Touring Car Series entries/rumours that never happened

[crmalcolm]

A bit more on the 156 1998 entry here - https://tentenths.com/forum/showpost...09&postcount=1

Apparently BBC Ceefax reported:

The official entry list for the 1998 British Touring Car Championship has been announced. There are 24 drivers on the list, with 18 of them nominated by works teams. The biggest surprise comes from Alfa Romeo, who have ex-Formula One driver Nicola Larini and Fabrizio Giovanardi in their line-up.
…
56 N Larini - It - Alfa 156
57 F Giovanardi - It - Alfa 156

And redshoes included this in the season review:
'Alfa Romeo had entered a pair of new 156’s for Nicola Larini and Fabrizio Giovanardi in the BTCC, the German STW-Cup and the Italian Superturismo series, with the intention of completing a full season in Italy and one or two races in both Britain and Germany.

The Italian series started the year in turmoil, with the factory teams threatening to withdraw and start a breakaway series if their concerns over promotion and media coverage weren’t addressed. After the first 2 rounds had been run a new promoter was hired, who brought in a number of changes including a totally revised race schedule. These changes left an Italian race scheduled on the same August weekend as the BTCC’s Thruxton meeting which Alfa had originally planned to attend. Alfa were forced to postpone their BTCC appearance until the end of season Silverstone rounds, however that too turned out to be far from practical. With races in Italy the weekends before and after Silverstone and the Italian championship still to be decided Alfa felt that they could not risk the overseas trip.'

And motorsport.com reported this:
'Biggest surprise is the two-car entry from 1994 BTCC champion Alfa Romeo, which will field a brace of 156s for former Ferrari Grand Prix star Nicola Larini and his countryman Fabrizio Giovanardi. However, the Alfas won't be battle-ready until later in the season.'

Looking at where they did race instead of BTCC, it seems like calendar clashes as opposed to circuit characteristics were behind the decision?

[Matt K]

Especially as if Alfa 156 was too long then what about BMW 3 currently driving in the series?

[medius]

VW rumours 01/02
https://www.autosport.com/btcc/news/...45116/5045116/

Volvo 09
https://www.autosport.com/btcc/news/...26189/4426189/

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by auroan

Eh. Silverstone, Donington, Thruxton, bits of Croft.. .. how long a straight do they need ?

I think it was more the fact that their 156 aero kit was designed around low drag, rather than the car being designed for top speed, so they would be at a disadvantage on twistier tracks due to the supertouring rules which stated that they had to homologate one aero kit for use all over the world.

In actual fact, Alfa Romeo did something very clever with their 156, they homolgated two cars, the 1.8 and the 2.0 and they had different rear wing angles, so they could switch, but even so, both looked fairly low drag, so it might be the difference of a few mph and just gave them more set up options, (I dare say a rules loophole too).

[medius]

Phil Glew had a seat with Arena for a third Aon Focus in 2011 but had to drop out because of a sponsor pulling funding before the start of the season. Tom Onslow-Cole got the drive instead after staring the year with AmD.

https://www.touringcartimes.com/2011...m-aon-updated/

[S griffin]

Glew, now there is a wasted talent. He certainly deserved more than his couple of meetings in 2010

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Glew, now there is a wasted talent. He certainly deserved more than his couple of meetings in 2010

actually just 2 meetings first was with 888 the second with a Special Tuning SEAT Leon

[pimmy]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

actually just 2 meetings first was with 888 the second with a Special Tuning SEAT Leon

Couple = 2

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

actually just 2 meetings first was with 888 the second with a Special Tuning SEAT Leon

Is that not 'a couple of meetings'?

[saxoflute03]

Dodge and Renault once showed interest in entering the WTCC.

[S griffin]

There's been plenty wanting to come into WTCC. But it seems they were too reliant on those who were already in the series

[saxoflute03]

Originally Posted by S griffin

There's been plenty wanting to come into WTCC. But it seems they were too reliant on those who were already in the series

I just remember there was once an article in Autosport claiming several manufacturers, including Renault and Dodge to possible WTCC entries, I think the Japanese manufacturers were also included.

[saxoflute03]

2011 Armor All Gold Coast 600:

The late Dan Wheldon was supposed to share an HRT Holden with James Courtney, Darren Turner took his place.

Will Power was supposed to share an FPR Ford with Mark Winterbottom, Richard Lyons took his place.

Tony Kanaan was supposed to share an BJR Holden with Jason Bargwanna, the late Allan Simonsen took his place.

All as a result of that Las Vegas Indycar race.

[saxoflute03]

Mika Hakkinen could have made his DTM debut 10 years early. In 1995, he came close to standing in for Jan Magnussen when the Dane broke his leg but McLaren blocked the move, much to the chagrin of Mika and Norbert Haug.

[CarfanLUFC]

Has anyone mentioned Gareth Howell's Mondeo that never made it to the grid in 99?

Colin Gallie in 320 as well...

Wasn't Ian Heward intending to return in 98? Can't remember which round it was but seem to recall someone saying he turned up to a race in 97 on tyres older than he was.

[saxoflute03]

Originally Posted by CarfanLUFC

Has anyone mentioned Gareth Howell's Mondeo that never made it to the grid in 99?

Colin Gallie in 320 as well...

Wasn't Ian Heward intending to return in 98? Can't remember which round it was but seem to recall someone saying he turned up to a race in 97 on tyres older than he was.

There is a BTCC-specific version of this thread in the History section.

Riccardo Patrese must have shown interest in the DTM at some point as he tested a Mercedes in 1994.

[S griffin]

James Hunt also tested a DTM car I think in 1990, with a view to racing in the series

[saxoflute03]

1997 Belgian ProCar championship:

Peugeot Belgium did a shootout between Eric Helary, Stephane de Groot, Marc Goossens and Vincent Radermecker at Paul Ricard. Radermecker was fastest and got the drive.

[saxoflute03]

Toyota offered to run Rickard Rydell in Group A touring cars for 1993 but he turned it down.

[saxoflute03]

When Renault pulled out of the BTCC at the end of 1999, there were rumours linking Williams to a potential partnership with BMW, would have made sense with BMW becoming Williams' F1 engine supplier in 2000.

[saxoflute03]

1995:

Anthony Reid was linked with an Opel drive in the 1996 International Touring Car Championship.

Tim Harvey was linked with a Nissan programme in the German STW.

[saxoflute03]

Can threads be transferred?

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by saxoflute03

Can threads be transferred?

What do you mean?

[saxoflute03]

Originally Posted by FIRE

What do you mean?

From one section to another.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by saxoflute03

From one section to another.

You want this one in another section?