BTCC Race fixing gone too far?

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

By the way, what exactly has happened to Tony Hughes ?

He's claiming he hasn't had the same updates from GPR that Dynojet have and that's why he's missing as he feels he won't be competitive. No disrespect to him, but he's never going to be a top 15 driver anyway.

[dyewat808]

I just wish everyone would get on with it.

Originally Posted by Greem

It's also worth mentioning that Plato, Onslow-Cole, Shedden, Neal and Chilton are having a bit a bunfight on Twitter. I can't make out whether or not it's enlightening seeing drivers discussing this stuff in public, or whether it's just too damned childish.

I also wish the drivers would stop slinging immature and childish personal shots at each other (and, for that matter, the fans). This isn't what the BTCC is about.

It's a transitional period. When they said they wanted to eventually make all the cars NGTC cars, the only reason they left in the S2000 rules is so everyone has time to adjust. The NGTC cars are meant to be the future, so of course they should be the more competitive, or else no-one will move to them. You can't try and encourage them to move to the new cars and still have completely equal performance between the two, because people simply won't bother.

The sentence that comes to mind in all of this is:

"If you can't beat them, join them", with the section "in 2012" added.

[andy97]

Originally Posted by Greem

Rob Austin tweeted earlier that he's looking forward to racing with some proper anti-roll bars - that probably explains his handling problems at Knockhill!

The audi is also about 100kg lighter than at the start of the season.

[garcon]

Originally Posted by andy97

The audi is also about 100kg lighter than at the start of the season.

That's probably just bits of interior trim that have fallen off.

[Alfa Fan]

160kg I believe is the figure. A lot of weight! Like driving the car round with the whole family in it!

[Tom Bee]

Originally Posted by AndyMil

Plato has whined enough for Gow to bow to his pressure then!! To55er!

I don't agree Plato is a 'To55er', anyone in his position would feel the same.

[medius]

Quote from Mike Earle, boss of Arena, talking about their chances of being in the WTCC or BTCC next year:

"We want to stay in touring cars, but it's just a bit difficult to interest sponsors, manufacturers anybody at the moment. For a start they can't understand it. They say 'well, why are you only doing this speed?' and we say, 'well, they've given us more weight and turned down the boost', 'alright, okay fine, I thought it was just motor racing'."

http://www.touringcartimes.com/article.php?id=6754

[Alfa Fan]

I don't really understand what he's on about? They will do what Mr Chilton Snr wants them to, as has been the case for the last 8 years. Not since running the Honda works programme in 2002-3 has Arena been anything other than "Team Chilton".

[medius]

I think he meant Arena convincing Ford to choose them as ''their guys'' for a WTCC assault.

[Alfa Fan]

Ford won't be! I bet they put next to nothing into this! When was the last time they did? WRC is funded through commercial sponsors and the M-Sport programme for running privateers. Any WTCC entry will be funded by Mr Chilton! I have yet to see any evidence that Ford have put or intend to put a single £/$ into Arena or S2000 cars!