[BTCC] BTCC News & Rumours 2025

[rdjones]

Less than 48 hours after the first round of the 2024 season the 2025 calander has been released

https://btcc.net/2025-btcc-calendar-announced/

26/27 April Donington Park (National)
10/11 May Brands Hatch (Indy)
24/25 May Snetterton (300)
07/08 June Thruxton
21/22 Jun Oulton Park (Island)
02/03 August Croft
16/17 August Knockhill
30/31 August Donington Park (GP)
20/21 September Silverstone (National)
04/05 October Brands Hatch (GP)

Exactly the same as this year apart from the dates....

[Matt K]

Shame there's no variety, as much as I like all the BTCC circuits (from the spectator's view), it'd be great to have some new circuits coming in. I know this will probably never happen but would be great to see some smaller tracks upgraded so that they could host BTCC.

[Greem]

If you could arrange for all of the neighbours of every other circuit in the UK to ignore the noise and the huge numbers of spectators, go for it!

The planning people and the various restrictions they've imposed on all the other circuits might want to have a chat though...

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by Greem

If you could arrange for all of the neighbours of every other circuit in the UK to ignore the noise and the huge numbers of spectators, go for it!

Well, I can't do that unfortunately, that's why the only thing left for me is to keep dreaming... and be happy with what we have

[S griffin]

Still early days, prefer to wait for more of this season to have happened before thinking of next season

[stuart thompson]

Originally Posted by Greem

If you could arrange for all of the neighbours of every other circuit in the UK to ignore the noise and the huge numbers of spectators, go for it!

The planning people and the various restrictions they've imposed on all the other circuits might want to have a chat though...

Sad thing is, the circuits in most cases were there before the residents, why buy a house near a race circuit then complain about the noise?

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by stuart thompson

Sad thing is, the circuits in most cases were there before the residents, why buy a house near a race circuit then complain about the noise?

Because all the houses near Airports are sold

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by stuart thompson

Sad thing is, the circuits in most cases were there before the residents, why buy a house near a race circuit then complain about the noise?

I’m not super familiar with the case but I believe that’s what happened with Castle Combe

[antnee]

They buy the house next to a track because it will be cheaper (due to the track proximetry). They then moan enough for the track to get shut down (or no longer have a viable business case) and their house value goes up

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by antnee

They buy the house next to a track because it will be cheaper (due to the track proximetry). They then moan enough for the track to get shut down (or no longer have a viable business case) and their house value goes up

This happened at Brands Hatch and Mallory Park. As you say, why buy a house near a race circuit? NIMBY'S all of them!!!

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by ChrisA

This happened at Brands Hatch and Mallory Park. As you say, why buy a house near a race circuit? NIMBY'S all of them!!!

This is what happened for a number, if not most, short track ovals as well. Although, in one case, Bovingdon which was very popular and where I used to spectate with my boys, they made sure it wasn't a problem by creating a housing estate over it.


(Edit) Sorry that sounds if they built on stilts; they didn't, just removed the track.

[Andrew Abbott]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

This is what happened for a number, if not most, short track ovals as well. Although, in one case, Bovingdon which was very popular and where I used to spectate with my boys, they made sure it wasn't a problem by creating a housing estate over it.


(Edit) Sorry that sounds if they built on stilts; they didn't, just removed the track.

I'm not a fan of misinformation, or things getting warped with time. So here it is - that's not true.

The short track you refer to was here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QCATWq92u7VWss747 and is now used as storage on the former runway, not housing.

The short track was visible on historical aerial imagery in 1999 and remained so until the late 2000s.

Don't wish to sound blunt, just terse and to the point.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by ChrisA

This happened at Brands Hatch and Mallory Park. As you say, why buy a house near a race circuit? NIMBY'S all of them!!!

Like Andrew, I'm also not a fan of misinformation, and as far as Mallory is concerned that's not true. The main source of complaints came from someone who had lived in the neighbouring village for many years.

The complaints were entirely justified. Circuit management had been slowly increase the number of events they held, far beyond the planning restrictions that been in place for some decades. The local council had stopped monitoring the circuit due to funding cutbacks so hadn't noticed or didn't take any action when they should have done.

[S griffin]

I have some sympathy for residents who find the noise to happen more than expected, but a lot of them should know what they are getting into

[Craner Curves]

Pink and green sky last night. Does this mean Tony is back?

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Pink and green sky last night. Does this mean Tony is back?

I'm sure he's coming back with a Kia.

[Pickles]

He was keeping a very low profile this weekend.

[Mike Harte]

I wonder whether one of the teams may consider using the 2024 1 Series BMW that has just been released. Although the basic car is still going to be front drive, they are also keeping the 4 wheel drive version, which I seem to remember from conversations on 10ths means that it can be "converted" to just rear wheel drive.

Or do others feel that the 2026 regulations might possibly ban rear wheel drive create a "level" playing field?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

I wonder whether one of the teams may consider using the 2024 1 Series BMW that has just been released. Although the basic car is still going to be front drive, they are also keeping the 4 wheel drive version, which I seem to remember from conversations on 10ths means that it can be "converted" to just rear wheel drive.

Or do others feel that the 2026 regulations might possibly ban rear wheel drive create a "level" playing field?

I think it is still a transverse engine, so FWD only under NGTC regs.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I think it is still a transverse engine, so FWD only under NGTC regs.

OK, but what difference does it really make when compared to an inline engine? I think that teams are allowed to move the engine by a certain amount, and would assume that they would try to move it back to improve the COG balance, and I would assume that it is easier to move an inline engine backwards than a transverse one? Does this make sense, in which case, why not allow a transverse engine with rear wheel drive?

Or am I on the wrong track?

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

OK, but what difference does it really make when compared to an inline engine? I think that teams are allowed to move the engine by a certain amount, and would assume that they would try to move it back to improve the COG balance, and I would assume that it is easier to move an inline engine backwards than a transverse one? Does this make sense, in which case, why not allow a transverse engine with rear wheel drive?

Or am I on the wrong track?

And with a transverse fittment how does the drive get to the rear axle?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

OK, but what difference does it really make when compared to an inline engine? I think that teams are allowed to move the engine by a certain amount, and would assume that they would try to move it back to improve the COG balance, and I would assume that it is easier to move an inline engine backwards than a transverse one? Does this make sense, in which case, why not allow a transverse engine with rear wheel drive?

Or am I on the wrong track?

The real heart of the matter is in the gearbox.

NGTC cars must have the engine in the same orientation as the roadgoing model.
Cars with a transverse engine must use the P1546 Xtrac gearbox.
The P1546 has an output flange that is integral to the differential and can only deliver to the front wheels.

[crmalcolm]

To put the requirement into pictures - everything in green and beige is mandated in the regulations from control items.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

And with a transverse fittment how does the drive get to the rear axle?

The same way that it does with the road going 4 wheel drive car that's been around for a few years already.

However, crmalcolm has clarified that the regulations mandate a specific gearbox which would appear to to answer why a team couldn't do what I asked about. Unless, of course, they were permitted to use a modified version of that gearbox, which I think would be highly unlikely.

[Mike Harte]

And thanks, crm, for making it quite clear.

I think that it would be good for the series if teams were permitted to innovate around areas such as this. I realise that Sutton was, with his sometimes extraordinary ability, able to almost dominate the championship with the Subaru, but with TOCA's almost unlimited powers to equalise the cars, they could have done something to make it a fairer fight. Yes, said in hindsight, but it was possible.

However, innovation would possibly allow different cars to be entered, because at the moment, in reality, only three seem to be in with a chance of the championship. And that's the BMWs, the Fords and the Cupras and looking at the results so far they are only in the hands of Sutton, Ingram whilst there could be 3 drivers in the BMWs.