Popularity of the BTCC

[kristof14]

the problem with the bbc is that they show a lot of live sport so giving it a regular slot on grandstand is difficult, they need to give it a seperate program like the rallying! however no-one ever knows when thats on either!

[redshoes]

Originally posted by Minardi fan
KNOCKERS WAS ON TODAY

Knockhill was on yesterday (Saturday) or do you mean a completely different show on one of those pay-per-view channels

[bella]

it's an interesting idea.

i try and get my friends down to touring cars as much as possible. they say FIRST AND FOREMOST 'how much is it?'. remember, this is skint students we're dealing with here. now, for the snetterton night race, i say '£15 in advance'. having already dragged them down to a night race before, they know it's a good laugh, and totally different to anything they've ever seen before. they'll now consider coming along to watch it, as let's face it, you can't get a day out for £15 easily.
of course, once they went to the touring cars at the end of last year, one of them found herself rather liking racing (even if it was because she thought yellow cars were cute). she then came along to the f1 testing at silverstone, and wants to go again.

it's often that initial 'first contact' let's call it, that really counts. and it's that first contact that needs improving.

tv adverts would be a start. for example, on itv, you get little local adverts. why not put one of those on for snetterton, because after all, there's a helluva lot of young people with families hanging around that want a day out. adverts in local newspapers, even. i'm sure if you ask cambridge evening news nicely they'll run an article. there's already ads in autosport (which are rather cool - i still have my little 'be seen at night @ silverstone' thing from last year).

last year's silverstone night race was very different to this years. last years was more of an all out party. this years admittedly was a bit dampened by the rain... but i'd be interested to see spectator numbers for those two races. it was in the middle of the petrol crisis last year, but the numbers still looked about the same.

anyway.

i think it's just down to awareness. were the bbc to make a permanent fixture of the touring cars, maybe before the rallying on bbc2, run some really cool ads, we might be looking at a few thousand more spectators.

[hunttheshunt]

Why don't the BBC consider giving the BTCC and evening weeknight slot? That would overcome the problem of Live Sporting events at the weekends and wouldn't compromise any other coverage. Just a thought...

[Radisichrox]

I can't watch the btcc in the U.S.!!! The people at speedvison are fools!!

[touringlegend]

I agree with you on the 'First Contact' part bella. When I asked my mum earlier on the year if she would like to come along, whe said oh I suppose, but cars going round in a circle is boring.
After her visit to Knockhill though she says she could fair get in the swing of motor racing, the only thing that let her down was the weather.

[Guy Goddard]

Its not the same as the last few years, once a haven for ex F1 drivers it did at least give good media coverage no more so with Mansell there. This season will go down as proberbly the worst in the last ten years, fans staying away is not a good sign and even Charlie Cox doesn't have that sparkle for this seasons commentrys..
Whoever wins the title will look back and wish they had one it in a previous year.

[racer69]

The flood of manufacturers aren't going to come back to the BTCC unless there are some common rules with other series, namely the ETC. Volvo and Rydell have already committed, along with BMW in a semi support sort of way, Alfa and Seat. They wouldn't compete in the BTCC under the current rules, too expensive, and count out Honda too, they are looking at an ETC program. Wouldn't be surprised if Renault came back. They own Nissan and Nissan was on the ETC board for the new rules, and Renault has said to have been interested for a long time. Maybe Renault for BTCC, Nissan for ETC.

[Eddie_harasym]

I also agree with the first contact thing bella, took some of my mates down to Donno, and I thought they wouldn't be to impressed but with plenty of decent racing, motors and women they were well pleased.

I think the BTC will slot in behind the ETC, That will have full works teams and run big budgets, BTC will run priveteers in ex ETC works cars, and semi-works teams with funding from manufacturers who want to improve the marks appeal. National series champs i.e BTC will graduate to ETC level, and there will be combined meets of ETC and BTC or other national series once a year.

[Radisichrox]

Maybe the BTCC and ETCC could merge and half of the races could be in the U.K. and half could be in Europe. It's quite sensible, we could run the ETC regulations, but allow Production classes to be run as they are now.

[hunttheshunt]

I think Richard West may have to consider changing the rules to the new ETCC rules rather soon...