BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by thetool

It definitely didn't use to be that simple. The last BTCC race at the Silverstone GP event only features as photographs and a voice-over on the official season review due to F1's oppressive media rights.

I should have added that ITV would probably have to pay FOM for the rights to broadcast the BTCC race, etc. in much the same way that SKY pays for the rights to broadcast F1 in their selected countries such as the UK and Germany.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

I should have added that ITV would probably have to pay FOM for the rights to broadcast the BTCC race, etc. in much the same way that SKY pays for the rights to broadcast F1 in their selected countries such as the UK and Germany.

In Australia we had a similar issue with our V8Supercars (our ATCC) and TV rights at the Aus GP.... The GP TV contract was held by a different broadcaster (our Channel 10) to the V8SC Championship broadcasting which for the time in conflict was done by Channel 7.

They could not agree terms and it seemed that the V8 SC events at the GP would not be covered, live or otherwise.... this obviously upset sponsors, teams and of course home viewing V8SC fans. The teams and sponsors obviously wanted the kudos and ratings/viewers the GP coverage would attract.

The only way for the years of the conflict that the V8's could be TV covered live at the AusGP was to run the V8 Support races as non championship events. That way Channel 7 who had the TV rights to the V8SC Championship were not affected, and Channel 10 broadcast the V8SC (non championship) races on their Channel as part of their GP coverage.

Im happy to be corrected on the finer details of what happened here, (*SMS.... Senior's Memory Syndrome!) but the compromise was certainly to run the V8's as Non Championship events at the GP for the years of conflict.

I am not sure how it was resolved in the end as the rights are again currently split, between 10 and 7, although Foxtel has the Live cable/pay TV rights for both F1 and V8s and that is how I watch both.... Not sure how it operates now on FTA TV, but I know the AGP support races are now full championship rounds, albeit a different format to usual (fewer laps and more races).

We also by law here have a handful of high profile events (Melbourne Cup, AGP, AFL Football and NRL Rugby Grand finals etc) have to be available to watch live on FTA under what we call "anti-siphoning protection" laws.

[S griffin]

It sounds complicated. Must really suck not being able to watch the AUS GP support race due to the restriction. At least it was easier when it was non-championship. Something not right there, really the broadcaster of the championship should be allowed to broadcast it.

[antnee]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Unless something has changed dramatically recently, the cameras and initial production team are all from FOM, and the practice/qualification/racing action is all passed to broadcasters from FOM's studio in Biggin Hill. So, in theory, if there was a desire to run a BTCC race over the weekend, it would just mean that the stream would go to ITV instead of SKY and Channel 4.

All the non-racing add-ons, interviews and so on, could still be done by ITV's crews with their own cameras, in the same way that SKY does now with it's coverage of F1 weekends. I assume that C4 also does this, but as I don't watch it, I can't be sure.

That is a very good point - in which case it would then come down to Gow/TOCA striking a deal with FOM for the 'camera time' - which I'm sure would be lots of £££

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by E.B

We also by law here have a handful of high profile events (Melbourne Cup, AGP, AFL Football and NRL Rugby Grand finals etc) have to be available to watch live on FTA under what we call "anti-siphoning protection" laws.

The same sort of thing applies here in the UK; the British GP and certain other major sporting events have to be broadcast on FTA. I'm not certain whether that is because of a piece of legislation, or because of a "gentleman's" agreement.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by antnee

That is a very good point - in which case it would then come down to Gow/TOCA striking a deal with FOM for the 'camera time' - which I'm sure would be lots of £££

TOCA and FOM are no different in that respect.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

The same sort of thing applies here in the UK; the British GP and certain other major sporting events have to be broadcast on FTA. I'm not certain whether that is because of a piece of legislation, or because of a "gentleman's" agreement.

There is a legal requirement for some sports in the UK (the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events). However, the Grand Prix does not feature on the relatively short list.

I think its basically the football World Cup and European championships; the FA Cup final; the Challenge Cup final; the Rugby World Cup final; Wimbledon; the Olympics and Paralympics; the Grand National; and Epsom Derby.

Some other sports require highlights to be shown on free-to-air TV. However, there is no motor racing of any kind on this list.

[Mike Harte]

Thanks, kipper, every day is a learning day, no matter how advanced in years one is. I've always thought that it was one of the special cases, and it turns out that it is all down to money. Who would have thunk it!

[Evantra]

https://www.btcc.net/2023/12/08/mike...cing-for-2024/

Doble re-signs with PMR.

Glad to hear, he did really well last season, I think most of us expected him to be a backmarker. Seems like PMR are in good shape with two driver announcements already.

[coffinpilot]

Dexter Patterson out and about testing a GT4 car at Donington yesterday.
I'm sure I read that the BTCC move came about partially because he came in with a rear wheel drive car, and from what I've seen I think GT racing is more of his long term goal.
Could be nothing, could be something,

[Evantra]

‘On the Limit 4’ releases January 5th (focusing on Watson, Rowbottom and Morgan.)

https://x.com/kwik_fit/status/173316...T11pmdgnSSDQzA

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Evantra

https://www.btcc.net/2023/12/08/mike...cing-for-2024/

Doble re-signs with PMR.

Glad to hear, he did really well last season, I think most of us expected him to be a backmarker. Seems like PMR are in good shape with two driver announcements already.

Yes, I was very pleasantly surprised with some of his performances in 2023 and with the consistency of a 2nd year with the same car and team, I think he can target top 10s and Independent's class wins. I reckon it'll be a close battle with Ronan Pearson for the Jack Sears Trophy next year.

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Dexter Patterson out and about testing a GT4 car at Donington yesterday.
I'm sure I read that the BTCC move came about partially because he came in with a rear wheel drive car, and from what I've seen I think GT racing is more of his long term goal.
Could be nothing, could be something

Absolutely, he's still very much at the start of his career so it makes sense to try as many different cars as possible to improve his skills as a driver.

[Robin Marriott]

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/...shop-revealed/

Not sure how much trouble this will cause, maybe not as much as previous years but it's not ideal.

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

Not sure how much trouble this will cause,

Shouldn't affect BTCC at all.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by SV8Predator

Shouldn't affect BTCC at all.

Maybe Hyundai Excela8? Also wonder if it was an EV fire….?

[mick bennett]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Maybe Hyundai Excela8? Also wonder if it was an EV fire….?

Explaining the cause of the fire, a spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service said this morning: “The fire started accidentally with an electrical fault in one of the vehicles. We had left the scene by 8pm.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Maybe Hyundai Excela8? Also wonder if it was an EV fire….?

It does need to be said that car electrical fires happened long before EV came to the market, or were even tested on the road.

As a matter of fact, over 20 years ago, we were woken up in the middle of the night by the police because my partner's car had been badly damaged when the car next to were she had parked had caught light after the owner had parked. Her car was a write-off, and, it turned out when they eventually traced the owner of the other car, that it was uninsured. Which meant that she lost a lot of her no-claim bonus.

[Ant25]

Are we looking towards next year for the tbls to be announced then?

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Ant25

Are we looking towards next year for the tbls to be announced then?

I'd imagine so, with the sh*tstorm that's going on at a certain team it'll probably be the New Year before anything is announced.

[redshoes]

In possibly BTCC related news,
https://toyotagazooracing.com/pressr.../2023/1212-03/
Toyota Gazzo have revealed a new matt black livery for their 2024 WEC and WRC teams. Doesn't mention BTCC but in last couple of years the BTCC cars have run in corporate livery so I'm assuming they will adopt that as well.

[Ant25]

Originally Posted by redshoes

In possibly BTCC related news,
https://toyotagazooracing.com/pressr.../2023/1212-03/
Toyota Gazzo have revealed a new matt black livery for their 2024 WEC and WRC teams. Doesn't mention BTCC but in last couple of years the BTCC cars have run in corporate livery so I'm assuming they will adopt that as well.

Will look mega if they do use that! Be one of the best on the grid

[Craner Curves]

Back to 2020 with a field of black cars! ?

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Ant25

Will look mega if they do use that! Be one of the best on the grid

Hang on on a few seasons back everyone was moaning that the cars were either Black or white !

[coffinpilot]

For those who know better than me. I heard something abut if the grid drops below X cars then the championship is no longer an FIA NGTC championship.
Anybody know if it's true, and if so what the number is?
Anybody know if FIA acceptance actually means anything? And if so. what?

[redshoes]

I don't know about FIA rules, and since it doesn't use an FIA title I doubt they would apply. There is, or was, a Motorsports UK guideline about minimum numbers for a points scoring series/championship. from memory it's something like 15 cars. It's not an immediate sanction - series that drop below the limit get a put on notice and get a year or two to turn things around before the permit is revoked. I believe it's also at MSUK's discretion rather than something that is automatically invoked.

It's so rarely invoked and gets very little attention. The only time I've heard mentioned is for failing club series that were barely known outside the few competitors. I'm not even sure if it's still an official rule or not. either way, I don't think it's an issue.