BTCC BTCC 2023 season discussion, News and Rumours! - Page 51

billy bleach · 14 Feb 2023, 20:52 (Ref:4143727)

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatapex

Couple of theories:
Dan Zelos has been reserve/test driver- might be time for the step up?

Could also be:
Aron Taylor Smith
Senna proctor
Rory Butcher
George Gamble

Or Rowbottom?

Pickles · 14 Feb 2023, 20:53 (Ref:4143728)

If its who I've heard its a new name to BTCC

billy bleach · 14 Feb 2023, 21:06 (Ref:4143729)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pickles

If its who I've heard its a new name to BTCC

Huff?

Pickles · 14 Feb 2023, 21:12 (Ref:4143730)

Quote:

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Huff?

I'm pretty sure Huff has already had a go at BTCC.

Matt K · 14 Feb 2023, 21:39 (Ref:4143734)

Quote:

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Huff?

Looks way too small for Huff on that photo

unless the guy there is not the actual driver although would that be?

flatapex · 14 Feb 2023, 23:45 (Ref:4143740)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt K

Looks way too small for Huff on that photo

unless the guy there is not the actual driver although would that be?

It will be the actual driver, the reveal photo will just be the sticker over the face removed.

flatapex · 14 Feb 2023, 23:49 (Ref:4143741)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pickles

If its who I've heard its a new name to BTCC

Zelos sounds like decent odds as does Dom Wheatley. The other main mini graduates are people like Ethan Hammerton and Max Coates, both have been in btcc cars before. Dan has tested the Hyundai but never raced it

redshoes · 15 Feb 2023, 08:22 (Ref:4143748)

https://www.btcc.net/2023/02/15/seri...celr8-line-up/

EXCELR8's new driver is ex-Mini Challenge racer Ronan Pearson

crmalcolm · 15 Feb 2023, 08:25 (Ref:4143749)

2023 TBL	Team	Car	Driver	Status	Jack Sears
EXCELR8-1	Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com	Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance	Ingram	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
EXCELR8-2	Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com	Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance	Chilton	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
EXCELR8-3	Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com	Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance	Pearson	Confirmed in press release	Elig.
EXCELR8-4	Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com	Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance	Halstead	Confirmed in press release	Elig.
Team Dynamics-1	Halfords/Cataclean?	Civic?	Shedden?	Talked about next year with the team	Inel.
Team Dynamics-2	Halfords/Cataclean?	Civic?	Rowbottom?	Talked about next year with the team	Inel.
Aiden Moffat-1	Aiden Moffat Racing	???	Moffat?	Infiniti described as being end of life by the team	Inel.
Aiden Moffat-2	Aiden Moffat Racing	???	???	Infiniti described as being end of life by the team	???
Motorbase-1	NAPA Racing	Focus?	Sutton	Confirmed as 3-year deal in press release, talk of new build car	Inel.
Motorbase-2	NAPA Racing	Focus?	Cammish	Confirmed as 3-year deal in press release, talk of new build car	Inel.
Motorbase-3	Motorbase	Focus?	Osborne?	Talked about looking forward to next year with the team	Elig.
Motorbase-4	Motorbase	Focus?	???
HARD.-1	HARD.	Cupra León	Taylor-Smith	Confirmed as multi-year in press release	Inel.
HARD.-2	HARD.	Cupra León	Thompson	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
HARD.-3	HARD.	Cupra León	Patterson	Confirmed in press release	Elig.
HARD.-4	HARD.	Cupra León	Lloyd	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
Speedworks-1	Toyota Gazoo Racing UK?	Corolla?	Butcher?	Talked about wanting another year with the team	Inel.
Speedworks-2	Toyota Gazoo Racing UK?	Corolla?	???	???	???
Speedworks-3	Toyota Gazoo Racing UK?	Corolla?	???	???	???
WSR-1	Team BMW/Ciceley Commercials?	BMW 330e M Sport	Morgan	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
WSR-2	Team BMW?	BMW 330e M Sport	Turkington	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
WSR-3	Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport	BMW 330e M Sport	Hill	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
WSR-4	MB Motorsport?	BMW 330e M Sport	Jelley	Confirmed in press release - MB talked about a 2-car entry for 2023	Inel.
PMR-1	PMR	Vauxhall Astra	Hand	Confirmed as multi-year in press release	Elig.
PMR-2	PMR	Vauxhall Astra	Watson	Confirmed in press release	Elig.
BTC-1	One Motorsport	Civic?	???	Reported as considering a new build	???
BTC-2	One Motorsport	Civic?	???	Reported as considering a new build	???
BTC-3	One Motorsport	Civic?	???	Reported as considering a new build	???
Boardley-1	???	???	Boardley?	Has described 2022 as a sabbatical	Elig.
TOCA-1	Not allocated
TOCA-2	Not allocated
TOCA-3	Not allocated
???	Graves Motorsport?	???	Max Coates?	Outlined plans for an entry in 2021	Elig.
???	Parker Motorsport?	Alfa Giulia?	???	Press release states a planned return after hybrid is introduced	???
???	Parker Motorsport?	Alfa Giulia?	???	Press release states a planned return after hybrid is introduced	???
???	Bert Taylor Racing?	???	???	Talked about getting a TBL for 2023	???
???	???	???	Proctor?	Has described 2022 as a sabbatical	Inel.
???	???	???	Smelt?	Has described 2022 as a sabbatical	Elig.
???	???	???	Hamilton?	Talked about being in a car for 2023	Inel.
???	Volvo	Kia	T.Harvey	Rumoured in threads every year, has to be true one day	Inel.

Matt K · 15 Feb 2023, 08:27 (Ref:4143751)

Nice to see someone from the 'junior' program moving up the ladder. Let's see how he goes, hopefully he can make some decent results. For Excelr8 it'd also be really important if Chilton was able to return to a better form this year to kind of support the team in their fight for another title.

Evantra · 15 Feb 2023, 09:25 (Ref:4143754)

Quote:

Originally Posted by redshoes

https://www.btcc.net/2023/02/15/seri...celr8-line-up/

EXCELR8's new driver is ex-Mini Challenge racer Ronan Pearson

Thought it could be after the Scottish clue but seemed like he was set for the JCWs again!

Great news, about time since we’ve had a Mini front runner step up. Good luck to him and hope he goes well.

A better option that Butel I think, but being a bit of an unknown, I’m not entirely convinced by Excelr8’s line up this year. Expect Ingram will score about 95% of the team’s points…

(also I like how they beat BTC / One Motorsport to the driver announcement they promised a week ago…)

crmalcolm · 15 Feb 2023, 09:39 (Ref:4143757)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evantra

Great news, about time since we’ve had a Mini front runner step up. Good luck to him and hope he goes well.

It will definitely be interesting to compare his results with previous 'graduates', such as:

Rob Smith - 2019 (2pts)
Chris Smiley - 2016 (0pts)
Brett Smith - 2017 (30pts)
James Gornall - 2020 (18pts)

Although there have also been a few drivers going the other way.....

S griffin · 15 Feb 2023, 09:48 (Ref:4143760)

So another name confirmed. Nice to see someone new come in, can he handle the pressure of being in a title winning squad?

Squiggs · 15 Feb 2023, 12:07 (Ref:4143779)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Millvi

Would mean Osborne or Ollie Jackson not racing for Motorbase that. I can’t see Osborne going elsewhere. Ollie Jackson had a poor season but I think he still enjoys it and I’d be surprised if he chucks it. But one never knows….

Ollie's just confirmed that he's racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup this year...

SSmith · 15 Feb 2023, 12:18 (Ref:4143780)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squiggs

Ollie's just confirmed that he's racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup this year...

Sad to see him go, but it opens up a prime seat on the grid. Looks like a result of growing work with Alcon and Mountune.

As an aside, it'll be great to see how he fares in PCCGB after a hiatus of over a decade - would be interesting to see if PCCGB classifies him as Pro or Pro-Am.

From Ollie's personal website, I think this is a rather interesting paragraph that may dispel some rumours circulating on this forum

“Pete Osborne and Motorbase have been extremely supportive of my decision, and we will continue to not only be great friends but work together closely through my role in Mountune who supply Napa Racing with the Ford EcoBoost engine. I wish Napa Racing and Mountune the very best of luck for the forthcoming season, I will certainly be cheering them on from the paddock.”

Talk as well of Motorbase looking at an RWD car and endurance racing for Ollie Jackson.

And from Pete Osborne in the same personal press release - "We worked on a few alternative programmes which would have kept Ollie in the Motorbase family and maybe we’ll see him return to a Motorbase car again in the near future. For now, we wish Ollie all the best in his plans back in the Porsche paddock. We will continue to enjoy his involvement in the team in his role with Mountune, who continue to supply our BTCC engines."

Source: https://olliejacksonracing.com/jackson-departs-btcc/

Robin Marriott · 15 Feb 2023, 12:21 (Ref:4143781)

Shame, Ollie posts quite a lot on another forum and having a ‘man on the inside’ was quite fun. Not sure him moving to Porsches is enough to make me watch but maybe.

Evantra · 15 Feb 2023, 12:32 (Ref:4143782)

Good luck to him, easy to forget he’s in been in the series (mostly) since the early 2010s. It’s probably the right time for him to move on.

Would like to see Jack Mitchell get the call up, being in Motorbase’s academy.

crmalcolm · 15 Feb 2023, 12:33 (Ref:4143784)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSmith

From Ollie's personal website, I think this is a rather interesting paragraph that may dispel some rumours circulating on this forum

Nah - it just means that NAPA Racing will be using the Ford Kuga in 2023, with EcoBoost engines prepared by Mountune.

Robin Marriott · 15 Feb 2023, 13:07 (Ref:4143786)

Cook and Moffat confirmed at One Motorsport in Civics.

https://www.btcc.net/2023/02/15/cook...ne-motorsport/

Sodemo · 15 Feb 2023, 13:07 (Ref:4143788)

So is there an ex WSR Beemer or two unaccounted for so far? There was 5 on the grid last year?

SSmith · 15 Feb 2023, 13:19 (Ref:4143790)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

Cook and Moffat confirmed at One Motorsport in Civics.

https://www.btcc.net/2023/02/15/cook...ne-motorsport/

Team name is a bit convoluted but that's typical BTCC! "Starline Racing by One Motorsport"

Love the new livery as well - grey and yellow. Not sure how well it will stand out on TV though especially if its grey/raining?

An interesting line in TouringCarTimes' write-up that ties into something posited on this forum by me and others a week-or-so ago regarding TBLs

"With Moffat moving over to One Motorsport, it remains to be seen what will happen to the two TOCA BTCC Licences currently in the possession of ‘Aiden Moffat Racing’, which were used for the Laser Tools Racing programme in recent years. Paddock speculation has suggested that not all 29 TBLs that were handed out by TOCA for use in 2023 will in fact be utilised."

Evantra · 15 Feb 2023, 13:22 (Ref:4143791)

Wow, apparently all news over the last month has been saved up for today!

Car looks great and Moffat won’t be far off Cook. Autosport reporting they are hoping to use a Moffat TBL for a fourth car, so doesn’t sound like anything is set in stone yet. TCT hinting that not all the TBLs will be utilised.

Obviously very good news, but do hope we get a new team next year as we have lost a couple (in some capacity, yes they’re still involved) this season.

SSmith · 15 Feb 2023, 13:22 (Ref:4143792)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sodemo

So is there an ex WSR Beemer or two unaccounted for so far? There was 5 on the grid last year?

I think 6 NGTC 330e chassis were built. 4 are accounted for at WSR for Hill, Turkington, Morgan, and Jelley. Turkington's old chassis has gone back to being a museum piece. Leaves just 1 chassis unaccounted by my reckoning? My theory was somebody like Boardley buying it and having it run by HARD alongside their 4 CUPRAs OR it gets held by WSR as a spare in case of another Oulton Park situation.

SSmith · 15 Feb 2023, 13:31 (Ref:4143793)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evantra

Would like to see Jack Mitchell get the call up, being in Motorbase’s academy.

Same here! He's definitely proved himself in MINI Challenge (and I think outscored new Excelr8 driver Ronan Pearson) and did that part-season for HARD in 2021 so has some BTCC experience.

TouringCarTimes suggested the new driver will be confirmed in the next week so hopefully not long to wait.

billy bleach · 15 Feb 2023, 13:42 (Ref:4143795)

Quote:

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Nah - it just means that NAPA Racing will be using the Ford Kuga in 2023, with EcoBoost engines prepared by Mountune.

Butcher to return?

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