BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[MarcusH26]

[QUOTE=Evantra;4192281]I think realistically those are: no budget, no budget, wants to be paid, could be possible, no budget, unfortunately. Though I’d much rather you were right![/QUOTE

I think Watson and Huff are strong possibilities for Toyota but the rest of them I wouldn't expect to be anywhere near it. Maybe someone like Moffat that can bring significant sponsors?

[ACF_]

Originally Posted by Evantra

I think realistically those are: no budget, no budget, wants to be paid, could be possible, no budget, unfortunately. Though I’d much rather you were right!

I know what you mean, but one can dream, lol. While we're on the subject of hopes & dreams, I'm thinking (with everything crossed) Rory Butcher to Excelr8 & Ricky Collard to WSR?

I'm not sure how else all those drivers are going to fit in otherwise without One Motorsport or a possible Team Dynamics return?

[antnee]

Can we stop with all the hopes/desires posts please. This is a rumours and news thread

[ACF_]

Originally Posted by antnee

Can we stop with all the hopes/desires posts please. This is a rumours and news thread

It still relates to the subject of who we think is going where & what certain teams/drivers have hinted towards.

[SSmith]

https://www.btcc.net/2024/01/18/turk...ok-forward-to/

Not sure if this has previously been taken as confirmed but Colin Turkington basically confirming (to no one's surprise) he's racing for WSR in 2024.

[mphplastering]

https://www.btcc.net/2024/01/18/turk...Q8mM4dRefJOkvg


Looks like this is an announcement for 2024 from Colin

[Millvi]

Originally Posted by ACF_

Part of Speedworks "all new" line-up possibly? alongside Josh Cook, Bobby Thompson & either Huff, Watson or jade Edwards in the 4th seat?

That's my prediction/hope anyway, lol.

Has there been something to say there's a full new line-up of drivers at Speedworks? If so I've missed that....

There's something more concrete isn't there regarding the 4th seat (Jelley's car) at WSR and 4 drivers in the running for that drive? One of whom I'd think would be Collard. Gamble was very impressive in the Cicely 3 series and would perhaps be one of the 4.

[ACF_]

Originally Posted by Millvi

Has there been something to say there's a full new line-up of drivers at Speedworks? If so I've missed that....

There's something more concrete isn't there regarding the 4th seat (Jelley's car) at WSR and 4 drivers in the running for that drive? One of whom I'd think would be Collard. Gamble was very impressive in the Cicely 3 series and would perhaps be one of the 4.

I read about the Speedworks rumour on here recently. Also, if the rumours on here are anything to go by, then the 4th WSR seat will be either Collard or Watson, although Gamble is a good call. I was also thinking possibly Huff.

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by antnee

Can we stop with all the hopes/desires posts please. This is a rumours and news thread

This ^^^^


To many dreamers on here.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Millvi

Has there been something to say there's a full new line-up of drivers at Speedworks? If so I've missed that...

It’s been ‘rumoured’ here, but nothing official I don’t think.

Conversely, Speedworks themselves said they wished to retain all three drivers, although I’m sure a similar comment would come from most teams, and others here have said Gamble will run with full Car Gods backing.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Millvi

Has there been something to say there's a full new line-up of drivers at Speedworks? If so I've missed that....

Nothing official but there have been rumours of an all new driver line-up and the cars being run as 2 teams of 2 cars, i.e. different liveries and different team names. I assume 2 Toyota Gazzo branded cars and 2 "customer" cars

[ACF_]

Originally Posted by SV8Predator

This ^^^^


To many dreamers on here.

I don't think it hurts to discuss what people think might or might not happen. If we're basing this thread on legit info only, then it'd be pretty boring if we have to wait around for breaking news.

[Millvi]

Originally Posted by SV8Predator

This ^^^^


To many dreamers on here.

Which particular dreamer's thoughts have irked you so much? It might be interesting to say as they might be the ones that come to be reality?

Remember the post about Rowbo reappearing in the BTCC with Team Dynamics? That one was something very unexpected that came to be true.

[ACF_]

Originally Posted by Millvi

Which particular dreamer's thoughts have irked you so much? It might be interesting to say as they might be the ones that come to be reality?

Remember the post about Rowbo reappearing in the BTCC with Team Dynamics? That one was something very unexpected that came to be true.

Thank you. That's exactly what I was getting at. I'm glad it's not just me

[antnee]

It is supposed to be about 'legit' rumours and shreds of info. Not just I think X driver will go to Y team - based purely on emotion and nothing else.

[redshoes]

Rumours, not wishful thinking

[InYourMirrors45]

Originally Posted by ACF_

I read about the Speedworks rumour on here recently. Also, if the rumours on here are anything to go by, then the 4th WSR seat will be either Collard or Watson, although Gamble is a good call. I was also thinking possibly Huff.

From what I’m led to believe, Dick Bennett’s wanted Watson to fill Turkingtons seat had he of ‘retired’ and for Collard to take Jelly’s seat However Turkingtons apparent U turn deciding to continue another year meant the threshold for the 4th seat has gone up significantly.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by InYourMirrors45

From what I’m led to believe, Dick Bennett’s wanted Watson to fill Turkingtons seat had he of ‘retired’ and for Collard to take Jelly’s seat However Turkingtons apparent U turn deciding to continue another year meant the threshold for the 4th seat has gone up significantly.

Suppose it’s only really the money that matters, but you’d think an ultra-professional team like WSR would not be considering Collard after how many tantrums he had last year.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by InYourMirrors45

From what I’m led to believe, Dick Bennett’s wanted Watson to fill Turkingtons seat had he of ‘retired’ and for Collard to take Jelly’s seat However Turkingtons apparent U turn deciding to continue another year meant the threshold for the 4th seat has gone up significantly.

Unless Jelly stays?

[MarcusH26]

Dan Lloyd has gone to Carrera Cup UK with Toro Verde so will be teammates with Jack Butel.

[Mike Harte]

For what it's worth, my opinion is that having both Hill and Collard in one team, which is basically one team even though technically Hill races for MB not WSR yet under the direction of Dick Bennett, would create a nightmare. They obviously have enough trouble controlling Hill and trying to stop him taking out the other team cars, let alone have another tearaway to have to manage.

[Millvi]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Unless Jelly stays?

Jelley could indeed be one of the 4 for the final WSR seat as mentioned in this Autosport article. And like mentioned above I think that Hill and Collard in the same team would be a nightmare to manage!!!

Cut and paste from Autosport:

WSR’s four-car line-up is expected to once again feature the team’s four-time champion Colin Turkington plus Adam Morgan, who joined the squad for 2023.

Stephen Jelley’s recent three-year spell at the team appears to have come to an end, leaving a seat open for next season.

“We’ve got four guys in the running, and that’s about all I can say at the moment,” Bennetts told Autosport.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

Dan Lloyd has gone to Carrera Cup UK with Toro Verde so will be teammates with Jack Butel.

Ah, shame to lose him, but after he made a deal so quickly I figured it might not be BTCC. Hopefully he’ll be in the hunt for the championship depending on how else the grid shapes up.

https://x.com/daniellloyd23/status/1...T11pmdgnSSDQzA

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

For what it's worth, my opinion is that having both Hill and Collard in one team, which is basically one team even though technically Hill races for MB not WSR yet under the direction of Dick Bennett, would create a nightmare. They obviously have enough trouble controlling Hill and trying to stop him taking out the other team cars, let alone have another tearaway to have to manage.

This is my exact thoughts too , regardless of Ricky's family links to WSR it just feels like a disaster waiting to happen. Personally I'd be going for Gamble or Watson depending on how much sponsorship WSR need.

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

Dan Lloyd has gone to Carrera Cup UK with Toro Verde so will be teammates with Jack Butel.

Sensible move to PCCGB, a good shop window for bigger and better GT drives without completely losing touch with the BTCC should his situation change for 2025. Whilst the 992 Carrera Cup car is rather different from the 997 and 991.1 cars he raced when he was a championship frontrunner (2012-2013, and late-2016), I'm sure he'll be a frontrunner again.

Interesting that in Toro Verde's press release, David Fairbrother (Toro Verde owner and regular racer) says "Dan had many offers in other series including the BTCC and British GT, so to choose to compete with Toro Verde GT is testament to his belief that the team will deliver."