[WTCC] Coronel Credit Crunched

[Hazard]

Looks like Coronel won't get the Indie trophy this year either (now he's finally eligable).

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77994

He'll only race the next two European rounds.

Meaning BMW now a dead cert for the trophy, as Boardman can't do it! Doh! (says SEAT I'm sure).

[redshoes]

Boardman could still do it. Remember you get triple bonus points if you finish in the top eight overall, plus the Macau rounds are double points.

By my calculations there's a possible 364 points up for grabs, so theoretically a driver who hasn't even raced yet could still lift the title. Of course that means winning outright plus pole and fastest lap in every race!

[THIM]

So maybe ot's better for Coronel to drop some european round and go to Macau?

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by THIM

So maybe ot's better for Coronel to drop some european round and go to Macau?

Points wise, it's 200% better. The championship's too close though to expect missing a whole weekend will keep him in contention - unless he just happens to miss that 'really bad weekend'.

[Jon411]

Well there goes my predictions tie breaker then

Maybe with CVR gone (allegedly) from the BTCC we could see a GR-Asia 2 car BTCC team next year with Jones and Coronel (as it was rumoured they were looking at it this year to cut costs).


Its a real shame Tom can't return to Okayama. It looks like we'll have quite a few cars missing from the Asian rounds, we could be left with Porteiro, d'Aste, Boardman, Engstler and Poulsen and the 16 factory cars (plus any Asian entries we may get)

[andy_b]

Originally Posted by Jon411

Maybe with CVR gone (allegedly) from the BTCC

tell me more

[FIRE]

[Jon411]

Originally Posted by andy_b

tell me more

According to posts on the BTCC forum, Cartridge World are backing Adam Jones, and CVR are no more.

http://btcc.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8215

Seeing as there's been no news anywhere official, I thought it was best to put allegedly

[helterskelter]

Originally Posted by THIM

So maybe ot's better for Coronel to drop some european round and go to Macau?

You also have to consider that in Macau anything can happen. Missing 4 races to do 2 of them in a track like the Guia Circuit is not a safe bet at all. Also, Coronel needs to get the best out of his car now to show that he was competitive, notwithstanding his withdrawal due to the financial crisis.

[werner]

What a shame. I think it is best for Coronel to race the races in Germany and Italy, and try very hard to find sponsoring for the last 2 rounds.

[Craner Curves]

Poor Tom. A bitter blow after the highs of an LMS podium with Spyker at the weekend.

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by werner

What a shame. I think it is best for Coronel to race the races in Germany and Italy, and try very hard to find sponsoring for the last 2 rounds.

That's what I was thinking... there's time for him to work on putting a deal together for the Far East, maybe with Asia backers. Having driven in Japan for such a long time, he must be able to rustle up some dosh for a world championship onslaught... unless there's something contractually with SEAT Holland that prevents him from doing so.

I wouldn't have thought him ruled out just yet.

On the other topic... very sad news if the rumor that CVR/Cartridge World are out of the BTCC is true.

[FIRE]

I hope he's able to raise the budget (e.g. Watsons Water, Noble Group, father in law).

[mattt]

Do Seat have branches of business in the far East?

Cause if they did couldn't he try and get support from them.

[davyboy]

No I don't think so. I spent many years in Japan and never saw a single SEAT on the roads in that country.

[THIM]

Originally Posted by helterskelter

You also have to consider that in Macau anything can happen. Missing 4 races to do 2 of them in a track like the Guia Circuit is not a safe bet at all. Also, Coronel needs to get the best out of his car now to show that he was competitive, notwithstanding his withdrawal due to the financial crisis.

I meant dropping one european round. I know, it's closer to go to Oschersleben than Macau, but points are double. I have no idea, what role shipping costs play.

[werner]

Originally Posted by davyboy

No I don't think so. I spent many years in Japan and never saw a single SEAT on the roads in that country.

In theory he does not have to drive a Seat.

[helterskelter]

Originally Posted by THIM

I meant dropping one european round. I know, it's closer to go to Oschersleben than Macau, but points are double. I have no idea, what role shipping costs play.

The crew alone costs at least about 1,500€ each, considering hotel and flight. Shipping the car, the spare parts and all the other stuff is very expensive and then there's the risk of not being able to pick up points in Macau at all. Imagine him dropping Imola and then finding himself with 0 points after Macau. For sure he could still get 103 points there, but I wouldn't risk. Would be great to see him in the Far East events, anyway, just to give the Independents' crown a different taste for the fans, apart from the fact that Tom fully deserves to drive in the Wtcc.

[davyboy]

As a matter of interest, how much are the Far Eastern rounds costing per car ? Or more to the point, how much are the local wildcard drivers paying for a drive at those rounds.

[THIM]

Originally Posted by werner

In theory he does not have to drive a Seat.

So, why doesn't he rent some car in Asia? Maybe he could join some local team/driver, bringing he' experience?

Originally Posted by helterskelter

The crew alone costs at least about 1,500€ each, considering hotel and flight. Shipping the car, the spare parts and all the other stuff is very expensive and then there's the risk of not being able to pick up points in Macau at all. Imagine him dropping Imola and then finding himself with 0 points after Macau. For sure he could still get 103 points there, but I wouldn't risk. Would be great to see him in the Far East events, anyway, just to give the Independents' crown a different taste for the fans, apart from the fact that Tom fully deserves to drive in the Wtcc.

In his "all or nothing" situation, this could work

[helterskelter]

There's still a chance to find some backing to do the rest of the rounds. It wouldn't be a great move to race in a car that is not a Seat, since his backer said they want to continue with him, and it must be his 5th season in a Seat, backed by his actual main sponsor.
The local wildcards are paying much less than the European ones. I already mentioned the crew costs, which are enormous for the European teams.
I suppose a race costs about 25,000€ for the local drivers, including the one-off fee (5,000€), tyres, insurance, accomodation, crew, spare parts, fuel and all the other stuff I can't remember at the moment
I believe Tom is some kind of professional driver in the Wtcc, I believe the sponsors fully back him and he does get some money out of it. This is what I seem to understand, but I may be absolutely wrong!

[davyboy]

During his time in Asia he was certainly a well paid professional, so I'd imagine that he's got a similar, if not as lucrative, arrangement now in the WTCC. It all depends on how important this crown is to him, whether its worth moving mountains and disrupting a cushy number for next year, by 'wildcarding' for the Asian rounds. Personally I hope he does race there as it would be nice to see a tooth and nail fight to the end for the Independent championship, but that's just my personal opinion.

[Lam Pak]

rumour: coronel in wiechers sports

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by Lam Pak

rumour: coronel in wiechers sports

You starting it or hearing it?

[helterskelter]

Tom in a BMW again? As I mentioned before, I migh as well lose his sponsorship from the local SEAT dealer if he 'betrays' SEAT to take this crown. Also, would he be as competitive as he is in the Leòn? He's not raced a BMW for 5 years, so maybe that's not exactly what he needs...