[BTCC] 2016 BTCC news & rumours

[pimmy]

Originally Posted by fergus_r

Disappointing news, I was expecting to see Andy in truck racing this year.

Was that actually a possibility? The thought of him racing one of those things is terrifying!

[BtccLee]

On the right day, reversed grid race, I think Neate can maybe sneak a win in that car.

[fergus_r]

Originally Posted by pimmy

Was that actually a possibility? The thought of him racing one of those things is terrifying!

Thankfully not

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Oh come on guys, Neate is, on his day, just about able to do his machinery justice. When it's not on his day he ruins more than one weekend, makes his mechanics and engineers really earn their money (and more) and generally wastes what's usually a good seat in the BTCC. Given the amount of talented youngsters or old blokes with some pace, or even given some of the well funded gentlemen out there, this is a very, very disappointing signing.

What positives can be taken? Another driver has been signed? Really? Because I cannot think of any others that can be taken as positives, and given the driver in question I'm not sure it's a positive for the series to have him return.

Neate's had plenty of chances in good cars in the BTCC and you really have to look carefully to see when he's actually been on the pace in those cars. Yes he may be able to get top 10s and maybe scrape a couple of podiums in the reverse grid races but he's been tried and tested and is a complete waste of all but a nice pay cheque to go to whichever team hires him.

[JDMROB]

The amount of stick he has got today tells its own story.

Never known a driver announcement to cause that much of a bad reaction.

Wonder what he must be thinking tonight after reading all the hate? Hopefully because he has so much money and is driving in the BTCC this year he's happy with life and couldn't care less!

[S griffin]

I hope his car has a different livery than the other two. It might be hard to distinguish the names Neal and Neate on the side window from a distance . Although someone will no doubt quip you don't need a different, just look to see who's car is more damaged :P

That said I wouldn't say he was a bad driver just erratic. And you never know, hopefully Clarke will get the third Eurotech seat

[porsche962fan]

I am sure if Neate had gotten in a lower rated team like PMR, HARD, Handy etc it wouldn't have been such an issue but he got a seat in TOP Team of the BTCC paddock Team Dynamics

I think this is the real breaking point

[JDMROB]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

I am sure if Neate had gotten in a lower rated team like PMR, HARD, Handy etc it wouldn't have been such an issue but he got a seat in TOP Team of the BTCC paddock Team Dynamics

I think this is the real breaking point

Yeah you're right.

Frightening.

[850Estate]

Let's not joke about here, if we had the money that Andy does we'd be doing exactly the same thing. Why settle for a seat in a small team when you can driver for (arguably) the best in the paddock?

I hate slagging off drivers, he's had a chequered history yes, but let's give him the benefit of the doubt. Drivers improve and mature - although considerably younger - look at Adam Morgan who is unrecognisable to how he was at first.

I do agree however that it would be nice to get some more drivers of the higher class - like Cook last season, Ingram before that etc. Hopefully Jake Hill will get a drive as I genuinely believe he could be something very special.

[porsche962fan]

if Neate was serious on his skills he would have taken 1-2 years in the Clios first to get his race skills on an acceptable level

[BillWiskins]

When I hear Andy Neate, I think...

Originally Posted by JDMROB

Wasn't it Neate at Brands a few years back, ran wide at Graham Hill then kept his foot in it and aimed himself back onto the track in a ridiculous manor, harpooning Adam Morgan in the process?

...yes, yes it was. Couple of other cars caught up as well, and of course it wasn't Neate's first bout of silliness, but for some reason I can't help but agree with the 'give him another chance' crowd. I don't know why. I hope he proves himself worthy of the car.

[Dudley]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Wow. There's a lot of hate for Andy Neate out there.

I think it's simple really, all the other "CEO" drivers are either quick (Rob Collard, to the point where you don't really consider him one anymore) or polite and run their own race without screwing over others (Nick Forster, Sean Hollamby).

Andy in the BTCC has had a nasty tendency to be a bulldozer, either in your way or up your arse.

[Bramzel]

He sure gets the people talking, 2 pages and counting

[Sodemo]

I would love it if Neate was actually challenging for the championship.

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

if Neate was serious on his skills he would have taken 1-2 years in the Clios first to get his race skills on an acceptable level

He's tried in the past but can't string a full season together because he had various disagreements with teams.

[S700UBO]

Can we PLEASE please pleeeeease get Chris James back too

[porsche962fan]

and Liam Griffin !!!

[antnee]

And give them all extra boost so they are always at the front

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

and Liam Griffin !!!

He was fairly competent in a GT3 Aston Martin, I think touring cars just didn't suit him.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by S700UBO

Can we PLEASE please pleeeeease get Chris James back too

Only if we set up a boxing ring in the paddock

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

He was fairly competent in a GT3 Aston Martin, I think touring cars just didn't suit him.

what about the likes of Nick Leason, Richard Marsh, Marc Smith , Alan Taylor , Fiona Leggate, Jason Hughes ,

[BtccLee]

Moving on from driver bashing...

I gather from Twitter that Rob Collard is set to announce his drive (WSR) this week. I also believe the team may have a different livery/sponsor arrangement.

[Jiiiiiiim]

Interesting to see Dextra have confirmed they have the EcoBoost engine in the Focus this year too and they are testing already in Spain. Martin is a obviously serious about moving up the grid this year.

I can see the grid being closer than ever

[Minicross424]

Originally Posted by Jiiiiiiim

Interesting to see Dextra have confirmed they have the EcoBoost engine in the Focus this year too and they are testing already in Spain. Martin is a obviously serious about moving up the grid this year.

I can see the grid being closer than ever

I think I read that Andrew Jordan was testing the car?

[emicen]

Quite predictably, some family member was all over the BTCC Facebook page's post with the usual "if you knew what he went through after his accident you'd think it was amazing he's even back in a car" patter.

Don't get me wrong, he had a seriously nasty crash and I'm glad he recovered. However, that doesn't grant carte blanche to be a permanent liability on the track.

I feel sorry for the lower half of the grid and their damage budgets.