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24 May 2009, 14:56 (Ref:2468275) | #1 | |
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BMW to quit the WTCC?
I think they will see out this year, but won't be back:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/75577 |
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24 May 2009, 15:10 (Ref:2468282) | #2 | ||
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Hmm, I wonder what other categories they are talking about. Probably BTCC, I would think.
I still don't see them in DTM. |
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24 May 2009, 15:11 (Ref:2468284) | #3 | ||
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Well they say they want to remain in Touring cars. The closest to WTCC would naturally be BTCC or another 2L category. I wonder though how much of a stretch it would be for them to enter something like the IRC
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24 May 2009, 16:35 (Ref:2468324) | #4 | ||
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A sign of things to come?
http://www.btccpages.com/features/1/...s-really-good/ I think the last BMW to win at Donington was in ’93 and it was a Schnitzer BMW”, enthused Bartrum at the end of the Donington weekend. “We’ve just won with an ‘09 Schnitzer car powered by a Schnitzer engine, which I’m really pleased about from Charly [Lamm]’s point of view.” |
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24 May 2009, 16:59 (Ref:2468334) | #5 | |
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If there's no BTCC factory teams, what would be the point of a works BMW team?
Would surely make more sense to lend more support to customers, though that may take them out the Indie category. |
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24 May 2009, 17:03 (Ref:2468335) | #6 | ||
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they might goto BTCC, but I doubt it would be the same sort of set up. BTCC doesnt get massive coverage outside the UK, so it would be hard for BMW to justify more than, say a 3 entry team, particuarly when they already have 4 quick privateer cars, getting them exposure...which they dont pay for (and in fact make money out of it).
I suspect they would split their efforts with some sort of GT racing, eithe with the M3 GT2 or the GT4 machine. |
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24 May 2009, 17:03 (Ref:2468336) | #7 | ||
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They could drop the manufacturer bid and still run the individual teams in the indie category as RBM, ROAL and Schnitzer.
Or even they could part sponsor RBM to run in the BTCC |
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24 May 2009, 18:15 (Ref:2468360) | #8 | |
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If the rumours of them leaving F1 are true as well there's going to be a lot of BMW motorsport budget going spare next year.
I don't see them throwing money at a full-on BTCC programme. With no factory competition they would be expected to win so would gain very little if they did but would be left with a lot of egg on their face if they didn't. More support of the likes of Airwaves and RAC maybe but not a proper works team. There's a fledgling ALMS GT programme, I can see the likes of Schnitzer get sent over there. |
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24 May 2009, 18:41 (Ref:2468364) | #9 | |||
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The WTCC BMW teams have already proved they can't work together so I can't see them doing the same in the BTCC. |
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24 May 2009, 18:49 (Ref:2468368) | #10 | ||
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Because of the silhouette formula I don't see them join DTM. And threaten to leave a series is always a good way to influence organizers. |
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24 May 2009, 19:27 (Ref:2468384) | #11 | ||
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I think animal testing is a terrible idea: they all get nervous and give the wrong answers...! ...........Steven Fry |
24 May 2009, 22:15 (Ref:2468484) | #12 | |
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24 May 2009, 23:56 (Ref:2468512) | #13 | ||
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Dr Theissen is probably talking about leaving the Wtcc as a manufacturer and enter 3 independent cars, well, semi-works. I imagine one per team (1 for Schnitzer, 1 for ROAL, 1 for RBM).
But what sense would it make? You leave the championship and make your customers fight for the indies title: what happens then is that the audiences see SEAT, Chevy or even Lada winning(!), and they see the BMWs losing because they have no works support. The big crowds probably don't understand the difference between works and privateer drivers, why should they if BMW withdraw? I hope BMW stay. Even now, without works Alfas in the field, it's hard to believe that such a historic brand is out of the races: if BMW quit, and Chevy do, as it seems, Wtcc is dead and we can kiss goodbye our beloved championship. Guys, let's be honest, most of us are in love with this sport and this championship, and when you're in love you tend to forget the bad stuff and concentrate on the good things that happen. I'm sure we would, if they fix this thing up. I fully share Theissen's views on the situation: none of SEAT's fault, it's the FIA that is handling this thing in the worst possible way. I believe SEAT are not blaming BMW either, at least I hope so: lots of people are investin huge amounts of money and human resources to keep this championship alive, and defending their interest is their right, definitely. Both SEAT and BMW |
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F-E-A-R: False Evidence Appearing Real (A.Priaulx) Stubborn As A Mule No Fear - No Limits - No Equal |
24 May 2009, 23:58 (Ref:2468514) | #14 | ||||
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Quote:
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F-E-A-R: False Evidence Appearing Real (A.Priaulx) Stubborn As A Mule No Fear - No Limits - No Equal |
25 May 2009, 00:28 (Ref:2468525) | #15 | |
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Don't have to be much of a prophet to be spot-on with those thoughts.
The BMW boss said in that story that they wouldn't necessarily have works efforts in any touring car championship but would lend support to their customer teams that are already in them. |
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25 May 2009, 00:33 (Ref:2468527) | #16 | ||
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I really don't know where they'd go...the new GT world championship might be a possibility with a big maybe. |
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25 May 2009, 08:46 (Ref:2468620) | #17 | ||
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If BMW puts a lot of effort in for instance the Fia GT-series, that will increase the series exposure, while at the same time the WTCC will suffer if BMW stops giving it attention. The GT-series may overtake the WTCC in importance and mediaattention.
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25 May 2009, 09:03 (Ref:2468632) | #18 | ||
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Maybe DTM is so desperate to get BMW (or a 3rd manufacturer in general) on board they switch to production based racing.
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25 May 2009, 11:22 (Ref:2468703) | #19 | |||
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Sorry, still can't think of a Wtcc without BMW, SEAT and Chevy. We already had to go through Alfa Romeo withdrawing (which made no sense, as no FIAT are running the Abarth in the Italian rallies with a works project and it has much less following and still big costs). Let's just hope for the best... |
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F-E-A-R: False Evidence Appearing Real (A.Priaulx) Stubborn As A Mule No Fear - No Limits - No Equal |
25 May 2009, 12:34 (Ref:2468735) | #20 | ||
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Yes, BMW leaving would be very bad for the series.
Losing Alfa was bad, but BMW going would be very bad. |
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25 May 2009, 13:10 (Ref:2468751) | #21 | ||
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F-E-A-R: False Evidence Appearing Real (A.Priaulx) Stubborn As A Mule No Fear - No Limits - No Equal |
25 May 2009, 13:33 (Ref:2468761) | #22 | ||
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Regardless of if its the BTCC, STCC or wherever he clearly said they may look at supporting their customers (which in the BTCC would be RAC & Airwaves) rather than competing as a factory team. Excellent news for those teams if it happens. |
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25 May 2009, 14:51 (Ref:2468793) | #23 | ||
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25 May 2009, 16:37 (Ref:2468842) | #24 | |
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Sprint races are much easier to televise and probably that's why WTCC races are so short. Remember, there must be time for tennis and football on the Sunday afternoon.
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25 May 2009, 16:58 (Ref:2468859) | #25 | ||
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There's no reason to continue with ROAL and RBM when Schnitzer is BMW Motorsport, and the one car per team thing would probably be the least effective and most expensive way of doing it. Maybe dropping RBM and ROAL and having Schnitzer run Muller, Farfus and Priaulx would be their best option, but then SEAT would have too many more cars so an advantage, unless they dropped ORECA.
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