BTCC 2007 News, Rumours, Entries...

[touringlegend]

You would think TD would stick with a Honda, as long as they can use a modified version of the engine they've used for a while now.


We've also got to think Tom Ferrier is a possibility for a Motorbase Toledo next year with him racing the car at Silverstone next weekend.

[redshoes]

Given that Ferrier had hardly any time in the car prior to this weekend at Silverstone and was running with newcomer ballast I think he did pretty well. Based on that performance the decision to run older SEATs next year doesn't look like a bad idea.

[BootsOntheSide]

Redshoes, can you confirm whether the driver you mention was Tom Ferrier? I'd love to see him out there for a full season - matching the kind of resutls Pinkney has taken this year would be a realistic target for a capable young driver like Tom.

[redshoes]

I can confirm it wasn't Ferrier.

Like you I'd like to see Ferrier out there for a full season. I've been a fan of his since his days in National Saloons/BTCC Class B but somehow he's never seemed to fully realise his potential.

[Hazard]

In summary for next season then (from this thread mostly)

Vauxhall / Triple Eight Race Engineering
Officially confirmed for next year. Car not decided as yet, but will clearly be a new car built to S2000 or S2000 Diesel specifications. Considering Vauxhall's model range, the likely candidates are the 5-door Astra or the Vectra.

Drivers:
Giovanardi - wants to stay, in negotiation
Chilton - wants to stay also, hoping Vauxhall will keep him

Seat Sport UK / Northern South
Indicated return likely, championship in sight. Already have a S2000 car developed and ready! Will be the León, no question.

Drivers:
Plato likely
Thompson possible, especially if Seat Sport Spain reduce their operation
Yvan Muller - only likely if Plato leaves and above is true.
Darren Turner has said he would be very interested in a full time drive in '07

Team Halfords / Dynamics
Have been investigating S2000 options for next year. ex-JAS Accord's of Corthals/Sharp mentioned, but also ex-Schnitzer 320si's or N-Tech Alfa 156's have been mentioned.

Drivers:
Neal, if no WTCC programme.
Shedden & Howell interested

WSR
Depending on backing, Chevrolet Lacetti only rumoured car. Team are looking at S2000 options, the MG hasn't been ruled out but only likely if RAC withdraw.

Drivers:
Turkington likely

Motorbase Performance
Already purchased two 2005 Seat Toledo's ready

Drivers:
Ferrier & Pinkney to continue?

Geoff Steel Racing
Wants to run many BMW's. Budget a likely detractor

Drivers:
Likely those with the money, Seat/Clio/Porsche graduates

Syncho Motorsport
May continue with Civic in BTC spec. Kaye likely driver.

Xero Competition
Has two S2000 spec Lexus's.

Drivers:
Jones looking for WTCC drive so may need new ones from money pool.

Kartworld Racing
May continue, likely with ex-WSR MG's.

Drivers:
Jason Hughes
+ AN Other

Team Clyde Valley
Another bio-ethanol project, but they're all that now. Chevrolet's rumoured, but already more claimants have been made on the Lacetti's than there actually are.

Drivers:
Dan Eaves (involved)
Colin Neil

CMS Motorsport
Looking for entry with Henry Taylor

Daniels Motorsport
Hopes to continue and expand to two cars.

Eurotech
Plans to continue next year. May run Integra again, but looking at S2000 options. Expand to two car line-up hopefully.

Drivers:
Mike Jordan

BTC Racing
Entry at Brands & Silverstone a trial run for '07. Currently using BTC-Spec Lexus's though, likely to continue.

Drivers:
Chris Stockton
Darren Dowling (?)

[Tibbett]

I hope Shedden will return

[Alfa Fan]

Both Synchro Motorsport and Kartworld Racing intend to purchase Super 2000 cars over the winter.

[rdjones]

I understand that WSR have a 2 year deal with RAC.

[Dicky Mint]

Richard Marsh - Team Griffin, New car purchased last week.

[Alfa Fan]

I don't suppose your going to tell us what it is, but is it Super 2000?

[Dicky Mint]

I will have to let our PR guys decide what gets released and when. Needless to say, we have purchased a new car, our budget to run is dropping into place nicely and we have 3 drivers talking to us about us running a car for them next year.

The Pug now has a Judd engine hence the better showing at Silverstone and there is some interest in it as it would be a good little starter car for someone to cut their teeth in. Probability of someone being in it 50/50 I would guess at this time of year.

[touringlegend]

Thanks for the info Richard and good to hear you've got a car for next year. Sounds promising.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Dicky Mint

The Pug now has a Judd engine hence the better showing at Silverstone and there is some interest in it as it would be a good little starter car for someone to cut their teeth in. Probability of someone being in it 50/50 I would guess at this time of year.

Is this Judd engine derived from a Pug engine? If I am right the WSR MG's used or still use a Judd engine.

[rdjones]

Both WSR and Jason Hughes have been using a K-Series Engine, tuned by Judd.

[Craner Curves]

I understand Richard's car ran on E85 according to Autosport. Makes sense when Judd have prior experience of that fuel.

[BootsOntheSide]

Yes, I noticed that in the commentary that Marsh was now running an eco-fuel. Good news.

All looks fairly promising, although it's very early days and most of these teams are quite hand-to-mouth in the way they operate. Seeing a few smaller teams run the BTC cars (especially those Integras) would be a nice way of bolstering the field, but we need at least 10-12 S2000 cars to have a truly prestigious series. Fortunately 2 Vauxhalls, 4 SEATS, 2 Chevvies (Clyde Valley) and hopefully the existing Alfas, Lexi and BMWs will take us well up to that, even before Dynamics or WSR sign anything.

[Alfa Fan]

I don't think there's any real doubt that we'll have insufficient S2000 cars.

Looks as if we "should" have at least;

3x Vauxhall (Vectra?)
2/3x SEAT Leon
2/3x Team Dynamics (Alfa/BMW/Honda?)
2/3x WSR (Chevrolet?)
2x Clyde Valley (Chevrolet)
1/2x Griffin (TBA)
1/2/3x Geoff Steel (BMW)
1x Quest (Alfa)
1x Synchro (Honda?)
1x Kartworld (Chevrolet?)
2x Xero (Lexus)
2x BTC (Lexus)
2/3x Motorbase (SEAT)
1x Infront (Alfa)
1x Eurotech (TBA)
1x Techspeed (TBA)
1/2x Eclipse (TBA)

A conservative estimate of roughly 26 S2000 cars. Obviously some teams will probabily not make it into 2007, but I'd say they're are 19 pretty much definites there, which for October isn't bad at all. (2x Vauxhall, 2x SEAT, 2x TD, 2x WSR, 1x Griffin, 1x Geoff Steel, 1x Synchro, 1x Kartworld, 2x BTC, 2x Motorbase, 1x Infront, 1x Eurotech and 1x Techspeed)

[Dicky Mint]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Is this Judd engine derived from a Pug engine? If I am right the WSR MG's used or still use a Judd engine.

Yes the engine is a Pug engine. I think you will find the regs state the engine must come from a car in the same range (ie there must be a 2.0ltr Pug 307). Something like that anyway. Saying that there is a rumour in the paddock that next years Seat will have an Audi derived engine in it. Not sure how that will work but it will give you lot something to talk about!

As for my engine it is infact the same bottom end (block / crank / pistons) as before, Judd have done work on the top end of the engine (mainly cams) plus completely remapped it. They also have identified some other areas for improvement they could do for us (when we can find the money). So we will make it a nice little starter car for someone in 2007.

We cannot thank Judd enough actually, the amount of work they did for us in the time period was amazing and allowed us to finish on a high for our team. The car hasn't got the pace of an Integra for instance! but we could easily keep five or six people behind us as we did it twice.

As for the fuel, we were having it remapped anyway it made sense to see (whilst on the dyno) if bio-fuel gave us any more power. It did so we went with it.

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

I don't think there's any real doubt that we'll have insufficient S2000 cars.

Looks as if we "should" have at least;

3x Vauxhall (Vectra?)
2/3x SEAT Leon
2/3x Team Dynamics (Alfa/BMW/Honda?)
2/3x WSR (Chevrolet?)
2x Clyde Valley (Chevrolet)
1/2x Griffin (TBA)
1/2/3x Geoff Steel (BMW)
1x Quest (Alfa)
1x Synchro (Honda?)
1x Kartworld (Chevrolet?)
2x Xero (Lexus)
2x BTC (Lexus)
2/3x Motorbase (SEAT)
1x Infront (Alfa)
1x Eurotech (TBA)
1x Techspeed (TBA)
1/2x Eclipse (TBA)

A conservative estimate of roughly 26 S2000 cars. Obviously some teams will probabily not make it into 2007, but I'd say they're are 19 pretty much definites there, which for October isn't bad at all. (2x Vauxhall, 2x SEAT, 2x TD, 2x WSR, 1x Griffin, 1x Geoff Steel, 1x Synchro, 1x Kartworld, 2x BTC, 2x Motorbase, 1x Infront, 1x Eurotech and 1x Techspeed)

The BTC Lexus's are BTC-spec aren't they? I'm sure HPI built them (strangely) to BTCC specifications.

[Alfa Fan]

No. S2000. Would have been suicidal to build and design brand new BTC-Touring cars.

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

No. S2000. Would have been suicidal to build and design brand new BTC-Touring cars.

Agreed on that point - try telling that to Dynamics though! (Although HPI only got one year out of them anyway ).

Just my memory playing up anyway...definitely S2000
http://www.speedequipe.co.uk/index.php?p=cars

[Alfa Fan]

Dynamics is different. They didn't build the Integra from scratch, they converted their Civics into Integras.

[Ranald]

Alfa FanDynamics is different. They didn't build the Integra from scratch, they converted their Civics into Integras.
If only it was as simple as a conversion. The integras are basically scratch builds.

[redshoes]

Dynamics used the Civic running gear in the Integras but most of that is TOCA spec components anyhow. The rest is very much a new design/build.

[Craner Curves]

Never mind Dynamics, VXR built those new cars which they knew would only have a two year lifespan as well. Completely from scratch, no parts carried over.