BTCC entries/rumours that never came to be

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Nononsensecapeesh

1986:

There were moves afoot to try and encourage the MSA to remove the upper class capacity limit in order to allow a rumoured Allan Grice Holden entry for certain rounds as well as possibly an ex TWR Jaguar XJS entry to re envigorate the quality of the entry in the top class, at least. (Sorry to paraphrase you chunterer)

Barrie Williams was supposed to drive David Sears' Toyota Supra at the British GP Support race. Mike Smith was rumoured to be entering a Ford Escort and Chris Maries, a Renault 5 but neither turned up, not that that was a problem with a race that featured 32 entries.

The Grans Prix support race often attracted entries from cars/drivers who normally raced elsewhere. Obviously there was the attraction of racing in such a prestigious event and in front of a much larger crowd for their sponsors. (There is also the possibility of smuggling a few extra mates into the event inside your transporter, but I'm sure that never really happened. )

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Jason Plato was linked to Proton for 2002 until they signed Leslie and Bennett.

[S griffin]

I seem to remember Autosport capturing a scoop that Chrysler would enter the series in 04. The drivers linked were Warren Hughes, who’s hair matched the car and Alain Menu, who was enough of a family man to promote the people carrier. Don’t believe me? Check out the first Autosport magazine of April 2004….

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I seem to remember Autosport capturing a scoop that Chrysler would enter the series in 04. The drivers linked were Warren Hughes, who’s hair matched the car and Alain Menu, who was enough of a family man to promote the people carrier. Don’t believe me? Check out the first Autosport magazine of April 2004….

I do believe you because I remember seeing that myself at the time.

[S griffin]

Yes, but the clue is the date of that particular magazine

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Yes, but the clue is the date of that particular magazine

I recognised it as an April Fool joke.

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Rickard Rydell allegedly signed to join Vauxhall for 2001 and to return to Volvo for 2002.

[S griffin]

He was also rumoured for a third SEAT in 2007

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by S griffin

He was also rumoured for a third SEAT in 2007

Really? I don't remember but I won't dispute that. He was also linked to Honda for 2003.

Enzo Mucci and Danny Wright were supposed to drive for JSM in 2001 as was...Ted Rennick?

[BTCC frog]

Originally Posted by S griffin

He was also rumoured for a third SEAT in 2007

Was that for the whole season or just for the finale that Coronel got the seat for?

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by BTCC frog

Was that for the whole season or just for the finale that Coronel got the seat for?

I imagine it would have been for the finale, Tarquini and (despite the obvious unlikelihood of such a prospect) Muller were also linked to that 3rd SEAT.

Nigel Mansell was rumoured to be returning with MG in 2002.

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Robb Gravett expressed an interest in returning in 2014 and 2016.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Nononsensecapeesh

I imagine it would have been for the finale, Tarquini and (despite the obvious unlikelihood of such a prospect) Muller were also linked to that 3rd SEAT.

Nigel Mansell was rumoured to be returning with MG in 2002.

Nope, Rydell was mentioned in Autosport pre season

I think Blundell was linked to the MG seat too

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Nope, Rydell was mentioned in Autosport pre season

I think Blundell was linked to the MG seat too

I just didn't remember Rydell being linked to the 3rd SEAT for the 2007 BTCC. I only remember him losing his SEAT WTCC drive and making do with one-off outings for Chevy and SEAT.

Mark Blundell was linked to MG for 2003.

Enzo Buscaglia was supposed to compete in the Production Class in 2002, driving an Alfa Romeo 156.

Also in 2002, Chris Goodwin was linked to a return in the 2nd Barwell Astra until they signed Aaron Slight.

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by Nononsensecapeesh

Really? I don't remember but I won't dispute that. He was also linked to Honda for 2003.

Enzo Mucci and Danny Wright were supposed to drive for JSM in 2001 as was...Ted Rennick?

Am I right about the JSM drivers? (I mean before they signed Pinkney and Darren Malkin)

Rydell hinted that he and the Volvo S60 could appear towards the end of 2001 if not 2002 (I'm a bit biased towards Rickard, he was my favourite during the Super Touring era, continued to support him in ETCC/WTCC).

[S griffin]

Who knows? Certainly it was a season where you never knew who was going to drive for JSM for one race to the next. Pinkney was a decent signing. Wonder why Darren never raced?

I wonder how likely that Volvo rumour was to happen? Obviously we only heard it from Rydell by the sounds of it. Certainly he was one of the best of his generation

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Who knows? Certainly it was a season where you never knew who was going to drive for JSM for one race to the next. Pinkney was a decent signing. Wonder why Darren never raced?

I wonder how likely that Volvo rumour was to happen? Obviously we only heard it from Rydell by the sounds of it. Certainly he was one of the best of his generation

Malkin's sponsorship fell through at the last minute.

I've been going through the threads referring to the 2001 Season and what I've read certainly reflects the random nature of who was supposed to be driving for whom that year. It was obviously hard to tell facts from wild rumours.

Such research also led me to discover that apparently, the footballer David Ginola was due to drive for Renault at one point. I'm guessing during the 1995-1997 period when he was at Newcastle but probably 1996 at the earliest since 1995 was when Alain Prost was linked to Renault.

[S griffin]

Ah, that makes sense about Malkin. Certainly we had quite a lineup in 01 and certainly great to have two separate classes at the time. But half of those rumours were unlikely to happen

I think the Ginola rumour was just publicity or maybe a test drive. However I would have loved to have seen Prost in the series, I think he could have done a great job

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Ah, that makes sense about Malkin. Certainly we had quite a lineup in 01 and certainly great to have two separate classes at the time. But half of those rumours were unlikely to happen

I think the Ginola rumour was just publicity or maybe a test drive. However I would have loved to have seen Prost in the series, I think he could have done a great job

Which, looking back at 2001, is almost lamentable when you think how many cars could have been in the Touring class that year:

* 6 Astra Coupés
* 4 Pugs
* 4 Alfas (+2 in the Production Class as JSM initially claimed)
* 2 Lexus'
* 2 MGs

A potential 18 entries in the Touring class alone. But, for the first year of BTC-Touring regs, it was too ambitious to expect that many entries out of the box really.

Weren't Arena Motorsport meant to switch to the ex-works Hondas from '99 but said cars ended up up in the Swedish Championship? (Talk about foreshadowing...)

[S griffin]

It could have been worse though, although at the same time it’s a shame we never got more than 11 cars at one time in the touring cars. But at least we got plenty of top quality drivers. Plato, Muller, Thompson, Bennett, Eaves, Soper, Pinkney, Harvey, plus a few more decent ones.

I do think 2001 has looked better with time. Although it had a lot of rebuilding to do, they had a good base to start from.

Arena have always been linked to projects it seems. It’s a shame they never got a proper works deal with Ford, they deserved it

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by S griffin

It could have been worse though, although at the same time it’s a shame we never got more than 11 cars at one time in the touring cars. But at least we got plenty of top quality drivers. Plato, Muller, Thompson, Bennett, Eaves, Soper, Pinkney, Harvey, plus a few more decent ones.

I do think 2001 has looked better with time. Although it had a lot of rebuilding to do, they had a good base to start from.

Arena have always been linked to projects it seems. It’s a shame they never got a proper works deal with Ford, they deserved it

That's true about 2001. Some of the rumours relating to that season really were outlandish if past threads are anything to go by like Pedro Lamy replacing Matt Neal and numerous celebs linked to guest drives with Peugeot.

As for Arena, the '99 ex-works Hondas for 2000 would have made sense as they had recent experience with the Laguna, wonder if Hoy would have continued with them? They certainly wouldn't have brought back Spence.

[BTCC frog]

2001 was very definitely the worst BTCC season of all time, despite the excellent Plato-Muller rivalry. Obviously having Vauxhall's so dominant (they came first and second in every race bar the final one in the BTC-Touring class) was one issue with it, but not the worst. Why did they come up with the idea to complicate stats for the rest of eternity by pointlessly giving the production class a one-lap head-start for half the races, but then make them technically part of a different championship so it didn't matter anyway? The production class was better the other three seasons when they were at the back, but the championship still should have been done like the independents' championship the decade before. But, again, the Plato-Muller rivalry in the last few rounds was something special: the Senna and Prost of the BTCC.

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by BTCC frog

2001 was very definitely the worst BTCC season of all time, despite the excellent Plato-Muller rivalry. Obviously having Vauxhall's so dominant (they came first and second in every race bar the final one in the BTC-Touring class) was one issue with it, but not the worst. Why did they come up with the idea to complicate stats for the rest of eternity by pointlessly giving the production class a one-lap head-start for half the races, but then make them technically part of a different championship so it didn't matter anyway? The production class was better the other three seasons when they were at the back, but the championship still should have been done like the independents' championship the decade before. But, again, the Plato-Muller rivalry in the last few rounds was something special: the Senna and Prost of the BTCC.

I am inclined to agree with you there.

From the Autosport Forums:

Kaj Bornebusch bought a TWR-Rover Vitesse for the 1987 season, so the thread claims, no mention of whether it was for the BTCC but presumably it was as the thread just happens to cover those who made occasional/one-off appearances in the BSCC/BTCC during the 1980s.

Bornebusch would of course briefly race a Sierra in the 1989 season.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Nononsensecapeesh

I am inclined to agree with you there.

From the Autosport Forums:

Kaj Bornebusch bought a TWR-Rover Vitesse for the 1987 season, so the thread claims, no mention of whether it was for the BTCC but presumably it was as the thread just happens to cover those who made occasional/one-off appearances in the BSCC/BTCC during the 1980s.

Bornebusch would of course briefly race a Sierra in the 1989 season.

He may have but i think the plan was to do his local series and some ETCC with it.

He didn't have the Rover for very long, either.

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by chunterer

He may have but i think the plan was to do his local series and some ETCC with it.

He didn't have the Rover for very long, either.

Just wasn't sure as the thread in question didn't clarify though I did have my doubts.

AMD looked into running Simon Shaw in a 2nd S2000 Golf at selected rounds of the 2010 Season.