Quote:
Originally Posted by S griffin
I wonder if BTC have felt they have done all they can with the Honda and felt they need to find a more competitive package
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Yes - I think that is definitely the case. It was discussed
a few posts back about how teams who take a customer car will struggle if the builder of the car is still in the championship. That is part of the reason why Laser Tools are looking to a potential new build.
Quote:
Originally Posted by S griffin
Eurotech are probably the only ones to win the title with a customer car.
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In terms of the drivers' title, yes. And in terms of looking at results with a customer car, anything prior to NGTC regulations is a different context I feel.
Since the adoption of full NGTC across the whole grid, the following customer cars have picked up titles:
| Year | Title | Winner |
| 2013 | Drivers' Champion | Jordan |
| 2013 | Independent Drivers' | Jordan |
| 2013 | Independent Teams | Pirtek Racing |
| 2013 | Jack Sears | Wood |
| 2014 | Jack Sears | Newsham |
| 2017 | Independent Drivers' | Ingram |
| 2017 | Independent Teams | Speedworks |
| 2018 | Independent Drivers' | Ingram |
| 2018 | Independent Teams | Speedworks |
| 2019 | Independent Drivers' | Butcher |
| 2019 | Independent Teams | Cobra Sport AmD |
| 2019 | Jack Sears | Butcher |
| 2020 | Jack Sears | Crees |
| 2022 | Independent Drivers' | Cook |
| 2022 | Independent Teams | Rich Energy BTC Racing |
So what do I think this tells us? I think that as a stepping stone, picking up a customer car makes sense until you have established experience in the BTCC. But if you want to make a bid for the main titles, then you need to have your own in-house developed car.
BTC are now at this point. They tried to run something different to Team Dynamics by fitting the TOCA engine in. It seems clear that they want their own engine, and the freedom to develop a car in their own manner. And so, they need a new model and probably the support of someone like Swindon to develop the engine.