[BTCC] BTCC 2018 Rumours & Silly Season

[mark_l]

Originally Posted by AmD Tuning

A Xmas conundrum for you! Looking forward to a busy 2018 in motorsport where we'll be running less race weekends, more races, less drivers but more cars!

So no BGT, but how about running Aiden Moffat in his M-B. Laser Tools has the TBL to take to AmD.

[850Estate]

Originally Posted by AmD Tuning

A Xmas conundrum for you! Looking forward to a busy 2018 in motorsport where we'll be running less race weekends, more races, less drivers but more cars!

It's a works Kia with Alain Menu and Vincent Radermecker as the drivers, isn't it.

[luckn002]

Originally Posted by luckn002

3rd HARD / Brisky driver to be announced on Thursday 28th December... HARD definitely winning the silly season championship!

...and then driver 4 on January 3rd

[Alfisti]

Works Kia? Surely a Volvo... is Rickard Rydell a pensioner yet! 😂

Maybe a Clio or two... or a Ginetta.

Or... if the MGs headed South was true, how about some cannibalisation to make another Audi. Suspension bits if nowt else...

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Works Kia? Surely a Volvo... is Rickard Rydell a pensioner yet! 😂

Actually I've heard a rumour that Mazda is returning with Patrick Watts...

[rich07]

Originally Posted by BobJones

The thing that makes it harder for Rullo is convincing Australian sponsors to back him in a series which is no longer shown on Australian TV.



I believe it was on FOX until the end of 2016 season and missing in 2017, maybe someone from the VASC threads could clarify this?

In Rullo’s case his family is paying the bills so tv exposure or lack thereof is not a big factor in any decision. Any BTCC ride has to be at least half the price of his Supercar seat thus year so makes the decision even easier.

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by rich07

In Rullo’s case his family is paying the bills so tv exposure or lack thereof is not a big factor in any decision. Any BTCC ride has to be at least half the price of his Supercar seat thus year so makes the decision even easier.

Sounds like Tom Chilton, but younger and Australian.

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Sounds like Tom Chilton, but younger and Australian.

Good comparison.

[touringlegend]

And will he take Chiltons seat at PMR? If he does I’d reckon they’d want someone of a more veteran status in the other car?

[psq43]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

And will he take Chiltons seat at PMR? If he does I’d reckon they’d want someone of a more veteran status in the other car?

You mean someone who knows most of the team members? Someone who's a great car developer? Maybe with an army of fans and great know how when it comes to getting sponsors and giving them great exposure? Who is possibly having a divorce from their most recent team?

[BSchneiderFan]

I can't think who you mean.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by psq43

You mean someone who knows most of the team members? Someone who's a great car developer? Maybe with an army of fans and great know how when it comes to getting sponsors and giving them great exposure? Who is possibly having a divorce from their most recent team?

Ah! The penny has dropped in my old fuddled mind; makes sense on many levels 😀

Win win I suppose; if it works out great! If it don't work out then grumble about the RWD advantage...

So Speedworks is just Tingram?

[psq43]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Ah! The penny has dropped in my old fuddled mind; makes sense on many levels 😀

Win win I suppose; if it works out great! If it don't work out then grumble about the RWD advantage...

So Speedworks is just Tingram?

I didn't say it was a given, or that a mate down the pub knows a girl on the skittles team, who's sisters best mate went out with a touring car mechanic in the 90s so it's a good source

Worth pondering and maybe discussing though

[Alfisti]

That's fair enough; it is very plausible for all the stated reasons. Tom C off elsewhere definitely leaves a space and the car is new enough for there to be a lot of development angles to pursue; that is something which he is possibly the best current BTCC driver at doing. And he is/was considering options for this year. I expect the cash flow on the farm will continue to be a slow trickle; a new Scooby build would surprise me. Would he want to continue in a car that is clearly inferior to Ash's? Beating Ash in identical machinery would be a damned big ask!

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

That's fair enough; it is very plausible for all the stated reasons. Tom C off elsewhere definitely leaves a space and the car is new enough for there to be a lot of development angles to pursue; that is something which he is possibly the best current BTCC driver at doing. And he is/was considering options for this year. I expect the cash flow on the farm will continue to be a slow trickle; a new Scooby build would surprise me. Would he want to continue in a car that is clearly inferior to Ash's? Beating Ash in identical machinery would be a damned big ask!

I think there is a good chance that either Plato or Tordoff will end up in the PMR seat, both bring money & talent, not sure how Tordoff stacks up developing a car compared to JP. I’d love to see Huff in that car, but know he needs ‘paying’, so think he’s less likely.

[KA]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Sounds like Tom Chilton, but younger and Australian.

Originally Posted by rich07

Good comparison.

How does Rullo stack up talent-wise if we start to compare him with Chilton? I don't really follow V8SC, so don't know much about him beyond the controversy about him getting the LDM seat in the first place. Thinking back to Chilton's BTCC debut at 17, he was quick but pretty raw- (IIRC a couple of decent results at the start of the season, then it all fell away a bit) although he had the benefit of a competitive car run by a competent team

What's the verdict down under on young Mr Rullo- promising talent who's tried to take on too much too soon, or rich kid playing wannabee race driver with daddy's cheque book?

[Racing Harz]

He won a race in a V8 Supercar in a national series with 14 Years - i think he is a good talent, but with the shitty car at LDM he couldn´t prove in the Main Series.

[S griffin]

I think Chilton is a lot better than people give him credit, compared to when he was younger and perhaps tried to live up to his own hype, I'd say he's pretty good. He's definitely taken more serious these days

[SteveLevin]

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

He won a race in a V8 Supercar in a national series with 14 Years - i think he is a good talent, but with the shitty car at LDM he couldn´t prove in the Main Series.

I think he got some bad advice as to how deep the pool really is in the 'main game' -- in many ways, you could argue that Supercars has the toughest field front to back of any top-line series out there. Alex wasn't the only person to jump in and struggle -- Kurt Kostecki filled in for Lee Holdsworth for a couple of rounds, and while not a star DDS driver, was competent, had good equipment, and lots of support (since his real day job is working for Triple8), and while faster than Alex, it was still "holy moly, even the slow guys are really quick!"

Steve

[Cinghio44]

Originally Posted by SteveLevin

I think he got some bad advice as to how deep the pool really is in the 'main game' -- in many ways, you could argue that Supercars has the toughest field front to back of any top-line series out there. Alex wasn't the only person to jump in and struggle -- Kurt Kostecki filled in for Lee Holdsworth for a couple of rounds, and while not a star DDS driver, was competent, had good equipment, and lots of support (since his real day job is working for Triple8), and while faster than Alex, it was still "holy moly, even the slow guys are really quick!"

Steve

To compete competitively in V8SC you have to win and earn credit in the Dunlop Series or now Super2 Series. Alex jumped too fast in the main game and he paid for that. A lot of great and more experienced guys like Premat and Engel struggled when they went straight in the V8SC...Richie Stanaway instead demonstred that with a little mileage in enduro and the second series you can do your job in the main game

I don't know if it's good to move in UK from Australia for Rullo. PMR team has already a very good young gun (S.Proctor) and they should focus to engage a top driver like Huff (difficult) or Plato. Tordoff and Nash would also good to replace Chilton but definitely i would go for the first two

But maybe PMR-Vauxhall has a 3° tbl for the new season...who knows...

[one five five]

Originally Posted by BobJones

The thing that makes it harder for Rullo is convincing Australian sponsors to back him in a series which is no longer shown on Australian TV.

I believe it was on FOX until the end of 2016 season and missing in 2017, maybe someone from the VASC threads could clarify this?

All the 2017 BTCC races were shown on SBS and FOX Sports this year through the Speedweek program, with 60mins coverage of each round.

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

He won a race in a V8 Supercar in a national series with 14 Years

His national series race win was in the 3rd string "Kuhmo Series" for old V8Supercars of generally 6-10 years age.

[Ry44]

http://www.btcc.net/2017/12/28/hill-...brisky-racing/

as anticipated Hill is staying put

[S griffin]

That’s good, hope Epps stays too, they both did Gilham proud last season

[porsche962fan]

and still no news on the big names

[psq43]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

and still no news on the big names

I suspect one of those big names is still wondering how he let the rug get pulled from under him, and if he still has any cards left under the table