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26 Oct 2005, 12:17 (Ref:1443880) | #76 | |||
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Nice to see another top-class driver in the series, we could do with a few more. |
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26 Oct 2005, 14:29 (Ref:1444000) | #77 | |
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I suspect that VX will be wanting to prove themselves next year, having been beaten this year. I would expect two from Thompson, Reid and Watson-Smith and one pay driver. It'd be lovely to think it'd be Paul O'Neill as he actually has some talent but, sadly, I expect it'll be someone like Hines or Smith.
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26 Oct 2005, 16:48 (Ref:1444113) | #78 | |||
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26 Oct 2005, 17:07 (Ref:1444128) | #79 | ||
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It seems to be that there will be a good few S2000 cars next year in the series. It may well be a good learning year for 2007 to new entrants. Seems what Team Dynamics appear to be doing if they run an S2000 Accord. Wasn't there a rumour VX would run to S2000 next year anyway ? |
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26 Oct 2005, 17:47 (Ref:1444158) | #80 | ||
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26 Oct 2005, 17:49 (Ref:1444163) | #81 | |||
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26 Oct 2005, 17:51 (Ref:1444167) | #82 | ||
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26 Oct 2005, 17:55 (Ref:1444174) | #83 | |||
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One years use of a car you paid £50,000+ for isn't very efficient for a privateer. |
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26 Oct 2005, 17:55 (Ref:1444176) | #84 | |
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I'm not convinced about Dynamics running both Integras and an Accord. Running 2 very different cars with little or no common parts is not something you want to doing with out a lot of resources.
Rob, you can remove Plato from your list of VX possibles as he's already signed to SEAT. Thompson seems the most likely candidate especially with Alfa WTCC program in doubt. Don't think Reid would fit in with VX's style. Would be good to see SWS back for a proper crack at it. Agree with Craig that the third seat will be Smith or someone similar, depending on whose cheque clears. Mike Jordan would be more than welcome. His team is always very professionally turned out and he knows how to do the sponsor promotion bit. With the British GT Championship in a bit of disarray at the minute I wonder if we may see more ex-GT teams switching disciplines |
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26 Oct 2005, 18:01 (Ref:1444184) | #85 | ||
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Ditto Proctor, Legatte, Neate, Hughes, Collard and Dynamics. If you go completely to WTCC regs they are left with some very expensive but very worthless cars. |
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26 Oct 2005, 18:06 (Ref:1444195) | #86 | ||
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26 Oct 2005, 18:19 (Ref:1444220) | #87 | ||
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Reread what redshoes posted please
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26 Oct 2005, 18:28 (Ref:1444232) | #88 | |
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o Vauxhall know that the Astra Hatch as BTC car was always going to have a limited life as works kit.
o A series cannot be held to ransom by one manufacturer. 2005 was one of the worst years in sometime for grid turnout... we know where the series needs to go... let's not put it off another year. |
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26 Oct 2005, 18:33 (Ref:1444241) | #89 | |
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It is not being held to ransom. VX, amongst others, committed to the series after Richard West agreed a five year rules stability deal with the teams. Alan Gow would love to bring the rules change forward a season but what can he do? Apart from the reality he'd lose VX he's likely to severely **** off a whole load of teams who have planned their entry around the knowledge there'll be no major rules changes until 2007... In a climate where the number of teams competing in all classes of motorsport is plummeting do you really think he can risk it?
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26 Oct 2005, 18:41 (Ref:1444258) | #90 | |
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If TOCA were going to ditch BTCC regs a year early then that decision should have been made 12 months ago. Even F1 realise that in their comparitively cash rich enviroment you can't make a fundimental rule change in Oct that will come into effect the following April.
With hindsight VX and TD should have been persuaded to make this year's new cars to S2000-spec and agreed to end BTC-Tourers a year early, although even that may have been easier said than done. |
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26 Oct 2005, 18:53 (Ref:1444279) | #91 | |||
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And believe me, most series are held to ransom by one manufacturer! (What if Ford quit Aussie V8's, or Mercedes DTM?) |
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26 Oct 2005, 19:29 (Ref:1444332) | #92 | |||
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26 Oct 2005, 19:41 (Ref:1444348) | #93 | ||
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Doesn't the Astra have some S2000 bodywork ? Certainly doesn't have the large skirts on the door.
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Xero Motorsport have stated they'd like to move into Touring Cars. |
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26 Oct 2005, 19:50 (Ref:1444357) | #94 | |||
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There is only one way of life and thats your own ! ! ! |
26 Oct 2005, 19:57 (Ref:1444364) | #95 | |||
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fia
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26 Oct 2005, 20:00 (Ref:1444370) | #96 | |||
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I repeatedly hear that the used car prices are still outrageously high. I guess the manufacturers want to recoup their investment. OTOH, if they charge so much, no one can afford their car and it basically sits in a garage collecting dust? I wonder where are all those 00-03 DTM cars for example. But some manufacturers eventually do sell the cars 5-10 years afterwards for fractions of their original cost? OTOH, perhaps manufacturers are afraid their competive secrets could be discovered or afraid to sell to teams that embarass them? |
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26 Oct 2005, 20:09 (Ref:1444381) | #97 | |
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The Civic has a dispensation dating back to the start of the S2000 regs. Honda said they were going to develop the future model Accord but as that wasn't available yet they asked to run the Civic instead. Faced with only Alfa and BMW racing in the ETCC the FIA couldn't say no.
Jason Watt's 307 was 3-door, but was only allowed a temporary dispensation as the team were also building a 5-door version. You might remember Team Varta had a pair of 3-door SP 307s which they wanted to convert to S2000 until they found out it wasn't allowed, much to the team's annoyance. The Astra has S2000 style bodywork rather than the square-sided BTCC spec of the older Astra Coupe because TOCA rules allow it and because it proved a better option for Vauxhall. It's possible that TOCA would permit a local homolgation of a 3-door but since they already refused with the Varta cars that's unlikely. Bodywork aside I don't know how easy it would be to rework all the running gear. |
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26 Oct 2005, 20:15 (Ref:1444388) | #98 | ||
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26 Oct 2005, 20:17 (Ref:1444391) | #99 | ||
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Good news about Mike Jordan, that should be a seriously competitive car. SEAT staying is probably essential for the series really keeping its stature, unless VX can hire someone amazing to replace Muller. As mentioned, 2000 and 2001 were worse than 2005, and at least there were a lot more cars by the end of the year, so things aren't too bleak. If teams like Techspeed, Daniels and Kartworld can do full seasons it would be good.
As for the rule change, it's good that the freak poles won't happen again, and that drivers won't drive quite so disgracefully to try to drop to 10th next year. I await the first complaint when a driver 'randomly' profits more than once though.... |
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26 Oct 2005, 20:46 (Ref:1444420) | #100 | ||
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If you read super 2000 technical regulations you won't find anything about number of doors. So where is it said that cars can't be 2-door (or 3) models? 2-doors can be homologated to goup N or A so I just can't understand why those cars can't be used in S2000.
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