[BTCC] BTCC 2022 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[crmalcolm]

Rounds-Date-Venue/Circuit
1,2,3-23/24 April-Donington Park (National)
4,5,6-14/15 May-Brands Hatch (Indy)
7,8,9-28/29 May-Thruxton
10,11,12-11/12 June-Oulton Park (Island)
13,14,15-25/26 June-Croft
16,17,18-30/31 July-Knockhill
19,20,21-13/14 August-Snetterton (300)
22,23,24-27/28 August-Thruxton
25,26,27-24/25 September-Silverstone (National)
28,29,30-8/9 October-Brands Hatch (Grand Prix)

[S griffin]

Was going to say that was quick, but then remembered that due to the season starting late, we are already in June. Nice to see it mixed around a bit, although I wish they would use a second event at Donny, Oulton or Silverstone on a different layout, rather than a second Thruxton meeting again

[CarfanLUFC]

I quite like Thruxton although there is a couple of other tracks I'd rather see get a 2nd date above it.

A 2nd Donington date could possibly use the full track? Or is that not possible with all the support races using that section as make shift garages?

[S griffin]

Come to think about it, they could also use the Snetterton outer circuit

[CarfanLUFC]

Or a 2nd date at Oulton using one of the other layouts.

[Sodemo]

I'd vote for any of the above. I would like to see Oulton Fosters or Snetterton 200. I wonder what happened to the plan of using the Silverstone International Circuit? Has that opportunity vanished now?

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

I'd vote for any of the above. I would like to see Oulton Fosters or Snetterton 200. I wonder what happened to the plan of using the Silverstone International Circuit? Has that opportunity vanished now?

This is what left me wondering as well. Quite a shame to be honest, there aren't many tracks eligible for BTCC but at least this could be some variation. Nothing against Thruxton, it's a fine track but nothing justifies going there twice.
As for Silverstone's international loop it's quite a shame that we were close to seeing BTCC go there and after Covid came there was no word about it anymore.
Probably a reason was mentioned somewhere but my memory may be too short!

[VIVA GT]

Could the double visit to Thruxton have anything to do with it also being the BARC's own circuit?

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

Could the double visit to Thruxton have anything to do with it also being the BARC's own circuit?

There’s no other reason.

[Greem]

Originally Posted by CarfanLUFC

A 2nd Donington date could possibly use the full track? Or is that not possible with all the support races using that section as make shift garages?

No, they use the paddock for that; on National Circuit days the Loop is used as the assembly area for support races. For big international meetings on the national circuit the return leg of the Loop is sometimes used for the TV trucks and ancillary bits and pieces.

[AnnoyedMoose]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Come to think about it, they could also use the Snetterton outer circuit

I may have my circuits mixed up but I seem to remember the last time they raced on the 200 rather than 300 it was such a boring race they said they wouldn't do it again.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by AnnoyedMoose

I may have my circuits mixed up but I seem to remember the last time they raced on the 200 rather than 300 it was such a boring race they said they wouldn't do it again.

The series hasn’t used the 200 since the track got changed

[thetool]

Originally Posted by AnnoyedMoose

I may have my circuits mixed up but I seem to remember the last time they raced on the 200 rather than 300 it was such a boring race they said they wouldn't do it again.

That was when they used the full Oulton Park International layout that includes Shell Oil Bend rather than the usual Island layout.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

I wonder what happened to the plan of using the Silverstone International Circuit? Has that opportunity vanished now?

I was thinking the same. 2020 meeting was dropped following the Covid enforced calendar shuffle when supposedly Silverstone had no dates available. I can partly understand why it wasn't back for 2021 with some uncertainty over more Covid restrictions, but I was expecting it back in 2022.

After the big fuss they made when the 2020 date was first announced it all seems to have been quietly swept under the carpet.

[CroftPilgrim]

As much as it would be nice to have a different circuit to Thruxton hosting a second event, it all comes down to who actually wants to or can put a second event on. I know in previous years the option has been there for other circuits but in the absence of any takers, Thruxton gets it

[thetool]

It would be nice for the BARC to get their other main track up to standard again. Pembrey would have a good catchment area of Cardiff and Swansea and there's no other rounds within about 200 miles of there. Would fill a big gap in the series' geographical reach.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by thetool

It would be nice for the BARC to get their other main track up to standard again. Pembrey would have a good catchment area of Cardiff and Swansea and there's no other rounds within about 200 miles of there. Would fill a big gap in the series' geographical reach.

Absolutely agree with that. Probably needs a shed load of money though... last time I was at Pembrey I had hair and it was pretty rundown and basic. Nice track layout, good to drive on and some great viewing points.

[Teletubby]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Absolutely agree with that. Probably needs a shed load of money though... last time I was at Pembrey I had hair and it was pretty rundown and basic. Nice track layout, good to drive on and some great viewing points.

Courtesy of the Welsh Government, Pembrey has hosted zero race meetings in over a year, that's an awful lot of lost revenue. Combine that with the cost of actually hosting a BTCC event vs the number of spectators that would make the journey and I suspect that the sums just don't add up.

[Greem]

Originally Posted by redshoes

After the big fuss they made when the 2020 date was first announced it all seems to have been quietly swept under the carpet.

I would surmise - I definitely don't know this as fact, so take it as read - that the International circuit using the Wing pits is considerably more expensive to hire than the National.

Add to that the relatively small size of the paddock which would push some of the support series over to the National paddock areas and have to move pit equipment, tyres, team personnel between the two (like they do at the Grand Prix) I would imagine that TOCA looked at it and thought.... yeah nah.

[S griffin]

We are still waiting for the Circuit of Wales….

[Sodemo]

Is 2022 the year when the teams need to start running the hybrid kit?

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Greem

Add to that the relatively small size of the paddock which would push some of the support series over to the National paddock areas and have to move pit equipment, tyres, team personnel between the two (like they do at the Grand Prix) I would imagine that TOCA looked at it and thought.... yeah nah.

I had questioned the size of the paddock at the time and assumed that TOCA would have been satisfied it was all ok. I don't think using the National paddock was ever an option - the link road between the two works for the GP but cuts across the International track. Opening and closing the movable concrete barrier is not the work of a moment.

Ironically it would have been easier last year as they would have had much more space in the paddock with no hospitality units.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Is 2022 the year when the teams need to start running the hybrid kit?

Yes, I think so

[Greem]

Yes. It says as much in the press release announcing the calendar.

[Sodemo]

I presume apart from the Toyota test mule any other testing for the main teams has been behind closed doors?