Seat/BMW to enter BTCC?

**Craig** · 23 Jul 2003, 20:52 (Ref:669772)

So Motorsport News is giving credence to the rumours that Seat and BMW will enter the 2004 BTCC with their ETCC spec cars. These rumours are gaining momentum - but is it really gonna happen?? The rumours suggest that each manufacturer will also gain a slot on the TOCATour package for their own series - Formula BMW and the Seat Cupra Cup. Now I think Seat being involved would be great - anyone who's seen the efforts they put in to promote their series can only be good for TOCATour - we'll see I guess!

andy_b · 23 Jul 2003, 21:03 (Ref:669780)

the Cupra championship 1st prize is a 1yrs works ETCC drive with Seat Sport UK. Not sure they would be able to change there minds, so maybe they will be in both. Dont forget there are already four ETCC chassis about (2x STCC,2x ETCC) so its quite easy for SEAT to build more.

rdjones · 23 Jul 2003, 21:20 (Ref:669789)

I hope it happens - it will be good to see the BMW back in the BTCC, as for Seat why not......

**Craig** · 23 Jul 2003, 21:22 (Ref:669791)

I guess it would depend on what package were offered to the winner... if they offered them a place in the BTCC, alongside JP, and 50k in the bank... hmmm.

Does the Formula BMW series fit into the MSA's new 'matrix' thingy though? If not, then it can't have a lot on the TOCA package, can it?

Les · 23 Jul 2003, 21:38 (Ref:669801)

and becareful of the Seat village - it is so big there won't be room for anything else. It will have to replace something

**Craig** · 23 Jul 2003, 21:43 (Ref:669808)

With a bit of luck the Porsche Cup will go join the GTs - would surely suit both 'packages' to swap saloons for sportscars.

Craner Curves · 23 Jul 2003, 21:43 (Ref:669809)

Porsches probably.........

paulzinho · 23 Jul 2003, 22:36 (Ref:669849)

If these enter will any other manufacturers leave? Proton and the Pugs would face becoming obsolete.

**touringlegend** · 23 Jul 2003, 22:56 (Ref:669858)

Not too sure if that'd be the case Paul. Proton are meant to still be around next year anyway on their 3rd year and I hope they are far closer to the front of the field too.

I'd love to see BMW back but the likelihood is we'll have some 320's in next year regardless of whether they're works or not - or perhaps Edenbridge would be getting backing from the manufacturer - I keep wondering why they seem to so quick in beginning to build their BMW for 2004.

Seat, as Craig said seem to get right behind anything they do, I'd like to see how their Toledo could get on in the BTCC. Plus, that'd be the return of JP of course..

sceptic · 24 Jul 2003, 10:32 (Ref:670139)

I don't think the Porsches will move to support F3/GT - unless they get more entries there won't be a Porsche Cup in future - they haven't been given a slot on the MSA ladder system.

However I also don't think TOCA would replace Porsche with Seat and the Seats and Clios are too similar - I suspect that if Seat and BMW support races come in, it will be at the expense of Clio and F. Renault.

Jonny Apex · 24 Jul 2003, 12:38 (Ref:670230)

I think not.

speedy king · 24 Jul 2003, 13:08 (Ref:670277)

F.Ford and Porsches hopefully.....

**bella** · 24 Jul 2003, 13:53 (Ref:670313)

speedy's correct, ffords are very much on their way out (i can think of at least 3 major teams that will pull out to change championships), and porsches seem to be a very weak championship that only apply to a very select bunch of racers.

bmw would replace fords quite nicely i think, and seats would slot in just above clios in the one make ladder.

gttouring · 24 Jul 2003, 15:25 (Ref:670400)

isn't the introduction of 2 new manufacturers into the BTCC the real exciting part? Who cares aout the support races, they can just use those bloated T-cars as a pre race 10 lapper.
I would love to see the BTCC be a full factory grid, we just need Nissan, a proper accord from honda, Saab, and volvo. and we might be ready

Reido Rules · 24 Jul 2003, 17:33 (Ref:670485)

I just can't see Renault being happy about there being a manufacturer of the calibre of SEAT taking such a huge chunk out of the lime light.

joey1 · 24 Jul 2003, 17:48 (Ref:670490)

having witnessed the seat cupra championship at oulton, it would be great to have this in the toca package.
now what would be good (but would never happen) would be to have a clio-cupra race. where the top 12 finsihers from the clio race and the top 12 finishers from the cupra race joined together. (i can dream)
seat and bmw coming in would be great also.
as mentioned if these two where to commit to the championship then it may encourage other manufacturers to join the championship.

just a thought but hows about bmw entering a mini????

andy_b · 24 Jul 2003, 20:02 (Ref:670553)

i cant see it happening becuase of Renault and as Renault have supported ToCA for donkeys years I cant really see The Cupras moving over. Less likely than SEAT's in BTCC IMHO

It would be a bit weird having the "feeder" series to the BTCC as part of the F3/gt bill, dont you think.

Les · 24 Jul 2003, 21:04 (Ref:670596)

To be honest - has the Clios got any more life to it? I think it has one more year but if it is anything like the Fiestas it was moved on for its last year.

kingsizemars · 24 Jul 2003, 21:44 (Ref:670623)

I think that as a fan of the BTCC i would welcome any more cars to the chamionship as it is getting boring with just Vauxhall, Honda and just about MG winning all the races, add a couple of clios, stick in a couple of BMWs, Seat's and any other car which would help the BTCC back to how it was in the early 90s, back to its prime. Also i would love to see a return for the Peugeot 406 Coupe as the 307 is and wont perfom unless Peugeot stick out a finger and give Vic Lee a hand.

JerH77 · 25 Jul 2003, 18:20 (Ref:671317)

If Seat and BMW enter the BTCC it probably be the first time that the BTCC would have a Spanish manufacturer and the second time that they would have a German manufacturer, Audi being the first.

redshoes · 25 Jul 2003, 18:25 (Ref:671319)

BMW have been in the BTCC many times before so no big deal about being a German manufacturer. SEAT will almost certainly be the first Spainisg manufacturer to enter the BTCC, but then how many other Spanish makes can you name?

kingsizemars · 25 Jul 2003, 20:27 (Ref:671402)

Is there any reason why a Porsche carrera cannot enter the BTCC. We could do wid some big, expensive cars, to publisize it more.

Maisie · 25 Jul 2003, 20:46 (Ref:671414)

Because it's a GT car not a touring car?

speedy king · 25 Jul 2003, 21:02 (Ref:671424)

Quote:

Originally posted by Les
To be honest - has the Clios got any more life to it? I think it has one more year but if it is anything like the Fiestas it was moved on for its last year.

I am very sorry to say that i agree with the above, i am afraid that the clios have probably had it now (great shame

) but the grids are a lot smaller and the Seat championship will undoubtably grow....

We had fiestas, brought in Clios when they were starting up witht he new spec car in 1999 had that through it's limelight, once that got big the fiestas went down, got rid of them, now the clios are going down, the seats have just started and are V good and growing, think the clios will go next year and we will see Seats, or, seatas AND Clios next year, but Clios to go the year after, like what happened between 2000 and 2001 with the fiestas and clios

gttouring · 25 Jul 2003, 22:32 (Ref:671477)

King Sizemars-watch now porsche will enter a VERY low Cayenne adn race it in BTCC, they'll make it lok like a honda and call it Cayenne Estate...
lol
Really what does keep manufacturers from entering the btcc again it is arguably the best touringcar series in the world (aussieV8's are very good though)
when Pug was in it in the 90's with the 406 (?) it was horrible, but they were in it...
It is a great thing for a factory to do if not for anything at least research...

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