BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[AnnoyedMoose]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

A mix of touring car drivetrains have been in motorsport since almost day dot, to say only now that it “doesn’t work” in some way would be foolhardy.

But there has always, at least as long as I've been interested, measures to level the playing field such as the 4WD with Audi.

[hen henths]

Originally Posted by S griffin

However it does seem like the way the rules have gone have dissuaded anyone else entering a RWD car, which is a pity. The series needs to have cars with different strengths and weaknesses, otherwise racing would get a bit too stagnant

Very much agreed. I also love RWD and it's great seeing the differences in handling. I particularly enjoyed seeing Sutton handling the Subaru in the wet and also one race (can't remember if it was the Infiniti or Subaru) where he was knocked into a slide so he immediately span the car a full 360 degrees and was able to continue!

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by AnnoyedMoose

But there has always, at least as long as I've been interested, measures to level the playing field such as the 4WD with Audi.

Yep, and in the past a simple weight penalty was enough to “balance” the cars, nothing more.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Yep, and in the past a simple weight penalty was enough to “balance” the cars, nothing more.

But it was always contentious. And the starts have become more critical over recent years, with pretty much spec cars with otherwise very close performance, gaining a couple of positions off the line is a much bigger advantage. Add in that there are now 3 starts a day compared to 1 or 2 in the 90s, and generally much shorter races, then it's understandable why achieving parity has become more complicated.

[antnee]

The margins between cars have become so fine that any area where a single car performs better will become very obvious.

The Infiniti was an interesting one - it wasn't particularly quick over a lap, but it was very good at changing direction so in the hands of Sutton he was able to overtake easily.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by antnee

The Infiniti was an interesting one - it wasn't particularly quick over a lap, but it was very good at changing direction so in the hands of Sutton he was able to overtake easily.

The Infiniti was a difficult car to judge because it was very driver-dependant. Perhaps because it was built around Sutton's driving style, it looked average at best with anyone else behind the wheel.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by thetool

But it was always contentious. And the starts have become more critical over recent years, with pretty much spec cars with otherwise very close performance, gaining a couple of positions off the line is a much bigger advantage. Add in that there are now 3 starts a day compared to 1 or 2 in the 90s, and generally much shorter races, then it's understandable why achieving parity has become more complicated.

Contentious perhaps with AWD but the RWD / FWD always seemed to have good parity. With anything between a 25 and 50kg weight penalty. It seems that every facet of the RWD driving needs to be negated, yet nothing is done to address the balance the other way, in rainy races the RWD cars nearly always are worse, the RWD cars suffer poorer front tyre warm up, should they then be allowed to use front tyre warmers?

[S griffin]

AWD was understandably banned. Thank goodness we still have RWD and FWD cars. Thing is I don't think it's necessarily the drivetrain that has an advantage, it's a combo of things that makes a car fast. So I don't think they need to balance things out. Although why don't they re-introduce inters to help RWD cars in the rain, it won't give them an advantage, just help them a little, as mixed conditions can be tougher for them. Don't think we need tyre warmers though, we've survived long enough without them

[antnee]

Originally Posted by redshoes

The Infiniti was a difficult car to judge because it was very driver-dependant. Perhaps because it was built around Sutton's driving style, it looked average at best with anyone else behind the wheel.

Moffat seems to be getting similar results in the Civic as he did in the Infiniti - guess he might not be that quick.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by redshoes

The Infiniti was a difficult car to judge because it was very driver-dependant. Perhaps because it was built around Sutton's driving style, it looked average at best with anyone else behind the wheel.

Or is it just Sutton? When did a team mate truely keep him honest over a season ? Maybe the GOAT?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Or is it just Sutton? When did a team mate truely keep him honest over a season ?

It's an interesting comparison. In 2016 he was bettered by his teammate - 162pts to Cook's 175.

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Or is it just Sutton? When did a team mate truely keep him honest over a season ? Maybe the GOAT?

I'd say 2016, although that is negated a little bit by it being Sutton's rookie season. Josh Cook outscored him (the only time a teammate has outscored Sutton over a season). Both had good days and bad days, although Sutton had the highest peak with his victory at Croft.

Plato in 2017 had some good weekends but didn't consistently match Sutton, 2018 was not a great year. The other Subarus were never really near the front. In 2019 Proctor struggled with the recalcitrant Subaru. Moffat had one really great weekend where he outscored Sutton (Croft 2021) and then was a little bit slower. Cammish and Rowbottom are (like Plato) really good drivers and have really kept Sutton honest on multiple occasions in qualifying and races, but haven't consistently kept him honest (yet... who knows what could happen for the rest of this year and 2024)

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

It's an interesting comparison. In 2016 he was bettered by his teammate - 162pts to Cook's 175.

Clutching at straws there. I think we all no what I meant. The fact is not a single team mate has matched him car for car once he got his feet under the table.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Clutching at straws there. I think we all no what I meant. The fact is not a single team mate has matched him car for car once he got his feet under the table.

Not clutching at straws - I was backing up your point by highlighting that it only happened once!

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Not clutching at straws - I was backing up your point by highlighting that it only happened once!

Appologies!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Appologies!

[Ant25]

Anymore gossip on the apparent new team that’s meant to be joining?

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Ant25

Anymore gossip on the apparent new team that’s meant to be joining?

If you are referring to the fairly recent Motorbase announcement about building further Focus cars, I think that it was more that they would be willing to supply a new team if one wanted to join; not that there was already another team waiting in the wings.

[Ant25]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

If you are referring to the fairly recent Motorbase announcement about building further Focus cars, I think that it was more that they would be willing to supply a new team if one wanted to join; not that there was already another team waiting in the wings.

That’s right! That makes sense haha

[Ant25]

People seem to think team dynamics won’t make a return next season! What do you think?

[Millvi]

Originally Posted by Ant25

People seem to think team dynamics won’t make a return next season! What do you think?

I wonder if for 2024 they’ll perhaps take the 3 Civics they made for BTC Racing and that are set-up for running the M-Sport/TOCA engine? Would Dudman sell them to Matt Neal or anyone else?

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Millvi

I wonder if for 2024 they’ll perhaps take the 3 Civics they made for BTC Racing and that are set-up for running the M-Sport/TOCA engine? Would Dudman sell them to Matt Neal or anyone else?

Hasn't all the equipment been sold?

[Spanner monkey]

Originally Posted by Ant25

People seem to think team dynamics won’t make a return next season! What do you think?

Think they still own the 2 cars and the NBE Honda engines one motorsport are using. So why not.

I think we'll see a few big changes in the paddock... either before the end of the season or just after.

[Ant25]

Originally Posted by Spanner monkey

Think they still own the 2 cars and the NBE Honda engines one motorsport are using. So why not.

I think we'll see a few big changes in the paddock... either before the end of the season or just after.

What changes do you think will happen?

[SSmith]

Given Team Dynamics have sold some of their equipment I can't see them returning in their previous form.

I could imagine a scenario where Team Dynamics officially partner up with Team HARD, expanding on the work Neal and Plowman have done there this season.

2 cars could be run under the Dynamics umbrella using their expertise (something that could be attractive to a sponsor and be the draw for a big name like Huff to do a full season). HARD could then focus on running 4 cars and wouldn't be stretched as thin.

Unlikely to happen, but this is the BTCC!