BTCC entries/rumours that never came to be - Page 16

saxoflute03 · 15 Feb 2022, 13:17 (Ref:4098815)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIcs7BsNv_U - The Andy Rouse interview starts at about 1:53.24. Make of that what you will for anyone who sees this.

saxoflute03 · 15 Feb 2022, 13:35 (Ref:4098819)

There were informed rumours hinting that there might be a Prodrive-run Fiat entry for 1993.

Good Grief! Was there ever a time when Prodrive wasn't linked to a manufacturer that may or may not have shown interest in entering the BTCC during the 1990s?

Also, did Fiat even have a car in their range that would have suited the Class 2 regs at the time?

S griffin · 15 Feb 2022, 14:16 (Ref:4098829)

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxoflute03

That's possible.

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

He was ready to retire, but decided to continue for another couple of seasons with the Ford project

saxoflute03 · 15 Feb 2022, 14:53 (Ref:4098839)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

He was ready to retire, but decided to continue for another couple of seasons with the Ford project

I know.

Wasn't the Ford Mondeo originally intended to be RWD and that's what led to the delays in the car making its debut in 1993?

S griffin · 15 Feb 2022, 16:25 (Ref:4098850)

Yes we’ve been through that before on here

saxoflute03 · 15 Feb 2022, 18:33 (Ref:4098862)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

Yes we’ve been through that before on here

Whoops!

As for the aforementioned 1993 Fiat rumour, it was most likely an indirect foreshadowing of the 1994 Alfa Romeo entry.

Can't see the rumours linking Rob Huff to one of the Speedworks Toyotas for this season coming to anything.

**chunterer** · 18 Feb 2022, 05:34 (Ref:4099212)

Quote:

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.

As in a works entry or a new model?

S griffin · 18 Feb 2022, 10:48 (Ref:4099253)

I think Ford may have given Rouse more support in 89, what with the ETCC collapsing.

saxoflute03 · 19 Feb 2022, 21:07 (Ref:4099449)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

I think Ford may have given Rouse more support in 89, what with the ETCC collapsing.

That would have made sense.

saxoflute03 · 19 Feb 2022, 21:27 (Ref:4099456)

Laurence Bristow's team was a strong candidate to run the works Ford entry in 1991.

S griffin · 20 Feb 2022, 10:06 (Ref:4099496)

The only time Bristow had his own team was in 1992. Trackstar got the Ford contract, while Bristow went to VLM

saxoflute03 · 20 Feb 2022, 19:17 (Ref:4099531)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

The only time Bristow had his own team was in 1992. Trackstar got the Ford contract, while Bristow went to VLM

Meant Team Labatt's and I know Laurence Bristow ran his own team in 1992.

Team Labatt's were linked to the works Ford entry for 1991 as follows:

There are a number of teams being considered to run the works (Ford) cars, but strongest candidates are Labatt’s Bristow Sport and Trakstar.

saxoflute03 · 24 Feb 2022, 09:52 (Ref:4100024)

There was a rumour suggesting Renault were looking to enter the BTCC in 1992.

saxoflute03 · 24 Feb 2022, 23:09 (Ref:4100158)

1993:

We've had the Prodrive-run Fiat entry.

Paul Stewart Racing running the works Ford entry.

David Price Racing running Martin Donnelly in a Mercedes.

Prodrive continuing with the BMW before switching to the Merc mid-season.

Audi linked to a possible entry.

I wonder if Jim Wheals had planned to contest more rounds in his Ford Sapphire before selling it to Bob Berridge?

**chunterer** · 26 Feb 2022, 09:37 (Ref:4100336)

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxoflute03

1993:

I wonder if Jim Wheals had planned to contest more rounds in his Ford Sapphire before selling it to Bob Berridge?

Crikey we're really scraping the barrel with that one!

S griffin · 26 Feb 2022, 10:33 (Ref:4100348)

I agree. This is supposed to be threads about could have beens, not those who actually raced

saxoflute03 · 26 Feb 2022, 11:03 (Ref:4100355)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

I agree. This is supposed to be threads about could have beens, not those who actually raced

Got a bit carried away but there's no harm in wondering.

I know Andy Wallace raced once in 1993 but I read somewhere he was meant to do selected races i.e. more than one.

**chunterer** · 26 Feb 2022, 12:01 (Ref:4100363)

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxoflute03

Got a bit carried away but there's no harm in wondering.

I know Andy Wallace raced once in 1993 but I read somewhere he was meant to do selected races i.e. more than one.

Think he was in the mix for a Toyota (or Nissan?) seat one year?

saxoflute03 · 26 Feb 2022, 12:09 (Ref:4100368)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

Think he was in the mix for a Toyota (or Nissan?) seat one year?

I'd have thought Toyota would have been likely as Andy Wallace was still contracted to them at the time of his outing for Team Dynamics.

saxoflute03 · 26 Feb 2022, 12:17 (Ref:4100374)

Nissan tested Eric van de Poele, Ivan Capelli and Luis Perez-Sala in 1993, albeit in preparation for the French, Italian and Spanish series.

I know they ran Van de Poele in 1994.

**chunterer** · 26 Feb 2022, 12:21 (Ref:4100377)

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxoflute03

Nissan tested Eric van de Poele, Ivan Capelli and Luis Perez Sala in 1993, albeit in preparation for the French, Italian and Spanish series.

I know they ran Van de Poele in 1994.

I thought he'd take Nissan forward but he struggled iirc? I guess being very good in a rwd Group A M3 doesn't mean you'll automatically be good in a fwd super tourer.

saxoflute03 · 26 Feb 2022, 12:25 (Ref:4100379)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

I thought he'd take Nissan forward but he struggled iirc? I guess being very good in a rwd Group A M3 doesn't mean you'll automatically be good in a fwd super tourer.

Nissan were pretty naff in 1994 full stop really.

It's safe to stay it wasn't just Van de Poele who found the going tough in the BTCC after shining so much in other touring car series.

Tom Walkinshaw Racing were linked to a deal with Honda as well as Volvo for 1994.

saxoflute03 · 26 Feb 2022, 17:19 (Ref:4100413)

Wasn't Ricky Collard in the frame to substitute for Andy Neate in 2021 but lost out to Paul Rivett or something like that?

saxoflute03 · 26 Feb 2022, 21:17 (Ref:4100448)

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...th-motor-sport - The Ford Mondeo in 1994 with that rear wing. Thank goodness! UG-LY or what? How NOT to follow Alfa Romeo's example even if it was a first effort. I sincerely hope that wing had been removed by the time Malcolm Wilson got to test the Mondeo prior to that year's Snetterton round.

Don't wish to sound like I'm being too harsh but I find it rather unsightly. Looks like Andy Rouse tried to predict the advent of the BTC-Touring regs.

S griffin · 26 Feb 2022, 23:00 (Ref:4100461)

It’s not that bad. It was necessary to test that, with what Alfa were doing. But it didn’t work out as hoped

Rouse was right to get out when he did. Not sure his style would have suited the post-94 cars

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