BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[ACF_]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

All three of which don’t have budgets - …..

Just my prediction/what i'd like to see happen.

[Evantra]

Dan Lloyd announcement this week.

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

All three of which don’t have budgets - …..

All three do have budgets, just not big ones that could fund a team.

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Dan Lloyd announcement this week.

Third seat at PMR? I'm honestly surprised given his comments to Autosport before Christmas that he's got an announcement together so quickly.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

All three of which don’t have budgets - …..

Don't have any budget at all?

In particular Butcher, what has changed since last season?

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

Third seat at PMR? I'm honestly surprised given his comments to Autosport before Christmas that he's got an announcement together so quickly.

Yeah, I thought that too. Must be either PMR or One (assuming they’re still afloat) or perhaps one of the ‘spare’ TBLs, should they be utilised.

Perhaps Toyota, although they tend to make their announcements quite late, and wouldn’t have thought that would be within his budget.

Noticed on Instagram he was very vague, calling it a “racing announcement”.

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Yeah, I thought that too. Must be either PMR or One (assuming they’re still afloat) or perhaps one of the ‘spare’ TBLs, should they be utilised.

Perhaps Toyota, although they tend to make their announcements quite late, though wouldn’t have thought that would be within his budget.

Noticed on Instagram he was very vague, calling it a “racing announcement”.

Yeah I don't think he would have been doing BTCC Q&As at Autosport if he wasn't pretty certain of being on the grid. Given his known budget issues over the years unless he's pulled some rabbits out of hats in the off-season I'm expecting it's PMR or One.

Have seen some talk that Toyota have a completely new lineup but I'd be surprised if Dan had the budget to get to what they ask for.

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

Yeah I don't think he would have been doing BTCC Q&As at Autosport if he wasn't pretty certain of being on the grid. Given his known budget issues over the years unless he's pulled some rabbits out of hats in the off-season I'm expecting it's PMR or One.

Have seen some talk that Toyota have a completely new lineup but I'd be surprised if Dan had the budget to get to what they ask for.

At least if it is One Motorsport, that confirms they haven't folded... PMR would be a good line up with ATS and Doble though.

[InYourMirrors45]

Dan Lloyd making an announcement this week, presumably BTCC but who knows.

[coffinpilot]

Rob Huff was incredibly visible on the BTCC/MSNews stand for a very long time on Friday. Rowbo had a bit of a sit down on the TCR stand for a while.
Social media would tell you that both mean something.....

Gossip of course. I have a feeling the journalist who said the press had been told the BTCC season launch is April 4th at Donington was having a chuckle. That's a little early (and aren't they usually on a Tuesday?!!)

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

I have a feeling the journalist who said the press had been told the BTCC season launch is April 4th at Donington was having a chuckle. That's a little early (and aren't they usually on a Tuesday?!!)

The last couple of seasons saw an event on Tuesday evening, with the launch on the Wednesday on track. 12th and 13th April respectively.
Gow has already said he's doing something different this year.

[Ant25]

By the sounds of things from Btcc interviews there may be 2 drivers coming in that may course some upsets! Who de we thing they are?

[Millvi]

Originally Posted by Ant25

By the sounds of things from Btcc interviews there may be 2 drivers coming in that may course some upsets! Who de we thing they are?

Huff at Speedworks I’d imagine for one. I’d like to see what he can do in 2024 in the BTCC

[Ant25]

Originally Posted by Millvi

Huff at Speedworks I’d imagine for one. I’d like to see what he can do in 2024 in the BTCC

I do really hope he’s back be good for the championship! No idea who the other name is tho? I’m sure they say both haven’t been on the grid for a while so Jesus haha makes it hard to guess

[ACF_]

Originally Posted by Ant25

I do really hope he’s back be good for the championship! No idea who the other name is tho? I’m sure they say both haven’t been on the grid for a while so Jesus haha makes it hard to guess

Mat Jackson hasn't been on the grid for a while. He was also due to be Plato's team mate at PMR in 2020, but pulled out due to COVID, if I remember rightly? The other name I'd throw in the hat, would be Rob Austin. But those are just off the top of my head.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Ant25

I do really hope he’s back be good for the championship! No idea who the other name is tho? I’m sure they say both haven’t been on the grid for a while so Jesus haha makes it hard to guess

Max Coates?

[ACF_]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Max Coates?

Good shout! Graves Motorsport did say in 2022 that they we're looking to get into the BTCC at some point. Could they be using the spare TBLs?

[MarcusH26]

Coates is a good shout actually, although the way it's being talked up I'd be surprised if it was Coates. Was thinking Jack Goff but he's another that's always had a lack of sponsors. Shedden I can't see coming back either.

[Ant25]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

Coates is a good shout actually, although the way it's being talked up I'd be surprised if it was Coates. Was thinking Jack Goff but he's another that's always had a lack of sponsors. Shedden I can't see coming back either.

The way they was talking about it on the interviews is that the two possible drivers coming in are ones that could upset the likes of Sutton and Ingram and take point away from them! So I think huff is one or possibly shedden to!

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by Ant25

The way they was talking about it on the interviews is that the two possible drivers coming in are ones that could upset the likes of Sutton and Ingram and take point away from them! So I think huff is one or possibly shedden to!

Yeah that's what kind of threw me off a bit, there's not many names bar Huff who could be on that level of being a genuine front runner in the right car. Shedden I would guess would need a serious chunk of sponsorship and everyone knows Andy Jordan is done with the championship and doing very well for himself in historics with JRT.

Not really sure who else that leaves?

[Ant25]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

Yeah that's what kind of threw me off a bit, there's not many names bar Huff who could be on that level of being a genuine front runner in the right car. Shedden I would guess would need a serious chunk of sponsorship and everyone knows Andy Jordan is done with the championship and doing very well for himself in historics with JRT.

Not really sure who else that leaves?

It’s someone who’s been on the grid before that by the sounds of it was at the sharp end of the grid!

[Millvi]

Proctor perhaps? He was up there in 2021 in the Civic.

[coffinpilot]

Wasn't Proctor just pipped to a seat last year? And I'm sure there was something about his Dad sniffing around Hard at Croft. I know a while back there were rumblings about him going Rally cross or TCR UK, but it seems like it's BTCC or bust for him (or maybe TCR Europe.) I've got a feeling if 2023 drivers don't get BTCC drives but can get a budget they'd go to Europe instead.

From leftifield what about Jack Young? If he could find a budget he'd be quality. Or Jac Constable. If I remember right his 2022 PMR TCR UK drive only came about because Hand popped up with more money just before contracts were signed (In my opinion Hand showed enough to warrant backers putting him in for a second season if they had the right head on them!)

Would love to see Josh Files get a crack, but the poor lad can't even get a TCR UK drive (where he'd clean up easily) and has ended up in Civics!! Come on!!

Did hear something about Dave Newsham trying to sort something out for his son, but that's for the 2025 thread.

Goff is interesting, like Mat Jackson/Austin. Has it been too long?

Names mentioned (pie in the sky in my opinion) by people talking at Autosport included Oliphant coming home, Gornall being close to a full budget, Ant Whorton-Eales making a comeback and Sam Tordoff looking around. The rumour mad enough to be true I suppose was Neil Trotter throwing some of his millions into a Cupra for Lewis Brown to drive - partly as a statement against the supposed TCR conspirators who caused him to empty his pram from his toys.

I think the bottles of water at the NEC might have had some funny additives in them with some of those theories.

What next? Matt Simpson on the comeback trail with an ex-Dynamics FK8??

[Evantra]

^ Tordoff would definitely fit the bill of a high-quality returning driver, although I don’t particularly get the impression he’d have much of a desire to return? Could be a good shout.

Don’t think Goff has raced anything since he left, certainly not for a full season. Was apparently trying to put together something last year so seems like there’s still interest on his part. Jackson hasn’t been up to much either? Austin seems to be concentrating on business / family so can’t see it being any of those personally.

I’m surprised no one has mentioned Plato yet!

I might be completely wrong or confusing him with someone else, but I vaguely seem to remember Files saying the BTCC wasn’t for him or he wasn’t interested (a good few years ago now I think)?

Unrelated, but IIRC Crees was in talks with Toyota for last season? Obviously on the market now, so wonder if he could be a candidate there for this year.

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by Evantra

^ Tordoff would definitely fit the bill of a high-quality returning driver, although I don’t particularly get the impression he’d have much of a desire to return? Could be a good shout.

Don’t think Goff has raced anything since he left, certainly not for a full season. Was apparently trying to put together something last year so seems like there’s still interest on his part. Jackson hasn’t been up to much either? Austin seems to be concentrating on business / family so can’t see it being any of those personally.

I’m surprised no one has mentioned Plato yet!

I might be completely wrong or confusing him with someone else, but I vaguely seem to remember Files saying the BTCC wasn’t for him or he wasn’t interested (a good few years ago now I think)?

Unrelated, but IIRC Crees was in talks with Toyota for last season? Obviously on the market now, so wonder if he could be a candidate there for this year.

Tordoff would be an excellent addition , I just don't know if he's still interested in racing properly again or if he's just happy going to do historics.

Proctor is always going to be mentioned every off-season with a seat , in fact I thought he might have had a shot at Restart instead of Sumpton.

Crees at Toyota I could see if he's got the sponsorship behind him. The rumours about them changing their entire lineup does throw up some quite interesting thoughts (ultimately I wouldn't be surprised if that's where Andrew Watson goes , Ricky "back" to WSR?)