[BTCC] Croft, 29/30 July 2023, Rds. 16/17/18

[SSmith]

The summer break is over!

The BTCC resumes at Croft on 29th and 30th July 2023 for Rounds 16, 17, and 18.

Standings as we arrive at Croft:
1. Sutton 218
2. Ingram 212
3. Hill 192
4. Turkington 183
5. Cammish 160

Timetable: https://www.barc.net/wp-content/uplo...e_Croft_V2.pdf

BTCC Qualifying: 15.25 - 15.55
BTCC Qualifying YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kvYyI_7ZVg

BTCC Races: 12.10, 14.35, 17.00

Support Series: British F4, Porsche Sprint Challenge GB, MINI Challenge Trophy, Legends

[SSmith]

Coverage is on ITV4, 11.30-18.30

[Sodemo]

On paper the BMWs should go well here but I think that Focus is unstoppable, plus if the weather is mixed as it has been all month, you can write off the Beamers.

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

On paper the BMWs should go well here but I think that Focus is unstoppable, plus if the weather is mixed as it has been all month, you can write off the Beamers.

I'm hopeful it'll be fairly close up front, probably (as usual) a fight between the BMWs of Hill and Turkington, the Fords of Sutton, Cammish, and Rowbo and the Hyundai of Ingram.

[Matt K]

Wonder if there will be race replays on ITV's YT channel? Really hoping to as, again, won't be able to watch the races live

However, expect Sutton to lose his championship lead during the Croft weekend so that might not be a nice weekend for me anyway

[coffinpilot]

I just hope the new Cafe is up and running, they've been building it for long enough!
I do wonder where the commentary box will be moved to, and the TOCA hospitality unit. I suppose with a few less teams being around it opens up some space.

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Matt K

Wonder if there will be race replays on ITV's YT channel? Really hoping to as, again, won't be able to watch the races live

Probably not. ITVX is the place to go to (even if it is a little bit of a pain to use at times, and its the whole 6-7hr programme rather than individual races)

Rounds 1-15 were uploaded on YouTube last month and have had fairly low viewing numbers (ranging from about 500 views, up to about 7k views - although I think they are geoblocked to UK-only so its perhaps no real surprise). I do wonder what ITV will do for the rest of the season in terms of output.

[SSmith]

Entry List for the weekend - https://www.barc.net/wp-content/uplo...D-25.07.23.pdf

A glaring mistake in the BTCC entry list, Jade Edwards is wrongly listed in a CUPRA

Confirms DeLeon will run as #18 and Crees will use his regular #777

MINI Trophy - 31 cars
F4 - 19 cars
Porsche Sprint Challenge GB - 18 cars (8 Pros, 10 Ams - seems like Somerfield has been reclassified as an Am)
Legends - 30 cars

[S griffin]

ITVX is a real pain in the behind. You can’t navigate properly for starters. It’s better watching it live on the telly. There’s plenty of times it’s repeated too, even if it’s not like the old days with BBC Grandstand. That’s the best hope

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by S griffin

ITVX is a real pain in the behind. You can’t navigate properly for starters. It’s better watching it live on the telly. There’s plenty of times it’s repeated too, even if it’s not like the old days with BBC Grandstand. That’s the best hope

I've got a Humax Freeview receiver/hard drive recorder so use that to record the whole programme. I can then choose to watch as much as I want, or just fast-forward to the start of each BTCC round and only watch that depending on how much time I have to spare.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

I just hope the new Cafe is up and running, they've been building it for long enough!
I do wonder where the commentary box will be moved to, and the TOCA hospitality unit. I suppose with a few less teams being around it opens up some space.

It's not a café, it's an "event space".
They are not allowed to call it a café under their planning conditions.

[redshoes]

Another double option tyre weekend. All 3 compounds (soft/medium/hard) have to be used over the 3 races.

[mick bennett]

Raceday could be interesting.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2651951

[S griffin]

I expect the Hyundais to go well here and plenty of action throughout the field. Should be a close one

[SSmith]

FP1 complete. Only 0.049 secs covered the top 3. Hill was 0.5 off, the rest of the top 10 were 0.6-0.8 off 1st place. Ingram only 20th (probably on a very different run plan). Of the new/returning/changed teams drivers, Crees was 17th, Edwards 24th, DeLeon didn't set a time.

1st Cook
2nd Turkington
3rd Sutton
4th Hill
5th Butcher
6th Cammish
7th Chilton
8th Taylor-Smith
9th Lloyd
10th Rowbottom

https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=T...3003fp1trg.pdf

[S griffin]

So glad to have the BTCC back. Already looking an interesting weekend. Can't wait to qualifying

[AnnoyedMoose]

Still issues at Hard by the look of it with two cars not getting out for FP1. Are they not doing shakedowns before travelling? Saving mileage? Seems odd that it happens more often than not with them.

[AnnoyedMoose]

Nic Hamilton has withdrawn from the weekend. Hopefully car issues rather than something wrong with him.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by AnnoyedMoose

Still issues at Hard by the look of it with two cars not getting out for FP1. Are they not doing shakedowns before travelling? Saving mileage? Seems odd that it happens more often than not with them.

Nobody does shake downs

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by AnnoyedMoose

Nic Hamilton has withdrawn from the weekend. Hopefully car issues rather than something wrong with him.

“Autosport understands that Nic Hamilton took the decision this morning not to compete this weekend before driving home.”

Not much clearer!

Louise Goodman is also ill this weekend, with Paul O’Neill taking over.

[AnnoyedMoose]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Nobody does shake downs

Yes they do. I see the teams posting all the time on social media from various places where they've done shakedowns.

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Evantra

“Autosport understands that Nic Hamilton took the decision this morning not to compete this weekend before driving home.”

Not much clearer!

One wonders if there are yet more behind-the-scenes shenanigans at Team HARD regarding money/sponsorship/preparation of the cars.

[thetool]

I wonder if Nic stands by his 2020 assertion: "Team HARD. Racing is the most professional outfit I’ve worked with." I remember that statement ruffled a few feathers at the time.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by AnnoyedMoose

Yes they do. I see the teams posting all the time on social media from various places where they've done shakedowns.

They have broken the rules then.

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by thetool

I wonder if Nic stands by his 2020 assertion: "Team HARD. Racing is the most professional outfit I’ve worked with." I remember that statement ruffled a few feathers at the time.

Let's be honest, Team HARD has never been a particularly professional team. Hamilton's comment may just have been a PR bull$hit.