BTCC 2007 News, Rumours, Entries...

[outflat]

If you reread the touring car times piece again, you'll see the comments about weight being added to the Vauxhalls was part of the article, and not part of a Harrison quote.

So, not whining!

[JMeissner]

That is correct outflat, it was not Harrison's comments.

[Hazard]

SEAT will (unsurprisingly) return with a two car effort next season. Jason Plato will lead the challenge in the Northern South run Léon's. Second driver TBC.

[cos]

New BTCC team announced today: Encke Sport, planning to run "at least" 2 Astra Coupés (ex-GA presumably). It's backed by Finnish goalkeeper Peter Enckelman of all people, apparently he's a keen BTCC fan.

[Ranald]

Superb, sound a serious effort. The car looks great too.

[Monkey Head]

Originally Posted by cos

New BTCC team announced today: Encke Sport, planning to run "at least" 2 Astra Coupés (ex-GA presumably). It's backed by Finnish goalkeeper Peter Enckelman of all people, apparently he's a keen BTCC fan.

is a around 9K/week salary football player can affort a touring car team?
don't forget he is just a subs.

moreover...his career 'hlighlight'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC7D15uYXOI

[touringlegend]

Nice livery! No idea on the drivers yet though ?

[redshoes]

Football teams and BTCC, that brings back memories. *shudder*

Good to see the old GA cars finally get proper use, especially after all the "it's going to happen, honest" DW Racing rumours last year.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Monkey Head

is a around 9K/week salary football player can affort a touring car team?
don't forget he is just a subs.

moreover...his career 'hlighlight'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC7D15uYXOI

Nice to have 2 extra cars on the grid.

[BootsOntheSide]

Awesome-looking car, and famous athletes from one sport getting involved in another often leads to more publicity for both. £9,000 a week (sounds like a reasonable guess at Peter's salary) is about half a million a year, and he's probably been earning at that level for a few years, so funding a BTCC team should be within his means, especially if it's something he's planned towards for a while. A shame the cars are BTC-Spec though.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by outflat

If you reread the touring car times piece again, you'll see the comments about weight being added to the Vauxhalls was part of the article, and not part of a Harrison quote.

Indeed, apologies for putting words in his mouth.

[sharpy]

Originally Posted by cos

New BTCC team announced today: Encke Sport, planning to run "at least" 2 Astra Coupés (ex-GA presumably). It's backed by Finnish goalkeeper Peter Enckelman of all people, apparently he's a keen BTCC fan.

So that means there could be 3 Astra Coupe's this season if Daniels Motorsport run their car. And i wasn't expecting to see the Astra Coupe racing again after last season, lets hope its competitive.

[cos]

I think the team may have acquired the Daniels-owned car as well (a 3rd for spare shell/parts etc.)

[Andrew Abbott]

Perhaps Encke Sport, as the team is known, will buck the trend. Fielding the now-ancient Vauxhall Astra Coupe that Triple Eight first built in 2001 is not exactly the most promising start. The Coupe has been an old car for many years and isn’t getting any faster. Add to that the fact that BTC-Specification cars (as the Astra Coupe is) are no longer going to be the dominant force in the BTCC in 2007 and it seems that the drivers in the Encke Sport outfit may just be making up the numbers. However, Tilley has spoken about fielding new cars for 2008 and finding your feet in a car that has won the championship multiple times in the past five years can’t be all that bad can it? Tilley admits that the team isn’t going to be anywhere near the championship protagonists in its first year, and bearing that fact in mind there is little point in throwing money at the championship in only the team’s first year.

[Chris Y]

Exactly. Better to learn the car, tracks and setups in a car with a proven track record, and with plenty of setup info, experience, etc. Then they'll know what to aim for in 2008.

[ATF]

So who is confirmed for 2007 then - is it just 2x VX (Chilton/Gio), 2x SEAT (Plato,?), 2x Encke (?,?) and John George?

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Well, Dynamics was building new cars. And West Suffolk Racing have their 1-series BMW.

[Andrew Abbott]

I'm not sure if Motorbase Performance have 'officially' confirmed, but they have expressed their plans to enter (three?) Seat's for this year.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Wasn't there something about two Chevys also?

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Magnusson

Wasn't there something about two Chevys also?

Their were rumours of RAC/WSR buying two Lacetti's, but it looks like a lot of the Lacetti's are elsewhere.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by Hazard

Their were rumours of RAC/WSR buying two Lacetti's, but it looks like a lot of the Lacetti's are elsewhere.

Sure that's the one? I recall something about Dan Eaves and a Bio fuel, but I could be all wrong.

[touringlegend]

Ah, that would be Clyde Valley Racing you were thinking of Jimmy. I think we'd be better expecting not to see them this season.


WSR also have two S2000 spec cars, and from what I've read elsewhere all will be announced at next weeks Autosport Show. They still have the MG's they ran last year and apparently they'd run 1 of them if someone came along with the budget.

[Alfa Fan]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Ah, that would be Clyde Valley Racing you were thinking of Jimmy. I think we'd be better expecting not to see them this season.

I understand your skeptism, but i've been told to expect an announcement confirming the teams plans sometime in January, possibly as soon as the Autosport show.

[touringlegend]

You have to be sceptical in this sport. I sincerely hope we do get an announcement, but where are these 2 Chevy's coming from ?

[Alfa Fan]

Not saying they are Chevrolets anymore. The information I have merely suggests the team will launch at the Autosport show with bio-ethanol Super 2000 cars.