[BTCC] BTCC News & Rumours 2025

[TinTopGrumpy]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

It certainly didn’t cost £25k to run the hybrid. Probably twice that

Didn't say it did cost 25k to run the hybrid.....

[Spanner monkey]

Originally Posted by BobJones

Agreed - but what are the top teams doing this winter? Working on a redistribution of weight... and that's £££..

The battery went in the place where the ballast box went so no real work to do. You can take all the hybrid kit out and just blank off the input it used to go on the gearbox.

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by TinTopGrumpy

I'd be surprised if it dropped the amount a team is asking for by more than 25k.

Originally Posted by TinTopGrumpy

Didn't say it did cost 25k to run the hybrid.....

Clearly what you meant though.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by TinTopGrumpy

Didn't say it did cost 25k to run the hybrid.....

Nor did I.

[coffinpilot]

Interesting read from the manager at unlimited motorsport. A slight change in ignition and some new fuel lines is all that's needed for the new fuel.


https://touringcarmagazine.co.uk/202...new-btcc-fuel/

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by Spanner monkey

The battery went in the place where the ballast box went so no real work to do. You can take all the hybrid kit out and just blank off the input it used to go on the gearbox.

Yes, very straightforward... but I think you've missed the point. There used to be weight on that side of the car, so certain parts were designed to counteract that, and setups. Now, that's in the bin.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Interesting read from the manager at unlimited motorsport. A slight change in ignition and some new fuel lines is all that's needed for the new fuel.

https://touringcarmagazine.co.uk/202...new-btcc-fuel/

Towards the end of that article, it says that one driver, who was aware of the fact that TOCA was dropping the hybrid, prior to the announcement, from the cars for the coming season, stated that he would have preferred it if they had gone back to success ballast.

I wonder if that driver would have been Sutton who did use to find ways, with his engineers, to counteract the extra weight possibly better than most of his peers.

[BtccLee]

Interesting from Autosport’s Top 10 drivers about Cookie:

“But taking the season overall it didn’t quite work out for the Cook entourage in 2024, and don’t be surprised to see him in another make of hatchback in 2025.”

Presumably Ford or Hyundai, unless someone has something else up their sleeves…

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Spanner monkey

The battery went in the place where the ballast box went so no real work to do. You can take all the hybrid kit out and just blank off the input it used to go on the gearbox.

The battery wasn't the only weight from the system. IIRC, the battery was only about 60-70% of the hybrid weight.

And it will be xtrac who will provide a different gearbox, nothing to do with teams blanking anything.

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by BtccLee

Interesting from Autosport’s Top 10 drivers about Cookie:

“But taking the season overall it didn’t quite work out for the Cook entourage in 2024, and don’t be surprised to see him in another make of hatchback in 2025.”

Presumably Ford or Hyundai, unless someone has something else up their sleeves…

This is very interesting from Autosport, I can only think of Excelr8 unless there's something new planned.

[Millvi]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

This is very interesting from Autosport, I can only think of Excelr8 unless there's something new planned.

A Steve Dudman Civic perhaps? Could be a revitalised package with the battery hybrid removed? Back to M-Sport power that seemed to work so well in the Astra?

[Spanner monkey]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

The battery wasn't the only weight from the system. IIRC, the battery was only about 60-70% of the hybrid weight.

And it will be xtrac who will provide a different gearbox, nothing to do with teams blanking anything.

Teams will probably have the previous gearbox casings so no need to spend money. But they can run the hybrid casing but without all the hybrid system so i meant a blanking for the hole where the hybrid motor fitted.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Spanner monkey

Teams will probably have the previous gearbox casings so no need to spend money. But they can run the hybrid casing but without all the hybrid system so i meant a blanking for the hole where the hybrid motor fitted.

Pre-Hybrid, the gearbox was the P1046 (in FWD cars).
For hybrid, the P1046 was developed into the P1546 - which was a bit more complex than just opening a hole to fit the hybrid motor.

The P1546 is 4kg heavier (without the hybrid motor) so it is more likely that the series will switch back to the P1046.

[RacingMaverick]

Originally Posted by BtccLee

Interesting from Autosport’s Top 10 drivers about Cookie:

“But taking the season overall it didn’t quite work out for the Cook entourage in 2024, and don’t be surprised to see him in another make of hatchback in 2025.”

Presumably Ford or Hyundai, unless someone has something else up their sleeves…

Neither of those.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by RacingMaverick

Neither of those.

Joining DeLeon in a Cupra, per chance?

[RacingMaverick]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Joining DeLeon in a Cupra, per chance?

Nope..I'm sure all will become clearer soon.

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by RacingMaverick

Nope..I'm sure all will become clearer soon.

Which only leaves PMR if it is a current car… Could make a lot of sense given their previous relationship and his success in the Astra?

[MarcusH26]

If PMR could roll out a Cook,ATS and Doble lineup that would be incredibly strong - another winter of development into the Astra and they could be mixing it right at the front.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

The battery wasn't the only weight from the system. IIRC, the battery was only about 60-70% of the hybrid weight.

And it will be xtrac who will provide a different gearbox, nothing to do with teams blanking anything.

Or just refitting the original pre Hybrid Bellhousing ?

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by RacingMaverick

Neither of those.

Cook was well liked by the Sponsors that Moffat brought to Speedworks, who were less than impressed by Moffat’s attitude. Could we see Cook join MB in a second car alongside Hill under LKQ, now they’ve linked up with MBP?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Or just refitting the original pre Hybrid Bellhousing ?

What is the difference between the pre and post hybrid bell housings?

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

Cook was well liked by the Sponsors that Moffat brought to Speedworks, who were less than impressed by Moffat’s attitude. Could we see Cook join MB in a second car alongside Hill under LKQ, now they’ve linked up with MBP?

Not a hatchback

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by BobJones

Not a hatchback

Oh yeah, one of the few that’s not!

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

Cook was well liked by the Sponsors that Moffat brought to Speedworks, who were less than impressed by Moffat’s attitude. Could we see Cook join MB in a second car alongside Hill under LKQ, now they’ve linked up with MBP?

Lots of people have been unimpressed by Moffat's attitude. One of his driver coaches allegedly ditched him in the early days because he was more interested in kicking a football about the paddock than studying his craft.

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

Could we see Cook join MB in a second car alongside Hill under LKQ, now they’ve linked up with MBP?

LKQ have not "linked up" with MB Motorsport as far as the BTCC is concerned. They have, however, joined MB Partners, which is nothing to do with the BTCC.

It will be interesting to see if Cook stays in the Moffat stable, considering that he's not bringing a big sponsor with him.