[BTCC] 2015 BTCC news & rumours

[Sodemo]

I do get all my fuel from Tescos, not because im a massive Plato fan, but more because the fuel card that my employer provides can only be used at a handful of filling stations and Tesco is one of them. Its ok though because I use the clubcard and ive built up about 80 quid in vouchers to convert and for some things like restaurants, you can get up to 4 times the value, so that 80 quid turns into £320, which buys quite a lot of Pizza Express pizza.

[old man]

Strictly speaking, the value of those vouchers belongs to the person who pays the bill if that is not you. :-)

[porsche962fan]

trivial fact

if Matt Neal wins a race this season he will become the oldest driver to win a BTCC race and if the new Civic isn't a total failure I am sure he will win

current record belongs to Mike Jordan back in 2006


only other ones who could beat him are Alain Menu who is 3 years older than Neal

OR Fabrizio Giovanardi who is just 6 days older than Neal..

[Craner Curves]

Trivial fact: you just copied that from somewhere else didn't you?

[JD Media]

Are we still waiting for the 3rd WSR car & Plato plans for 2015? i thought they would tell everybody last week???

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by JD Media

Are we still waiting for the 3rd WSR car & Plato plans for 2015? i thought they would tell everybody last week???

Yes we are still waiting. One things for sure and that's we are a week closer!

[Sodemo]

Has anyone booked their Brands tickets yet?

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Trivial fact: you just copied that from somewhere else didn't you?

partially

BTW you eat those straws you promised to do regarding Turkington from last year ??

[psq43]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Has anyone booked their Brands tickets yet?

Oh yes

And accommodation too

A night in Sidcup beckons. Which reminds me, better have my tetnus shot.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by psq43

Oh yes

And accommodation too

A night in Sidcup beckons. Which reminds me, better have my tetnus shot.

We have stayed in Dartford in the past, usually in the Holiday Inn near the bridge. A lot of the teams stay there too, Porsche and some BTCC teams were there a couple of years back.

Some good curry houses in Grays if thats what your into too.

[thlbtcc]

New EcoBoost engines for Motorbase, no BMW here, nice! http://www.btcc.net/2015/01/21/motor...2015-campaign/

[psq43]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

We have stayed in Dartford in the past, usually in the Holiday Inn near the bridge. A lot of the teams stay there too, Porsche and some BTCC teams were there a couple of years back.

Some good curry houses in Grays if thats what your into too.

We are in the travelodge in Sidcup. It's actually pretty good as it's brand new

Last year we stayed there and Marc Hynes 888 crew were in there too. They were just heading out on the town when we were bedding down for the night

Thanks for the tips, I've already got myself down for the Wetherspoons Heart Attack on a Plate special though.

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

New EcoBoost engines for Motorbase, no BMW here, nice! http://www.btcc.net/2015/01/21/motor...2015-campaign/

Maybe they sold the 3 series to JP

Sounds like they have all the sponsorship lined for this year then. Obviously they have enough £££ coming in to develop the new engine & we'll have AmD to compare them against with the old engine.

It seems everyone will be making announcements in the next few weeks

[Mrslozz]

Dont stay at the campanile hotels it's expensive for something that's stick in the 80s. I don't know where to stay this year done Tonbridge and dartford last year

[thlbtcc]

I'm very happy for Motorbase, seems at least some sort of relationship with Ford and fingers crossed for official EcoBoost branding somewhere on the cars this season a la M-Sport in WRC.

[bigted]

I'm sure Mountune put there recent Rallycross experience to good use, cant wait to hear those focus's off the line.

[BtccLee]

They kept that quiet and confirms the axing of the BMW project. Wondering if they will use the face lifted ST or stick with the body style of old? Also shows that they have just gone about their business with no fuss. Team Crabbies Clarke and Jackson surely to goodness.

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by BtccLee

They kept that quiet and confirms the axing of the BMW project. Wondering if they will use the face lifted ST or stick with the body style of old? Also shows that they have just gone about their business with no fuss. Team Crabbies Clarke and Jackson surely to goodness.

If they have any sort of third party support or involvement from Ford (not saying they do but running the Ecoboost makes sense as it is Ford's push of the moment) then the current model look would equally make sense.

[Sodemo]

Ecoboost engines? What does that actually mean though? I thought all engines had to follow a specification which was quite tightly controlled due to the NGTC regs?

Is it not just a elaborate re-badging exercise of their existing Mountune block?

[auroan]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Ecoboost engines? What does that actually mean though? I thought all engines had to follow a specification which was quite tightly controlled due to the NGTC regs?

Is it not just a elaborate re-badging exercise of their existing Mountune block?

Ecoboost engines are quite different from the old Duratec engines that the current BTCC engine is based on. For example they are direct injection which the duratecs aren't

The head design has changed quite a bit... so the spec bolt on parts (turbo etc) will probably work better. Plus the ecoboost head and block were designed from day one for turbo charging.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ec...ne_Family_List

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by auroan

Ecoboost engines are quite different from the old Duratec engines that the current BTCC engine is based on. For example they are direct injection which the duratecs aren't

The head design has changed quite a bit... so the spec bolt on parts (turbo etc) will probably work better. Plus the ecoboost head and block were designed from day one for turbo charging.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ec...ne_Family_List

Thanks for the explanation. However if all the engines are flow tested or whatever balancing TOCA are supposed to do, what is the incentive to actually produce a new engine if all the horsepower is effectively governed by TOCA?

[thlbtcc]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Thanks for the explanation. However if all the engines are flow tested or whatever balancing TOCA are supposed to do, what is the incentive to actually produce a new engine if all the horsepower is effectively governed by TOCA?

Power delivery?

[auroan]

Yep, some engines struggle across the rev range when the boost is low (to keep peak power down). The old mountune and welch motors were examples of this.

[BtccLee]

Tim Harvey seems confidant Turkington will be on the grid ( yes the joys of media. ITV run the headline that "It will be a travesty if Turks isn't on the grid" when Tim follows that comment with"I'd be amazed if he isn't") and also 100% Plato will be there WITH TESCO...

[Sodemo]

Turkington, Plato and Tesco?! Woohoo. Those are the 3 missing pieces for a great season.