[BTCC] 2015 BTCC news & rumours

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

That Austin post is very interesting. At least he's not said it in the heat of the moment, as that's why he has some good arguments. Obviously he'd want to remain as competitive as possible but I can't help but feel that WSR are being penalised for basically outperforming the works teams on every level. Because they've upset the big boys (okay, WSR may be one of the big boys, but don't have the factory support that 888 and TD have) they're getting a lot of needless stick.

Turks has always been a world class touring car driver and the BMW is in it's prime, MG's car has reached the end of development, Honda have an estate, AJ's car is as old as the MG and doesn't have the factory support, and the rest aren't title contenders. Collard has made the most of AJ and Neal having some woeful weekends to be in the top 5, whilst Tordoff has only recently shown why he's still in one of the BTCC's top drives. Imo 888 should bring in Ingram next season if they want 2 title contenders.

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

whilst Tordoff has only recently shown why he's still in one of the BTCC's top drives. Imo 888 should bring in Ingram next season if they want 2 title contenders.

888 didn't bring Tordoff in... he went to them with a huge pile of swag courtesy of the family's JCT600 business. Tom Ingram is not exactly in the same league [wealth wise] as the Tordoffs and I don't imagine 888 would be able/willing to subsidize a drive for him.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

How much backing does (dare I say) Árón Smith have? Or Adam Morgan (although I doubt Ciceley would want to ditch the Merc project).

[porsche962fan]

Aron Smith already confirmed at BMR Restart in Passat for 2015

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

How much backing does (dare I say) Árón Smith have? Or Adam Morgan (although I doubt Ciceley would want to ditch the Merc project).

Both drivers have significant family backing to underwrite their BTCC campaigns.

Aron Smith's family own and run Smith's Building Supplies in Greenhills, Dublin. They're very wealthy and have spent a significant amount of money on Gavin's and Aron's motor racing down through the years. Having said that, Gavin and Aron are regularly seen serving behind the counter there - my dad's on first name terms with them (!)

Adam Morgan's family run Ciceley Commercials, a very large Mercedes Benz Commercials dealer network in the north of England. They're also very affluent and have contributed significantly to Adam's motor racing.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Honda hint that they could use the new Civic R next season. If so, where would the estates go? And would Pirtek follow suit?

[PandaKing]

The estate would probably be dismantled to make the new cars.

[davyboy]

From what Rob Austin said it appears that pursuing the Tourer was a mistake - I guess Honda wanted Dynamics to use it, a condition of the funding ?

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

I read somewhere that the Honda UK boys created the whole estate project to keep Honda's interest in the BTCC up, with them entering F1 next season as an engine supplier and all that. So basically it was an internal PR exercise...

[porsche962fan]

I hope that the supposed Plato going at WSR doesn't come at the expense of Turks being kicked out !!!

[FIRE]

Please no Plato at WSR.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Plato goes to whoever wins the most. That's how he's won a lot. Great driver + best car = win. Which is why he's whinging. He's not got the best car, and he's not the best driver.

[Sodemo]

What would be the point of Honda specifically using the type r model. Doesn't all the road car stuff get thrown out anyway, just leaving the shell?

[Bramzel]

The same as what the point was with the Tourer: marketing.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by Bramzel

The same as what the point was with the Tourer: marketing.

So essentially then they might as well name the eurotech Hondas as type r's as well, since they would likely be much the same?

[Bramzel]

Yup; a new set of bumpers all around would pretty much do the trick already

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

I hope that the supposed Plato going at WSR doesn't come at the expense of Turks being kicked out !!!

Turks is like a son to Dick Bennetts, can't see that happening!

[medius]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

Plato goes to whoever wins the most. That's how he's won a lot. Great driver + best car = win. Which is why he's whinging. He's not got the best car, and he's not the best driver.

Really?

MG - new to the championship when he joined so no previous wins in the BTCC with Triple 8.
Chevrolet - new to the championship when he joined so no previous wins in the BTCC with RML.
SEAT - new to the championship when he joined so no previous wins in the BTCC with Northern South.

As for Honda with the Tourer, Flash and Matt have always been there or there abouts, its more about the stunning form of Turks an dWSR, along with the wins being shared by others, and the awful luck the team's been having, rather than the car being fundamentally bad. Andrew Jordan hasn't been a front runner either, but he's not forgotten how to drive, and Eurotech haven't forgotten how to screw a car together.

Its just a very competitive chamipionship in 2014, and each weekend has so many variables that it just takes being a tenth off the pace or missing an apex in qually to have a bad weekend. Thats common sense.

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by medius

Really?

MG - new to the championship when he joined so no previous wins in the BTCC with Triple 8.
Chevrolet - new to the championship when he joined so no previous wins in the BTCC with RML.
SEAT - new to the championship when he joined so no previous wins in the BTCC with Northern South.

way to miss the point

those are all factory backed entries with well proven teams who already won titles


it's the same as say Plato going to a brand new team with no success like BMR Restart the way Menu did or a team with marginal success at best like Motorbase

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Turks is like a son to Dick Bennetts, can't see that happening!

if Dick really would do it then he is a dick literally

I know at the end of the day it's business and $$$ counts but this would be utter corporate sale out in the worst possible way

besides if Plato would really want to go to WSR he would insist that Turks be kicked out since he can stand a driver who can stand up to him he himself said, a team 2 no. 1 drivers doesn't work..

[BillWiskins]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

I hope that the supposed Plato going at WSR doesn't come at the expense of Turks being kicked out !!!

Is this a thing? I don't read other BTCC forums, but I do check out the BTCC news sites now and then and I've heard nothing. Was anything actually said, or is it just speculation?

Reasonable speculation, if it is, with all the RWD comments and the MG contract for Plato ending this year, but I just wondered if I'd missed anything.

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

Plato goes to whoever wins the most. ..

...and given the option, who wouldn't? Honestly?

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Tbh I wouldn't be hugely surprised if Rob Collard gives Plato a few problems. Imo he's a much better driver than Sam Tordoff, who has recently got the edge on Plato (although I suspect that success ballast is part of that...) whilst Turks would go on winning lots.

Knowing Plato, however, he could well join the very team he tried to peg back last season, and suddenly fall silent...

...just whatever happens, Plato will be a race winner next season.

[jimothy84]

He'll just find something else to whinge about!

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

if Dick really would do it then he is a dick literally

I know at the end of the day it's business and $$$ counts but this would be utter corporate sale out in the worst possible way

besides if Plato would really want to go to WSR he would insist that Turks be kicked out since he can stand a driver who can stand up to him he himself said, a team 2 no. 1 drivers doesn't work..

Never going to happen, so don't worry. The only reason Colin wouldn't be back would be due to a similar situation like when RAC pulled out. Dick and the team moved heaven and earth to try and get him a 2010 programme in the BTCC, but it just wasn't possible.

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Never going to happen, so don't worry. The only reason Colin wouldn't be back would be due to a similar situation like when RAC pulled out. Dick and the team moved heaven and earth to try and get him a 2010 programme in the BTCC, but it just wasn't possible.

Turks looked at Onyx WTCC this year though, didn't he? And they are looking at Focuses for the new TC3 Class. WSR want and arguably need him. Does he need or want them?