2024 BTCC Round One - Donington

[Mike Harte]

Thankfully the BARC has actually updated the website with the timetable for this opening round of the season ( https://www.barc.net/event/toca-race...l-april-27-28/ )- TOCA are yet to update their site with the full information of teams, drivers or timetables. So much for their new media representative.

Anyway, qualifying on Saturday is showing as happening from 15:25 to 16:20.

The first BTCC race on Sunday will be at 11:30.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Thankfully the BARC has actually updated the website with the timetable for this opening round of the season ( https://www.barc.net/event/toca-race...l-april-27-28/ )- TOCA are yet to update their site with the full information of teams, drivers or timetables. So much for their new media representative.

Anyway, qualifying on Saturday is showing as happening from 15:25 to 16:20.

The first BTCC race on Sunday will be at 11:30.

TOCA only ever publishes its final timetables on the Tuesday of the week before the event, so nothing unusual there.

[thetool]

Typically a full set of provisional timetables would be made available for the season on or around media day.

[Craner Curves]

I bet the weather is changeable! As for winners, that might be a bit more random.

[SSmith]

ITV4 broadcast is 10.40am - 6.45pm, so looks like we'll get 10 races on TV (3 BTCC, 2 PCCGB, 2 Legends, 1 F4, 1 Radical & 1 Mini Challenge)

[coffinpilot]

ITV Sport Youtube channel has a placeholder for live qualifying coverage.
I suppose that confirms a continuation, and I expect there will be a few mentions of the races being live on TikTok during that commentary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h12VWlSU-_s

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

ITV Sport Youtube channel has a placeholder for live qualifying coverage.
I suppose that confirms a continuation, and I expect there will be a few mentions of the races being live on TikTok during that commentary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h12VWlSU-_s

the info is on the btcc site

https://btcc.net/tv/

[CarfanLUFC]

Despite all the upheaval and the reduced entry list I cannot wait for this.

[antnee]

Originally Posted by CarfanLUFC

Despite all the upheaval and the reduced entry list I cannot wait for this.

It's funny to think that it seems like there has been lots of change, but actually there isn't that much - just people leaving

Napa - no changes
Hyundai - no changes
WSR - no changes, 1 driver less
PMR - no changes, 1 driver less
Hard - no changes, 5 drivers less
Toyota - all change (drivers)
Restart - all new
One Motorsport - gone

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by antnee

It's funny to think that it seems like there has been lots of change, but actually there isn't that much - just people leaving

Napa - no changes
Hyundai - no changes
WSR - no changes, 1 driver less
PMR - no changes, 1 driver less
Hard - no changes, 5 drivers less
Toyota - all change (drivers)
Restart - all new
One Motorsport - gone

HARD - 6 drivers less
Un-Limited - new

[Matt K]

Yeah, if HARD remained with 6 cars the grid numbers would be still very healthy. On the other hand though, do we want such a dysfunctional team in the BTCC? I don't. The show can still be good with 20 cars even though it'd feel small and poor (especially in the beginning). Let's just stay hopeful that we'll see slight increase in 2025 with quality staying as high (or even higher) as is now.

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Matt K

Yeah, if HARD remained with 6 cars the grid numbers would be still very healthy. On the other hand though, do we want such a dysfunctional team in the BTCC? I don't. The show can still be good with 20 cars even though it'd feel small and poor (especially in the beginning). Let's just stay hopeful that we'll see slight increase in 2025 with quality staying as high (or even higher) as is now.

Agreed, I'm really excited about the new season, we've got all the usual suspects up the front but with some who could pull a few surprises. Its good to have a genuine underdog for the fans to get behind and maybe Un-Limited will take that position, Deleon is inexperienced but he's no slouch. The thing with HARD was they were always saying they were a small family team, how can that be the case when they were the largest team on the grid (in terms of car numbers)

[InYourMirrors45]

Originally Posted by CarfanLUFC

Despite all the upheaval and the reduced entry list I cannot wait for this.

I think peoples differing opinions on the reduced entry list is probably determined by ‘how much of a fan you are’. By that I mean your average fan who watches on TV and rarely attends a race or perhaps your someone that attends religiously and never misses a meeting. Personally I fall some where in the middle of those 2. Usually attend 7 meetings a year, missing out the likes of Croft, oulton and knockhill as there a fair distance away. So I think if your trackside your really going to notice the difference in grid size this year. From the TV however I don’t think much will change. For that very reason I’ll be attending 1 or 2 less meetings this year.

[steve_r]

Originally Posted by InYourMirrors45

I think peoples differing opinions on the reduced entry list is probably determined by ‘how much of a fan you are’. By that I mean your average fan who watches on TV and rarely attends a race or perhaps your someone that attends religiously and never misses a meeting. Personally I fall some where in the middle of those 2. Usually attend 7 meetings a year, missing out the likes of Croft, oulton and knockhill as there a fair distance away. So I think if your trackside your really going to notice the difference in grid size this year. From the TV however I don’t think much will change. For that very reason I’ll be attending 1 or 2 less meetings this year.

By attending 7 meetings a year, I think that most people would put you in the super fan category, and not in the middle ground!

[SSmith]

Entry List

https://www.barc.net/wp-content/uplo...d-25042024.pdf

As ever, what is listed on the entry is provisional.

BTCC - 20

MINI Challenge - 21 (16 JCW + 5 JCW Sport)

Quite a strong field. Dan Zelos undeniably the favourite, but King, Wheatley, Tanner, Gravett, Osborne and Hall should all be frontrunners. Matt Hammond is competing for EXCELR8 (entry list says team is TBC). JCW Sport is a questionable addition (IMO) but has attracted some decent competitors. Hannah Chapman is competing as a guest entry in JCW Sport with a biofuel/sustainable fuel car.

PCCGB - 24 (12 Pro, 10 Pro-Am, 2 Am)
Seemingly several changes since Media Day. Will Martin returns to GB with Eden Race Drive, increasing the Pro class to 12. Late entries from Henry Dawes (Century) and Will Aspin (Eden Race Drive) boost Pro-Am up to 10 entries. It is virtually impossible to predict a champion in either class. Still only 2 Ams and, with the utmost respect to Hosking, it is likely a bit of a foregone conclusion in favour of Mowle.

British F4 - 22
Strong national and international mix. 4 women competitors (Pulling, Chong, Lloyd, and Gademan). Deagen Fairclough is perhaps the favourite for the title, but there are at least 10 drivers capable of winning races.

Legends - 32
Radical Cup UK - 24 (8 SR1 + 16 SR3)
Fields look competitive and a few familiar names from their previous TOCA appearances. Hopefully the racing proves to be good.

[cxx666]

Originally Posted by InYourMirrors45

I think peoples differing opinions on the reduced entry list is probably determined by ‘how much of a fan you are’. By that I mean your average fan who watches on TV and rarely attends a race or perhaps your someone that attends religiously and never misses a meeting. Personally I fall some where in the middle of those 2. Usually attend 7 meetings a year, missing out the likes of Croft, oulton and knockhill as there a fair distance away. So I think if your trackside your really going to notice the difference in grid size this year. From the TV however I don’t think much will change. For that very reason I’ll be attending 1 or 2 less meetings this year.

I'll second the super fan thing. Given how many I've seen on Facebook and Reddit posting asking questions that have been asked already, or can easily be answered with a quick Googling, I'd say there are an awful lot more 'occasional' fans who just dip in and out.

Personally, I watch live on TV when I can (work permitting) and for the last 15 years or so have gone to 3 weekends a year, and 1 or 2 from 1999 to 2009. I'd have thought that 3 a year might be slightly higher than the 'average' fan, but definitely not in the category of super fan. Grid sizes aren't concerning me, I understand why they're down on previous years and that championships will naturally have years where they dip slightly. As I have seen on Facebook, all those getting ready to write the championship off with 20 on the grid for the start of the year clearly weren't around at the start of the BTC era where we had less than half that at the start with numbers later being boosted by creating the production class, essentially killing off what I believe was the National Saloon Championship?

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by SSmith

Entry List

https://www.barc.net/wp-content/uplo...d-25042024.pdf

Great they’ve all made it into the 20s, was worried about the Minis. Looking forward to it.

Almost a bit strange that BTCC has the least of them all!

[coffinpilot]

On the watching from trackside thing, I suppose it is down to the track as well. Brands Indy/Knockhill will be fine, Snett and Donington National may look a little sparse.

I do 8 rounds a year - but it's my photography hobby, and one of my kids works in the paddock!

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Great they’ve all made it into the 20s, was worried about the Minis. Looking forward to it.

Almost a bit strange that BTCC has the least of them all!

MINI entry should grow in season - there is one car that isn’t present for Donington but should be out from round two (touch wood)

[coffinpilot]

Can anyone tell me why Hugo Ellis in PCCB has C for his number on the entry list?

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Can anyone tell me why Hugo Ellis in PCCB has C for his number on the entry list?

Pass - he’s running #8 today

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Great they’ve all made it into the 20s, was worried about the Minis. Looking forward to it.

Almost a bit strange that BTCC has the least of them all!

Yes a little strange, but should definitely be a good weekend!

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

MINI entry should grow in season - there is one car that isn’t present for Donington but should be out from round two (touch wood)

That is encouraging to hear. I seem to recall reading (in Autosport or on the Mini Challenge website) that Trevor Keates and the Mannpower team were interested in JCW, and I wonder if a few people are waiting to see how the JCW Sport cars perform on track before committing.

[AJD]

On the subject of attending meetings. I'm a regular at Croft and go every year. Have done Knockhill and Donington, where would people suggest as a good choice for a change of scenery this season?

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by AJD

On the subject of attending meetings. I'm a regular at Croft and go every year. Have done Knockhill and Donington, where would people suggest as a good choice for a change of scenery this season?

Oulton Park or Snetterton are worth a look. Silverstone is pretty terrible both for atmosphere and viewing

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by AJD

On the subject of attending meetings. I'm a regular at Croft and go every year. Have done Knockhill and Donington, where would people suggest as a good choice for a change of scenery this season?

Definitely Oulton or Snett, both great tracks to watch at. Snett just too far for me to go very often!