BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[thetool]

Perhaps not. Team HARD actually held four TBLs this season, as well as using two additional ones from elsewhere.

BTC and Speedworks both hold three TBLs, and particularly the former appears to have a number of question marks surrounding their ongoing involvement.

[PGib92]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Does anybody know (because I can't be bothered to delve into it tonight!) Am I right in thinking that Dudman owns the distributing arm or something that sponsored Power Maxed, then his own team/BTC, which is a separate company to the one that sponsored the BSB team, which is supposedly the drinks arm controlled by the bearded wonder?

Not sure how the PMR deal fits in, but from memory there was a deal made with the OMG BSB team that they (through I assume a separate company) would have rights to distribute Rich Energy which then sponsored the Bike Programs as Rich Energy OMG Racing. There was then seemingly a breakdown in the relationship and a deal was then made with Dudman (again I assume through a sperate company) to have rights to distribute Rich Energy which then sponsored the BTCC Team (can't remember what the entry was ultimately called).

There was then a dispute as to who had the rights to distribute and use Rich Energy Branding in the sponsorships, with the BSB team owner saying it was him, and Storey saying it was Dudman. There was cans circulating at the time (depending where bought from) which had either one or the other distribution company details on. I'm sure as that was going on, there was another legal hurdle as to who could actually use/owned the Rich Energy Branding, as I think I read that there was a company in Hungry??? had acquired the name/branding as part of the fallout of the failed HAAS deal and it was not Storey's to use.

After that, I haven't seen anything, other than Rich Energy was not on either the OMG Bikes or One Motorsport Cars this season.

There's a detailed interview with the BSB team owner, but cannot for the life of me remember where it was published.

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by thetool

Perhaps not. Team HARD actually held four TBLs this season, as well as using two additional ones from elsewhere.

BTC and Speedworks both hold three TBLs, and particularly the former appears to have a number of question marks surrounding their ongoing involvement.

I thought this too, but one of the four was borrowed from Carly Boardley Motorsport, so technically they only ever owned three.

[Inside BTCC]

Originally Posted by BtccLee

I thought this too, but one of the four was borrowed from Carly Boardley Motorsport, so technically they only ever owned three.

HARD held four when the list went out last year but sold one to Power Maxed Racing to allow their expansion - hence the use of the Boardley one.

[coffinpilot]

Speculation here assumes that there are 27 licenses for 2024, and that they're all aligned with the 2023 entries. They might have issued 30, or 24 (however unlikely.)
Some teams might have expanded or reduced size.
Naturally it looks like a HARD or BTC issue. But you never know!
Quite odd though to link to a Twitter statement instead of on the website.

[Rialdeal]

Originally Posted by Inside BTCC

HARD held four when the list went out last year but sold one to Power Maxed Racing to allow their expansion - hence the use of the Boardley one.

Such a shame so many seem to be struggling. I wonder if we will get anywhere near the 27 cars we had in 2023? Also, I hope someone as talented as Bobby Thompson gets picked up for a drive.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Quite odd though to link to a Twitter statement instead of on the website.

It's a damning inditement of how far standards have fallen. Twitter has it uses, but should not be the primary source of official information.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Rialdeal

Such a shame so many seem to be struggling. I wonder if we will get anywhere near the 27 cars we had in 2023? Also, I hope someone as talented as Bobby Thompson gets picked up for a drive.

Same as any other driver, apart from the top two at Motorbase. Bring budget = drive, no budget = no drive.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by thetool

It's a damning inditement of how far standards have fallen. Twitter has it uses, but should not be the primary source of official information.

the news page on btcc website links the story

[thetool]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

the news page on btcc website links the story

I know, that's my point. The official website sending you to a third-party to get official press statements. They aren't the only ones that do it, but I'll never like it.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by PGib92

Not sure how the PMR deal fits in, but from memory there was a deal made with the OMG BSB team that they (through I assume a separate company) would have rights to distribute Rich Energy which then sponsored the Bike Programs as Rich Energy OMG Racing. There was then seemingly a breakdown in the relationship and a deal was then made with Dudman (again I assume through a sperate company) to have rights to distribute Rich Energy which then sponsored the BTCC Team (can't remember what the entry was ultimately called).

https://find-and-update.company-info...mpany/13815637
Rich Distribution Ltd

[crmalcolm]

re. the announcement being made via social media.

It is just a short holding statement, and has been posted on FB, X - linked from their own web site.

Many in the past have moaned about TOCA not engaging with social media platforms enough. What is wrong with using social media platforms for publicising the situation (that is where most of the complaints will come from anyway)? Maybe they are also trying those platforms as the default to see how engaged people are?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Rialdeal

Such a shame so many seem to be struggling. I wonder if we will get anywhere near the 27 cars we had in 2023? Also, I hope someone as talented as Bobby Thompson gets picked up for a drive.

With the deadline being extended, it suggests that they feel some confidence of being able to allocate all 27.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

With the deadline being extended, it suggests that they feel some confidence of being able to allocate all 27.

Or not... could be read either way

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Or not... could be read either way

It's just a view - but if they thought there was no chance of the TBLs being allocated, they would have just released the list as is.

[t4tinks]

or is there a lack of teams wanting TBLs....

Time will tell

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

re. the announcement being made via social media.

It is just a short holding statement, and has been posted on FB, X - linked from their own web site.

Many in the past have moaned about TOCA not engaging with social media platforms enough. What is wrong with using social media platforms for publicising the situation (that is where most of the complaints will come from anyway)? Maybe they are also trying those platforms as the default to see how engaged people are?

Just to add to this some news from last week (posted on here but rightly overshadowed by HARD news) - BTCC PR, social media et al is now run by Matt Bishop's Diagonal Comms organisation so there will definitely be a change (arguably an improvement) in engagement across all media.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by SSmith

Just to add to this some news from last week (posted on here but rightly overshadowed by HARD news) - BTCC PR, social media et al is now run by Matt Bishop's Diagonal Comms organisation so there will definitely be a change (arguably an improvement) in engagement across all media.

From January 1st?

[Mike Harte]

From Touring Car Times:

Whilst there has been no official word over which three TBLs are involved, the future of Team HARD has been the topic of much discussion in recent days amidst ongoing speculation that the Cupra team will not be part of the 2024 grid

[Racing Harz]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

From January 1st?

Yes
https://diagonalcomms.com/2023/12/di...hip-from-2024/

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Maybe they are also trying those platforms as the default to see how engaged people are?

If that's the case it's an odd story to measure things by, with that kind of story it'll get more views than average, which would bring in a false level of interaction. People will click on the gossip and controversy....

As far as Matt Bishop and his team coming on board it could be a double edged sword. Keeping some of the current team (Mellusih) is a good transition, and Bishop is a fantastic strategist (some of the Aston Martin F1 activations were quite good - the behind the scenes vids in particular) so it should be the massive kick in the rear that the championship needs as far as social goes. But as he's shown with W Series, Aston and McLaren - if he's hands on - everybody seems like they're reading from a corporate script, I hope he doesn't push things down that bland route.

[CroftPilgrim]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

With the deadline being extended, it suggests that they feel some confidence of being able to allocate all 27.

I'd agree. They obviously feel there's a good a chance of getting everything allocated. That's not too say it will be, but obviously enough to warrant delaying

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by CroftPilgrim

I'd agree. They obviously feel there's a good a chance of getting everything allocated. That's not too say it will be, but obviously enough to warrant delaying

Unless an non Motorsport entity has taken control of the entry as an asset?

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Unless an non Motorsport entity has taken control of the entry as an asset?

I do believe that there is a clause within the TBL contract that the holder is required to field a car for each and every race, albeit there is a force majeure element as well as discretion from TOCA under exceptional circumstances. TOCA reserves the right to demand the return of the TBL if it is not used, so it no longer remains an asset.

And if no-one else wants to field a car, them it has no value as an asset.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

I do believe that there is a clause within the TBL contract that the holder is required to field a car for each and every race, albeit there is a force majeure element as well as discretion from TOCA under exceptional circumstances. TOCA reserves the right to demand the return of the TBL if it is not used, so it no longer remains an asset.

And if no-one else wants to field a car, them it has no value as an asset.

True - and any team that wishes to sell, gift, lease, assign or loan their TBL can only do so on a season-long basis and it is subject to the approval of TOCA as to the integrity of both recipient and transaction.