[BTCC] BTCC 2017 Rumours & Silly Season

[Sodemo]

Nothing would make me happier than seeing Alfa back on the grid in touring car form, preferrably in red or white though...

[thlbtcc]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Nothing would make me happier than seeing Alfa back on the grid in touring car form, preferrably in red or white though...

Beggars can't be choosers.

[S griffin]

Alfa Romeo is a brand that's gone into hibernation in this decade. It would be great to see them back in racing at some point

[S700UBO]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

I think they were hoping that Ford would bite and offer some support, particularly as they are running the Ecoboost which is the engine Ford are promoting in their models, but it didn't happen.

Added to which the new version of the NGTC engine has been proved to be quick in other cars and a lot of the development costs of doing your own engine is negated if TOCA cut the boost because it is deemed to quick!

I would imagine a Subaru type deal from Alfa is possible as they would not put in big budget as they are still low volume sales in the UK, but they are bringing on more dealers as they are consolidating FCA brands into dealerships, for example our local FIAT dealership are now FIAT, Alfa, Arbarth and Jeep 'retailers'.

would probably be keen on using hospitality programme to fund part of this which they would mark up to the dealers nearest the circuits and 'encourage' them to take a certain number of places...

Similar story up here in Inverness (minus Abarth)

still fresh in the memory of Tarquini having his roll at my first ever BTCC race at the age of 9 (was my 10th bday prezzie!) at knockhill in 1994 would be good to see an Alfa back on track in the BTCC

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by jsmee

See the attachment - from the OKI Print My Ride/Motorbase tutorial video. That'll get the rumour mill spinning nicely.

That's my contribution for the year, laters.

What? Do you think they're going to employ BatMan as a driver?
(Sorry, I hadn't refreshed my page and ironically thought I was being original!)

[porsche962fan]

did some checking

the last Alfas which raced in BTCC were in 2007 , Quest racing with Eoin Murray and A-Tech with Dave Pinkney and Richard Marsh
http://www.eoinmurray.com/updater/up...063e4aef_o.jpg

and in 2008 we had the infamous Team 48 attempting to race....


and soemthing else if Motorbase switch car and likely get the TOCA unit it means just 3 teams will have their own engines

- BMR
- Team Dynamics
- WSR

the series is close to being a single engine series

also if this really happens maybe the Fords will end up at the likes of HARD ?

[5five]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

did some checking

the last Alfas which raced in BTCC were in 2007 , Quest racing with Eoin Murray and A-Tech with Dave Pinkney and Richard Marsh
http://www.eoinmurray.com/updater/up...063e4aef_o.jpg

and in 2008 we had the infamous Team 48 attempting to race....


and soemthing else if Motorbase switch car and likely get the TOCA unit it means just 3 teams will have their own engines

- BMR
- Team Dynamics
- WSR

the series is close to being a single engine series

also if this really happens maybe the Fords will end up at the likes of HARD ?

Well it looks like the Avensii are on their way out of the Team HARD building.

[thlbtcc]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

did some checking

the last Alfas which raced in BTCC were in 2007 , Quest racing with Eoin Murray and A-Tech with Dave Pinkney and Richard Marsh
http://www.eoinmurray.com/updater/up...063e4aef_o.jpg

and in 2008 we had the infamous Team 48 attempting to race....


and soemthing else if Motorbase switch car and likely get the TOCA unit it means just 3 teams will have their own engines

- BMR
- Team Dynamics
- WSR

the series is close to being a single engine series

also if this really happens maybe the Fords will end up at the likes of HARD ?

If the Ford's are in the hands of another team, then they could still run with the EcoBoost.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

did some checking

the last Alfas which raced in BTCC were in 2007 , Quest racing with Eoin Murray and A-Tech with Dave Pinkney and Richard Marsh
http://www.eoinmurray.com/updater/up...063e4aef_o.jpg

and in 2008 we had the infamous Team 48 attempting to race....


and soemthing else if Motorbase switch car and likely get the TOCA unit it means just 3 teams will have their own engines

- BMR
- Team Dynamics
- WSR

the series is close to being a single engine series

also if this really happens maybe the Fords will end up at the likes of HARD ?

I do think that variety is important. Sadly with the current ruleset the lack of variety in various aspects makes things a little stale (in my view). I would like to see a few things opened up.

- Free exhaust pipe placement.
- Free wheel manufacturer / design choice.
- Free gearbox / gear lever choice (eg off the shelf Xtrac, Hewland, Hollinger etc).

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Alfa Romeo is a brand that's gone into hibernation in this decade. It would be great to see them back in racing at some point

Could this also be why Mat Jackson was very coy on what he would be doing next year. He said it really depends on what direction or option the team takes. Remember Jackson's backers (Volvo) have a preference for what cars he drives, Ford was always ok, not sure they'd be happy on an Italian car

[Cinghio44]

Alfa-Motorbase not an impossible move. Some years ago i read about Motorbase considering a switch to a NGTC BMW for Jackson...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/114341

Maybe RW drive was a long shot...

[Rob877]

Originally Posted by S700UBO

Similar story up here in Inverness (minus Abarth)

still fresh in the memory of Tarquini having his roll at my first ever BTCC race at the age of 9 (was my 10th bday prezzie!) at knockhill in 1994 would be good to see an Alfa back on track in the BTCC

That was my first BTCC event too! There is a great 10 minutes or so of footage on YouTube, shot by someone in the crowd. Brings it all back to what is still probably my favorite season of BTCC. I still adore the sound of the normally aspirated Super Tourers. For me that's pretty much the only thing I don't about the NGTC regs. Although I do realise the cost implication of this.

[BLiTZ]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

I do think that variety is important. Sadly with the current ruleset the lack of variety in various aspects makes things a little stale (in my view). I would like to see a few things opened up.

- Free exhaust pipe placement.
- Free wheel manufacturer / design choice.
- Free gearbox / gear lever choice (eg off the shelf Xtrac, Hewland, Hollinger etc).

This is something I've often thought about for a while. With the odd exception during the S2000 days (the Chevys ran Rays Gram Lights 57's IIRC) we've been stuck with (predominately black) Team Dynamics Pro Race multispokes.

I know Rimstock have got the exclusive supplier deal going with Toca, which no doubt saves the teams money on R&D, but I'm sure they could offer 2-3 designs, (a 6 spoke would be great) to give some variety!

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by Rob877

Bravo sir, Bravo.

Would love to see that, can't beat getting some new models on the grid. Would be a strange move considering all the work that's gone in to the Ecoboost Ford Engine though. I'd be happy with just the Focus getting it's face-lift finally!

Fanning the flames... Who or what is to say Andrew Jordan will be driving for Motorbase?

He could take his Pirtek sponsorship elsewhere... How about to 888? The MG 6 is a dead donkey - not on sale so nowt for MG to justify marketing budget on - so why not a shiny new motor from scratch with some manufacturer backing? Alfa is trying to grow, the Giulia is targeted at taking customers of the BMW 3 series - so running rings around WSR would go down well... If Andy Jordan and 888 got it together.

[Speed-King]

Didn't AJ burn a bunch of bridges at 888?

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Didn't AJ burn a bunch of bridges at 888?

Can't remember to be honest. Money talks though. And If not 888, then someone else... WSR?

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Can't remember to be honest. Money talks though. And If not 888, then someone else... WSR?

AJ has stated he's happy at Motorbase, so think he'all still be there, definately won't be back at 888! Fit's with Jackson's uncertainty of if he's staying too if they change car.

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Fanning the flames... Who or what is to say Andrew Jordan will be driving for Motorbase?

He could take his Pirtek sponsorship elsewhere... How about to 888? The MG 6 is a dead donkey - not on sale so nowt for MG to justify marketing budget on - so why not a shiny new motor from scratch with some manufacturer backing? Alfa is trying to grow, the Giulia is targeted at taking customers of the BMW 3 series - so running rings around WSR would go down well... If Andy Jordan and 888 got it together.

888 isn't the force it was in the Vauxhall and early days of the MG, they sold their factory, downsized on staff and are based in a corner of BMR's facility nowadays.

[porsche962fan]

well Steve Neal is at it again but he does have a point

[850Estate]

Andrew Jordan will not be back at Triple Eight. Let me just confirm that right now.

[Rob877]

http://www.touringcartimes.com/2016/10/13/honda-boss-calls-for-a-merit-based-driver-licence-system-for-the-btcc/

Just thought I'd throw the link to the article up on here. For once I'm inclined to partially agree with him. I think a points based license system would be a good idea in principal, not really sure how it would be worked considering how many undoubtedly talented drivers can't get a drive in BTCC purely down to budget issues. Limiting the number of cars on the grid would be a backwards step on my opinion. I would rather give the new penalty system a year and see how that goes as I think there was a bit of an increase in driving standards once that was implemented.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by BLiTZ

This is something I've often thought about for a while. With the odd exception during the S2000 days (the Chevys ran Rays Gram Lights 57's IIRC) we've been stuck with (predominately black) Team Dynamics Pro Race multispokes.

I know Rimstock have got the exclusive supplier deal going with Toca, which no doubt saves the teams money on R&D, but I'm sure they could offer 2-3 designs, (a 6 spoke would be great) to give some variety!

To be honest, there is so much I would like to change about the current regs I probably don't have time to list them all. However offering say 3 or 4 different wheel designs certainly wouldn't hurt.

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by Rob877

http://www.touringcartimes.com/2016/10/13/honda-boss-calls-for-a-merit-based-driver-licence-system-for-the-btcc/

Just thought I'd throw the link to the article up on here. For once I'm inclined to partially agree with him. I think a points based license system would be a good idea in principal, not really sure how it would be worked considering how many undoubtedly talented drivers can't get a drive in BTCC purely down to budget issues. Limiting the number of cars on the grid would be a backwards step on my opinion. I would rather give the new penalty system a year and see how that goes as I think there was a bit of an increase in driving standards once that was implemented.

I can't see Gow going for this he is more likely to say that if some teams don't like it go race somewhere else. He will have a long memory when the BTCC was scratching around to even get a decent grid, I remember being at TOCA meetings at the end of '99 and start of 2000 when there was the prospect of only 9 or 10 cars on the grid, hence the National Saloon boys were asked to join and make up the grid.

The BTCC is in a golden period at the moment, but it doesn't take long for things to chance, downturn on the econonmy, ageing cars and not sufficent new build sees competitive car numbers decline, etc. Ironocally if there is a down turn, generally the 'gentleman driver' is better placed to ride it out (there is an argument that those with money, make money in a downturn) where as sponsors and driver investors may dry up.

I agree to review how the harsher penalties work but I can see some teams crying foul if they have to turn funded drivers away because they now don't have the right TOCA licence and if say you made it that you had to finish in the top 6 of a recognised suport series championship to qualify - like Ginetta Cup/ Clio Cup or a similar overseas series how many of the current runners and riders would meet that criteria..

[porsche962fan]

they could increase the number of mandatory NGTC testing miles before being allowed on the grid regarding new comers

[redshoes]

There's already a theoretical mandatory minimum test mileage, but driving around on your own for 100's of miles doesn't teach you anything about race-craft or being mid-pack surrounded by 2 dozen similar cars.