BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by InYourMirrors45

I’m a little surprised there is such little whispers about the 4th WSR Seat. I know the initial plan didn’t work out for whatever reason.

What was the "initial plan" you mention?

[SV8Predator]

Interesting news:


https://www.btcc.net/2024/02/09/exce...mics-facility/

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by SV8Predator

Interesting news:


https://www.btcc.net/2024/02/09/exce...mics-facility/

Very interesting indeed, had seen the rumour they were moving, but didn’t realise there was the collaboration partnership.

So does that link in Bobby T to join the fold or now TD are linked up with Excelr8 is he back to square 1?

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by SV8Predator

Interesting news:


https://www.btcc.net/2024/02/09/exce...mics-facility/

Very interesting. The engineering knowhow of Plowman et al at Dynamics could be what EXCELR8 needs to make another step forward with the i30 N and help the PCCGB programme progress

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

Very interesting indeed, had seen the rumour they were moving, but didn’t realise there was the collaboration partnership.

So does that link in Bobby T to join the fold or now TD are linked up with Excelr8 is he back to square 1?

I do wonder if it also connects to the rumours of a former champion being linked to a Hyundai at ASI in January.

Whilst numbers are something to be a little disappointed by, there do seem to be some very intriguing threads coming together for 2024.

[antnee]

Originally Posted by thetool

You're completely missing the point. Whilst many of the entries share engineering, (i.e. WSR, Speedworks, Excerl8, etc) they are to a lesser-or-greater extent (depending on the team) commerically independent.

Take the Speedworks/Toyota team for example. Half the money comes from Toyota/Motul/other Toyota-linked commercial partners for two of the cars, whereas the other two are LKQ/Euro Car Parts/SYNETIQ/other random dictionary combinations.

So two cars dependent upon the Toyota (and affiliates) money and two cars dependent upon LKQ et al.

It's a model that has been seen numerous times before, perhaps most notably when egg:Sport backed half the factory Vauxhall team in 2001-2.

And that's not even considering the wider point that it's not the number of teams that are the limiting factor, it's drivers will fully-funded budgets. For example, if a few weeks before the start of the season one of the leading teams was suddenly discovered to be a front for a criminal enterprise, whilst the series would lose the team, you'd find that most if not all the other drivers would be able to make arrangements to be run elsewhere (not withstanding a lack of available chassis, etc., which may be problem).

Using your example - what happens if Speedworks comes into financial difficulties? Doesn't matter what money Toyota or LKQ are putting in, the 'team' is still Speedworks. If Christian Dick leverages all the assets to buy a massive swanky house then doesn't pay up - the bank would take it all.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by SV8Predator

Interesting news:

https://www.btcc.net/2024/02/09/exce...mics-facility/

Guess that’s another potential blow to One Motorsport, losing however much support they had from Dynamics.

[Ant25]

Considering Excelr8 said they’d be happy to build customer cars:

what’s the chances in Dynamics picking up 1 or 2 TBL’s to run Bobby Thompson and one other in i30’s?

Especially after the announcement that both teams are working together

[S griffin]

Yes I can certainly see Excelr8 Hyundai loan a car or two for a satellite team to run. Even if it isn’t Dynamics, but that would be logical

[peebee2]

I thought someone claimed above that there was no spare space at Dynamics?

[mick bennett]

Who is taking over who?? Collaberation, or something else in the near future perhaps??.
Sounds like a possible sudden opening for a certain ex Scottish Dynamics driver ??

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by mick bennett

Who is taking over who??

No one's "taking over" anything. Did you read the news release?

Originally Posted by mick bennett

Sounds like a possible sudden opening for a certain ex Scottish Dynamics driver ??

If he can raise the money. But he's not been able to do that for a while. So a non-event, I think.

[MarcusH26]

I thought Flash was basically done with the championship unless it was a bonafide title shot? Budget would probably be an issue for him too.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

I thought Flash was basically done with the championship unless it was a bonafide title shot? Budget would probably be an issue for him too.

I wouldn’t ever rule Flash out. I wouldn’t necessarily assume certain drives are below him.

[Evantra]

Autosport seem to think Excelr8’s line-up will be unchanged, and seem to confirm Chilton.

“Plowman will work in conjunction with Ingram’s long-time engineer Spencer Aldridge, but it is believed that he will transfer to Tom Chilton’s car for race weekends.”

“It is thought that Excelr8 will stick to four cars for this season, with sources indicating that the driver line-up will remain unchanged from 2023, although there was some speculation that it could be in line for acquiring one of the TBL entrants’ licences from Team Hard after that team collapsed late last year.”

https://www.autosport.com/btcc/news/...ason/10574219/

[thetool]

Originally Posted by antnee

Using your example - what happens if Speedworks comes into financial difficulties? Doesn't matter what money Toyota or LKQ are putting in, the 'team' is still Speedworks. If Christian Dick leverages all the assets to buy a massive swanky house then doesn't pay up - the bank would take it all.

I mean, yes, obviously. But this is being a bit silly.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Evantra

And the given the pretty poor reliability issues within TCR UK, it seems it’s rather they are understaffed.

Or run on a shoe string with worn out gear - like Team Hard

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Autosport seem to think Excelr8’s line-up will be unchanged, and seem to confirm Chilton.

“Plowman will work in conjunction with Ingram’s long-time engineer Spencer Aldridge, but it is believed that he will transfer to Tom Chilton’s car for race weekends.”

“It is thought that Excelr8 will stick to four cars for this season, with sources indicating that the driver line-up will remain unchanged from 2023, although there was some speculation that it could be in line for acquiring one of the TBL entrants’ licences from Team Hard after that team collapsed late last year.”

https://www.autosport.com/btcc/news/...ason/10574219/

Should Autosport be correct and it is an unchanged lineup, its a case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" I guess. The team know how Ingram, Chilton, Pearson and Halstead operate, they all bring the required money/sponsors, and that consistency from year-to-year may prove beneficial when a few things are changing behind the scenes (i.e., moving base, arrival of Plowman)

[Daverb]

Flash has a lot of sponsors and maybe some who supported Rory could be persuaded to back Flash this year.

I really hope he gets a drive.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Daverb

Flash has a lot of sponsors and maybe some who supported Rory could be persuaded to back Flash this year.

I really hope he gets a drive.

Yes, especially as it was circumstances beyond his control that meant he didn’t drive last year

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Yes, especially as it was circumstances beyond his control that meant he didn’t drive last year

Are we forgetting how average he was in his last season? Forever getting into scrapes and frequenting the mid grid ….

[InYourMirrors45]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Are we forgetting how average he was in his last season? Forever getting into scrapes and frequenting the mid grid ….

Whilst perhaps no longer in his prime, he’s still more than good enough to be competitive and run at the front.

[ACF_]

Originally Posted by InYourMirrors45

Whilst perhaps no longer in his prime, he’s still more than good enough to be competitive and run at the front.

Especially in a front running car like the Hyundai

[Evantra]

Don’t have a link, but Josh Cook’s livery has been unveiled in the flesh over on Speedwork’s Instagram

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Don’t have a link, but Josh Cook’s livery has been unveiled in the flesh over on Speedwork’s Instagram

Looks great, really sharp