BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Multi-year deal for Bristol Street Motors to continue with Excerl8, great to see.

https://bit.ly/3PLK3xz

Ronan Pearson has some news on Friday I think. Perhaps confirmation of an extension of his deal with Macklin Motors given the Bristol Street story.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by psq43

Are none of the Chilton boys into racing?

Think that was discussed on TinTopTuesday a while ago and seems like they’re not.

Others might also question Chilton as a “current top line” driver in recent years!

Think Turkington and himself would be the only two with children old enough to be in anything more than karts?

[Matt_123]

Originally Posted by InYourMirrors45

Word on the streets is that a “current top line” BTCC driver is contemplating retiring at the end of the season to focus on his sons racing career. Can only assume this to be Turkington. Unless Ash is starting his little one off ridiculously early…

Surprised he is planning to retire when he and BMW are so close to a record championship number 5

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Wouldn’t surprise me - if there’s still 4 seats across BMW next year, I’m assuming they’re going to want a big name driver to fill that seat then. Counting Hill as part of MB, I don’t think Morgan or Jelley is the #1 driver they want / need.

Story over here is an Irish driver is WSR bound

[Matt_123]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Story over here is an Irish driver is WSR bound

ATS?

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Story over here is an Irish driver is WSR bound

Watson given the MB connection?

[thetool]

Originally Posted by Matt_123

Surprised he is planning to retire when he and BMW are so close to a record championship number 5

Are they? He's almost 100 points of the championship lead this season. The last couple of seasons he's been comfortably beaten by a team-mate for the first time since he established himself as a genuine title-contender back in 2006 when he returned to WSR. He's got two kids, both of whom are karting at some level and they've probably started to become more of his focus. He's also 41 now, whilst not ancient in BTCC terms, and there have been several champions older than that, he is one of the older drivers on the grid.

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by Matt_123

Surprised he is planning to retire when he and BMW are so close to a record championship number 5

Wasn't Turks a bit late on announcement for this year because of difficulty finding budget?
I'm sure there was something about it being a subsidised drive so a part budget was required.

Also heard that Morgan will be stepping back at the end of next year when his 2 year contract is up.

[Matt K]

If we are to believe those rumours then it must be Turkington. Would be sad to see him go but that'd be a perfectly understandable decision. He's not that old for the BTCC standards but at the same time he's had such an illustrious career that he doesn't need to prove anything and would have a luxury of going on his own terms as a still top driver with a chance to focus on other things in life while he's still relatively young. Still hoping to see him stay for one or two years more but yeah, if it's true, I can understand that.
As for his chances for the fifth title, well, actually I'd bet he'll never make it. Although still competitive he's no longer (or at least hasn't been recently) this competitive to win with the new stars of the championship. With every year passing this would become even more difficult.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Matt K

If we are to believe those rumours then it must be Turkington. Would be sad to see him go but that'd be a perfectly understandable decision. He's not that old for the BTCC standards but at the same time he's had such an illustrious career that he doesn't need to prove anything and would have a luxury of going on his own terms as a still top driver with a chance to focus on other things in life while he's still relatively young. Still hoping to see him stay for one or two years more but yeah, if it's true, I can understand that.
As for his chances for the fifth title, well, actually I'd bet he'll never make it. Although still competitive he's no longer (or at least hasn't been recently) this competitive to win with the new stars of the championship. With every year passing this would become even more difficult.

Out of interest how would he earn a crust? Does he have a trade?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Out of interest how would he earn a crust? Does he have a trade?

One option might be with the family business?

https://turkington-construction.com/about/meet-team

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Also heard that Morgan will be stepping back at the end of next year when his 2 year contract is up.

Interesting. I wonder how much longer Jelley will be around for too, doesn’t seem to have much luck.

So sounds like WSR will need to be on the lookout for another championship contending driver soon. Huff could be a good fit if he wants a BTCC drive, obviously coming down to money. Perhaps Cammish, he looks happy and locked in at Napa for now but surely would be tempted by RWD machinery and not having such a hard teammate to beat!

If One can’t bring a championship-winning car then maybe Cook could be tempted, or even Ricky Collard would be strongly linked through his father.

Of course, we don’t actually know for sure anyone is making way yet!

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Out of interest how would he earn a crust? Does he have a trade?

If he really is contemplating retirement then I'm pretty sure he knows answer to your question better than anyone of us do, don't you think so?
Personally, I have no idea but as crmalcolm points out there seems to be some business he might perhaps get involved with.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Interesting. I wonder how much longer Jelley will be around for too, doesn’t seem to have much luck.

So sounds like WSR will need to be on the lookout for another championship contending driver soon. Huff could be a good fit if he wants a BTCC drive, obviously coming down to money. Perhaps Cammish, he looks happy and locked in at Napa for now but surely would be tempted by RWD machinery and not having such a hard teammate to beat!

If One can’t bring a championship-winning car then maybe Cook could be tempted, or even Ricky Collard would be strongly linked through his father.

Of course, we don’t actually know for sure anyone is making way yet!

Cammish gets a salary. WSR drivers bring budget.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Matt K

If he really is contemplating retirement then I'm pretty sure he knows answer to your question better than anyone of us do, don't you think so?
Personally, I have no idea but as crmalcolm points out there seems to be some business he might perhaps get involved with.

Easy pal was just curious what a retired Racing driver does that’s all

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Easy pal was just curious what a retired Racing driver does that’s all

Yeah I know, I'm curious too especially with the BTCC drivers - in many 'bigger' racing series they can more 'easily' be some sort of ambassadors, get involved with teams, manufacturers or even the championship's structures. In the BTCC that's out of question sadly.

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Easy pal was just curious what a retired Racing driver does that’s all

Ask his brother James - I'm sure he wanted the BTCC after TCR but couldn't get the money so went and trained to be a surveyor or something. And Henry Neal who he raced that year (again missing the BTCC when Honda pulled funding) went off to be a tree surgeon.

Not too late for Colin to learn something.
Then again, if the lad is a quality racer there's a management salary to be had!

Then again, might just fancy going on the dole ;-)

[Evantra]

https://www.btcc.net/2023/09/22/rona...-excelr8-deal/

2 year deal for Pearson at Excerl8. Great news to see that commitment made to a deserving rookie.

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Evantra

https://www.btcc.net/2023/09/22/rona...-excelr8-deal/

2 year deal for Pearson at Excerl8. Great news to see that commitment made to a deserving rookie.

Absolutely. His pace has improved as the season has gone on and he has demonstrated that he is a team player by helping Ingram at Knockhill.

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

One option might be with the family business?

https://turkington-construction.com/about/meet-team

Big brother Gary runs that now. Colin's now living in England and his focus is on the kids now. I'm sure he'll survive.

[Adamcas87]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Watson given the MB connection?

Might not be a bad shout as Hill has expressed his interest in GT3 Racing maybe as early as next year

[touringlegend]

Harvey mentioned during qualifying Exceler8 are looking at running more cars next year “up to 6”.

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Harvey mentioned during qualifying Exceler8 are looking at running more cars next year “up to 6”.

HARD disease is contagious

[Ant25]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Harvey mentioned during qualifying Exceler8 are looking at running more cars next year “up to 6”.

I think 6 cars is to much should be a limit on teams to have no more then 3 or 4 more cars in my opinion

[Matt_123]

Originally Posted by Ant25

I think 6 cars is to much should be a limit on teams to have no more then 3 or 4 more cars in my opinion

swear there was a rule saying you can only run up to 4 cars. thought they still had that before Hard brought 6 cupras