[BTCC] 2016 BTCC news & rumours

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by Liquoriceman

What about Hard and Gilham driving? Didn't he once say he wanted a 2nd TBL?

A car would be the issue, even if they use the spare shell they got it would be quite outdated!

[Ry44]

I really do hope Cook comes back to the BTCC skilled driver and good banter in the pitlane as well.
http://www.btcccrazy.co.uk/btcc/josh...ng-2016-drive/

I would think the article points to other teams and not a return with PMR

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by Ry44

I really do hope Cook comes back to the BTCC skilled driver and good banter in the pitlane as well.
http://www.btcccrazy.co.uk/btcc/josh...ng-2016-drive/

I would think the article points to other teams and not a return with PMR

Interesting, seems Cook hasn't signed a deal yet that would rule him out of 888 (unless they add a 3rd car) as Ian H said he'd signed 2 drivers. Would mean Eurotech or AmD if not PMR for him then. I'd love to see him in the Honda.

[BSchneiderFan]

It's a pretty good sign that we're fretting about "only" having 30 cars.

[Liquoriceman]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

It's a pretty good sign that we're fretting about "only" having 30 cars.

We're too used to a good thing

If 30 cars start every race that's fine but last year there were numerous cars missing throughout the season for various reasons (births, damage, budget, etc. ) so if you start with less in the first place and then the same happens we're left with diminished grids - especially by race 3.

Where did the old Honda's from Eurotech end up? Even without RML parts surely it would be a fairly competitive car for a new entry on a budget?

I suppose "guest" cars would be out of the question without a team to maintain the cars in the first place?

[porsche962fan]

since the grid is almost filled I think it's safe to predict championship contenders


so it will Shedden, Neal , Plato and Turks with Jordon and Jackson as dark horses

any objections ?

[Liquoriceman]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

since the grid is almost filled I think it's safe to predict championship contenders


so it will Shedden, Neal , Plato and Turks with Jordon and Jackson as dark horses

any objections ?

Goff and Tordoff too

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by Liquoriceman

Goff and Tordoff too

we all know the WSR BMW have been castrated , they aren't competitive except some few tracks like Croft and Knockhill

[Liquoriceman]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

we all know the WSR BMW have been castrated , they aren't competitive except some few tracks like Croft and Knockhill

You forget that they will now have Mr Plato ranting on about the unfair advantage front wheel drive cars have to regain their equality! Lol

[850Estate]

I know I tipped him last year, but I really fancy Tordoff to put up a strong fight this year. He's been in the car for a year now, and with Jordan, Plato and Turkington in new cars I think this will be a big opportunity for him.

It is, however, still hard to look past Shedden in my opinion. He knows the car, they will have improved it over the break, and with his biggest rival from last year switching to a different drivetrain and completely new build surely he has the advantage.

How many realistic potential champions for this season do we think are on the grid?

I'm thinking six - Shedden, Plato, Turkington, Jackson, Jordan & Tordoff - although with honorable mentions to Matt Neal, Adam Morgan and Jack Goff.

Race winners wise I'd say we're looking very strong, all of the above plus Rob Austin, Tom Ingram, Rob Collard and Aiden Moffat will be capable of winning races. Plus Matt Simpson looks like he could be strong, Alex Martin will be a better driver than last season, as will James Cole assuming the Subaru is competitive.

Without wanting to sound all like Alan Hyde at the start of the first TTT, it's all going to be very exciting!

[JDMROB]

Firefighters tackling a huge fire at the Dunlop tyre factory in Birmingham at the moment.....

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by Liquoriceman

We're too used to a good thing


Where did the old Honda's from Eurotech end up? Even without RML parts surely it would be a fairly competitive car for a new entry on a budget?

We could well see at least one on the grid this year 😉

Anyone seen Hunter Abbotts post on Facebook saying he's really sorry he could join Rob & Simon at Handy as he could get enough funds, not sure if that means that's it for him this year or if it just means with them!

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by JDMROB

Firefighters tackling a huge fire at the Dunlop tyre factory in Birmingham at the moment.....

I don't believe that Dunlop manufacture tyres in the UK anymore, for competition anyway. I believe that the production was moved to Portugal by the beginning of last year. The fire, I think, is in a building that happens to contain some offices that Dunlop use.

[Sodemo]

I came past there earlier, never saw anything untoward. It's right near The Fort shopping centre.

[JDMROB]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

I don't believe that Dunlop manufacture tyres in the UK anymore, for competition anyway. I believe that the production was moved to Portugal by the beginning of last year. The fire, I think, is in a building that happens to contain some offices that Dunlop use.

I believe you're right. Its Dunlop motorsport offices according to Josh Cook on Twitter. 100 firefighters in attendance!

[850Estate]

From Hunter Abbott's Facebook

Dear All, I'm really sorry to say I won't be joining Rob Austin Racing at Handy Motorsport this season. Rob, Richard, Simon and I all worked very hard to try and make it work but in the end we just couldn't quite raise enough money to get the deal together. I had a great 2 years at RAR and I can't thank Rob, Richard and Panzer enough for the opportunity. I'm sure it won't be the last time we'll work together but we'll see what the future holds.

Shame to see any talented driver priced out of the sport, makes you wonder - or it made me wonder at least - if the cost of BTCC is arriving at levels that it was hoped NGTC wouldn't reach. It could be purely down to the RML upgrades as well I suppose.

[Liquoriceman]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

removed the 2nd Handy from list






Honda Racing - Honda Civic Type R
- Gordon Shedden
- Matt Neal
- Andy Neate

Eurotech - Honda Civic Type R
- Jeff Smith
- Martin Depper
- ????????

Motorbase - Ford Focus
- Andrew Jordan
- Mat Jackson

Maximum Motorsport - Ford Focus
- Stewart Lines

Dextra Racing - Ford Focus
- Alex Martin

WIX Racing + Laser Tools Racing - Mercedes A-Class
- Adam Morgan
- Aidan Moffat

Speedworks Motorsport - Honda Civic Type R // Toyota Avensis
- Matt Simpson
- Tom Ingram

Handy Motorsport - Toyota Avensis
- Rob Austin

BMR - Subaru Levorg
- Jason Plato
- Colin Turkington
- Warren Scott
- James Cole

888 - MG
- ??????
- ?????

WSR - BMW 125
- Sam Tordoff
- Jack Goff - IHG Racing
- Rob Collard


Power Maxxed Racing - Chevrolet Cruze
- Josh Cook ?????
- ????

AMD Tuning - Audi S3
- ???

HARD - Toyota Avensis
- Chris Smiley

Welch Motorsport - ????
- Dan Welch ?


Support our Paras - Infiniti ???
- Palmer ???

Any chance of identifying which cars are running RML parts in this list? It's sounding like the majority are.

[Dudley]

All of them except the Team HARD car I think and they're planning to during the season.

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by Dudley

All of them except the Team HARD car I think and they're planning to during the season.

What about Matt Simpsons Civic? I've read it's full 2015 spec, so is that full 2015 spec with the GPRM parts or full 2015 with RML parts, I was assuming the former as that's how the car ran in 2015, lol.

[Ry44]

Just reading a status on the Team HARD Facebook page which states

"We are very close to securing a 2nd TBL to expand our BTCC operation to 2 cars. TG34 will hopefully be behind the wheel if that happens "

I suspect with the TBL situation you can add them to the list

and Simon Belcher posted this relation to their situation

"Can't comment on the TBL front but all will become clear. Rob will race under our existing TBL that is all I can confirm......2016 is going to be a great season !"

[antnee]

I wonder if Rob Austin will 'lease' his TBLs out, charge xx per season with the aim to potentially run his own team again?

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by antnee

I wonder if Rob Austin will 'lease' his TBLs out, charge xx per season with the aim to potentially run his own team again?

I certainly think Rob won't be selling the TBL's but would be leasing them as if he stays at Handy they want a 2nd one for next year, or if he goes back to running his own team he still has them 😉

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

What about Matt Simpsons Civic? I've read it's full 2015 spec, so is that full 2015 spec with the GPRM parts or full 2015 with RML parts, I was assuming the former as that's how the car ran in 2015, lol.

It's full 2015 spec, so GPRM parts on Matt Simpsons Civic. Team HARD are starting with GPRM on Smiley's car and looking to change over during the season, so if they get a 2nd TBL I can see that car being the same.

Other possibles would be Welch depending in what car they are running, but sure they said they wanted to run the new parts, so that could come down to ££. Oh and SOPR if they are struggling for cash too! 😉

[porsche962fan]

wonder if the old GPRM cars could get a bit more boost from Mr. Gow... at least first rounds until they can get new parts

[Liquoriceman]

Do you think we might see something like this again for 2016? (old Eurotech Civic)