BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[tocatrucky]

Carl apparently picked up one Leon shell as an insurance policy for ''his'' car so that is unlikely to see a grid again.

[redshoes]

Random shower thought, driven by One's announcement they they will spend the next year developing the Civics for a return in 2025.

Aero and homologation updates are tied to whoever owns the IP for the car. We've seen in the past that Aiden Moffat wanted to ditch the Mercedes as the team couldn't do their own development work and were stuck with whatever Cicely were doing.

Last year One used the cars that Dynamics had updated for 2023 so didn't matter that Dynamics themselves weren't on the grid. How much development can One now do during their "year off" or is it still reliant on input from Dynamics? At least Dynamics are still around even if they are not actively working on the cars.

What about the Cupras? I've not seen anything to say that Hard have been struck off so they still technically exist as a company, and I assume they still own the IP for the NGTC Cupras, although they are in no position to do any development work on them. Can Restart, or anyone else who acquires one of the left over shells, do their own aero updates?

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

21 cars will be perfect at Brands Indy.

Perhaps, but might look a bit strung out at Snetterton. Lets hope the grid doesnt drop further in 2025 as it could quickly go from "decent grid" to "starting to look a bit on the small side".

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by Evantra

From Autosport: “At face value that leaves a reduction to 21 cars for this season for the BTCC, but sources have suggested that one of the existing teams is working on a deal whereby it could wheel out an additional car, potentially to be run by a satellite operation. BTCC insiders are also not ruling out more of the Team Hard Cupra Leons, in addition to those acquired by Restart, being mopped up for a programme in 2024.”

Got to love Marcus Simmons - the only one with the juicy gossip for us all to discuss for a few more weeks.

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by redshoes

What about the Cupras? I've not seen anything to say that Hard have been struck off so they still technically exist as a company, and I assume they still own the IP for the NGTC Cupras, although they are in no position to do any development work on them. Can Restart, or anyone else who acquires one of the left over shells, do their own aero updates?

I did see in Touring Car mag that Smiley and Taylor were at M-Sport as far back as last November with Restart/M-Sport developing the front end internals of the Cupra for cooling. Would that be something to do with IP?
I would think with One keeping the Civics from Dynamics and the NBE deal, according to Autosport (after the tales of Dynamics hijacking their cars back at Brands) that they might have bought everything lock, stock and barrel? Including any IP?

[Pickles]

There's at least one Cupra which is aiming to be on the grid, in addition to the 2 Restart cars.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by BobJones

Got to love Marcus Simmons - the only one with the juicy gossip for us all to discuss for a few more weeks.

Exactly, it all comes out in the Autosport articles!

[coffinpilot]

With Excelr8 announcing a three car launch at Caffeine and Machine, it leaves me speculating that they could run a satellite two car team for Halstead and a second driver if the Autosport article about a current team running another car is true!

Or it could be adjusted to being a four car launch and I'm speculating only to myself!!

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

With Excelr8 announcing a three car launch at Caffeine and Machine, it leaves me speculating that they could run a satellite two car team for Halstead and a second driver if the Autosport article about a current team running another car is true!

Or it could be adjusted to being a four car launch and I'm speculating only to myself!!

Presumably it’s between WSR, Excelr8 and Alliance to run an extra car? Speedworks have already gone up one this year so would be surprised if they added another. If the deal is only in the works now surely it has to be an existing chassis too.

[Protonman]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Presumably it’s between WSR, Excelr8 and Alliance to run an extra car? Speedworks have already gone up one this year so would be surprised if they added another. If the deal is only in the works now surely it has to be an existing chassis too.

If an extra car is to be added most likely must be some sort of deal between xcelerate and dynamics . Maybe an extra car for Thompson to drive which would be good . However just as likely to drop by another car if no one puts up the cash for the last seat at PMR . Hope also WSR find another and don’t drop down to 3 cars

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Presumably it’s between WSR, Excelr8 and Alliance to run an extra car? Speedworks have already gone up one this year so would be surprised if they added another. If the deal is only in the works now surely it has to be an existing chassis too.

Yeah it will have to be someone that's got a ready to run spare chassis , I think Olly Collins mentioned it would be doable for Alliance to provide a satellite team when they mooted the idea last season. Not sure about Excler8 unless Tingram or Pearson are getting new shells for this season?

WSR I guess have the other ex Ciceley Gamble 3 Series chassis but I think it would have to be a substantial financial deal for them to want to run a 5th car.

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by Pickles

There's at least one Cupra which is aiming to be on the grid, in addition to the 2 Restart cars.

Boardley’s car I assume? Any rumour on who’s gonna run it?

[touringlegend]

You have to ponder the worth of the TBLs now

They were, if I remember right brought in to give a value to an entrant, when at one point the grid seemed oversubscribed. If next year Dynamics then One suddenly decided they could race and TOCA granted them licences what is the point overall in TBLs?

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

You have to ponder the worth of the TBLs now

They were, if I remember right brought in to give a value to an entrant, when at one point the grid seemed oversubscribed. If next year Dynamics then One suddenly decided they could race and TOCA granted them licences what is the point overall in TBLs?

who says toca would grant them to both

they always wanted to reduce the grid size
so less cars means the tbls are more valuable

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

Boardley’s car I assume? Any rumour on who’s gonna run it?

No, last I heard he still had his car and TBL, this is another one.

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by Pickles

No, last I heard he still had his car and TBL, this is another one.

Oooh interesting! I’d assumed Boardley had loaned his out to pay for his TCR season.

[coffinpilot]

Nightshift musings.
Alliance/NAPA and Excelr8 moving to their new bases. Is that to the advantage of say WSR, especially in the early part of the year, or will it not have much of an effect?

I'm thinking mainly prep and turnaround, especially if some permanent staff haven't made the move?

[MarcusH26]

https://www.btcc.net/2024/02/22/halstead-completes-bristol-street-motors-with-excelr8-line-up/

Halstead confirmed at Excler8 for a second season

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

https://www.btcc.net/2024/02/22/halstead-completes-bristol-street-motors-with-excelr8-line-up/

Halstead confirmed at Excler8 for a second season

And more importantly confirmation that there won't be more than four of them.

[thetool]

delete

[InYourMirrors45]

Unless there’s some last minute unexpected driver changes, I really think halstead will be running around at the back all on his own.

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by InYourMirrors45

Unless there’s some last minute unexpected driver changes, I really think halstead will be running around at the back all on his own.

This wouldn't surprise me at all. Maybe the Restart Leon's for the first couple of rounds but I expect whoever gets the third PMR seat to be someone that's going to be competitive and probably has series experience. It's a small grid but it feels deep on potential race winners even with the seats we're still waiting to be announced

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by InYourMirrors45

Unless there’s some last minute unexpected driver changes, I really think halstead will be running around at the back all on his own.

Someone has to?

[Matt K]

Kind of hoped for someone else in the fourth Hyundai, Halstead is well below the BTCC level and was major reason for yellow flags/SC last year. But money talks of course, I guess Halstead brings quite necessary funding to the team so fair enough.
So potentially last two seats to be confirmed, WSR and PMR?

[Millvi]

Originally Posted by Matt K

Kind of hoped for someone else in the fourth Hyundai, Halstead is well below the BTCC level and was major reason for yellow flags/SC last year. But money talks of course, I guess Halstead brings quite necessary funding to the team so fair enough.
So potentially last two seats to be confirmed, WSR and PMR?

Speedworks?