BTCC BTCC 2017 Rumours & Silly Season - Page 71

Racing Harz · 30 Jan 2017, 12:01 (Ref:3707769)

The time has come. Press release written. 4pm tomorrow we announce the 3rd @TeamHardRacing @DunlopBTCC driver for 2017 #rightchoice #BTCC

thlbtcc · 30 Jan 2017, 14:48 (Ref:3707799)

Nice, wonder who that will be...

Rounding out January with a driver announcement. Funny how things have changed in Silly Season. A few short years ago not much would be announced before media day and then a few deals would happen after that! With race one not until April, now we have a steady stream of carefully planned press releases on the run-up to launch day. Excellent.

Steel Wheels · 30 Jan 2017, 21:31 (Ref:3707908)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

The time has come. Press release written. 4pm tomorrow we announce the 3rd @TeamHardRacing @DunlopBTCC driver for 2017 #rightchoice #BTCC

I'll be very surprised if it isn't Jake Hill back for another year, seems he lost out on the Motorbase chance

sceptic · 30 Jan 2017, 23:13 (Ref:3707922)

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5five

It has all gone quiet recently, considering some deals have been announced as 'done' it certainly is taking them a while to announce.

They are trying to avoid a news vacuum in February.
If everything's already announced, why would anyone talk about the BTCC between now and media day?

sceptic · 30 Jan 2017, 23:14 (Ref:3707923)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

I'll be very surprised if it isn't Jake Hill back for another year, seems he lost out on the Motorbase chance

He's also lost out on AmD, and if rumours are to be believed, on 888.

Jiiiiiiim · 31 Jan 2017, 07:48 (Ref:3708021)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sceptic

He's also lost out on AmD, and if rumours are to be believed, on 888.

Yeah he was in demand, but again I think he was hamstrung by his budget, still I think the VW CC with RML kit will still allow him to move up the grid compared to the old Toyota he was peddling the wheels off last year.

Think we might be down to only 3 'free' seats on the grid now! It's no wonder things are quiet news wise, there's still a few good weeks until Media day!

thlbtcc · 31 Jan 2017, 09:39 (Ref:3708037)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sceptic

He's also lost out on AmD, and if rumours are to be believed, on 888.

MG 888 is an interesting one. Same driver line-up as 2016 or an all-new?

Steel Wheels · 31 Jan 2017, 14:11 (Ref:3708097)

Quote:

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

MG 888 is an interesting one. Same driver line-up as 2016 or an all-new?

Rumour back a while was at least one driver change at 888 but am lead to believe it may now be two!

thlbtcc · 31 Jan 2017, 15:25 (Ref:3708110)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

Rumour back a while was at least one driver change at 888 but am lead to believe it may now be two!

Intriguing.

Would be interesting to see what Turkington could do there.

luckn002 · 31 Jan 2017, 15:31 (Ref:3708112)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

The time has come. Press release written. 4pm tomorrow we announce the 3rd @TeamHardRacing @DunlopBTCC driver for 2017 #rightchoice #BTCC

My guess would be either Abbott or Taylor-Smith.

This announcement better be worth it after months of waiting and #excessive #hashtagging!

Craner Curves · 31 Jan 2017, 16:00 (Ref:3708115)

Jake Hill, no surprise there.

Ry44 · 31 Jan 2017, 16:00 (Ref:3708116)

http://www.btcc.net/2017/01/31/jack-...-hard-line-up/

there we have it Jake Hill confirmed for team Hard

porsche962fan · 31 Jan 2017, 16:28 (Ref:3708123)

so much for "new team"....

8 seats in 4 teams left

Team Dynamics - Honda Civic - Matt Neal
Team Dynamics - Honda Civic - Gordon Shedden
Simpson Racing - Honda Civic - Mat Simpson

Eurotech - Honda Civic - Jeff Smith
Eurotech - Honda Civic - Jack Goff

Speedworks - Toyota Avensis - Tom Ingram

Handy Motorsport - Toyota Avensis - Rob Austin

PMR - Vauxhall Astra - Senna Proctor
PMR - vauxhall Astra - Tom Chilton

BMR - Subaru Levorg - Jason Plato
BMR - Subaru Levorg - ?????
BMR - Subaru Levorg - Warren Scott ???
BMR - Subaru Levorg - James Cole ?

888 - MG - Ash Sutton ??
888 - MG - ???

WSR - BMW 125 - Andrew Jordan
WSR - BMW 125 - Rob Collard ????
WSR - BMW 125 - Colin Turkington ????

Motorbase - Ford Focus - Mat Jackson
Motorbase - Ford Focus - Martin Depper
Motorbase - Ford Focus - Luke Davenport

Cicely Racing - Mercedes A-Class - Adam Morgan

Laser Tools - Mercedes A-Class - Aidan Moffat

AMD - Audi S3 - Ollie Jackson
AMD - Audi S3 - Ant Whorton Eales

HARD - VW CC - Will Burns
HARD - VW CC - Mike Epps
HARD - VW CC - Jake Hill

Team Parker Racing - Ford Focus - ?????

Maximum - Ford Focus - Stewart Lines

BTC Norlin - Chevrolet Cruze - Chris Smiley
BTC Norlin - Chevrolet Cruze - Dave Newsham

Alfisti · 31 Jan 2017, 16:32 (Ref:3708126)

Good luck to Jake and Team HARD.

I should reckon that both Jake and Mike Epps will be capable of some good results.

Those CCs were very fast in BMRs hands in 2015. ATS didn't do badly with the lesser experience of BKRs people and the old suspension relative to most of the rest of the field last year.

Hill, Epps, Hards crew and the new RML components could propel that car back to the pointy end of the field...

Craner Curves · 31 Jan 2017, 16:39 (Ref:3708129)

Don't underestimate Will Burns either. I think he could be a dark horse.

luckn002 · 31 Jan 2017, 16:54 (Ref:3708135)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Don't underestimate Will Burns either. I think he could be a dark horse.

So far the whole grid is looking more competitive than its been before... its going to be a great year!

JDMROB · 31 Jan 2017, 16:55 (Ref:3708136)

As much as people like to laugh at team HARD, they have a very, very good driver line up. Pace wise Jake Hill is as quick as anyone on that grid. Epps showed last season he has what it takes to be the real deal too. Will Burns undeniably has talent, it'll be interesting to see how he takes to a touring car.

Lets just hope they have the equipment and engineers to do the job as it could be a good season for them

Jiiiiiiim · 31 Jan 2017, 16:56 (Ref:3708137)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Don't underestimate Will Burns either. I think he could be a dark horse.

I think the whole team are dark horses this season, when you consider Swindon we're really wanting someone to run a RML kitted CC, you know there is some proper potential there. I think Hill, Epp's & Burns can hussle the cars enough to cause some real giant killing at times

porsche962fan · 31 Jan 2017, 17:14 (Ref:3708143)

frankly by the look of things it wil be the "old" guard of the Honda boys, Plato and if it happens Turks at WSR

the only real dark horses IMO like previously Jordan and Mat Jackson

crmalcolm · 31 Jan 2017, 17:20 (Ref:3708144)

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

so much for "new team"....

When did Hill say it was a 'new team'?

He has mentioned a new car, and in the same interview referred to the guys working on the car as 'good', in a manner that suggested they were known to him already.

S griffin · 31 Jan 2017, 17:30 (Ref:3708146)

So two race winning cars in the VWs, a race winning driver in Smith and a rising youngster in Jake Hill. I can see TGR having their best season

Craner Curves · 31 Jan 2017, 17:52 (Ref:3708151)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

So two race winning cars in the VWs, a race winning driver in Smith and a rising youngster in Jake Hill. I can see TGR having their best season

Top Gear Racing?

CarsCarsCars · 31 Jan 2017, 18:30 (Ref:3708163)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Top Gear Racing?

Ambitious but rubbish?

(Tony is definitely ambitious, but he isn't rubbish, just making a joke

)

el_cat · 31 Jan 2017, 18:39 (Ref:3708165)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

So two race winning cars in the VWs, a race winning driver in Smith and a rising youngster in Jake Hill. I can see TGR having their best season

Erm, unless I'm missing something Smith isn't racing for Tony Gilham or in a VW this season?

Craner Curves · 31 Jan 2017, 18:55 (Ref:3708169)

Quote:

Originally Posted by el_cat

Erm, unless I'm missing something Smith isn't racing for Tony Gilham or in a VW this season?

Yeah Smith is with Eurotech.

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