[BTCC] 2014 BTCC Croft (Rds 13-15)

[redshoes]

It amazes me sometimes that fans are so gullible as to think Gow makes series decisions based solely on Plato's complaints. Plato isn't the only one with an opinion, it's just that he's the one that gets interviewed by the media more than any other driver so it's always his opinion that we hear.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by redshoes

It amazes me sometimes that fans are so gullible as to think Gow makes series decisions based solely on Plato's complaints. Plato isn't the only one with an opinion, it's just that he's the one that gets interviewed by the media more than any other driver so it's always his opinion that we hear.

I'm sure that isn't the case. But plato is extremely media savvy, and knows very well what to say and when to say it. He also has the loudest voice in the paddock, so he gets the headlines, and Gow can't ingore those totally.

[codename_47]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

I'm sure that isn't the case. But plato is extremely media savvy, and knows very well what to say and when to say it. He also has the loudest voice in the paddock, so he gets the headlines, and Gow can't ingore those totally.

There's also no doubt Jason is allowed a bit more leeway when it comes to on-track incidents than other drivers.
Other, younger drivers have had exclusions for stuff Plato does race in race out.

Again, he's the media darling of the series so any controversy surrounding him is good for the championship, so goes the logic.

I'm hoping Collard can pass him in race 1 but I just know if he does we'll never hear the end of it.

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by redshoes

It amazes me sometimes that fans are so gullible as to think Gow makes series decisions based solely on Plato's complaints. Plato isn't the only one with an opinion, it's just that he's the one that gets interviewed by the media more than any other driver so it's always his opinion that we hear.

wrong timing


TOCA should have waited for the second half of season to impose long 1st gear, not a few days after Plato moans , it creates the perception that they do things after Plato moans


also you noticed there were NEVER any techincal revisions which disfavored Plato

name just one such case in the last 10 years!!


also I think it's safe to say that Neal aspirations are gone , he will play rear gunner for Shedden

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

also you noticed there were NEVER any techincal revisions which disfavored Plato

How about the technical revision that went from NGTC being a FWD only proposal to one which allowed both FWD and RWD.

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by redshoes

How about the technical revision that went from NGTC being a FWD only proposal to one which allowed both FWD and RWD.

nice straw man


back in 2006 extra weight was slapped on BTC cars which favored Plato's S2000

2008 nothing done about the Leon TDI and its huge straight line advantage

2009 long 1 st gear after Plato moans a lot

2010 nothing done about the Cruze advantage even if it was a bit of cheating the test ban cos RML runned the same car in WTCC so in essence could test a lot of things on it

2011 Turbo cars slapped constantly with penalties after Plato moans all the time

2014 Plato again moans and RWD again get slapped


now name me just one instance when Plato was the victim of such technical changes

[redshoes]

I wasn't being entirely serious with my suggestion.

Maybe I'm being pedantic but you claim Plato has always been benefited from technical changes yet for the 2008/2010 examples there were no technical changes.

For the infamous 2011 parity debate, may teams and drivers were complaining, it's just that it was the voice of BTCC's media darling that you heard most often. I'm not JP's biggest fan but it's not fair to lay the blame for that at his feet.

The timing may seem off but understand that there will have been ongoing discussions between the teams and TOCA regarding any RWD adjustment. Every team/driver will have been trying to put forward their argument, mostly in private. Any decision by TOCA would have been several weeks in the making, the fact that JP chose to make those arguments public is not really TOCA's fault.

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by redshoes

.The timing may seem off but understand that there will have been ongoing discussions between the teams and TOCA regarding any RWD adjustmen

maybe Rob Austin and team WSR should constantly moan about parity and "FWD advantage" when a FWD car is ahead ? ??

Plato won races after race in 2012-2013 , remember the ultra dominant fashion even back of Brands season finale and you didn't see TOCA doing anything to penalize FWD or Dick Bennets/ Rob Austin moan like that and now that suddenly the tables have turned they are very vocal about this, isn't this too much hypocrisy now ??

[porsche962fan]

can we agree that Plato should be DQ for that move on Menu ? menu did a text book clean pass and was already ahead

[Clive Brown]

Plato you dirty *******! The Stewards should exclude you from the rest of the meeting as the very minimum appropriate action.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

TOCA won't do it. Luckily for justice and all things sane, the man he took out is a fan favourite and a previous champion. Plato HAS to be DQed for that. That was pathetic, truly pathetic. Plato fans constantly say that Matt Neal is no better, Rob Collard, etc, but nobody else on the grid has done a move that bad in their career. Totally unnecessary and, as Dave Bartrum pointed out in his anti-Plato-but-totally-logical-and-justified blog post following the Plato/Smith incident at Knockhill 2012, how Plato is a BRDC director is a joke. He may do lots of good when it comes to marketing, and he does care about young drivers, but sometimes his actions on (and to some extent off) track are inexcusable.

But as I've already hinted, TOCA did literally nothing when Plato was a total **** ramming Shedden off at the final corner of Donington 2012, so expect to get (justifiably) very angry.

And yes, I expect someone will come here and say we've been extreme, but anyone who saw that incident cannot possibly justify anything less than an exclusion.

[Starfish Primer]

That moves boost audience so instead of a penalty they´ll give him a well done.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Originally Posted by Starfish Primer

That moves boost audience so instead of a penalty they´ll give him a well done.

That could explain the fall in TV viewers for F1...

...but seriously, if Andy Jordan got a penalty for having his car on the inside line in race 1, then Plato, on that basis, will be banned for the rest of the 2014 season!

[PandaKing]

If Plato is excluded, how does that affect reverse grid? There is a precedent with Hynes/Depper at Brands.

Furthermore, Turks has now had max ballast for 5 straight races and is looking at a sixth. Does anyone know what the record is?

[Jon411]

Could be an interesting race 3 whatever happens considering the top 10 are reversed but potentially you could have Menu, Giovanardi (if TOCA enforce the penalty on him), Plato (if he is sent to the back) and Neal (if TOCA decide that the Honda did fail the ride height test) all down the back of the grid.

In other news - this Ginetta Juniors race is pretty epic isn't it

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Originally Posted by Jon411

In other news - this Ginetta Juniors race is pretty epic isn't it

Jamie Caroline's a fighter isn't he!

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by Jon411

Could be an interesting race 3 whatever happens considering the top 10 are reversed but potentially you could have Menu, Giovanardi (if TOCA enforce the penalty on him), Plato (if he is sent to the back) and Neal (if TOCA decide that the Honda did fail the ride height test) all down the back of the grid.

if the 3 get penalised at the back it means front row is Adam Morgan and Jack Goff then Tom Ingram and Sam Todoff


so the first 3 would be all young guns being very hungry for 1st win

[maximus]

Yeah that was pretty diabolical by Plato, his excuse after the race was weak IMO too.

The Ginettas were nuts! And the Formula Fords are producing some good racing this time around too.

[codename_47]

Ashley Sutton my new favourite FFord racer 3 great passes and so nearly stole the win too.

Great race

[Sodemo]

What was plato's excuse? I missed it...

[porsche962fan]

Matt Neal excluded for ride height


Plato got 10 places grid penalty .... way too soft penalty, should have been DQ

what a FARCE this is


Jack Goff on pole, Gio alongside him

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

What was plato's excuse? I missed it...

he had front end grip problems, of course that means you understeer not that you turn into somebody...

[codename_47]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

he had front end grip problems, of course that means you understeer not that you turn into somebody...

He also said that Menu was dawdling around on the apex and he was expecting to get a cutback....
"It could be seen as my mistake"

Not exactly the most heartfelt apology that I've ever heard

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by codename_47

Not exactly the most heartfelt apology that I've ever heard

he has too much ego to ever admit fully that it's his fault

Tom Ingram runs on the normal while everyone else on soft, great chance for him to bag a win

[Sodemo]

What did menu say about the incident?