BTCC May race at Rockingham

SALEEN S7R · 18 Nov 2002, 15:50 (Ref:431396)

After dissapointing attendances this year for the CART race at Rockingham the race may be axed according to Britans' Sunday Telegraph. The article goes on to say that it is looking into having a BTCC race. Here is the full story. http://www.crash.net/news_detail.asp...9&language_id=

If it does happen it will be fantastic thats for sure, u will be able to see more of the racing that at any other track the championship currently races at. I know I will certainly be attending if this does go ahead.

429CJ · 18 Nov 2002, 18:28 (Ref:431561)

So, they probably are using Rockingham road circuit, not the oval.(?)

redshoes · 18 Nov 2002, 19:37 (Ref:431622)

There's 2 spaces in the BTCC calendar (22 Jun and 13 Jul) one of which looks fairly certain will be at Rockingham, regardless of what happens to the CART meeting.

Sim_Da_BTCC_Man · 18 Nov 2002, 19:40 (Ref:431625)

It would be nice to see a meeting at rockingham but its a pitty to drop Knockhill or Croft.

SALEEN S7R · 18 Nov 2002, 22:36 (Ref:431775)

It looks like indeed that they will use the Rockingham Road variation, as hard as a I try I coudnt pictue them using the oval, it would be good for a few laps though, just to see what kind of speed they can reach, but as far as racing goes I think itd be a bit boring.

DNQ · 18 Nov 2002, 23:22 (Ref:431824)

Why can't they have a BTCC/CART double header?

SALEEN S7R · 19 Nov 2002, 00:52 (Ref:431880)

they could have but CART would look for a big championship or one that it already has a alliance with like the ALMS, in fact the ALMS would make sense as they are coming to Europe next year either in Britan or Germany is the main line of thought, although the ALMS has a bit of a policy of no ovals. Still they may change their stance.

racer69 · 19 Nov 2002, 11:48 (Ref:432144)

What is the road circuit like at Rockingham. Sure you can see the whole circuit, but unless it is a good track wouldn't it just be in the same vein as some of the 'Rovals' in the US.

I think it would be great if they used the oval, are the cars safe enough/tyres good enough to handle the speeds/loads/g-forces/crashes etc..that come with a race like that.

Sim_Da_BTCC_Man · 19 Nov 2002, 17:29 (Ref:432392)

http://www.rockingham.co.uk/images/key/facility.jpg

SALEEN S7R · 19 Nov 2002, 20:53 (Ref:432548)

I think the cars should be tough enough to use the oval I mean the safety aspect of the cars are now more or less the same. As for the tyres Michelin and Dunlop could easily produce another compound for the teams so that shoudnt be a issue.

**Craig** · 19 Nov 2002, 21:03 (Ref:432555)

Can't imagine Michelin would want much to do with it fella...?!

rdjones · 19 Nov 2002, 21:37 (Ref:432587)

Well if the CART race does not take place, that means there would be a slot on the calander for Rockingham, Knockhill and Croft...........

**Craig** · 19 Nov 2002, 21:56 (Ref:432598)

err... not quite. There are just two slots up for grabs on the BTCC calendar - this fact is not changed by the fact the Champcar race might not take place! Scrap one of the Brands Hatch rounds now!

sceptic · 20 Nov 2002, 00:17 (Ref:432727)

Quote:

Originally posted by Craig Antill
Can't imagine Michelin would want much to do with it fella...?!

I think he was referring to the support races. Michelin are the official supplier to the Porsche Carrera Cup, Formula Renault and Clio Cup.

SALEEN S7R · 20 Nov 2002, 00:49 (Ref:432735)

Yep I sure was. Which tyre manufacturers are in the BTCC for 2003?

Speeddemon555 · 20 Nov 2002, 18:13 (Ref:433386)

Dunlop tires for BTCC next year. Dunlop will be replacing BF Goodrich as the official tire company for the British Touring Car Series.

Muppet · 20 Nov 2002, 18:27 (Ref:433397)

Some BTCC cars are right hand drive and they cannot race on an anti-clockwise oval.

Seems daft to restrict the calendar and then announce two Brands dates. The people who draw up the calendar must live in the south east? ;-)

Drop one Brands round and go to Rockingham, Croft and Knockhill.

redshoes · 20 Nov 2002, 18:39 (Ref:433413)

Even if the BTCC does use the oval (which is highly unlikely) I doubt the support races will follow suit. If you remember when ASCAR started they had real problems finding an engine that would stand up to running at near full throtle every lap. I suspect if you tried that in a Clio (for example) you'll end up with a very expensive repair bill.

Larsen · 20 Nov 2002, 21:44 (Ref:433527)

they had trouble with the engines going around the oval...not on the infield circuit...otherwise the Pickups etc would have had problems.

redshoes · 20 Nov 2002, 21:59 (Ref:433537)

Isn't that what I said

Jimeth · 20 Nov 2002, 22:25 (Ref:433563)

calm down! nitpicking, nitpicking!!

Chris Y · 21 Nov 2002, 00:26 (Ref:433648)

They also had problems with oil surge... Oil got forced to one side of the engine in the long corners, not circulated properly, and then *bang*.. A situation to which I can personally relate

Muppet · 21 Nov 2002, 18:20 (Ref:434157)

The Pick-ups are running on the full oval next year. All trucks will be converted to LH drive and will be upgraded to take advantage of being the official feeder series for ASCAR.

Sim_Da_BTCC_Man · 21 Nov 2002, 18:52 (Ref:434172)

I would think they would use the infeild then come out onto the pit road part of the oval near the Rockingham Building, and then go back into the infeild for their lap?

SALEEN S7R · 21 Nov 2002, 20:15 (Ref:434218)

Lets hope so, I woudnt want to see them on the oval persoanlly. Using the rockingham road course would be great though, Ive seen the British GT use that course and it was very good and entertaining racing.

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