[BTCC] BTCC 2018 Rumours & Silly Season

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by lukej

The article doesn’t specifically say Matt contacted Mat, it says there was contact but not specifically who picked up the phone.

Does it say it was Matt - or Steve?

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by lukej

Side note, based on a bit of ASI hearsay about a 5th Passat, some other sightings of it this week, and a badly timed FB post I’m going to say that Friday might be the day Team Hard enter a 5th car for Trade Price Cars owner Dan Kirby 😉

wouldn’t be possible as TOCA allowed the max limit of cars that a team can operate is 4 (up from 3).

[lukej]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

is this the BMR TBL then?

Pass, I'm sure they'll confirm in due course.

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Does it say it was Matt - or Steve?

Matt IIRC, but if anyone wants to read it, just signing up for the free 15 stories per month will give you access to the article.

Originally Posted by touring fan01

wouldn’t be possible as TOCA allowed the max limit of cars that a team can operate is 4 (up from 3).

There's an easy solution to that, run as 3 teams from the same workshop like BMR/Triple 8 did as 2 teams last year for a total 6 cars, or BMR/BKR/Triple 8 did in 2016 with 8 cars

[B0U170NS]

Originally Posted by lukej

The article doesn’t specifically say Matt contacted Mat, it says there was contact but not specifically who picked up the phone.

What the article does well, is put to bed the nonsense about TC or ST forcing him out, even then then though, it’s cagey and they hit the nail on the head when they said they won’t ever know the full truth.

Side note, based on a bit of ASI hearsay about a 5th Passat, some other sightings of it this week, and a badly timed FB post I’m going to say that Friday might be the day Team Hard enter a 5th car for Trade Price Cars owner Dan Kirby 😉

But how can they? 32 tbls are taken up. Only way this could happen is if BMR are just 2 cars, or Motorbase are 2 cars or Amd are 3, but this won't happen.

[MagicBoy]

Originally Posted by lukej

Matt IIRC, but if anyone wants to read it, just signing up for the free 15 stories per month will give you access to the article.

Unfortunately not, it's behind the paywall.

[Robin Marriott]

Originally Posted by B0U170NS

But how can they? 32 tbls are taken up. Only way this could happen is if BMR are just 2 cars, or Motorbase are 2 cars or Amd are 3, but this won't happen.

Have BMR actually confirmed 3 cars? I reckon they’re the most likely to drop a car.

[BobJones]

According to the article, when Bartrum was informed of talks, he was "furious" and things got "heated".

Then, an agreement could not be met between Jackson and Honda.

Next, the relationship had broken down between Bartrum and Jackson.

What a shame, what a waste. All for nothing.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

The article refers to the testing of three new units. How much life does an NGTC engine have anyway? Each car can have two engines per season - so I would expect there useable life is only about 25-30 races.

each engine is supposed to last 10,000 miles.

Originally Posted by Jiiiiiiim

Can anyone name any British GT race winners who currently don’t have a deal sorted for 2018?

Paul O'Neill

Originally Posted by btccbloke

has it been officially confirmed the AMD MG cars are "independents" and not a so called "manufacturer" effort?

There's been nothing either way. Yet.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by lukej

Side note, based on a bit of ASI hearsay about a 5th Passat, some other sightings of it this week, and a badly timed FB post I’m going to say that Friday might be the day Team Hard enter a 5th car for Trade Price Cars owner Dan Kirby ��

If TPC Racing are a 'new' entry from previous years - then it is a little bit of a surprise. Welcome to see though.

Which unaccounted for TBL might they be using?

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by lukej

There's an easy solution to that, run as 3 teams from the same workshop like BMR/Triple 8 did as 2 teams last year for a total 6 cars, or BMR/BKR/Triple 8 did in 2016 with 8 cars

no they have stopped that loophole from happening again. nobody is allowed to have any form of control over more than 4 cars regardless of how they try to split it into seperate teams.

[Dudley]

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

Have BMR actually confirmed 3 cars? I reckon they’re the most likely to drop a car.

It's not impossible but the one really solid piece of gossip seems to be that Cole has that ride locked down.

But yes, that's the only option unless previously announced cars aren't happening because Motorbase and AmD have confirmed 3rd and 4th cars respectively.

[thlbtcc]

This 5th VW CC is a weird one, especially with the limit on the number of cars a team can run and the seeming lack of grid space based on current rumours.

What if Cole is the Motorbase driver? Frees up a TBL and then it's up to HARD to find a legal way of running the car (if it is them).

Or

What if it's a 33nd car, only entered for a part-season on the tracks that allow. Not sure how that would work in TBL land.

Or

It's nothing. Simply a spare as Redshoes has alluded to.

[Robin Marriott]

It could be as simple as them being a title sponsor

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

This 5th VW CC is a weird one, especially with the limit on the number of cars a team can run and the seeming lack of grid space based on current rumours.

Putting a 2+2+2=54 type situation.

There is apparently a 5th CC.
Team HARD have previously confirmed their 4-car CC entry under the Brisky banner.
TPC Racing announce their entry on Friday (seemingly), and have previously been a backer of HARD.

So - is the TPC Racing car the 5th CC, or backing an existing team?

The Cicely car has no livery yet - will it become mauve/lilac on Friday?

Is the TPC Racing another Team-48 situation?

Has one of the previously announced cars fallen through?

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

This 5th VW CC is a weird one, especially with the limit on the number of cars a team can run and the seeming lack of grid space based on current rumours.

What if Cole is the Motorbase driver? Frees up a TBL and then it's up to HARD to find a legal way of running the car (if it is them).

Or

What if it's a 33nd car, only entered for a part-season on the tracks that allow. Not sure how that would work in TBL land.

Or

It's nothing. Simply a spare as Redshoes has alluded to.

I have wondered if Mr Gow would use the option of guest TBL’s especially in the 60th Anniversary year. Only once has this been done before with Nic Hamilton & AmD for their partial programme. There certainly seems to be the cars available for a few guest appearances, but I hope if these do happen it’s for some ‘star names’.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

has it been officially confirmed the AMD MG cars are "independents" and not a so called "manufacturer" effort?

If they adhere to the following criteria, they can enter as 'independent':

- is the bona fide owner of the competing car and components used in the competition or
otherwise enters into a valid commercial arrangement with regard to the leasing, rental or hire
purchase of the car with the owner of the car and/or
- is given the use of the competing car and components as a result of an award, competition or
prize previously approved by the Administrator and which is open to more than 10 contestants
and
- does not receive any substantial direct or indirect financial, hardware/component or technical
assistance (or suchlike) from any manufacturer or importer or from any team registered for the
Manufacturers Championship above the level available to any other competitor(s) who may
compete with the same marque and model of car and
- ensures that the day to day control and management of the team is not exercised or influenced
directly or indirectly by a manufacturer or importer (whether or not registered for the
Championship for Manufacturers/Constructors) and

- has registered their independent status on the drivers registration form

Whilst in the BMR stable, the Subaru backing meant that 888 were a manufacturer by default (received indirect financial support from a team registered for the Manufacturers Championship).
I would imagine all of those links are gone, and as long as MG are not interested, they'll be fine.

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Is the TPC Racing another Team-48 situation?

what was Team-48?

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

If they adhere to the following criteria, they can enter as 'independent':

[FONT=ArialMT][SIZE=1][FONT=ArialMT][SIZE=1]

- does not receive any substantial direct or indirect financial, hardware/component or technical
assistance (or suchlike) from any manufacturer or importer or from any team registered for the
Manufacturers Championship above the level available to any other competitor(s) who may
compete with the same marque and model of car and

-

Not sure how Motorbase have got away as an independent so long when a lot of their R&D and shakedowns seem to be done at Fords Technology Centre somewhere in Essex

[luckn002]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

Or

It's nothing. Simply a spare as Redshoes has alluded to.

I would think this would be the most likely option. Don't think it's really anything to worry over...!

[thlbtcc]

Originally Posted by luckn002

I would think this would be the most likely option. Don't think it's really anything to worry over...!

Cool beans.

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

what was Team-48?

Here you go - http://lmgtfy.com/?q=team+48+btcc

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by BobJones

Here you go - http://lmgtfy.com/?q=team+48+btcc

yeah... i was only seeing NASCAR stuff but found it

[S griffin]

For those who can’t read the Autosport article, it’s actually also in the magazine if you can buy it

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

Not sure how Motorbase have got away as an independent so long when a lot of their R&D and shakedowns seem to be done at Fords Technology Centre somewhere in Essex

if that same option is available to other focus teams then its not an issue. and as none of the other focus teams have obviously raised it as a problem, then it mustnt be an issue to them. maybe all focus teams have used that facility at one time or another.

[BobJones]

What's with the CC teams gravitating towards Croft as a test venue?

http://www.btcc.net/2018/02/22/team-...amme-underway/

Still, nice to see HARD get some running this early in the pre-season.