[BTCC] BTCC 2018 Rumours & Silly Season

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I would imagine Eurotech would be somewhere near the front of the queue.

Originally Posted by BobJones

That doesn't make much sense.

To me it makes a lot of sense.

Simpson is bringing one of the latest TD builds with him, and AFAIK Eurotech only have two existing cars.
Jeff is testament to what can happen in a season, and TD aren't going to be building any more old shape cars (I wouldn't imagine).

So Eurotech may want to avoid the MG situation of having no spare chassis to run, and snap up the two remaining old shape Civics for their own spares?

[AdrianM]

Originally Posted by luckn002

To be honest, I would rather see JP step away from driving and make way for some more young talent.

God I hate that phrase. See it all the time in motorsport these days. Let's just start shooting the older drivers and have done with it.

Young talent can raise the money and get on the grid the same way everyone else had to. If they can offer more to the teams as an overall package then they will get the drives if not they won't. Simples.

[Spanner monkey]

Amd to run the MG's next year. They have now been taken away from BMR along with the trucks...

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

how come everyone thinks speedworks are developing a new car? this is just nonsense speculation with no facts at all.

Toyota's PR man made a comment after Rob Austin's win in R30 about it being the last in a Toyota for the forseeable future.

I and others on here have heard whispers Speedworks will be running two motors.

That Matt Simpson is being run by Eurotech
(as opposed to going back to Speedworks) ended the thoughts of Matts Honda + Tingrams Toyota for good to my mind. Two drivers in identical machinery makes a billion times more sense than two different cars anyway.

I had wondered if the Handy Toyota may have been headed to Speedworks: apparently not. Therefore I am convinced no Toyota...

I do like the lack of twitterings and all that nonsense: some genuine surprise will be lurking. Half the joy of pressies is not knowing what lurks inside the wrapping paper! 😀

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by Spanner monkey

Amd to run the MG's next year. They have now been taken away from BMR along with the trucks...

Hmmm... Audis headed North perhaps to make room?

Tordoff piloting?

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Toyota's PR man made a comment after Rob Austin's win in R30 about it being the last in a Toyota for the forseeable future.

I and others on here have heard whispers Speedworks will be running two motors.

That Matt Simpson is being run by Eurotech
(as opposed to going back to Speedworks) ended the thoughts of Matts Honda + Tingrams Toyota for good to my mind. Two drivers in identical machinery makes a billion times more sense than two different cars anyway.

I had wondered if the Handy Toyota may have been headed to Speedworks: apparently not. Therefore I am convinced no Toyota...

I do like the lack of twitterings and all that nonsense: some genuine surprise will be lurking. Half the joy of pressies is not knowing what lurks inside the wrapping paper! 😀

speedworks will be running the same as they did this year. one avensis for ingram

[thlbtcc]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Simpson is bringing one of the latest TD builds with him

The car Simpson ran in 2017 was the very first NGTC Honda built from 2011.

[thlbtcc]

Originally Posted by Spanner monkey

Amd to run the MG's next year. They have now been taken away from BMR along with the trucks...

Why would they want some bent tech when they already have two bent Audis?

Unless, of course, they are fully refreshed, still have some MG funding and have found new backers.

[S griffin]

I think we should wait for some more official confirmation on that score

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

The car Simpson ran in 2017 was the very first NGTC Honda built from 2011.

But is that the same car that Simpson is taking to Eurotech?

The one that he owned previously was extensively damaged in pre-season testing, hence having to run the 'spare'.
The articles refer to Simpson owning the car he is taking to Eurotech - what chance that he has bought NGTC-12-007 as it will be surplus to requirements at TD?

It still makes sense to me for Eurotech to take the remaining cars from TD having seen Jeff's car scrapped in 2017 and Simpson's original car being unusable.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Hmmm... Audis headed North perhaps to make room?

AmD still have the Audis. Shaun Hollamby posted a video to FB a few weeks back of one of the cars (Audi) being worked on

[Racing Harz]

Tom Chilton to Motorbase!
https://www.facebook.com/motorbasepe...type=3&theater

[CM388]

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

Tom Chilton to Motorbase!
https://www.facebook.com/motorbasepe...type=3&theater

Wasn't expecting that! If they also confirm Mat Jackson as per then Motorbase will have a pretty strong line up for next year in addition to whoever ends up in their 3rd car.

[Cinghio44]

With Chilton leaving it seems there will be some big shake up also in Power Maxed Vauxhall team

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by Cinghio44

With Chilton leaving it seems there will be some big shake up also in Power Maxed Vauxhall team

Absolutely, hence the shopping around for drivers with sponsorship funds recently.

Remains to be seen if there will be two or three Motorbase cars and if Mat returns.

Maybe Depper will find success in TCR UK.

DUO has gone from the naming rights to the team, wonder if that funding will bless another team?

[Matt K]

Chilton is a great addition to the Motorbase team and I wonder what other surprises Bartrum was talking about. Maybe a bigger Ford support considering how much he was talking about Chilton and Ford being a good combination? Hopefully there will be good drivers in the second and third Focus. Jackson should be an obvious pick.

As for Power Maxed I think that Alex Rullo will be one of their drivers. Senna Proctor also deserves a seat.

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by Matt K

As for Power Maxed I think that Alex Rullo will be one of their drivers. Senna Proctor also deserves a seat.

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?

[auroan]

Originally Posted by redshoes

AmD still have the Audis. Shaun Hollamby posted a video to FB a few weeks back of one of the cars (Audi) being worked on

And to further denounce the ridiculous speculation about AMD not running the S3s

https://twitter.com/AmDessex/status/943473954555138049

[S griffin]

So the question is, will Chilton be joining or replacing Jackson? Either way a good move for both parties

[luckn002]

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

Tom Chilton to Motorbase!
https://www.facebook.com/motorbasepe...type=3&theater

Hmm... Hope this pays off. I like Chilton, but to me the Astra seemed the stronger car at the end of last season.
Hopefully Motorbase will find more pace in their Foci this year and get back to the Airwaves days...!

[850Estate]

A Page that you like Team BMR has changed it's name to BMR Racing

From Facebook. Can we read anything into that? Aside from the fact that they are exemplifying the fact that they're called Buntingford Motor Racing Racing.

[peebee2]

One company gone bust and a phoenix replaces?

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by 850Estate

From Facebook. Can we read anything into that? Aside from the fact that they are exemplifying the fact that they're called Buntingford Motor Racing Racing.

Just like Tom Walkinshaw Racing Racing.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by auroan

And to further denounce the ridiculous speculation about AMD not running the S3s

https://twitter.com/AmDessex/status/943473954555138049

Really pleased that they're continuing with the A3. As a team they are improving steadily year on year and continuity of cars and drivers certainly helps with that IMO. Hope Ollie - who is also that bit better year on year - and AWE who was brilliant in Clios return. The A3 is my second favourite car on the grid (now that the Alfa is coming!)

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by luckn002

Hmm... Hope this pays off. I like Chilton, but to me the Astra seemed the stronger car at the end of last season.
Hopefully Motorbase will find more pace in their Foci this year and get back to the Airwaves days...!

Ditto, I am a big Tom fan. I suspect the cars will be minor updates from this years rather than major changes as the TCR entry must be keeping the Motorbase boys busy...