[BTCC] 2010 rumour mill

[Jamesy-18]

Hi all,

Just wondered if anybody has heard any rumours regarding new teams/drivers/cars coming into the championship next year or any driver changes to the current grid?

Thanks!

[touringlegend]

Nothing that I've heard although I'm sure some of our members will know more than me.

I guess we've got to say Herbert is a likely candidate for a 2010 Dyanmics seat!

[Hazard]

No idea. And generally, the only people we'd trust at this point would be those already in the championship - and only then if they were Team Dynamics, West Surrey Racing, Triple Eight or Ray Mallock Ltd.

Dodgy game this touring cars.

- We expect Team Dynamics to be there - most certainly with the Civic again.
- We expect West Surrey Racing to be there if the RAC money stays, and with BMW's.
- We hope that Triple Eight will be there, running the old Vectra still - though whispers have been mentioned around Kia's.
- Don't expect Ray Mallock to be there unless a big sponsorship drive turns up. If it does, maybe in the 2009 WTCC Cruze's - it'll be good timing as the car will just be turning up here (so maybe with Chevrolet backing?).

Kia's and Chevrolet's, hmmm. Does that sound like the Scrappage Touring Car Championship to you?

[GroupOfOne]

Matt Hamilton is aiming for a full 2010 programme in the (old) Honda Civic, with the final two (or three) rounds of this year being a toe in the water/extended test session.

Think the key player in the silly season is Triple 8, once they've decided what they're doing/who they're running then other stuff will fall into place around that.

[duke_toaster]

That's presumably the Michael Doyle car, then?

I've not heard anything about 888 and Kias, but if they do it would obviously be with factory backing. Andy Jordan has a reasonable amount of personal sponsors (John Guest, Pirtek?), but if that would stretch to Gio or Matt Neal is another issue.

RML could stay, as I'd imagine Plato's now bringing budget and Jackson almost certainly is. If they get new backers on that is. The lack of live ITV1 coverage isn't helpful ...

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

That's presumably the Michael Doyle car, then?

It's the ex-Synchro car.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Hazard

No idea. And generally, the only people we'd trust at this point would be those already in the championship - and only then if they were Team Dynamics, West Surrey Racing, Triple Eight or Ray Mallock Ltd.

Dodgy game this touring cars.

- We expect Team Dynamics to be there - most certainly with the Civic again.
- We expect West Surrey Racing to be there if the RAC money stays, and with BMW's.
- We hope that Triple Eight will be there, running the old Vectra still - though whispers have been mentioned around Kia's.
- Don't expect Ray Mallock to be there unless a big sponsorship drive turns up. If it does, maybe in the 2009 WTCC Cruze's - it'll be good timing as the car will just be turning up here (so maybe with Chevrolet backing?).

Kia's and Chevrolet's, hmmm. Does that sound like the Scrappage Touring Car Championship to you?

What about Motorbase?There's a big feature about them in last week's Autosport magazine, surely they'll be back again?

[Aunt Sally]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

What about Motorbase?

Motorbase?

None of the forums seem to take Motorbase seriously for some reason. They get coverage in the mags, Autosport, good article last week, and Motorsport News. But no matter how hard they try, they just get ignored.

Anyway I would be really surprised if they didn't come back again with the BMW's in 2010.

[touringlegend]

I'm not ignoring them. (See left!)

[mark_l]

John Cleland is coming out of retirement to race a Vauxhall.

well no one said the rumours had to be truthful.

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by mark_l

John Cleland is coming out of retirement to race a Vauxhall.

well no one said the rumours had to be truthful.

They usually have to be at least a little believable though.

More chance him racing a Volvo really - or there'll be conflicts of interest!

[touringlegend]

What of a Volvo team though, seriously?

I noticed the course car C30's are provided by Volvo Cars UK so they obviously have some sort of interest in the BTCC.

[gregc]

A Volvo team has been rumoured since the middle of last season at least, complete with connections to John Cleland. Tom Onslow-Cole was talking about the possibility at Brands, he's been rumoured for the drive for some time now.

Will it actually happen? Anybody's guess...

[rdjones]

Mr Neal back to Team Dyanmics, well with Vauxhall pulling out, I think there is a good chance we might see that happen.

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by rdjones

Mr Neal back to Team Dyanmics, well with Vauxhall pulling out, I think there is a good chance we might see that happen.

Almost a certainty, with no salaried drives out there to be had - though he may need to give way if Team Dynamics actually have to run with an all paying line-up.

[snowen250]

I disagree Hazard, they do have three cars dont forget. So we could see two pay + Matt.

I think RAC, Motorbase, TD will def be there, hopefully 888 and what about CZR?

Simon

[Jamesy-18]

Originally Posted by gregc

A Volvo team has been rumoured since the middle of last season at least, complete with connections to John Cleland. Tom Onslow-Cole was talking about the possibility at Brands, he's been rumoured for the drive for some time now.

Will it actually happen? Anybody's guess...

I believed they confirmed that they would race in 2010 at the start of this season, but they wanted this year to get sorted, build cars, hire drivers etc. I'm pretty sure we'll see a Volvo team, although no guarantee they'll be C30s, in the BTCC next year.

[duke_toaster]

Polestar already have a C30 project with Volvo backing going on in Sweden so surely customer cars from them are the logical option. Due to the BTCC-STCC homologation compact they're already homologated.

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by snowen250

I disagree Hazard, they do have three cars dont forget. So we could see two pay + Matt.

I think RAC, Motorbase, TD will def be there, hopefully 888 and what about CZR?

Simon

Good point about CWR / CVR - apart from the fact they seem to have three names - we've spent years mocking them as they promised to turn up but never did - and now they finally have they're making a decent go of it.

I imagine the reapperance of 'Clyde Valley Racing' is very dependant on the reappearance of 'Cartridge World' though. They could do with upgrading the second SEAT (Shedden/Eaves) car though - Knockhill has been it's best outing by far - I suspect a thorough search of that car will find it's got the innards of Jones car!

P.S. With TD - I'm sure they will run two pay + Matt as long as the two paying is enough to cover the running costs. We'll have to wait and see.

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

Polestar already have a C30 project with Volvo backing going on in Sweden so surely customer cars from them are the logical option. Due to the BTCC-STCC homologation compact they're already homologated.

Problem is anyone buying them's getting a car for a one season attack as NGTC starts to cross over from 2011. It's not a show stopper of course as there is a two year changeover period - some teams still built BTCC spec cars even when they knew S2000 was coming in - but it might put some off for certain.

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by Hazard

Problem is anyone buying them's getting a car for a one season attack as NGTC starts to cross over from 2011. It's not a show stopper of course as there is a two year changeover period - some teams still built BTCC spec cars even when they knew S2000 was coming in - but it might put some off for certain.

The phasein will be at least two years, and there's always the option of sticking a NGTC engine in the Polestar chassis (?).

[touringlegend]

Originally Posted by Hazard

P.S. With TD - I'm sure they will run two pay + Matt as long as the two paying is enough to cover the running costs. We'll have to wait and see.

It's just twigged with me thats why they're running Herbert. Should a nice title sponsor come along it'll keep Neal Jr in employment.

[Icebaby]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

It's just twigged with me thats why they're running Herbert. Should a nice title sponsor come along it'll keep Neal Jr in employment.

Any sponsership will depend on results with Herbert over the next 3 rounds however if a sponser is looking at BTCC then the safe money is elsewhere for exposure..Plato,Gio, Turkington to name three.

Regarding the thread title its just to early to speculate, proberbly the week before the start of the 2010 season would be a good place to start. My only hunch is that Plato could be lined up in the WTCC to replace one of the current drivers.

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

The phasein will be at least two years, and there's always the option of sticking a NGTC engine in the Polestar chassis (?).

I believe I said that.

[Ed Peters]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

and there's always the option of sticking a NGTC engine in the Polestar chassis (?).

IF only it would be that simple... If you read the PROPOSED regs, the suspension and running gear will be 'standardised'! That means non-manufacturer standard!

SO, the current suspension layout would not be accepted for a NGTC entry!