[BTCC] BTCC 2017 Rumours & Silly Season

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

Latest official BTCC podcast is an interview with Jake Hill from today.

Give it a listen, I'll paraphrase some highlights:

"Nothing is signed yet"
"We've got a good bunch of guys in the team"
"Once the car is built we can go testing"
"I'd like everyone to know by the end of January"

With HARD switching to VW, and possibly fitting a raft of new parts (including updated aero) it would not be surprising to hear anyone in the team describe the activity as 'building the car'. Even more so when you consider that the cars are not built at the moment, so they are not at autosport.

[BLiTZ]

Weren't we supposed to see Motorbase's 'final' livery unveiled or is that it? Still looks unfinished to my eyes!

New Halfords livery is different, wasn't expecting that, but I like it, as others have already pointed out, it manages to combine a number of sponsors into one overall scheme. Slight niggle to my OCD where the orange boot lid seems not to line up with the stripes but other than that very smart.

Pirtek, meh

Disappointed with Handy. The livery is becoming too busy, the extra stripes weren't needed and distract from the logos (of which there are many). Considering that when they first hit the grid with the Kärcher livery it was one of the smartest liveries of recent times, this seems awful by comparison.

Great to see AWE on the grid, even if I still think his name's Ant Water-Neals! (No, seriously, it was only when I saw his car up close and read the name on the back, I realised what I'd been hearing on the commentary was wrong!).

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by BLiTZ

Pirtek, meh

Pirtek was a good design once, but I think we are getting bored with it.

I understand those are Pirtek's colours and Pirtek's logo so there are limit to what can be done, but the last 3 or 4 years have been a simple copy and paste from the previous year.

Compare that to the Honda. We have something with a very different look this year but still manages to keep the recognisable Halfords colours and logo.

[thlbtcc]

Originally Posted by Ry44

where can it be found ?

It's somewhere on BTCC.net but I can't find it for the life of me and the official BTCC Twitter account doesn't post a direct link.

But search in Pocket Casts or iTunes for 'British Touring Car Championship' and the podcasts are there.

[thlbtcc]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

With HARD switching to VW, and possibly fitting a raft of new parts (including updated aero) it would not be surprising to hear anyone in the team describe the activity as 'building the car'. Even more so when you consider that the cars are not built at the moment, so they are not at autosport.

I think you've got it bob on.

[thlbtcc]

Update on Jack Goff.

“At the moment there is nothing on the table”

http://www.btcccrazy.co.uk/btcc/jack...ng-btcc-drive/

[Cinghio44]

Originally Posted by Ry44

where can it be found ?

It's here I think: Btcc.net --> live --> live audio

[Ry44]

Originally Posted by Cinghio44

It's here I think: Btcc.net --> live --> live audio

found it thanks Jake is also on the main Autosport stage this morn so he might reveal a little bit more who knows

[thetool]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Pirtek was a good design once, but I think we are getting bored with it.

This shows you can do a much better Pirtek livery:

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by thetool

This shows you can do a much better Pirtek livery:

Errrr...... That's worse.

[ATF]

I honestly think that's worse too - I like Jordan's Pirtek livery, much better having one big brand on a car rather than loads of different sponsors crowded together.

[S griffin]

I think there's nothing wrong with AJ's livery, it certainly adds a bit of colour to the grid

[thlbtcc]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Whichever way you stand, it's nice to see a national brand invest in the BTCC and over such a sustained period of time.

[Ry44]

Seems like Hill came close to a Motorbase seat but it fell through sounds like he wants to confirm his plans in the next week or 2 so hopefully he can be in a top car challenging the front of the grid (Said on Autosport stage) Given i have been in a similar situation in slightly different circumstances i feel for him

http://overtakemotorsport.com/2017/0...otorbase-miss/

[pagey318]

Jumping into a Hard. CC possibly isn't the worst move. Its a proven car, won numerous races and like the MG, the new parts and aero could invigorate it

[Ry44]

Originally Posted by pagey318

Jumping into a Hard. CC possibly isn't the worst move. Its a proven car, won numerous races and like the MG, the new parts and aero could invigorate it

Part of me feels like it may not be Hard he is back with one would assume they had found a replacement before that happened but i could be wrong

[thetool]

Turkington gone at BMR. His choice or pushed? Teams Plato is involved in tend to aquire a certain reputation..

[ATF]

There's a news story on Autosport saying that Colin Turkington has left Team BMR - he was on stage at ASI this afternoon so I'm assuming it's come from that interview.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Pirtek was a good design once, but I think we are getting bored with it.

I understand those are Pirtek's colours and Pirtek's logo so there are limit to what can be done, but the last 3 or 4 years have been a simple copy and paste from the previous year.

Compare that to the Honda. We have something with a very different look this year but still manages to keep the recognisable Halfords colours and logo.

Isn't it the case with pirtek though that, rather than just provide a logo to a team and they have to incorporate it, their deal with Jordan stipulates that the car carries the same livery as their vans. It makes sense from their corporate perspective that 'their' race team matches everything they do. A bit like red bull's F1 cars.

[Lola]

Two-time champion Colin Turkington has left the Team BMR Subaru squad autosport.com/news/report.ph…

[thlbtcc]

Colin's press release - http://www.colinturkington.com/colin...arts-team-bmr/

[thetool]

Realistically all that's open for Turkington now is either a return to WSR or 888. If he's staying in the BTCC that is.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

their deal with Jordan stipulates that the car carries the same livery as their vans. It makes sense from their corporate perspective that 'their' race team matches everything they do.

I wasn't aware of that. That explains a lot.

I think that's a mistake though. Getting recognition of the logo is important but that doesn't have to mean cloning the vans.

[thlbtcc]

IMHO, Colin smashed it at BMR last season. To be in that position by seasons end despite no pre-season testing, a new car, the Croft punt and missing Thruxton entirely.

Even if it not the case, this may be perceived as JP-realted from the outside.

Fingers crossed Colin and WSR have found sufficient funding for a 2017 drive together. A title favourite if so.

[luckn002]

So.... who's getting that BMR drive?

Hill? Goff? Lloyd? Sutton?