[BTCC] BTCC 2017 Rumours & Silly Season

[antnee]

Originally Posted by Jiiiiiiim

Lines always said once he'd reached his full potential, if the results weren't good enough he'd stand down. So I guess 2017 could be his last season as he's now got the experience and all cars will be RML spec, so his results will be a true reflection on his level. Wonder if Welch will still run the car for Maximum as they did for the majority of this year?

The Focus is having a major rebuild this winter - including a full strip back of the paint (it had around 5 layers iirc), RML kit, etc so the car will actually be competitive and we can see what Stewart can actually do. I'm not sure if it has been decided who will be running the car for him, options were being considered.

[thlbtcc]

Officially Official - http://www.btcc.net/2017/01/03/wix-f...sport-in-2017/

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

Officially Official - http://www.btcc.net/2017/01/03/wix-f...sport-in-2017/

The least surprising announcement so far?

[thlbtcc]

Thruxton punctures be gone, hopefully. http://www.btcc.net/2017/01/03/dunlo...for-2017-btcc/

Will be interesting to see which teams get a jump-start on set-up for the new rubber.

[S griffin]

I don't think we'll ever see the end of Thruxton punctures, it will always be a problem, just shouldn't be as bad as last season

[porsche962fan]

sorry to say but increased grip sucks

watch those old Group A Sierras and early super tourers, they were fun to watch all by themselves thru corners and being lose all over the place


increased grip makes racing more dull and procession cos it's harder to pass

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUKm0npTSHk

I have never ever seen a championship where increased grip and better (carbon) brakes make more exiting racing, on the contrary , so I don't get why they go in this direction

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

I have never ever seen a championship where increased grip and better (carbon) brakes make more exiting racing, on the contrary , so I don't get why they go in this direction

BTCC dont use carbon brakes.

[porsche962fan]

I know I am refering to general trend WTCC showed the new more powerful, more grip cars did not produce better racing

original DTM when it switched from Group A to Class 1 after 1993 did not produce better racing , current DTM with lots of grip and carbon is an utter snooze fest, really fell a sleep once when I dared to see an actual race



so can't understand why they want more grip tires at all !!

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

I know I am refering to general trend WTCC showed the new more powerful, more grip cars did not produce better racing

original DTM when it switched from Group A to Class 1 after 1993 did not produce better racing , current DTM with lots of grip and carbon is an utter snooze fest, really fell a sleep once when I dared to see an actual race

so can't understand why they want more grip tires at all !!

well the current BTCC cars produce much more grip than they ever have since 2001 and the racing has been fantastic!

[S griffin]

I think the turbo engines have something to do with that, but it would have been better to reduce downforce when NGTC was introduced.

[Sodemo]

I personally don't think the NGTC racing quality has really been all that amazing. I attended numerous races over the last 3 years and quite a number have been lacking any real action or many changes for position. I personally feel S2000 offered the best racing of recent times.

Also I bet BMW + Subaru aren't happy with the tyre changes. The last thing they want is more durable tyres.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

I personally don't think the NGTC racing quality has really been all that amazing. I attended numerous races over the last 3 years and quite a number have been lacking any real action or many changes for position. I personally feel S2000 offered the best racing of recent times

maybe your memory is playing tricks with you. S2000 cars, lap times and racing was nowhere near as compatible or close or as hard fought as it is now.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

maybe your memory is playing tricks with you. S2000 cars, lap times and racing was nowhere near as compatible or close or as hard fought as it is now.

Depends on what you find exciting. I don't think the racing is as good as with the Super 2000 or BTC-Touring cars, but it is undoubtably closer.

[BLiTZ]

Circuits have a big contribution to action too. With the cars getting wider, narrower circuits like Oulton Park, Knockhill and dare I say Brands Hatch (in places) produce some rather processional races. In both the ST and BTC days it wasn't uncommon to see cars side by side on the run down from Island and into Knickerbrook now all a driver needs to do is run a wheel's width to the side and the inside line is blocked.

However at wide tracks like Donington and Silverstone we get some great action. Then (race-ending stupidity aside) we had Thruxton race 1, I can't remember the last time I've watched such close three-abreast racing in the BTCC, it's like someone had forgotten to tell them they weren't all in Clios.

[thlbtcc]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

maybe your memory is playing tricks with you. S2000 cars, lap times and racing was nowhere near as compatible or close or as hard fought as it is now.

[old man]

Discussing F1 and other classes with a very experienced pro over Christmas he made the point that the grip levels with modern tyres is at a sharp peak on which a driver has to balance, whereas with less grip and narrower tyres such as those on historic cars the grip is a curve and more forgiving. This gives the driver a wider window to work in, a greater margin of error, and 4 wheel drifts can be the fastest way through a corner.

[VXDave]

PMR podcasts on BTCC.net

Tom Chilton specifically states that PMR is NOT a works team. Explains the lack of publicity from Vauxhall! I guess the closest situation on the grid is WSR/BMW, where there is support, but not a fully fledged works team.

[redshoes]

Not BTCC but... http://www.britishgt.com/news/179/re...er-and-webster

Howard Fuller off to British GT. I don't think anyone expected him to be in BTCC again this year but at least that's now confirmed. Flag marshals around the country can breath a sigh of relief.

[luckn002]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Flag marshals around the country can breath a sigh of relief.

Not quite, according to Twitter Mark Howard is "working" on getting a drive...

Off topic, but for anyone interested Scalextric have announced more BTCC cars: Aron Smith, Jeff Smith, Matt Neal and Josh Cook's 2016 cars as well as a few more early 90's cars.

[auroan]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Not BTCC but... http://www.britishgt.com/news/179/re...er-and-webster

Howard Fuller off to British GT. I don't think anyone expected him to be in BTCC again this year but at least that's now confirmed. Flag marshals around the country can breath a sigh of relief.

Howard Fuller != Mark Howard

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by VXDave

PMR podcasts on BTCC.net

Tom Chilton specifically states that PMR is NOT a works team. Explains the lack of publicity from Vauxhall! I guess the closest situation on the grid is WSR/BMW, where there is support, but not a fully fledged works team.

That would put WSR in the same situation as PMR - Chilton says that they are not a works team, but are 'Vauxhall supported'.

[VXDave]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

That would put WSR in the same situation as PMR - Chilton says that they are not a works team, but are 'Vauxhall supported'.

I think we're saying the same thing here???

Looks to be a great season anyway.

I wonder when we may get some changes in circuits? Mondello would be awesome and maybe the Arena circuit at Silverstone. Slightly more far fetched, how about COW?

[ATF]

Originally Posted by VXDave

I think we're saying the same thing here???

Looks to be a great season anyway.

I wonder when we may get some changes in circuits? Mondello would be awesome and maybe the Arena circuit at Silverstone. Slightly more far fetched, how about COW?

I agree, I find the Silverstone national circuit a bit boring after a few years now, we could do with a change.

[steve_r]

Originally Posted by VXDave

Slightly more far fetched, how about COW?

Yes, a race at the Circuit of Wales would be great. An aeronautical display involving some flying pigs could be included during the interval.

[S griffin]

Or how about a support race to the British GP again? Or even a return to Birmingham?