NGTC car ?
https://twitter.com/tonygilham34

Looks interesting, though it could be for any of the many series that he enters.

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

from Gilham's Twitter , any idea what it is with this shell ? a new NGTC car ?
https://twitter.com/tonygilham34

An Insignia ?

[TR.]

Originally Posted by pinkd56

Looks interesting, though it could be for any of the many series that he enters.

Thats 100% NGTC with the 6 front subframe pickups and raised section between the rear arches to accommodate rear rockers/dampers.

[jsmee]

That is just an old image from the original Insignia rebuild from last year.

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by jsmee

That is just an old image from the original Insignia rebuild from last year.

It is an Insignia & Tony does have it, whether it's one of his old ones or a spare from last year or new is not clear, it's not just an old picture