New Team For BTCC In 2005

coxmattycox · 21 Dec 2004, 16:34 (Ref:1185128)

Lexis is back with a new team!

Taking advantage of new local homologation regulations, SpeedEquipe will make its debut in the BTCC in 2005 with a 'Super 2000' version of the Lexus IS200 that raced in 2001 (pictured)
A new team will enter the MSA British Touring Car Championship in 2005 thanks to new sporting regulations devised to help attract fresh faces to the grid.

SpeedEquipe will move up into the BTCC, Britain’s biggest motor racing championship, with a Lexus IS200 built to FIA ‘Super 2000’ specification. This will be achieved through ‘local homologation’ granted by the BTCC’s technical chiefs. Previously, ‘Super 2000’ cars, raced in the European Touring Car series, have been permitted into the BTCC but only with homologation from the FIA.

SpeedEquipe boasts a successful history, with titles in Mini Miglias and Mini Seven racing in the mid-Nineties. More recently, it has emerged as a race-winner in the Renault Clio Cup that supports the BTCC. Its owners are Dave Older and Jason Porter – a co-founder of the hugely successful Friends Reunited website.

Older believes the rear-wheel-driven Lexus – a version of which, built to BTC specification, raced in the BTCC in 2001 – has the potential to spring a surprise or two as the season progresses.

Older said: “The Lexus has twin wishbone suspension all-round, with a very strong and powerful engine, so the team will have less to find when trying to match the performance of the current manufacturer developed cars. With a good platform to start with and a team of the right people with the right skills and commitment, SpeedEquipe hopes to climb the learning curve as quickly as possible.

“The key objectives for the 2005 season are to learn about the dynamics of the race car, running a car in the BTCC and to become faster during the season. The team’s expectations are based around the car’s relative competitiveness compared to other Super 2000 spec. cars, particularly those cars run by Independent teams.

“If we can regularly run in the top ten against the factory SEATs and Vauxhalls plus the other established Independents then I think we can say we’ve done a good job on the budget available.”

Older expects to announce the driver of his team’s Lexus early in the New Year.

source http://content-you-control.co.uk/am0...icle_554.shtml

**FIRE** · 21 Dec 2004, 17:51 (Ref:1185180)

Has this anything to do with this topic?

E46 · 21 Dec 2004, 18:01 (Ref:1185189)

Yes, in spite of it was told Lexus wouldn´t be that RWD car.

Kicking-back · 21 Dec 2004, 18:06 (Ref:1185194)

I assume this is a separate project.

Friendsreunited is worth mega-millions, so a great backer to get on board.

**Craig** · 21 Dec 2004, 18:26 (Ref:1185208)

I believe this to be the same project actually KB. Chris Hodgetts was working for Speedequipe on the project spoken about on the other thread. I presme when he said 'not a Lexus' he meant 'not one of the old Lexus's who people go on and on about returning to the series every winter!!'

rdjones · 21 Dec 2004, 19:37 (Ref:1185264)

Good news, its great too see another mark on the grid.

Kicking-back · 21 Dec 2004, 19:52 (Ref:1185281)

Thanks for the clarification, Craig!

So, when he said "not a Lexus", he meant "a Lexus"

The plot thins!

Good to see them on the grid anyway.

touringcarnut · 21 Dec 2004, 20:17 (Ref:1185303)

I hope it all pulls together, the IS200 was criminally full of potential in 2001, with those onboards hearing its sweet dentist drill engine!!

codename_47 · 21 Dec 2004, 20:19 (Ref:1185305)

Hooray....the Japanese Mercedes is back!

Oh....so many Alan Partridge quotes spring to mind!

Anyway, good to hear of another car on the grid....and especially since you don't see many Lexi being raced these days!

...RWD?? Watch out for it on the starts!

**FIRE** · 21 Dec 2004, 20:41 (Ref:1185321)

Quote:

Originally Posted by codename_47

Oh....so many Alan Partridge quotes spring to mind!

Didn't he drive a Rover?

It's great to have the Lexus back on the grid.

Hasn't the RWD Lexus the same disadvantages as the BMW?

Alfa Fan · 21 Dec 2004, 20:46 (Ref:1185326)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE

Didn't he drive a Rover?

It's great to have the Lexus back on the grid.

Hasn't the RWD Lexus the same disadvantages as the BMW?

I think Dunlop are developing a RWD tyre. The tested them on the Edenbridge Racing BMW 320i E46 at the end of the season, and were planning to use data from that test to make a tyre thats suitable for RWD. For that reason, its not impossible that we wont see Edenbridge entering the car in 2005.

BootsOntheSide · 21 Dec 2004, 20:49 (Ref:1185327)

Edenbridge pulled out due to the weight limits imposed on ETCC-spec cars making it imposisble for them to get the car down to a competitive weight, so if that hasn't changed we may still not see any BMWs on the grid.

**touringlegend** · 21 Dec 2004, 21:09 (Ref:1185348)

Good news, and I reckon it may be time to get my Lexus hat from 2001 out, need to dust it down first!

Alfa Fan · 21 Dec 2004, 21:20 (Ref:1185360)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

Edenbridge pulled out due to the weight limits imposed on ETCC-spec cars making it imposisble for them to get the car down to a competitive weight, so if that hasn't changed we may still not see any BMWs on the grid.

It was also to do with the tyre issue. I would be surprised if we had no Beemers in 2005.

kmchow · 22 Dec 2004, 01:04 (Ref:1185523)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

I presme when he said 'not a Lexus' he meant 'not one of the old Lexus's who people go on and on about returning to the series every winter!!'

Wait, I thought from the PR thread, it talked about the '01 Lexus? So where did SpeedEquippe source this other (BTCC??) Lexus?

Neil Adams · 22 Dec 2004, 04:24 (Ref:1185590)

the news story clearly states that its going to be etcc spec, i suppose they could have bought one of the lexus' as a bare shell

racingdad · 22 Dec 2004, 10:13 (Ref:1185726)

I believe that they have bought a road car from the unofficial importers (the model isn't on the UK list) and are going to rebuild it to WTCC spec themselves.

MikeHoyer · 22 Dec 2004, 12:35 (Ref:1185835)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE

Didn't he drive a Rover?

Not in the second series, he had a Lexus.

"It's amazing, since owning a Lexus, how may Lexii you see about. You see, that's the plural..."

Anyway, this is good news for the BTCC.

cos · 22 Dec 2004, 12:57 (Ref:1185854)

There's a picture of the Lexus in build stage in today's Motorsport News. MN also says that SpeedEquipe plan to enter 2 of them.

**FIRE** · 22 Dec 2004, 16:38 (Ref:1186018)

Has SpeedEquipe a good reputation? (or will it be and stay a uncompatative car?)

Kicking-back · 22 Dec 2004, 17:47 (Ref:1186081)

With the backing of the Friends Reunited gentleman, funding shouldn't be a worry.

MikeHoyer · 22 Dec 2004, 19:34 (Ref:1186146)

Can someone scan or photograph the MN picture?

Super Tourer · 22 Dec 2004, 20:13 (Ref:1186191)

It's pretty much a bare shell on some stands, so not much to see.

IIRC the suspension geometry was one of the issues with the old BTC spec Lexus, but it's believed it will suit the new car more.

Speculation on drivers - will Ian Curley move up to the BTCC from clio's?

Stefan Hodgetts has been linked as well I believe.

touringcarnut · 23 Dec 2004, 17:37 (Ref:1186893)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

With the backing of the Friends Reunited gentleman, funding shouldn't be a worry.

Who would have thought that a site for people to meet up with 'old school chums' and realise why they didn't bother keeping in contact with them in the first place would benefit the BTCC!

BootsOntheSide · 23 Dec 2004, 19:11 (Ref:1186961)

If this is the project previously mentioned, Chris Hodgetts is involved, so Stefan must be a likely driver. Hopefully a useful team-mate can be found.

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