[BTCC] 2015 BTCC news & rumours

[porsche962fan]

so the initial claim turned out true on both accounts

Moffat drives a Mercedes and his Cruze saloon is sold to BTC Racing

[davyboy]

One of the interesting things about touring car racing is that drivers can remain relatively competitive for a lot longer in their careers... but does age eventually catch up with them even there. This year I noticed Jason Plato making 'strange' mistakes - the classic misjudgments that start to creep into your driving as you get older [I speak from experience]. Mike Jordan was the oldest driver to take a win when he was victorious at round 3 at Mondello in 2006 aged 48. Alain Menu believes that he can still win titles - next year he'll be 52. What do we think ?

[RED55]

I think Menu can win a title if he is lead driver and his team mates back him up rather than fight him. But the current NGTC cars have shown that the Old guard cant just jump in them and go as quick as they expect, The NGTC established drivers have grown with the cars so they have an advantage .

Next year If the Old boys do return I can see them doing much better, the youngsters have it all to learn, the Old boys can have some of their past to unlearn .

Id rather not see Old stars failing, Id rather see young guys shining but by talent rather than trying to buy their way to the top.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Menu can win races but I don't think that BMR will be capable of an overall title challenge (maybe an Indy title, but as a dark horse!!!). And anyway, if BMR could challenge for the title, I'd put my money on Árón Smith leading the team. He's younger and faster than Menu.

[RED55]

I think you are right , If BMR were 2 cars they would have a better chance but I dont think Smith and Menu are the best combination for teamwork , Aaron is to selfish, probably like Menu was at Renault

I dont think 4 car teams are serious enough about racing, more about funding and trying to make money than really focusing on titles.

WSR only realistically won because Colin is their trump card and motorbase ended up with 3 cars to run with one new driver learning and two others duking it out for no 1 status in the team. Had Motorbase been 2 cars for GIO and Jacko I think they would have beaten 888 this year as best front drive car.

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by jsmee

Looks like Stockton has purchased Aiden Moffat's Chevy... Now, 2 car team or just one saloon?

Great to see! Obviously can't see that much in the pic, but has the saloon been stripped of running gear (and put in the Merc Ciceley are building), looks like just the shell in the pic. If that's the case then I'd assume BTC would strip the hatch and transfer the gear?

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by Jiiiiiiim

Great to see! Obviously can't see that much in the pic, but has the saloon been stripped of running gear (and put in the Merc Ciceley are building), looks like just the shell in the pic. If that's the case then I'd assume BTC would strip the hatch and transfer the gear?

Maybe it's a dumb question to ask... but wasn't there a more labour efficient way of cracking that nut ?

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

He's younger and faster than Menu.

Which underscores my point about age catching up with you.

Originally Posted by RED55

Aaron is to selfish, probably like Menu was at Renault

Menu was a paid employee at Renault back in the day. Given that Aron pays for his drive - and I suppose, by inference, part of Menu's too - I don't think it's unreasonable that he should be focused in his own objectives and not helping his team mate... who we've already established may well be slower than him

[Andrew Abbott]

Originally Posted by davyboy

One of the interesting things about touring car racing is that drivers can remain relatively competitive for a lot longer in their careers... but does age eventually catch up with them even there. This year I noticed Jason Plato making 'strange' mistakes - the classic misjudgments that start to creep into your driving as you get older [I speak from experience]. Mike Jordan was the oldest driver to take a win when he was victorious at round 3 at Mondello in 2006 aged 48. Alain Menu believes that he can still win titles - next year he'll be 52. What do we think ?

The average age of BTCC race winners over the past 25 years is around 34 - so in general drivers are older when they start winning in touring car racing.

Thought you might appreciate this basic graphic, illustrating the age of BTCC race winners at the time of each of their wins.

You can clearly see Jason Plato and Matt Neal approaching the age of Mike Jordan, the current oldest race winner...

[davyboy]

Interesting. You've got to go back to 1999 to get a similar number of older winners to the last couple of years.

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by Jiiiiiiim

Great to see! Obviously can't see that much in the pic, but has the saloon been stripped of running gear (and put in the Merc Ciceley are building), looks like just the shell in the pic. If that's the case then I'd assume BTC would strip the hatch and transfer the gear?

Yep, that it was Stockton is saying, they purely bought the Crize shell from Moffatt and will transfer the running gear from the hatchback.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by davyboy

Maybe it's a dumb question to ask... but wasn't there a more labour efficient way of cracking that nut ?

Presumably Aidens team wanted to keep their bits as they are in a known good condition. Not to say Chris Stocktons aren't, but keeping what you've got reduces the potential for an unpleasant "surprise" down the line.

[Craner Curves]

Any ideas why one of Motorbase's Fords was in yellow last week at Snett? https://www.flickr.com/photos/50550140@N07/15484215540

[jsmee]

New sponsorship from Ambrosia Custard?

Or Custard Creams?

Or Wix

[jsmee]

On a support series note, I see Ahmad Al Harthy has been testing in Michael Meadows's Porsche 991 car. Would be good to see him back in the Porsches.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Any ideas why one of Motorbase's Fords was in yellow last week at Snett? https://www.flickr.com/photos/50550140@N07/15484215540

Well we know Airwaves are leaving so it wasn't going to remain blue.

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Any ideas why one of Motorbase's Fords was in yellow last week at Snett? https://www.flickr.com/photos/50550140@N07/15484215540

I wonder if Crabbies are going to take the plunge and appear on all three cars ? Or maybe Big Dave is trying to court them into doing it ?

[jsmee]

Originally Posted by davyboy

I wonder if Crabbies are going to take the plunge and appear on all three cars ? Or maybe Big Dave is trying to court them into doing it ?

The car in the test was yellow not fluoro green.

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by jsmee

The car in the test was yellow not fluoro green.

If it was running the champs from the TOCA support packages wasn't that test arranged by or sponsored by Dunlop, could be a homage to them?

[steve_r]

Their new sponser is a fridge manufacturer. I was exepcting the new livery to be white. With a magnetic door.




Edit - Whirlpool's logo is partly yellow.

[BtccLee]

According to Motorsport News, it was being driven by Alex Martin. He used to race in the Carrera Cup GB and I think was quite handy, opinions?

I believe his large sponsor was a company called Dextra or something along those lines, paint company possibly? Anyway, his Porsche was always bright yellow like that. However, I think it was only a toe in the water, so that may be a step too far to assume...

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by BtccLee

According to Motorsport News, it was being driven by Alex Martin. He used to race in the Carrera Cup GB and I think was quite handy, opinions?

I believe his large sponsor was a company called Dextra or something along those lines, paint company possibly? Anyway, his Porsche was always bright yellow like that. However, I think it was only a toe in the water, so that may be a step too far to assume...

Alex did well in the GT cup in 2010, think he did PCCGB the year after & had some top tens if my memory serves me correctly (which it tends not to so much lately). The backing comes from the parent company of companies he is a Director. Dextra the parent co is the biggest Lighting manufacturer in the uk & Alex is director of the LEDextra offshoot (& possibly others). Know them from the industry I work in!

[Bramzel]

Originally Posted by BtccLee

According to Motorsport News, it was being driven by Alex Martin. He used to race in the Carrera Cup GB and I think was quite handy, opinions?

I believe his large sponsor was a company called Dextra or something along those lines, paint company possibly? Anyway, his Porsche was always bright yellow like that. However, I think it was only a toe in the water, so that may be a step too far to assume...

Recoloring a car for just a toe in the water seens a bit much?

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by Bramzel

Recoloring a car for just a toe in the water seens a bit much?

I would have thought the same.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Bramzel

Recoloring a car for just a toe in the water seens a bit much?

Mr Bartrum is known for his attention to detail. Let's face it, letting a potential (big hitting) customer test the car painted in the colour it'll be would be a good way to help him 'see' just what it would be like racing one of these in the BTCC...