BTCC half Term Report

[Icebaby]

Well were half way through the season and had someone said their would be 4 champions in the mix despite the recession it would have been laughed off!.

So how have teams performed so far:

VXR Vauxhall:

As expected there are stepping aside at the end of the year which may have stopped development to the Vectra, Neal has stepped up to the task with some solid performances although still getting involved in controversy with other drivers which may come back to bite him, Gio has had a shakey start and seems not at one with the cars balance or in qualifying however he cannot be discounted at any stage. Jordan has had a steep learning curve with two former champions and his performance has not really matched Tom Onslow Cole from last year and as a result of car failures and contact trails his team mates by some margin.


Team Dynamics:

Steve Neal may well be regretting not moving Thompson into the team earlier so he could have helped with testing/development and been there at the first race, Thompson has been a revalation and fits well with Dynamics pulling off some sensational results. Whilst Shedden may be thinking Thompson took his drive he should look more to the other seat which he deserves if the world was a fair place. Pinkney has been dissapointing and picking up the tail end of the points is not where the car is but proberbly the driver. A huge crash destroying his car at Croft should give further warning signs.


Team RAC:


Were always going to be a threat and Turkington like Thompson keeps the racing clean and has put himself in a position where he could well take the championship. The team are working the BMW perfectly and with Jelley on song he has a good team mate to support him.


RML:


What a suprise seeing them turn up!, RML have proved the Chevy is a strong car and will only get better in the second half, Plato has continued to display why he is highly regarded however there could be more to this deal than the surface suggests. With Plato putting together a sponsership deal just before brands he did have a choice of the third BMW from WSR or a second Chevy at Tempus. Plato may well be looking at a bigger picture with RML with a possiblity of moving to WTCC in the Cruze. Plato will be a threat however his driving style has changed and he is looking like a man running on a budget avoiding any notable contact which may hamper him. His latest run in with Neal will only add to his problems as contact again is odd's on.
Jackson has had mixed fortunes although the second half will no doubt see him move closer to Plato and support him. Nash has not had a great opener but may build on it if he can learn from Plato.


Tempus Sport:

Talked highly at the start of season with the prospect of two cars but this came to nothing and Vaulkard has been on his own. A conservative start looked like 08 all over again but Donnington showed he can do it and Croft showed the inexperience of mixing with the lead pack. The team are working well and can only benefit from RML being on the scene in a full capacity.A destroyed car at Croft leaves the team on their back foot.


Team AON:

A disaster is all you can say although on the fringes of a top ten result in the later rounds, straight line speed the issue and a driver line up of Chilton and Morrison has yet to really show notable progress. Morrison looks out of sorts and a late change at croft with Onslow Cole raised some concerns to his position..time will tell. Arena need to be looking at this more long term as 09 seems not to give them the results possibly expected. The Ford may not have been the best or cost effective choice.


Airwaves BMW:

Pulled of a great sponsership deam for 09 but the loss of Kane was sad and Adam's has been hit and miss with results compared to Collard. The team are strong but still have a bit to go before they can match WSR, Collard is running as the front man but like Neal he is giving contact out which may come back to bite him at the wrong time.


Sunshine/Tech Speed:

Paul O'Neil has been stunning and should have won a couple of races until cruel like deprived him, he is pulling the team along and without him the team would be back markers in all races. Bell has not really benefited by Neils presence in his own driving however the team exists becasue of him so we can only hope O'Neil is there till the end. Snetterton could well be another O'Neil track.

Cartridge World:

Jones was tipped as a Seat works driver till the plug was pulled and again he is up their again in the points, consistant and stays out of trouble most of the time the team have had issues with the car and you can't help thinking Jones would have been better staying with his 08 team who did so much for him. Eaves has had a dreadful run.


The other teams have not really been able to make any impression but hopefully will in the second half.

[awrb]

I agree with most of that (apart from the usual Pinkney bashing, good on you Dave for having go).

I'm not sure about what's been said about Arena's drivers however:

Originally Posted by Icebaby

a driver line up of Chilton and Morrison has yet to really show notable progress. Morrison looks out of sorts and a late change at croft with Onslow Cole raised some concerns to his position..time will tell.

I think Morrison's looked very good this year so far, after a slightly shaky start no doubt due to all that rust, and Chilton's looked pretty quick. I think they're doing the best we can expect with a car that still needs some work. As for Onslow-Cole's appearance, we have no reason to believe it's permanent, since the team have said they knew Morrison would have to miss the round, and the fact the deal came so late meaning he may not have had time to get out of all other commitments. Would be good if they could get the money together to run three of those Focus' soon, I get hte feeling that car will quite quickly be on the podium.

[Icebaby]

[QUOTE=awrb;2495252]
I'm not sure about what's been said about Arena's drivers QUOTE]

It was a late call for Onslow Cole (fri morn in fact) so the team were not prepared, its proberbly nothing and Arena have made assurances Morrison is in the car for Snetterton. If you look at how the Chevy is performing you can't help think it would have been a better bet than the Ford IMO.

As for Dave Pinkney it just a spectators observation and hopefully he can improve in the second half however I am sure Dave expected a little more than the points he has at present.

[PDS]

Originally Posted by Icebaby

It was a late call for Onslow Cole (fri morn in fact) so the team were not prepared, its proberbly nothing and Arena have made assurances Morrison is in the car for Snetterton.

It was actually Saturday Morning. Morrison had to stand down at the last moment due to personal problems. He is expected back in the car at snetterton and for the remainder of the season..

[ROB IS THE STIG]

Can i just say how pleased i am that James Thompson is back in BTCC this yr. He is a cracking driver and a top bloke!!

Great season so far, lets hope it continues