BTCC BTCC 2017 Rumours & Silly Season - Page 88

auroan · 20 Feb 2017, 18:16 (Ref:3713471)

Quote:

Originally Posted by touring fan01

erm, there are no factory teams competing in TCR. theres not even a manufacturers championship in TCR.

the manufacturers are just building cars for customers to buy and race.

Did I say that ? Kia and Hynudai are concentrating on providing cars for TCR.... so I very much doubt they will back a team in NGTC

luckn002 · 20 Feb 2017, 18:18 (Ref:3713472)

Quote:

Originally Posted by 850Estate

I don't see the BTCC building up a pretty underwhelming announcement.

So hopefully that means it won't be Howard!

Could it be the "big suprise" previously mentioned?

Alfisti · 20 Feb 2017, 18:54 (Ref:3713479)

Is now a good time for a Gio at BMR rumour?

Serious head says Hunter Abbot. 😀

S griffin · 20 Feb 2017, 18:54 (Ref:3713480)

No real surprise to see Collard back, let's hope he builds on his best season last season

jsmee · 20 Feb 2017, 19:59 (Ref:3713499)

I'm hoping for Abbott at BMR, and Cook or maybe Dennis Strandberg at Maximum. I like Stewart Lines but would love to see Cook or Strandberg get a chance with his car.

thlbtcc · 20 Feb 2017, 22:32 (Ref:3713538)

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckn002

...and the last driver announcement (BMR) is tomorrow, meaning all drivers will be signed a month before media day. Guesses?

Ooof, very interesting!

It shows how much demand BTCC seats are in these days. All deals and drivers signed and announced this early? Excellent work everyone. I think there is only 1 TCR Int. driver confirmed so far and a handful for WTCC. None too shabby.

MrAero · 21 Feb 2017, 00:49 (Ref:3713559)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cds_uk

I don't think Cole will be a back marker, I can't see him troubling the podium at all but a season as a very regular lower points scorer is probably on the cards.

He struggled to get the car in to the points last year, managing it on four occasions, and didn't really finish the season on any stronger form. I'm not sure there's any evidence at the moment he'll step up to not be a backmarker (IMO anyone who struggled to outscore part-timers Newsham and Lloyd counts as a backmarker; so I'll take Abbott as the cut-off)

IMO the guy who really needs to step up is Simpson. Given his background, 5pts was an underwhelming return. Hopefully the move to Team Dynamics will be the right training ground.

Steel Wheels · 21 Feb 2017, 06:28 (Ref:3713598)

I'm gonna go for tonight's announcement being Cook taking Lines' place, BMR will wait a bit longer & disappoint us all by announcing Howard. Media Day will see BMW confirmed as a manufacturer entry with WSR (note apart from DUO no sponsors really mentioned in either recent driver announcement). Probably way off but we'll find out a bit more at 7pm.

antnee · 21 Feb 2017, 08:00 (Ref:3713607)

An idea about livery here - so Joyce Design have unveiled their PMR Polo R for VW Cup, which breaks away from the usual PMR livery and is also different to the Joyce Design colours. However the colours are similar to the ones used by Vauxhall, so could this be an insight to how the PMR Astras might look?

crmalcolm · 21 Feb 2017, 08:38 (Ref:3713611)

Quote:

Originally Posted by antnee

An idea about livery here - so Joyce Design have unveiled their PMR Polo R for VW Cup, which breaks away from the usual PMR livery and is also different to the Joyce Design colours. However the colours are similar to the ones used by Vauxhall, so could this be an insight to how the PMR Astras might look?

I don't think that reflects the PMR approach to livery, because it is primarily a Joyce Designs car being run with the support of PMR.
This is evident by the minimal PMR branding on that car.

Two months after the Vauxhall announcement, which is based on brand promotion, Power Maxed unveiled a 'new look' website which focuses on Yellow/Black/White colours so I would be very surprised if the BTCC entry strayed from their corporate colours.

**BertMk2** · 21 Feb 2017, 09:22 (Ref:3713625)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrAero

IMO the guy who really needs to step up is Simpson. Given his background, 5pts was an underwhelming return. Hopefully the move to Team Dynamics will be the right training ground.

A lot of the circuits were new to Simpson - and of course the car was new as well so he was probably suffering from trying to learn the circuits and dial in the car at the same time. Hopefully the move to Dynamics will help with the car setup side of things and I guess he'll have access to Neal and Sheddens data too so will be able to learn from that.

Ry44 · 21 Feb 2017, 17:16 (Ref:3713719)

https://twitter.com/itvmotorsport/st...83716532154368

it it me or this announcement at 7 seems to bigger than someone like Mark Howard or just someone returning from last year

luckn002 · 21 Feb 2017, 17:19 (Ref:3713720)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ry44

https://twitter.com/itvmotorsport/st...83716532154368

it it me or this announcment at 7 seems to bigger than someone like Mark Howard

Thought the same, definitely getting my hopes up for a big name driver... just hope it doesn't end up being Scott again after all this...

Steel Wheels · 21 Feb 2017, 17:22 (Ref:3713721)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ry44

https://twitter.com/itvmotorsport/st...83716532154368

it it me or this announcment at 7 seems to bigger than someone like Mark Howard

Agreed, it is getting a lot of hype, so fingers crossed it is a good announcement

Minicross424 · 21 Feb 2017, 17:35 (Ref:3713723)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrAero

IMO the guy who really needs to step up is Simpson. Given his background, 5pts was an underwhelming return. Hopefully the move to Team Dynamics will be the right training ground.

Given his background and the fact he said he was learning this year i would say he done fine.
He did not step up from the Toca package and the Intermarque he was racing was nothing like the Honda.

Steel Wheels · 21 Feb 2017, 18:09 (Ref:3713736)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ry44

https://twitter.com/itvmotorsport/st...83716532154368

it it me or this announcment at 7 seems to bigger than someone like Mark Howard

Agreed, it is getting a lot of hype, so fingers crossed it is a good announcement

pimmy · 21 Feb 2017, 19:01 (Ref:3713748)

It's Cook at Maximum.

Minicross424 · 21 Feb 2017, 19:01 (Ref:3713749)

Cook to Maximum

JDMROB · 21 Feb 2017, 19:05 (Ref:3713751)

Good stuff. Will it be built the same as the Motorbase cars but with a toca engine?

850Estate · 21 Feb 2017, 19:07 (Ref:3713752)

Good bit of business by Stewart that. Cook has a decent fanbase and will get comfortably into the top 10 in quite a few races, thus maximising (pun intended, badum tish) the brand exposure.

It also means that we really will be struggling for folk round the back of the grid! Another potential race winner in the mix. Exciting times.

luckn002 · 21 Feb 2017, 19:09 (Ref:3713753)

Great news, adds to the already ultra competitive grid there must be at least 20 - 25 drivers who could win races this year, just hoping that BMR put a talented driver in their 4th Subaru and not Howard.

(...but, If Howard does come back, he should at least be far enough behind he won't be able to crash into anyone)

JDMROB · 21 Feb 2017, 19:10 (Ref:3713754)

Quote:

Originally Posted by 850Estate

It also means that we really will be struggling for folk round the back of the grid! Another potential race winner in the mix. Exciting times.

Imagine the qualifying times at brands indy! Can see the whole grid covered by less than a second

porsche962fan · 21 Feb 2017, 19:18 (Ref:3713756)

the grid just become even better

and interesting now Team Parker is effectively a 2 car team !!

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 - Ash Sutton
BMR - Subaru Levorg - James Cole
BMR - Subaru Levorg - Mark Howard????

888 - MG - Dan Lloyd
888 - MG - Aron Taylor-Smith

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 - Stephen Jelley
Maximum - Ford Focus - Josh Cook

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

Liquoriceman · 21 Feb 2017, 19:19 (Ref:3713757)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liquoriceman

Didn't I read somewhere earlier in this thread (months ago) that teams were being pegged back by Mr Gow to 3 cars which may mean the 4th Scooby runs under a different banner?

Is Stewart Lines the only gentleman driver left standing? In which case he could literally be left standing in the races - could we see him step back and throw someone like Cook a lifeline and have his car at the sharp end?

See - if you do wish hard enough it can come true! I think Stewart will gain a lot of respect from fans in making this decision. 👍

Fingers crossed now for someone good in the last seat at BMR!

ExplodeTheApex · 21 Feb 2017, 19:22 (Ref:3713758)

Absolutely fair play Stewart Lines. It must've been tempting to go again with the improved Focus but to get a deal done with Cook is a classy move.

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