[BTCC] BTCC 2023 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[Mike Harte]

And if you consider the BMWs even now, they still have an advantage, more than usually, off the line at the start and once they hit the front, it is often very difficult to then get past them. And on the whole, at least two of their drivers still have the capability to win races provided that the team choose the right strategy.

And so far this season, as last season, only one of the Motorbase cars have been able to be consistently challenging for and winning races. So, in my opinion for what little it counts, it would be unfair to penalise the team for the driving abilities of just one of their drivers.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

How would it be any different to when a load of performance degrading measures were brought in for the RWD cars?

Because there so many FWD and in reality Motorbase are just flat doing a better job

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Because there so many FWD and in reality Motorbase are just flat doing a better job

Exactly, it doesn't matter what drivetrain you've got as much as how well you develop your car. Of course the others could overtake Motorbase, they are not invulnerable

[Sodemo]

Well, BMW had a boost reduction just before Snetterton in 2019. That certainly wasn’t a “RWD platform performance measure”.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Well, BMW had a boost reduction just before Snetterton in 2019. That certainly wasn’t a “RWD platform performance measure”.

But the point is people are getting excited about the Ford but in reality their speed traps are average at best they are just quicker - E could argue only one car of the four- around a lap, they are not blowing past cars on the straights they are just doing a good job.

[S griffin]

I think the Ford isn't that great. I'm sure they have a decent package, but they aren't unbeatable. Their weaknesses will be shown at times. And yes they are not blowing past cars, they have to work hard to get past cars as well as everyone else

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I think the Ford isn't that great. I'm sure they have a decent package, but they aren't unbeatable. Their weaknesses will be shown at times. And yes they are not blowing past cars, they have to work hard to get past cars as well as everyone else

Agreed everyone just needs to work harder !

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

But the point is people are getting excited about the Ford but in reality their speed traps are average at best they are just quicker - E could argue only one car of the four- around a lap, they are not blowing past cars on the straights they are just doing a good job.

My point was that BMW were penalised rightly or wrongly in 2019 because their car had “too much straight line speed”. Now you could say that this was because they had too much horsepower to begin with, but you could also say that their car has one of the best aero drag ratios of them all, so if that’s the case were they fairly penalised if the horsepower figures were correct?

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

My point was that BMW were penalised rightly or wrongly in 2019 because their car had “too much straight line speed”. Now you could say that this was because they had too much horsepower to begin with, but you could also say that their car has one of the best aero drag ratios of them all, so if that’s the case were they fairly penalised if the horsepower figures were correct?

And it would seem the Ford doesn’t have massive straightline speed

[coffinpilot]

Interesting in Autosport this morning that they report BMW getting 'additional starting boost' while the M-Sport engines for PMR and HARD were 'given an extra 0.2 bar of power.'
Certainly helped PMR (don't think anything could boost a HARD Cupra - and if it did it's probably shake itself apart!!)

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Interesting in Autosport this morning that they report BMW getting 'additional starting boost' while the M-Sport engines for PMR and HARD were 'given an extra 0.2 bar of power.'
Certainly helped PMR (don't think anything could boost a HARD Cupra - and if it did it's probably shake itself apart!!)

In the absence of me seeing an official reason behind Thompson's retirement and then withdrawal in races 2 and 3 at Thruxton, I wonder if the CUPRA did shake itself apart!

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by SSmith

In the absence of me seeing an official reason behind Thompson's retirement and then withdrawal in races 2 and 3 at Thruxton, I wonder if the CUPRA did shake itself apart!

Stone through the radiator. Perhaps picked up with that slide at the start of R2.

[crmalcolm]

I think this is more of a season-long post, so make it here.

We've seen BMW be strong this last weekend at a traditionally strong track for them, after many claiming the title was already over and can be handed to Sutton.

IMHO, we're just seeing the typical BTCC ebb and flow as we head to different circuits.

I expect that the early championship lead for Sutton and Ingram will be overturned as we move through Croft and Knockhill. Heading back to Donington we'll see a BMW 1-2, before the final visit to Brands and we have a 4-way contest for the title.

[S griffin]

There is still a long way to go. BMW should continue to be up there and we could see a few surprises. I don’t think we’re gonna see domination. The BMWs should go well at Croft, especially Morgan. I expect to see Toyota up there quite a few times. Knockhill could be there circuit. The Vauxhalls are going strongly, especially ATS. There could be a few in contention for the title and the final round should be fun. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a wet final

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I don’t think we’re gonna see domination.

The regs are designed to prevent that but it'll be the usual suspects at the front anyhow. The best drivers are in the best cars so you'd expect that group to be ahead of the rest but one driver won't run away with it.

Originally Posted by S griffin

The BMWs should go well at Croft, especially Morgan.

Croft has typically been a good rwd circuit - interested to know why you think Morgan will be the pick of the bunch? He's not looked as quick as Turkington or Hill so far this year.

Originally Posted by S griffin

I expect to see Toyota up there quite a few times.

The Toyota has looked ok but they seem to lack consistency - not sure if that's down to the car or the drivers? Gamble is of course lacking in fwd experience but I'm not sure Butcher has got the most out of the car so far this season and Collard appears erratic.

Originally Posted by S griffin

The Vauxhalls are going strongly, especially ATS.

I think the Vauxhalls are going better than anyone expected, pre-season it was being viewed as pretty much end of life so the results they've got out of it are impressive.

Originally Posted by S griffin

There could be a few in contention for the title and the final round should be fun. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a wet final

You'd expect the title to still be up for grabs at the final meeting - when was the last time it was wrapped up before then? The usual suspects will be in the hunt you'd have thought - Sutton, Cammish, Turkington, Hill and Ingram. Potentially some interesting intra team battles there - teammates taking points off each other could lead to the title heading to another team.

[mprmke]

BMW should be very strong at Croft, but after that it will be a run of circuits that don't suit them.

[Pdh]

Originally Posted by mprmke

BMW should be very strong at Croft, but after that it will be a run of circuits that don't suit them.

I think since the track has been resurfaced a few years ago it’s not rwd dominant like it was see to be

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by mprmke

BMW should be very strong at Croft, but after that it will be a run of circuits that don't suit them.

After that it will be Knockhill, which very much suits them.
And then the longer version of Donington with two added hairpins, which should favour them too.

[SSmith]

The first 15 races of the BTCC season are currently available on ITV Sport's YouTube channel (limited to UK only).

On the subject of YouTube, British F4 is competing at Silverstone this weekend and can be watched as part of the BARC livestream.

[pimmy]

Originally Posted by SSmith

On the subject of YouTube, British F4 is competing at Silverstone this weekend and can be watched as part of the BARC livestream.

The novelty of being able to see all three races of an event!

[hen henths]

Originally Posted by SSmith

The first 15 races of the BTCC season are currently available on ITV Sport's YouTube channel (limited to UK only).

Nice. How very 21st century. Wish we could have the past 25 years' races on there as well or honestly all of them but I can dream. I enjoyed when they once did a "from the archives" bit on the TV program (clips from a 50s or 60s race) - they should do more of that.

Originally Posted by pimmy

The novelty of being able to see all three races of an event!

[Sodemo]

I would love to see the full extended highlights from 1994-2000.

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by hen henths

Nice. How very 21st century. Wish we could have the past 25 years' races on there as well or honestly all of them but I can dream. I enjoyed when they once did a "from the archives" bit on the TV program (clips from a 50s or 60s race) - they should do more of that.

2015-2022 are available on ITVs website - https://www.itv.com/btcc/articles/wa...-from-the-btcc

It would be good to have more of them on there. ITV didn't get the broadcasting rights until 2002 I think, but even adding 2002-2014 to what is already available would be awesome especially as we are in the mid-season break.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by SSmith

2015-2022 are available on ITVs website - https://www.itv.com/btcc/articles/wa...-from-the-btcc

It would be good to have more of them on there. ITV didn't get the broadcasting rights until 2002 I think, but even adding 2002-2014 to what is already available would be awesome especially as we are in the mid-season break.

It's good they have so many on there. I'm sure there's more lurking in the archives. ITV only did the odd race before 2002 and it's coverage has got better ever since then. It might be harder to get more races up though, it depends how they were broadcast at the time

[AnnoyedMoose]

You can download all previous seasons from Duke Video for a modest cost. I've got everything and some I got for no cost because of the points you build up.