2024 BTCC Round One - Donington

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by BtccLee

? And is this the longest timetable delay we’ve had in the last 10/15-years? I’m leaning toward yes…

How long was it for the Billy Monger accident?

[thetool]

Originally Posted by BtccLee

Questions for anoraks - When was the last time a warm-up featured on a BTCC Sunday? And is this the longest timetable delay we’ve had in the last 10/15-years? I’m leaning toward yes…

It was around the end of Super Touring the warm-up disappeared. 1999 definitely had them. Not sure if it was 2000 or 2001 they were dropped.

[Adamcas87]

This sending them out for a warm up feels like “at least we tried but we it’s too wet to race go home”

[touringcarnut]

Originally Posted by Adamcas87

This sending them out for a warm up feels like “at least we tried but we it’s too wet to race go home”

Looks to be clearing up for around 14:00, maybe 1 or 2 rounds will happen.

[Matt K]

In case the round gets cancelled (not sure how likely it is), do you think the Donington round may be rescheduled or would it be just a 9-round championship this year? Pretty curious how they'd go about it, don't think I recall such a situation in the past 10 years or so.

[Evantra]

Wouldn’t like to drop a wheel in that trench they’re digging!

[InYourMirrors45]

Originally Posted by AJD

Exactly, bizzare comment. Everyone in the qualifying group is qualifying in the same conditions.

Much like hybrid I think far too many people are quick to dismiss it. Give it a chance to evolve and see where we get too.

It was unfair because those that got knocked out in Group 1 had to qualify in the rain and group 2 didn’t. Therefore those that didn’t make the cut from group 1 were always going to make up the last 4 places in the grid. Like I said it’s the difference in starting 13th or 20th.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Evantra

How long was it for the Billy Monger accident?

That was 2-2.5 hrs. We are already past that

[thetool]

Originally Posted by Matt K

In case the round gets cancelled (not sure how likely it is), do you think the Donington round may be rescheduled or would it be just a 9-round championship this year? Pretty curious how they'd go about it, don't think I recall such a situation in the past 10 years or so.

Next to impossible for it to be re-scheduled. With it being one of the major events it requires co-ordination with local authorities and police to run on the dates they do. Add to that that most of the money needed for this weekends racing has already been spent, budgets are stretched enough without having to find another 10% + another 3-4 days away from home/work for a mostly volunteer workforce (certainly among the supports).

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by sceptic

The warm-up session will be followed by the Mini Challenge.

Mini Challenge on cold and very wet track... what could possibly go wrong

[AJD]

Originally Posted by InYourMirrors45

It was unfair because those that got knocked out in Group 1 had to qualify in the rain and group 2 didn’t. Therefore those that didn’t make the cut from group 1 were always going to make up the last 4 places in the grid. Like I said it’s the difference in starting 13th or 20th.

Yeah I've already held my hands up and said I read it wrong. I understand where you are coming from.

[Sodemo]

Would be ironic if whenever they do get the first race underway is if they end up on slicks at some point.

[thetool]

This warm-up session is looking like a waste of time. Can't say I blame them for not running. Who wants to go out and write off £100K+ for nothing?

Ignore this - looks like they just don't have the timing system running.

[WestHam92]

With the group 1 & group 2 issue in qualifying, wouldn't it be easier to just have all the cars out together? I get they want to reduce congestion but with only 20 cars this season, the problem of the last several years has gone away

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by thetool

Next to impossible for it to be re-scheduled. With it being one of the major events it requires co-ordination with local authorities and police to run on the dates they do. Add to that that most of the money needed for this weekends racing has already been spent, budgets are stretched enough without having to find another 10% + another 3-4 days away from home/work for a mostly volunteer workforce (certainly among the supports).

Yeah, think you're right. It's not NASCAR that they can put it off and do the race on Monday...

Seeing the drivers' feedback it doesn't look good, does it

[Mike Harte]

I don't if it was intended to be a slight, but in the ITV studio truck, Jade Edwards commented that the leading drivers in BTCC know how to pass backmarkers quickly yet safely. And she name-checked Sutton, Ingram, Cook and Turkington but didn't mention Hill even though the conversation between the 4 of them in the studio was about those 4 drivers, not including Cook; he would have made 5 drivers.

[Greem]

Still too wet after discussions with drivers and another inspection.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Jade Edwards commented that the leading drivers in BTCC know how to pass backmarkers quickly yet safely.

At least they're making full use of her expertise

[Craner Curves]

British GT going racing 1 hour down the road, but they're talking about rain hitting them again soon at Silverstone. Hopefully it's not going north.

[Greem]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

British GT going racing 1 hour down the road, but they're talking about rain hitting them again soon at Silverstone. Hopefully it's not going north.

North east by the looks of it, shouldn't hit Donington. Hopefully!

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by thetool

Next to impossible for it to be re-scheduled. With it being one of the major events it requires co-ordination with local authorities and police to run on the dates they do. Add to that that most of the money needed for this weekends racing has already been spent, budgets are stretched enough without having to find another 10% + another 3-4 days away from home/work for a mostly volunteer workforce (certainly among the supports).

Possibility of turning a future meeting into a three day event (I don't mean with dressage and cross country) so that they run three BTCC races on a Saturday and three on Sunday?

[Adamcas87]

Update on circuits commentary is once the circuit staff have finished digging there trenches down Cramer curves, the minis will be the first race apparently

[thetool]

Originally Posted by sceptic

Possibility of turning a future meeting into a three day event (I don't mean with dressage and cross country) so that they run three BTCC races on a Saturday and three on Sunday?

More feasible, but again you will run into problems with the Saturday changing from a 5,000 crowd to a 30-40,000 crowd.

It's pretty much unprecedented in the modern era to have an entire day washed out. Silverstone in 1999 is the closest I can recall, but even there the BTCC Feature Race was able to be run fairly normally.

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by thetool

More feasible, but again you will run into problems with the Saturday changing from a 5,000 crowd to a 30-40,000 crowd.

It's pretty much unprecedented in the modern era to have an entire day washed out. Silverstone in 1999 is the closest I can recall, but even there the BTCC Feature Race was able to be run fairly normally.

I think Silverstone in 1991 when the race was declared null and void, was the last instance that of that sort of thing happening.

[Mogster]

Looking at the Rain Today rainfall radar app it looks to be clearing up and no more rain expected.