BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[crmalcolm]

When the Series Director says in 2017 "I would quite happily see the grid number drop down to 26 or 28 cars", then why should it raise alarm bells to have a grid of 27 in 2024?

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

When the Series Director says in 2017 "I would quite happily see the grid number drop down to 26 or 28 cars", then why should it raise alarm bells to have a grid of 27 in 2024?

It doesn't raise alarm bells. The series is in rude health and there's plenty of large big-name sponsors that obviously agree with that.

But you'll always get the doom mongers, they finish their homework then log onto TenTenths to strut and posture their superiority.

But it's a discussion forum, so they are welcome to discuss, even if they have no knowledge or experience to enhance the discussion.

[Adamcas87]

Can we go back to the daft Kia and Volvo and the return of Jason plato rumours now or maybe some genuine news, cos some of the doom and gloom rumours about teams maybe leaving or the “I read somewhere” that so and so team have left
Are just laughable now

[Sodemo]

I personally would love to see TCR cars involved. I think they are better engineered cars.

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

When the Series Director says in 2017 "I would quite happily see the grid number drop down to 26 or 28 cars", then why should it raise alarm bells to have a grid of 27 in 2024?

Do you think there will be 27 cars on the grid this year?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Pickles

Do you think there will be 27 cars on the grid this year?

At this point in time, I am seeing nothing that suggest the contrary.

27 TBLs registered. No confirmed withdrawals.

I expect to see 27 cars pulling up to the lights on 28 April.

If One Motorsport have shut up shop, as rumoured, then why would they still be active today on social media promoting their BTCC entry?

[Ant25]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

At this point in time, I am seeing nothing that suggest the contrary.

27 TBLs registered. No confirmed withdrawals.

I expect to see 27 cars pulling up to the lights on 28 April.

If One Motorsport have shut up shop, as rumoured, then why would they still be active today on social media promoting their BTCC entry?

There’s a lot of lies and stupid things going round haha I do think there will be 27 cars on the grid with loads of surprises!! Still don’t have a clue about the aidens tbls and cbms tbl

[ACF_]

Originally Posted by Ant25

There’s a lot of lies and stupid things going round haha I do think there will be 27 cars on the grid with loads of surprises!! Still don’t have a clue about the aidens tbls and cbms tbl

Just throwing another name in the hat, just for the hell of it, but back in '22, Graves Motorsport did voice their intent on entering the BTCC in the next year or 2, but obviously they went down the Cayman route last year instead. Could this be their year, using either the Moffatt or Boardley TBLs, or maybe even all 3? Again, just throwing it out there, with no real evidence, other than an interview on ITV4 during a race weekend in '22.

[Rowbo01]

My two pence,

There is a lot of people that I have spoken to that blame the “championship” for its current situation - people say it’s failing,

IMO, the championship provides a platform, there are a few of us putting the platform to good use, and using it to raise funding to go racing.

The biggest problem to my eyes is the teams are simply too reliant on the drivers bringing the money, go find me another “best of its type” championship where teams DON’T have a commercial department, teams in some categories have larger commercial departments than engineering.

That’s how you go motor racing, you sell it. Sure, BTCC lacks in areas, the social media needs much improved, the TV package couple be tweaked and I’m sure host of other things.

But I do not understand people that blame the Championship for the teams not operating in a commercial fashion and simply relying on the drivers…

Put it this way, if the team did 50% of the budget raising, then I’m sure you would have more drivers than TBLs… most of the drivers searching for budget are out there on there own, usually with a supportive mum and dad gunning up the rear.

Please don’t fire off at me, it’s my opinion, and I am NOT saying there are not issues that need fixing, BUT, it isn’t all down to the championship why these teams are seemingly “failing”

Some teams of course, are operating very efficiently.

All the best,

DR

[Jay87]

Originally Posted by Rowbo01

My two pence,

There is a lot of people that I have spoken to that blame the “championship” for its current situation - people say it’s failing,

IMO, the championship provides a platform, there are a few of us putting the platform to good use, and using it to raise funding to go racing.

The biggest problem to my eyes is the teams are simply too reliant on the drivers bringing the money, go find me another “best of its type” championship where teams DON’T have a commercial department, teams in some categories have larger commercial departments than engineering.

That’s how you go motor racing, you sell it. Sure, BTCC lacks in areas, the social media needs much improved, the TV package couple be tweaked and I’m sure host of other things.

But I do not understand people that blame the Championship for the teams not operating in a commercial fashion and simply relying on the drivers…

Put it this way, if the team did 50% of the budget raising, then I’m sure you would have more drivers than TBLs… most of the drivers searching for budget are out there on there own, usually with a supportive mum and dad gunning up the rear.

Please don’t fire off at me, it’s my opinion, and I am NOT saying there are not issues that need fixing, BUT, it isn’t all down to the championship why these teams are seemingly “failing”

Some teams of course, are operating very efficiently.

All the best,

DR

I have thought similar things before about drivers being handed an impossible task with regard to sponsorship. I'll use Dan Lloyd as an example. Last season his personal sponsors develop and 24/7 blinds that I'm sure pony up an awful lot of money only got a small place on the car whereas autobrite direct which was the teams sponsor was plastered all over it. It seems a very difficult task for a driver to raise sponsorship when the teams branding takes up 80 percent of the car

[thetool]

Originally Posted by Rowbo01

My two pence,

There is a lot of people that I have spoken to that blame the “championship” for its current situation - people say it’s failing,

IMO, the championship provides a platform, there are a few of us putting the platform to good use, and using it to raise funding to go racing.

The biggest problem to my eyes is the teams are simply too reliant on the drivers bringing the money, go find me another “best of its type” championship where teams DON’T have a commercial department, teams in some categories have larger commercial departments than engineering.

That’s how you go motor racing, you sell it. Sure, BTCC lacks in areas, the social media needs much improved, the TV package couple be tweaked and I’m sure host of other things.

But I do not understand people that blame the Championship for the teams not operating in a commercial fashion and simply relying on the drivers…

Put it this way, if the team did 50% of the budget raising, then I’m sure you would have more drivers than TBLs… most of the drivers searching for budget are out there on there own, usually with a supportive mum and dad gunning up the rear.

Please don’t fire off at me, it’s my opinion, and I am NOT saying there are not issues that need fixing, BUT, it isn’t all down to the championship why these teams are seemingly “failing”

Some teams of course, are operating very efficiently.

All the best,

DR

There's maybe 5 series in the world that actually operate on the basis of hiring the best drivers for the job with all/many of them getting paid.

* Formula One
* NASCAR Cup Series
* WRC
* IndyCar
* Supercars

Even then, only the front of the grid is getting paid and all of these series, without exception, have some of the drivers bring money to be on the grid.

The other thing all these five series have is a large media presence. What's also striking is how dominant the ones that are national series are in their respective countries. NASCAR and IndyCar are the only top-level series worth talking about in the entire USA. Nothing else comes close. Same goes for Australia, where Supercars is the only series you ever hear about.

The BTCC, for all it's talk, whilst definitely the top series in the UK, is not even close to the level of NASCAR, IndyCar or Supercars. These series get audiences in the millions, BTCC is lucky to see 300,000. Until you get a much larger audience, you aren't going to see genuine* sponsorship.

*By this I mean sponsors who are involved in the series mainly for the exposure on the side of the cars on TV and being able to use the BTCC in their advertising, rather than the current situation where most sponsorship is about wining & dining your clients at the race meeting rather than having their stickers seen on TV.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by thetool

There's maybe 5 series in the world that actually operate on the basis of hiring the best drivers for the job with all/many of them getting paid.

* Formula One
* NASCAR Cup Series
* WRC
* IndyCar
* Supercars

Even then, only the front of the grid is getting paid and all of these series, without exception, have some of the drivers bring money to be on the grid.

The other thing all these five series have is a large media presence. What's also striking is how dominant the ones that are national series are in their respective countries. NASCAR and IndyCar are the only top-level series worth talking about in the entire USA. Nothing else comes close. Same goes for Australia, where Supercars is the only series you ever hear about.

The BTCC, for all it's talk, whilst definitely the top series in the UK, is not even close to the level of NASCAR, IndyCar or Supercars. These series get audiences in the millions, BTCC is lucky to see 300,000. Until you get a much larger audience, you aren't going to see genuine* sponsorship.

*By this I mean sponsors who are involved in the series mainly for the exposure on the side of the cars on TV and being able to use the BTCC in their advertising, rather than the current situation where most sponsorship is about wining & dining your clients at the race meeting rather than having their stickers seen on TV.

Compare NASCAR to NFL or indeed NASCaR to Indycar. Motorsport is a minnow in USA. Supercars - not as rosey as it looks. Most teams just about stay afloat and I am not sure Bathurst aside how big the viewing audiences really are.

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

At this point in time, I am seeing nothing that suggest the contrary.

27 TBLs registered. No confirmed withdrawals.

I expect to see 27 cars pulling up to the lights on 28 April.

If One Motorsport have shut up shop, as rumoured, then why would they still be active today on social media promoting their BTCC entry?

I hope you're right, just wondering where all these newly built cars will be coming from.

[S griffin]

The BTCC has worked hard to get where it is, so that we have a full grid of cars, with some top talent in the series. We are unlikely to return to the quality of the Super Touring days, so we should be happy with what we have. Lack of budgets can hamper some drivers, but it’s not the end of the world if it does happen

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Pickles

I hope you're right, just wondering where all these newly built cars will be coming from.

Perhaps it’s time to bring the Giulietta out of retirement!

[ACF_]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Perhaps it’s time to bring the Giulietta out of retirement!

I've often wondered why the Renault Mégane Was never used by anyone?

Also, could we possibly see things like the VW ID3/ Cupra Born or MG4 being used in the future?

Just a few random thoughts I have floating round in my head!

[Racing Harz]

Originally Posted by ACF_

I've often wondered why the Renault Mégane Was never used by anyone?

There was one for 2014, but it never raced...
https://www.touringcartimes.com/2013...by-mda-wheels/

[ACF_]

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

There was one for 2014, but it never raced...
https://www.touringcartimes.com/2013...by-mda-wheels/

Thanks, I didn't know that

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by Pickles

I hope you're right, just wondering where all these newly built cars will be coming from.

Whilst we’ve lost some (3 I think) Cupra’s, Speedworks I’d assume will be building a new Toyota. There are still plenty of Honda’s kicking about & whilst not championship challenging, they were still good enough for podiums.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

There are still plenty of Honda’s kicking about & whilst not championship challenging, they were still good enough for podiums.

Problem there is that might have been the case last season; however, I expect that Napa will have probably made even the smallest improvements this winter, and probably the same applies at Speedworks. So, if anyone picks up the Hondas, they will without doubt need to do quite a bit to get them to be on par with the others.

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Problem there is that might have been the case last season; however, I expect that Napa will have probably made even the smallest improvements this winter, and probably the same applies at Speedworks. So, if anyone picks up the Hondas, they will without doubt need to do quite a bit to get them to be on par with the others.

Indeed, but just look at the Astra’s. Everyone wrote them off at the end of 2022 & they had a much better season last year after a rework.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

Indeed, but just look at the Astra’s. Everyone wrote them off at the end of 2022 & they had a much better season last year after a rework.

Re work or Engine boost ? Strange how MSport powered cars - Astra /Cupra were suddenly on the pace last year. …

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

There was one for 2014, but it never raced...
https://www.touringcartimes.com/2013...by-mda-wheels/

Wasn’t there a shell in build at RML aswell until Renault UK canned it?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Pickles

I hope you're right, just wondering where all these newly built cars will be coming from.

Do I think we'll have 27 competitive cars? No.

But I'm not sure there needs to be too many cars built to reach 27.

Just looking at the TBL entries, and the likely / confirmed cars on the grid:

Excelr8 Motorsport - 4x Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance
West Surrey Racing - 4x BMW 330e M Sport
Alliance Racing - 4x Ford Focus ST
Speedworks Motorsport - 4x Toyota Corolla GR Sport
Restart Racing - 2x Cupra León
Power Maxed Racing - 3x Vauxhall Astra
One Motorsport - 3x Honda Civic Type R (FK8)

That's 24 cars with no issue, which just leaves just 3 cars needed for the Aiden Moffat Racing and CBM Racing entries.

IIRC, there are still Q50s that both Moffat and Boardley have connections with. There are still a couple of FK8s that could be entered.
And, let's not forget that towards the end of last season, Justina Williams said 'Excelr8 are definitely not going to be going up to six cars, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be involved with six cars. We’re always really keen to help people.'

[Mike Harte]

What we need is a fly on the wall of Willy Poole's workshop to report on what he is doing for people who are going to be involved in the BTCC this coming season.