BTCC 2008 Off-season: News & Rumours

[awrb]

Thats a fair point there Craner Curves.

And I want Team 48 (whats with the name btw?) to do well, but i just dont see it. It is great to see them on the grid though, a good looking car that it would have have been a shame to have lost from the series.

Come on Team 48, proove me wrong.

[rdjones]

I say good luck to them, its going to be tough for them with a car that's not really competitive and two unknown drivers. But I'm sorry I think they are going to be rolling round at the back and they might turn into a bit of a laughing stock come the end of the year. But as I say good luck to them and I hope the proove me wrong.

BTW I have just had a thought Luther Blissett was a coach at York City when Mr Batchelor was chairman.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by awrb

But what the hell was that cr*p about a boat..

Originally Posted by awrb

.. Team 48 (whats with the name btw?)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british...drush_01.shtml
The first migrants from the Caribbean arrived in Britain in 1948 on the SS Windrush. It's a key point in Anglo-Caribbean history. Seems to me an not unreasonable name for a team which is proud of that heritage.

[stedevil]

LOL. I read some people comments here about colors and I can't help but think anout that old anecdote:
- What car was he driving?
Blond answering: - A red one.

C'mon guys, are you motor sports fans or bimbos?

[Bramzel]

Originally Posted by stedevil

LOL. I read some people comments here about colors and I can't help but think anout that old anecdote:
- What car was he driving?
Blond answering: - A red one.

C'mon guys, are you motor sports fans or bimbos?

You spend your free time watching something. Do you prefer it to be pretty or ugly?

And don't give me the 'I prefer it to be fast' answer...

[stedevil]

Originally Posted by Bramzel

You spend your free time watching something. Do you prefer it to be pretty or ugly?

So you are suggesting the pitbabes should also be the drivers?

[gregc]

Originally Posted by stedevil

So you are suggesting the pitbabes should also be the drivers?

Now there's a thought

[Bramzel]

Originally Posted by stedevil

So you are suggesting the pitbabes should also be the drivers?

I'm not suggesting anything, I'm asking you something.

[KA]

Just a wild guess- could there be a so far unnanounced sponsor in the pipeline which would explain the green, or maybe that's just a background colour for something more elaborate? I mean, you don't just paint an Alfa that shade of green for the hell of it.....?

I just get the feeling that this has all been put together pretty late in the day- there wasn't really any advance news of it, the Autosport piece had the comments about looking for technical support from the DAMAX GT outfit, the cars didn't run at the test day(?), and if I've read rightly they won't be ready for Brands?

[Sodemo]

The Alfa's weren't competitive last year in the hands of A-Tech, so one year on, with a "new" team and zero car development, what chance do they stand now?

[stedevil]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

The Alfa's weren't competitive last year in the hands of A-Tech, so one year on, with a "new" team and zero car development, what chance do they stand now?

Maybe the new team has been in contact with N-tech that was running Thompsons Alfa that was quite on the pace in WTCC? N-tech is now running Hondas, but also have a close connection with the team that will run Thompsons Alfa in STCC, so they havn't exactly stored all their Alfa knowledge in a far to reach place.

[Chris Y]

[quote=redshoes]"Blissett hopes to conclude a deal with GT squad DAMAX to provide technical support for the fledgling team"[quote]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Given the recent history of York City and Encke Sport the omens for a Football/BTCC crossover don't look good.

Hmm. Not the first time that words like 'Blissett' and 'York City' were mentioned on consecutive paragraphs, and as I seem to recall, things didn't exactly work out well last time...

I have a terrible sense of déjÃ* vu.

[Ed Peters]

Originally Posted by snowen250

Now last time i heard this it involved two Astra coupes not Alfas........Has Mr Peters heard anything on this subject?
Simon

it was Blackburn Rovers and Finnish international goalkeeper Peter Enckleman, that set-up Encke Motorsport with two Astra Coupes.
http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/ou...sp?NewsID=2420

Team48 has been set-up by ex-footballers Luther Blissett, John Barnes and Les Ferdinand to help promote Black or Afro-Caribbean drivers. The team name stems from 1948 the year that brought about the first significant wave of Caribbean migrants to the UK aboard the ship, SS Windrush.
www.team48.co.uk

This seems to be an incarnation of the appropriately named Windrush Motorsport, which was set-up with the same purpose in mind!
www.windrushmotorsport.com

Team48 are in the process of acquiring the two Alfa Romeo 156's from A-Tech.

Good luck to the team and let's hope Matthew Gore can get used to the British weather!

[Ed Peters]

Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

I'd believe btcc.net over Touring Car Times on this. We'll have to wait until the team's press releases start going up for full confirmation however.

As the Integra that Hughes has registered is still in the possession of Mr Pinkney! And the fact that Jason used his MG at the media day!
You can believe whom you like!

[DriversKnow]

Team 48's Darelle Wilson was a class winner in the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup (Prodsaloons) last year, and did two Mini Challenge races at the end of the year, running in the top four in both of them on his debut in a tough one make series. He has talent.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by stedevil

Maybe the new team has been in contact with N-tech that was running Thompsons Alfa that was quite on the pace in WTCC? N-tech is now running Hondas, but also have a close connection with the team that will run Thompsons Alfa in STCC, so they havn't exactly stored all their Alfa knowledge in a far to reach place.

The cars were brought from N-Tech last year and were apparantly the (then) latest spec. Not sure what other advise N-Tech will be able to give other than suggesting they run on Advans.

[awrb]

N.Tech were helping A-Tech though, they had Gary Ayles acting as communication between them IIRC. Who knows though, Team48 might pick up on something A-Tech didnt. A-Tech did improve at the end of the year aswell, Pinkney got some points at thruxton i think, maybe they made the step up but too late, and team 48 can benefit from that.

As for the name, yeah, i didnt notice the 1948/team48 connection and now look stupid. I thought it was just a random number at first.

[stedevil]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Not sure what other advise N-Tech will be able to give other than suggesting they run on Advans.

I don't know the deal with the alfas in the BTCC, but the one in STCC have had N-tech personel present at preseason testing helping with setups etc and will be later during the year as well. Inbetween I assume it will be possible to pick up a phone as well.

This relativly close cooperation might of cource be partially due to N-tech in any case being half involved with STCC (since 2/3 of the sister Hondas racing 2008 will be in STCC and trading info will be vital for both teams to reach the top).

[Icebaby]

I cant see any help coming for N-Tech as this was only given to A-Tech off the back off buying the cars.

Did Alfa not say they would offer no support to anyone who pianted there cars in anything other than red?, not that there is any actual Alfa personel to help now.

I really find it hard to understand what they hope to gain by all this, experience maybe but its going to come at a price with no reward trailing around near the back.

[NendoShisu]

A-Tech were going for a two year commitment in the BTCC.

Pinkney has been very quiet since Luton Town going into Administration

I wouldn't rule him out just yet even if he wasn't at the media day.

[cos]

Originally Posted by Icebaby

I really find it hard to understand what they hope to gain by all this, experience maybe but its going to come at a price with no reward trailing around near the back.

Says Blisset:

"We will be looking to have a lot of interaction with the local community. We will get the racing up and running and get organised first; things will take shape as we move ourselves along. We want to give an opportunity to disadvantaged and disaffected kids: give them some focus and something to strike for, show them how to contribute to society. We have an opportunity to use our status - for want of a better word - to give guidance to kids who are born into certain areas where there may be things such as drugs, which they can sometimes become embroiled in unwittingly. We want to show them that they can become whatever they want to if they put in the work."

I'm not sure whether all that can be achieved with a motor racing team, but we'll see. No one's expecting them to be at the sharp end of the grid, but they've got ideals and ambitions and wish them all the best. I think they're going to be entering a few Britcar rounds as well which should help the team with race experience etc.

[stedevil]

Originally Posted by Icebaby

I cant see any help coming for N-Tech

I assume you meant to write FROM N-Tech?

[Icebaby]

Originally Posted by stedevil

I assume you meant to write FROM N-Tech?

I did sorry!, N-Tech need no help as there doing just fine.

I wish team 48 all the best and hope they achieve some of their goals this year.

[awrb]

Originally Posted by NendoShisu

Pinkney has been very quiet since Luton Town going into Administration

I wouldn't rule him out just yet even if he wasn't at the media day.

I don't think we'll be seeing Pinkney really. He's had a pretty bad year in 2007 what with Luton Town and A-Tech being unsucessful. He must have put a lot of his own resorces into both of those, so will he be able to fund a BTCC season now?

I hope wew see him though. He's a really nice guy and a very good driver.

[Alfa Fan]

Pinkney absolutely would be able to fund a BTCC entry if he wants to..