BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by Squiggs

No Stephen Jelley on the grid this year...

Not too surprised, think he'll probably go and race GTs. That 4th WSR seat is probably the prime seat that anyone with a healthy budget will be aiming for.

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Squiggs

No Stephen Jelley on the grid this year...

Yes, no surprises there. From his announcement it looks like his 2024 plans will be revealed soon - I wouldn't be surprised if its something in British GT (where he raced from 2011-2012) or even Porsche Carrera Cup GB (where he raced from 2010-2011 and 2015-2016)

[thetool]

Unlike some other announcements this does appear to be a genuine decision to race elsewhere rather than masking budget shortfalls. The Jelley family business is still bringing in more than sufficient funds to cover his racing.

[Sodemo]

I know there was some discussion on ticket prices towards the end of last season when people pointed out that crowds looked a little thin on the ground.

I noticed that for the Donington April round, its £35 in advance for race day. Anyone have any thoughts on that, too much, about right?

[InYourMirrors45]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

I know there was some discussion on ticket prices towards the end of last season when people pointed out that crowds looked a little thin on the ground.

I noticed that for the Donington April round, its £35 in advance for race day. Anyone have any thoughts on that, too much, about right?

It’s usually been about £35 on the gate and about £30-32 in advance. All in all I still think £35 for an adult ticket is great value to watch a day of non stop racing. You pay silly amounts for the British GP Sunday and see about 3 races and have massive gaps in between each one with nothing else going on. On the flip side though I found the support packages to be very dull last year with the loss of the Ginetta juniors and the new series didn’t really add much IMO so I can see why people maybe a little annoyed at the prices going up.

[Sodemo]

The cynic in me might suggest a lower crowd but one that pays more would be preferred by the organisers for a number of reasons.

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

The cynic in me might suggest a lower crowd but one that pays more would be preferred by the organisers for a number of reasons.

I'd agree on that. All well and good lowering the price to tempt a bigger crowd, but it means more public stewards, security, parking attendants etc- which costs more.
Of course we'd all love bigger crowds in terms of the health of the category - watched a few old dvds over Xmas and Donington in particular these days looks dead at the start of a race - but I don't think national racing is going to pull big crowds for a long time yet. It suits me mind, bit easier to get in and out, shorter queues for food (and toilets) not fighting for a decent view and less people who can't be bothered to look after their kids properly! (Grumpy or what?!)

£35 is bang on IMO. I do go to seven or eight rounds, but for many people it's a once a year thing - couple of adults, couple of kids - still cheaper than other comparable activities. Just the last week going to a League One football match was more expensive, and an IMAX cinema for four wasn't far behind a full day at BTCC!

[cos]

2001 was £20 for raceday ticket for Donny. With inflation average 2.7% since then, that is pretty much £35 in today's money.

[Craner Curves]

I don't think we'll see too much entry news for a while yet. That regulations file also mentions the final driver registration date as mid March. A few weeks later than usual.

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

I don't think we'll see too much entry news for a while yet. That regulations file also mentions the final driver registration date as mid March. A few weeks later than usual.

It was March 17th last year.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

I don't think we'll see too much entry news for a while yet. That regulations file also mentions the final driver registration date as mid March. A few weeks later than usual.

Last few year the first round has been pushed back about 3 weeks compared to typical previously, for whatever reason.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

I don't think we'll see too much entry news for a while yet. That regulations file also mentions the final driver registration date as mid March. A few weeks later than usual.

I imagine, certainly if the line-up is unchanged, NAPA, WSR, Excelr8 and Toyota will be doing one announcement to cover the whole line-up, as has been the trend in recent years. So there could only be half a dozen or so to expect.

One Motorsport seems the like the big mystery at the moment?

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by InYourMirrors45

It’s usually been about £35 on the gate and about £30-32 in advance. All in all I still think £35 for an adult ticket is great value to watch a day of non stop racing. You pay silly amounts for the British GP Sunday and see about 3 races and have massive gaps in between each one with nothing else going on.

For some reason I've still got it in my head that a weekend BTCC ticket is £20-25, even though I know it's not been that for years.

Last time I paid to go to the British GP was qualifying Saturday in 1996 - there was a particular support race I wanted to see. That ticket was £30 for the day. Just checked how much the equivalent one day ticket would cost this year

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

https://www.touringcartimes.com/2024/01/22/wsr-aiming-to-be-back-where-we-should-be-in-2024/

Interesting piece with Dick Bennett's , new engine for the BMW for this season too.

Is he assuming NAPA have just gone on Holiday?

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by Evantra

One Motorsport seems the like the big mystery at the moment?

Jade Edwards posted something on Instagram yesterday to suggest that she and Josh Cook would be teammates again this year.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by redshoes

For some reason I've still got it in my head that a weekend BTCC ticket is £20-25, even though I know it's not been that for years.

Last time I paid to go to the British GP was qualifying Saturday in 1996 - there was a particular support race I wanted to see. That ticket was £30 for the day. Just checked how much the equivalent one day ticket would cost this year

I still have some ticket stubs from the BTCC 1998 season, I think some race day tickets were £15.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

I still have some ticket stubs from the BTCC 1998 season, I think some race day tickets were £15.

I'm old enough to remember when you could have an all day spectator ticket for 10 bob note in old money (50p) plus another half-crown, which was 2/6d (12.5p), for admittance to the paddock. And that would be for major meetings such as a GP or something like the BOAC 500 or 1000.

I usually go to at least one BTCC meeting a year and I've not noticed much reduction in the crowd; last year at Oulton was rammed.

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

I'm old enough to remember when you could have an all day spectator ticket for 10 bob note in old money (50p) plus another half-crown, which was 2/6d (12.5p), for admittance to the paddock. And that would be for major meetings such as a GP or something like the BOAC 500 or 1000.

I usually go to at least one BTCC meeting a year and I've not noticed much reduction in the crowd; last year at Oulton was rammed.

Attended Thruxton with my Dad who has been going for almost 40-years and we couldn't remember a meeting that busy either.

I think there is, not incorrectly, some negative commentary about issues in the championship at present but I don't think it is anywhere near being in a 'bad' situation, simply evolving. Given global events, it is remarkable it is still as strong and well-supported as it is.

[stuart thompson]

Brands final certainly felt a little bit emptier last year, I suppose it’s because we pretty much knew the champion before they started.

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by BtccLee

Attended Thruxton with my Dad who has been going for almost 40-years and we couldn't remember a meeting that busy either.

I think there is, not incorrectly, some negative commentary about issues in the championship at present but I don't think it is anywhere near being in a 'bad' situation, simply evolving. Given global events, it is remarkable it is still as strong and well-supported as it is.

Thruxton was rammed! And it didn't seem to be just because of the weather being so good. It seemed, from my experience, that there were a lot of first timers - which is a positive sign, although there were more than a few comments about toilets.

Conversely, I thought both Donington rounds seemed to be rather empty away from the outside of Craners. Inside of Craners was very dearth compared to the last couple of seasons, but neither came with a decent weather forecast or decent weather.

Silverstone compared to pre-Covid was the worst I'd seen I think (I did notice many, many complaints on social media from fans put off by the ticketing - which I'm sure I've seen is changing again this year.

Knockhill was packed and Croft was quite full (I think both have a high amount of pre-sales compared to MSV/Silverstone, so they're always going to have a buzz) I didn't do Oulton this year, but it looked quite full on TV. Snetterton seemed to mirror Thruxton. Brands Indy I thought was not as full as normal, the Brands Final round was a strange one. I thought there would have been a few more there because of the hot weather - apart from around Paddock Hill and the hairpin it seemed a bit low. The GP section was much more empty than I thought it would be - but as stated above it was a foregone conclusion.

I don't think BTCC is in dire straits, in the past I've moaned about how lots of things are not being pushed, but I think this year will see a change in attitude. I think the chamionship knows they need to act to protect what they have, and if they don't it'll be easier to slip down the slope than to climb it.

[billy bleach]

Silverstone compared to pre-Covid was the worst I'd seen I think (I did notice many, many complaints on social media from fans put off by the ticketing - which I'm sure I've seen is

I don't think BTCC is in dire straits, in the past I've moaned about how lots of things are not being pushed, but I think this year will see a change in attitude. I think the chamionship knows they need to act to protect what they have, and if they don't it'll be easier to slip down the slope than to climb it.[/QUOTE]

Maybe Silverstone should take a look at how other tracks treat their customers. Being made to park outside and have to walk miles to see anything, grumpy staff / security, overpriced poor quality catering, poor viewing . Its not got a lot going for it really

[tocatrucky]

Josh Price seems to be aiming for a return.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by tocatrucky

Josh Price seems to be aiming for a return.

Has he raced much since BTCC? I don’t think I’ve seen him in anything since, I think 2018 was his last year?

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Silverstone compared to pre-Covid was the worst I'd seen I think (I did notice many, many complaints on social media from fans put off by the ticketing - which I'm sure I've seen is

I don't think BTCC is in dire straits, in the past I've moaned about how lots of things are not being pushed, but I think this year will see a change in attitude. I think the chamionship knows they need to act to protect what they have, and if they don't it'll be easier to slip down the slope than to climb it.

Maybe Silverstone should take a look at how other tracks treat their customers. Being made to park outside and have to walk miles to see anything, grumpy staff / security, overpriced poor quality catering, poor viewing . Its not got a lot going for it really[/QUOTE]

Silverstone has been poor for a while in my humble opinion. They never let an opportunity to rinse the consumer slip them by. Also the security they hire are overzealous and i'd argue pointless. Why do they need to hire security anyway, never had any security when I have been to other circuits?

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Maybe Silverstone should take a look at how other tracks treat their customers.

Silverstone has been poor for a while in my humble opinion. They never let an opportunity to rinse the consumer slip them by. Also the security they hire are overzealous and i'd argue pointless. Why do they need to hire security anyway, never had any security when I have been to other circuits?

And there is the place in a nutshell.