[BTCC] BTCC News & Rumours 2025

[tocatrucky]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

Speaking of Speedworks, how changed do people expect their lineup to be? Just Huffy staying from this season or a chance they keep Cook too if Toyota contributed?

Huff staying, Watson heading back to GTs, Scott Sumpton in (IMO).

[S griffin]

I can see Huff moving on. Don’t know where Watson will fill in. Sumpton might not be able to find a drive

[Racing_Dad]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I can see Huff moving on. Don’t know where Watson will fill in. Sumpton might not be able to find a drive

Sumpton owns his Cupra so he may go alone or join another, or sell and buy a different car but I fully expect to see him on the grid. Quite a winter ahead folks, get the popcorn ready.

[Racing_Dad]

Originally Posted by tocatrucky

Huff staying, Watson heading back to GTs, Scott Sumpton in (IMO).

Almost right

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by Racing_Dad

Sumpton owns his Cupra so he may go alone or join another, or sell and buy a different car but I fully expect to see him on the grid. Quite a winter ahead folks, get the popcorn ready.

As someone who seems to be in the know, would you predict the full 24 TBLS being allocated or closer to this year's grid?

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I can see Huff moving on. Don’t know where Watson will fill in. Sumpton might not be able to find a drive

Or Watson to WSR? Could happen

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by thetool

It's almost like it's the driver/engineer combination that makes the difference and not the car.

You think...?

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by tocatrucky

Huff staying, Watson heading back to GTs, Scott Sumpton in (IMO).

Watson back to GTs would spanner the thought that I think everyone has had that he's heading to WSR. Equally I couldn't blame him after the season he had if he went back to GTs.

[S griffin]

Yes, Watson deserves another chance, but I wouldn't blame him if he went back to GTs

[BtccLee]

Season Launch at Donington in mid-April, pre-season testing a couple weeks earlier over two days at Croft: https://btcc.net/2025-season-launch-...ays-confirmed/

[tocatrucky]

Originally Posted by BtccLee

Season Launch at Donington in mid-April, pre-season testing a couple weeks earlier over two days at Croft: https://btcc.net/2025-season-launch-...ays-confirmed/

Good move to bring Media Day back up to Donny, the switch to Brands never like a right move.

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by tocatrucky

Good move to bring Media Day back up to Donny, the switch to Brands never like a right move.

It was at Donny this year, agreed that it's a better location for it though.

[Steel Wheels]

Do we know for sure it was Watson behind the wheel of the Speedworks Toyota out testing recently, as while it ran no.11, Watson posted a picture from abroad the same day & I’m not sure it’s his crash helmet either, but picture isn’t that clear.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

Do we know for sure it was Watson behind the wheel of the Speedworks Toyota out testing recently, as while it ran no.11, Watson posted a picture from abroad the same day & I’m not sure it’s his crash helmet either, but picture isn’t that clear.

Someone said Pearson had been testing with them and it did look a bit like his helmet at a glance, but I didn’t look all too closely so might be wrong.

[BtccLee]

Hybrid out, 100% sustainable fuel in for 2025 with boost coming purely from turbo power: https://btcc.net/btcc-introduces-100...ybrid-departs/

Wow.

[TinTopGrumpy]

See all the usual comments in social media with people thinking that the "massive", "huge", "insane" cost of the hybrid system is the reason for the grid being smaller this year.

Didn't see dropping the hybrid coming but it will be interesting to see what reasons those people come up with for the grid not jumping up to 30+ cars.

Wasn't expecting them to drop the hybrid but it's good to see the cars being much lighter for next season.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by thetool

The hybrid is already looking dated and possibly a costly mis-step. The way the general car market is going, committing to the current rule set until the end of 2026 is looking misguided, given the rapid expansion of full electric vehicles on the road. What only a few years ago looked like pioneering technology (hybrid) is more and more old news already.

Quoting from the 2023 rumours thread, this was posted on 15/02/2023. I know EV is a hot topic at the moment, with some strongly held views (a mixture of some legitimate concerns + some head-in-the-sand don't accept change), but I still think longer term the series is going to end up with mini SUV EVs sooner or later.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by BtccLee

Hybrid out, 100% sustainable fuel in for 2025 with boost coming purely from turbo power: https://btcc.net/btcc-introduces-100...ybrid-departs/

Wow.

Yeah I’m shocked they dropped it but not exactly disappointed.

Also, they’re notably removing the hybrid/boost graphic from the timing screens to avoid teams using it cover one another off.

[crmalcolm]

One interesting note I see is that the additional power is now coming from boost pressure. This is fine, but I wonder if any of the engine tuners of the non-TOCA units have any concerns about running higher boost than they have designed for so far in their work?

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by thetool

Quoting from the 2023 rumours thread, this was posted on 15/02/2023. I know EV is a hot topic at the moment, with some strongly held views (a mixture of some legitimate concerns + some head-in-the-sand don't accept change), but I still think longer term the series is going to end up with mini SUV EVs sooner or later.

I can't see it, I think sustainable fuel generally seems to be the way of lot of national (and some international series) are looking to continue to appeal to fans whilst also addressing the legitimate concerns about environmental impact.

It will be interesting to see what manufacturers do, but these seem to be hugely positive steps that should reduce costs to some degree.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by TinTopGrumpy

Didn't see dropping the hybrid coming but it will be interesting to see what reasons those people come up with for the grid not jumping up to 30+ cars.

The hybrid going won't bring back anyone already gone. It might save a few who were in doubt over the winter for 2025.

[Robin Marriott]

Feels like a backwards step to me to be honest.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

Feels like a backwards step to me to be honest.

I agree.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by BtccLee

I can't see it, I think sustainable fuel generally seems to be the way of lot of national (and some international series) are looking to continue to appeal to fans whilst also addressing the legitimate concerns about environmental impact.

The switch will be painful for most series so it's hardly surprising to see efforts to cling on to what they are using currently.

No-one has a crystal ball of course, but with the ban on conventionally fuelled road cars back to 2030 (of course this can, and probably will change) it sees pretty clear the direction of travel.

I imagine unless you're living in a rural area that if you look up and down your street the number of houses with EV charging points outside will have rapidly increased over the last few years, and I'm not in a posh suburb somewhere.

[Robin Marriott]

Every car on the grid has a hybrid in its range. I know there’s almost no real manufacturer backing these days but if a brand was looking at some motorsport to chuck some money behind, this decision might put them off.