BTCC 2006 News, Rumours, Entries...

[Alfa Fan]

Originally Posted by Stephen Green

Mike Jordan will be a welcome addition in my humble opinion.

Yes he would. Proven GT racer, disallusioned by the British GTs, and has a keen interest to prove himself in touring cars.

Nice to see another top-class driver in the series, we could do with a few more.

[Craig]

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.

[kmchow]

Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

Reading between the lines of Platos comments in MN, looks like SEAT UK are staying in the BTCC.

OTOH, Plato and BTCC fans shouldn't be too complacent. You never know until you're sitting on the starting grid. Manufacturers and sponsor have been known to pull the plug at the very last minute!

[touringlegend]

Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

Reading between the lines of Platos comments in MN, looks like SEAT UK are staying in the BTCC.

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 ?

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by rdjones

Well it is reported that in todays Motorsport News that Yvan Muller will be leaving VXRacing for the WTCC...

He's a good driver and has done a lot of winning [in the best car mainly]... but boy is his behavior on and off track whinging and tedious. IMHO, if he does leave the BTCC, its not a bad thing at all.

[Alfa Fan]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Wasn't there a rumour VX would run to S2000 next year anyway ?

No, not next year, 2007.

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by cos

BTC spec cars can contest from '07 to '08 but only by indies and they'll be restricted so they won't be allowed to win (!).

Its always been too difficult for the real indies [like Mark Proctor] to win in any event. Why don't they bite the bullet and bring WTCC rules forward to 2006. There'll be tonnes of E46 WTCC BMWs available next year when Munich pushes all their teams to run the new spec 3-series.

[Alfa Fan]

Originally Posted by davyboy

Its always been too difficult for the real indies [like Mark Proctor] to win in any event. Why don't they bite the bullet and bring WTCC rules forward to 2006. There'll be tonnes of E46 WTCC BMWs available next year when Munich pushes all their teams to run the new spec 3-series.

Because its still incredibly expensive to buy those cars!!!

One years use of a car you paid £50,000+ for isn't very efficient for a privateer.

[redshoes]

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

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by davyboy

Its always been too difficult for the real indies [like Mark Proctor] to win in any event. Why don't they bite the bullet and bring WTCC rules forward to 2006.

Because if you tell Vauxhall that the Astra Sporthatch they've spent a lot of time and money developing is suddenly no longer allowed they will take their ball home and you'll be 3 cars down.

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.

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by davyboy

Its always been too difficult for the real indies [like Mark Proctor] to win in any event. Why don't they bite the bullet and bring WTCC rules forward to 2006. There'll be tonnes of E46 WTCC BMWs available next year when Munich pushes all their teams to run the new spec 3-series.

Sorry I didn't make myself clear enough. I meant, bring what will happen in 2007 forward to 2006. For sure allow real indies [like Mark Proctor] to drive whatever they like because it will always be impossible for them to win... but have the works and professional teams like Steve Neal's outfit on WTCC machinery.

[Alfa Fan]

Reread what redshoes posted please

[davyboy]

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.

[Craig]

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?

[redshoes]

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.

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by davyboy

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.

No it wasn't...there were far less Super Touring class competitors in 2000.

And believe me, most series are held to ransom by one manufacturer!

(What if Ford quit Aussie V8's, or Mercedes DTM?)

[andy_b]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Because if you tell Vauxhall that the Astra Sporthatch they've spent a lot of time and money developing is suddenly no longer allowed they will take their ball home and you'll be 3 cars down.

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.

Aside from the fact its three door, I was under the impression that the Astra was designed so it could be modified for S2000 easier than the previous generation

[touringlegend]

Doesn't the Astra have some S2000 bodywork ? Certainly doesn't have the large skirts on the door.

Originally Posted by redshoes

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

Xero Motorsport have stated they'd like to move into Touring Cars.

[rdjones]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Doesn't the Astra have some S2000 bodywork ? Certainly doesn't have the large skirts on the door.

Someone told me that the car had been designed so that it can be easly changed to S2000 regs. I was talking to Redshoes about this subject at Silverstone and he told me that car built to S2000 regs have to be 4 doors, the Sport Hatch only has 2.....

[Hazard]

fia

Originally Posted by rdjones

Someone told me that the car had been designed so that it can be easly changed to S2000 regs. I was talking to Redshoes about this subject at Silverstone and he told me that car built to S2000 regs have to be 4 doors, the Sport Hatch only has 2.....

But so did the 307 & Civic which were raced last year in the ETCC? Not sure about that one.

[kmchow]

Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

Because its still incredibly expensive to buy those cars!!!

One years use of a car you paid £50,000+ for isn't very efficient for a privateer.

How many years are S2000 cars allowed to race after their bodystyle is discontinued? Independents should be able to run the E46 for several more years even after the E59 has been introduced? Unless you're referring to the reduced marketability of using the older E46 when the E59 comes out? OTOH, it will take some time for BMW to really develop/dial in the E59 so the E46s should still be competitive against their newer counterpart?

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?

[redshoes]

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.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by kmchow

How many years are S2000 cars allowed to race after their bodystyle is discontinued?

In SuperTouring days homolgation was valid until 7 years after the end of production. I believe that is true for other classes as well.

[BootsOntheSide]

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....

[Valker]

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.