[BTCC] BTCC 2017 Rumours & Silly Season

[pagey318]

Love or hate the MG livery, it is clearly branded to show manufacturer status... Regardless how much money is in it, they must have enough to fund the team with what seems to be very few sponsors and brand the car. Vauxhall, take note!

[VXDave]

Originally Posted by pimmy

I wasn't there, but you're right about them looking better in the metal, liveries always do.

I agree about Moffat's livery. What's the red stripe for? And why has the Mercedes badge been filled in blue?

I prefer this year's Eurotech livery. Last year's wasn't quite vibrant enough for me. On the other hand, the Maximum car has far too much white on it.

I hope the Vauxhalls will run with the grey wheels for most of the season, they look better than the white ones.

Totally agree about the wheels on the Vauxhalls. They looked great when unveiled in the pit lane with greys, but a lot less so when running with whites.

I don't generally like white wheels on touring cars (they get dirty too quickly!), but there are a few liveries that they have looked good on over the years.

[BLiTZ]

Originally Posted by Bramzel

Agreed on most, but I actually like the hint of red they added to Moffats Merc. And, haters gonna hate, I absolutely love the new HARD.. ehrm... TAG-liveries. White suits that car well, and the liveries are clean and professionally looking.

Originally Posted by pimmy

I wasn't there, but you're right about them looking better in the metal, liveries always do.

I agree about Moffat's livery. What's the red stripe for? And why has the Mercedes badge been filled in blue?

I prefer this year's Eurotech livery. Last year's wasn't quite vibrant enough for me. On the other hand, the Maximum car has far too much white on it.

I hope the Vauxhalls will run with the grey wheels for most of the season, they look better than the white ones.

Might just be me, but the hint of red on Moffat's car almost conjures up a Union Jack theme. I might be reading too much into this, but this could have been a push from Laser Tools to remind people they're a british company. Moffat's car has always been very patriotic to those north of the border (to the point that I've always called it the Braveheartmobile) and in the current climate I guess there could be some sensitivity around such matters. The blue on the badge just looks cheap, like they've not removed the protector film on a new car or the kind of crap bored kids do when they've got left over vinyl from wrapping other parts of their cars.

I much prefer the Eurotech livery this year, much bolder (the gradient wrap last year, whilst a good idea, was poorly executed as the red didnt match the paint) but the white bits on the bonnet look like a bit of an afterthought.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by BLiTZ

I much prefer the Eurotech livery this year, much bolder (the gradient wrap last year, whilst a good idea, was poorly executed as the red didnt match the paint) but the white bits on the bonnet look like a bit of an afterthought.

I thought the Eurotech livery looked like they forgot to do anything at the front of the car - there's the blue on the rear quarters then nothing forward of that.

Ingrams car looks awful - lose the green for an instant improvement but even that wouldn't help too much.

Moffats car - looked better last season.

The HARD cars look a lot better - more cohesive, less cluttered - someone has actually thought about it this season rather than just hurling stickers at the cars.

[thlbtcc]

I could lose many hours looking through this media day image gallery. Recommended - https://www.motorsport.com/btcc/phot...-6&oft=143&p=4

[crmalcolm]

One thing that seems a little odd for me at the moment - James Cole is listed under the 'Adrian Flux Subaru Racing' banner, but his car is not sponsored by Adrian Flux, it has ticketmaster on instead?

[thlbtcc]

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

oops!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

Just a test of structural integrity - perfectly normal.

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

One thing that seems a little odd for me at the moment - James Cole is listed under the 'Adrian Flux Subaru Racing' banner, but his car is not sponsored by Adrian Flux, it has ticketmaster on instead?

I suppose as Ticketmaster is his sponsor it replaces the Adrian Flux logo's but keeps the car in the same team, couldn't really put Cole in the BMR academy with Price. I thought it was more interesting the lack of Silverline this year!

[pagey318]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

I could lose many hours looking through this media day image gallery. Recommended - https://www.motorsport.com/btcc/phot...-6&oft=143&p=4

You reckon Price knew his flies were undone?!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

I suppose as Ticketmaster is his sponsor it replaces the Adrian Flux logo's but keeps the car in the same team, couldn't really put Cole in the BMR academy with Price. I thought it was more interesting the lack of Silverline this year!

True,
As teams can only nominate two points-scoring entries for each meeting, I can't see a non-Adrian Flux branded car being selected to replace their own.

I would have expected Cole to push for his entry to be under a ticketmaster banner, in a similar situation to the third cars at TD, WSR and HARD.

[thlbtcc]

Originally Posted by pagey318

You reckon Price knew his flies were undone?!

[Greem]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

I could lose many hours looking through this media day image gallery. Recommended - https://www.motorsport.com/btcc/phot...-6&oft=143&p=4

Brands Hatch... really? I have pretty low expectations of motorsport.com as it is, but tagging the media day photos with the wrong circuit is pretty poor.

[S griffin]

Excuse if I have missed something, but wasn't Moffat supposed to be in a customer Scooby this season?

[thlbtcc]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Excuse if I have missed something, but wasn't Moffat supposed to be in a customer Scooby this season?

Was only a test - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/126849

Then confirmed in current team - http://www.touringcartimes.com/2016/...edes-for-2017/

[BLiTZ]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Just a test of structural integrity - perfectly normal.

No that came later when they dragged the poor thing onto the flatbed destroying the remainder of the front bumper and either ripping an oil line off or smashing a hole in the sump as it soon dumped it's guts all over the truck bed and the outside of the Old Hairpin. Obviously pretty broken as he never came out again.

The Marshall's broom head flying off as he went to sweep the gravel up gained a decent cheer though!

[KA]

Originally Posted by BLiTZ

No that came later when they dragged the poor thing onto the flatbed destroying the remainder of the front bumper and either ripping an oil line off or smashing a hole in the sump as it soon dumped it's guts all over the truck bed and the outside of the Old Hairpin. Obviously pretty broken as he never came out again.

The Marshall's broom head flying off as he went to sweep the gravel up gained a decent cheer though!

IIRC, late in the afternoon, when it was obvious the car wasn't going to be coming out again, the commentators said it was a cracked sump

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Bramzel

Team HARD cars looking good: https://twitter.com/TeamHardRacing/s...20554019430400

Not a fan of VW design but the Passat is a nice looking car, especially in BTCC trim.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Cinghio44

Swindon engine strong showing, all the top10 covered

The non-Swindon engines are sandbagging?

[thlbtcc]

Originally Posted by FIRE

The non-Swindon engines are sandbagging?

Maybe.

Speedtrap info down Craner Curves:

[5five]

What happened to Matt Simpson? His car returned to the pits with front end damage and a slow moving Josh Cook returned shortly after.

[porsche962fan]

everyone is buoyed by their test session

[FrAnc1S96]

Interesting insight into Vauxhalls input into PMR, looks as if they are receiving funding after all:
http://www.touringcars.net/2017/03/a...-deal-bit-coup

[ExplodeTheApex]

http://www.touringcars.net/2017/03/a...-deal-bit-coup
Interesting article on the PMR-Vauxhall arrangement