Drivers next year?

The Darkness · 18 Sep 2003, 11:19 (Ref:722933)

Does anyone know who will be driving for Vauxhall and MG next year? Hope Yvan, James and Paul stay with Vauxhall. :confused:

pink69 · 18 Sep 2003, 13:36 (Ref:723048)

Bit early to be thinking about next year. This season ain't over with just yet. I doubt we'll hear anything about driver line ups till after the new year, even upto march tme before the series kicks off again!

The Darkness · 18 Sep 2003, 13:56 (Ref:723068)

Good point i'm just a little curious i suppose i always am before the end of a season.

SPARK Msport · 18 Sep 2003, 16:17 (Ref:723183)

Vauxhall should stay the same, MG and Honda might see one driver go, and a new one come up. Have a feeling Collard is looking for a works drive, Matt Neal isnt happy with the reliablity of his Civic, I know Reid and Warren havent had the results they should had got...but I don't expect any big changes for next year.

Reido Rules · 18 Sep 2003, 17:28 (Ref:723252)

I've heard murmerings that a production driver is on his way to a works Vauxhall, but at the moment I'll keep at that.

**Craig** · 18 Sep 2003, 17:31 (Ref:723254)

If you're talking Luke Hines I'd say it was unlikely you'll see him leave the 'Zip Young Guns' backed Barwell outfit.

Craner Curves · 18 Sep 2003, 18:17 (Ref:723303)

Muller to V8 Supercars is a possibility with the 888 owned Team Betta Electrical squad.

speedy king · 18 Sep 2003, 18:26 (Ref:723311)

Quote:

Originally posted by Craig Antill
If you're talking Luke Hines I'd say it was unlikely you'll see him leave the 'Zip Young Guns' backed Barwell outfit.

He can't stay with them forever. Anyway, the point int he Young Guns is to get their drivers in to professional motorsport from karting onwards. so i can't see them (or him) turning down a VX Racing seat

**Craig** · 18 Sep 2003, 18:40 (Ref:723328)

Time will tell I guess

Unless he is offered a fully-paid ride then he'll not be going anywhere & paddock talk suggests this is unlikely.

DSM · 19 Sep 2003, 10:46 (Ref:724008)

Where did Hines's backing come from this year. I was told at the beginning of the year that the drive was put on hold for a while because the funds may have been needed to back Paffet in a Jordan drive (Extremely good source). When that fell through the Barwell deal was back on. Whose was that money and is there enough to buy a seat with Vauxhall?
I wouldn't have though his record was enough to get him a professional drive.

Neil Adams · 19 Sep 2003, 12:09 (Ref:724108)

Hines has shown himself to be fast in comparisom to his more experienced (in btcc anyway)teammate, whos not looked like getting any class wins all year. whilst Hines has 6 wins, and has won championship.

If i was a team manager i definetley be interested it a test at least to see if he is quick in the tourers as well.

On barwells website theres a bit that says "ALL DRIVERS INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING OUR 2004 BTCC PLANS SHOULD CONTACT..." just doesn't sound like they have any definate plans for drivers. One or the other of thems got to be out of a drive.

I think muller will be keen to defend the title (should he win it which he's likely to) hes been with the works vauxhall team for longer than the others i think he's deserved more success

redshoes · 19 Sep 2003, 14:57 (Ref:724302)

Quote:

Originally posted by btcc-thunder
On barwells website theres a bit that says "ALL DRIVERS INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING OUR 2004 BTCC PLANS SHOULD CONTACT..." just doesn't sound like they have any definate plans for drivers. One or the other of thems got to be out of a drive.

It says pretty much the same thing every year. It's highly unlikely that a team like are even remotely close to signing a driver this early.

Whatever Hines does there's still a second car to think about. Don't know what Blencowe's situation is like but I have a feeling he may strugle to find enough sponsorship for a third season, especially as they are running ETCC cars which are likely to require a bigger budget.

Roughly translated it's code for "anyone with a budget please call..."

Super Tourer · 19 Sep 2003, 15:10 (Ref:724317)

Be interesting to see if Muller wants to leave the BTCC should he finally win the title, or stick around to see what develops with the ETCC cars/regs.

Also worth mentioning that the series on offer where you can ply your trade as a paid driver are few and far between, so any factory drivers that choose to leave the BTCC would be competing for only a relative handfull of drivers elsewhere.

KPC · 19 Sep 2003, 18:40 (Ref:724530)

Ah, but Muller has been waited so long for his title... bet he'd like to see that 1 on his car.

**bella** · 19 Sep 2003, 22:23 (Ref:724705)

hines will do whatever his dad says. in the end hines snr has the money and will do whatever's best for luke's career. vauxhall's 3rd seat would not be out of the question.

The Darkness · 20 Sep 2003, 18:31 (Ref:725134)

To be quite Honest thats the first i've heard about luke Hines Possibly moving to Vauxhall?
But i agree with the Muller i think he will want to stay and defend his title thats he's worked so hard for.

racer69 · 21 Sep 2003, 10:53 (Ref:725514)

Muller has been connected with the 888 seat in Australia alongside Paul Radisich.......but so has Rickard Rydell and Laurent Aiello.....

Are MG sticking around?

Reido Rules · 21 Sep 2003, 20:11 (Ref:725775)

I also know that Jason Hughes is hoping to be out in an Astra too next season.

Jamie P-E · 21 Sep 2003, 23:28 (Ref:725922)

[QUOTE]Originally posted by btcc-thunder
[B]Hines has shown himself to be fast in comparisom to his more experienced (in btcc anyway)teammate, whos not looked like getting any class wins all year. whilst Hines has 6 wins, and has won championship.

I would retract that comment regarding Blencowe's lack of pace in the car. Who won race 1 today, who got fastest lap. Alan had less time in the car before the season started so i think that you're a little harsh to say that he hasn't threatend for a class win and as a mate of Alan I know he gives 150% every time he goes out there

**Craig** · 21 Sep 2003, 23:37 (Ref:725926)

Hate to say it but Blencowe has completely underperformed in that car this year. He should have been up there winning races regularly given the kit at his disposal and the team he had behind him. But, at the end of the season, he has one win in the final meeting of the year (after he was gifted the lead when Boardman dropped out) This is really not good enough and I'd be surprised to see him lining up alongside Hines next year, unless he brings a big stack of money with him.

Jamie P-E · 22 Sep 2003, 09:38 (Ref:726161)

He would have passed him anyway he didn't need tom to drop out.

**Craig** · 22 Sep 2003, 11:08 (Ref:726242)

Possibly. But one result over the course of the whole season? He should have won three or four minimum in the car he had inder him.

(having said that, I'm delighted he beat Michael!

)

I do wonder though what results someone like Peter Cate (a Barwell favourite it would seem!) would have scored in that car.

Jamie P-E · 22 Sep 2003, 11:48 (Ref:726292)

At least he's had reliable car.

He is very talented, clean and fair so I know he'll have no trouble finind a drive in 2004

**Craig** · 22 Sep 2003, 11:51 (Ref:726298)

Quote:

Originally posted by Jamie P-E
At least he's had reliable car.

Precisely. And that's what's allowed him to take second in the championship. However I feel he really should have been up there challenging for the title and winning races.

Afraid you're not going to change my view on him - I don't rate him at all - let's leave it at that.

Jamie P-E · 22 Sep 2003, 12:12 (Ref:726315)

You obviously don't know him as well as I do then.

CASE CLOSED

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