Chilton close to works Honda deal

Reido Rules · 24 Oct 2002, 18:13 (Ref:412462)

Tom Chilton is soon to be confirmed in a third works Honda it is believed although Tom, and his agent refused to confirm or deny this, Honda has confirmed that a heavily backed young gun is expected to be on their books for 2002, insiders beleive that the deal is all but sealed, and the final deal is soon to be announced.

It is believed that Chiltons replacement at Barwell could be Simon Graves who may have found a way to attract his initial sponsors to stump up the cash. This rumour has little founding, and no statement. But with Graves previous connections with the outfit it seems logical, this is backed up by the drivers recent call ups for testing by the team.

Turkington Fan · 24 Oct 2002, 19:34 (Ref:412550)

How will he replace Chilton if Chilton owns his car though?

Jimeth · 24 Oct 2002, 21:11 (Ref:412633)

good point. and, its another case of money getting a drive cos to be fair Chilton didn't exactly said the world on fire last year. I'm not bashing him, i'm sure other ppl would do the same given the money, just saying there are possibly more talented drivers out there who deserve the 3rd honda seat.

Reido Rules · 24 Oct 2002, 21:38 (Ref:412652)

I guess that Graves or his backers will just purchase the car of Chilton, because if he has a Honda drive, why would he want a two year old Astra??? Not really that Complex.

Or Barwell may decide to just go and buy the other two cars from this year, leaving Chiltons car left in a shed.

Turkington Fan · 24 Oct 2002, 21:52 (Ref:412665)

I'd rather see Chilton than Boardman in a BTC-T car though. Especially a factory one.

Speeddemon555 · 25 Oct 2002, 03:29 (Ref:412838)

Honda is going to make a challenge on Vauxhall in 2003.

BootsOntheSide · 25 Oct 2002, 12:19 (Ref:413099)

The upside of this rumour is the chance of seeing Graves in a BTC-T car, as discussed recently he's a driver who's talent greatly outstrips his finance (Chilton and Boardman are the opposite). I wouldn't be surprised if Honda don't go doewn the Egg:Sport / TAK route for next year, and get outside funding for a satellite team. Chilton alongside a young talented driver might be the approach, as MG did with Howell and Turkington next year. Having only one extra car seems half-hearted, unless that's all the funding they can get.

Jimeth · 25 Oct 2002, 15:49 (Ref:413336)

yeah it seems having two seperate teams seems to be the way ppl are going these days: Vauxhall and Egg, MG and TAK. As opposed to 2000 where the teams had three cars. However, Honda could just run a third car, they did for a few races in 99 for Tarquini.

speedy king · 25 Oct 2002, 15:59 (Ref:413346)

Good for chilton, my views on him are very high, view my thread about him in the BTCC discussion forum on Toca Tour

Reido Rules · 25 Oct 2002, 17:57 (Ref:413477)

Chilton did surpass most expectations, but I just think that a Manufacturer would go with someone who is proven and strong, you look at their squad, yes they have 2 great drivers, who are quick, but no real legend like Leslie, Reid or Muller who can help set the car up, and develop it further using their experiance. I just can't see how appointing Chilton will helpt he team become more competitive. He's fairly quick, but he was well beaten by Slight over the course of a season.

As regards to Boardman he is very good on his day, but sometimes his a bit too enthusiastic for his own good and a bit too over zealous. But he does have one thing you can't teach or learn and that's determination.

Reido Rules · 25 Oct 2002, 17:59 (Ref:413484)

I don't think that it will be a satelight team, I see it just as a third car, and that's what Honda have said, so I doubt we'll be seeing a fourth car.

Chilton driving a Beacon prepared satelight car along with Spencer Marsh is the only way it will happen, but I know that that is not happing.

speedy king · 25 Oct 2002, 21:07 (Ref:413648)

Chilton has a deploma in Motorsport engineering!

Reido Rules · 25 Oct 2002, 21:22 (Ref:413662)

You can't teach a driver experiance, a driver has to know from experiance, not from a classroom, how his car is feeling etc.

speedy king · 27 Oct 2002, 14:49 (Ref:414712)

ye, so if he don't get another drive then he'll never be experienced just like everyone else wouldn't be experienced if they were not given a second chance

Reido Rules · 27 Oct 2002, 16:07 (Ref:414769)

But a works team looking to challenge that has two good drivers, but neither have great Touring car pedigree or experiance, so I would have thought Honda would have seeked an old master.

Chilton does need experiance, but I would reccomend him more to vauxhall or MG, who have some great depth already. Tom needs to learn from the best.

**touringlegend** · 27 Oct 2002, 19:30 (Ref:414910)

I think Honda have got their performance very good already. Priaulx and Morrison are more than capable of getting that car good (as they have done) plus Will Hoy was there to give advice this year.

Reido Rules · 27 Oct 2002, 21:10 (Ref:414983)

Spose your right, if will stays then I see no problem.

rick vaux · 27 Oct 2002, 21:43 (Ref:415016)

Regardless of who is in what car, good luck to the two of them, Gravesy is a gutsy driver who will ring the last knockins out of a car, expect to see him up there next year, and Tom, if Tom can learn from his team mates, then Andy P will be the person to teach him, this will be the turning point to a career which i think will go all the way to the top...

Sim_Da_BTCC_Man · 27 Oct 2002, 21:47 (Ref:415021)

Do you know what I would Realy like to see. Will Hoy in a fourth Honda. I don't think it would happen but I think Will would do well.

rick vaux · 27 Oct 2002, 21:59 (Ref:415030)

And commentating at the same time, Stancolm styly....

**touringlegend** · 27 Oct 2002, 22:09 (Ref:415039)

Sim, that'd definitely make my day seeing Will Hoy race. I've only seen him once race at a circuit in person, that was in 1999 at Knockhill in the Laguna, which seemed painfully slow that day.

redshoes · 27 Oct 2002, 22:12 (Ref:415046)

Highly unlikely though

**touringlegend** · 27 Oct 2002, 22:20 (Ref:415054)

Sadly highly unlikely

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