[BTCC] BTCC 2018 Rumours & Silly Season

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by Ry44

http://www.britishgt.com/news/310

Ok so kind of BTCC related Will Burns is moving to British GT so that frees his seat from this year up in Team HARD

Good catch.

[BobJones]

What's to say won't Simpson take his $$$ elsewhere.....?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by BobJones

What's to say won't Simpson take his $$$ elsewhere.....?

Do you mean another team - or outside of BTCC?

Simpson has commented that he can't wait for the next BTCC season, and that he is part of the 'full entry list'.
If he was to move from TD, where would be best to go?

[Craner Curves]

Paul O'Neill is collecting another BMW company car. What can we read into this?

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Paul O'Neill is collecting another BMW company car. What can we read into this?

nothing. he does a lot of work for bmw doing customer drive days etc.

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Paul O'Neill is collecting another BMW company car. What can we read into this?

Well, if it's usual Silly Season discussion, then he's definitely signed a deal to replace a retiring Collard.

[Londoner]

Jeff Smith ruled out for the entirety of 2018. Can't help but feel we've seen the last of him as a driver in the BTCC, what a sad way to bow out.

[luckn002]

Originally Posted by Londoner

Jeff Smith ruled out for the entirety of 2018. Can't help but feel we've seen the last of him as a driver in the BTCC, what a sad way to bow out.

Shame. Really seemed to improve with every season. Looks like Brett will be back at Eurotech next season then

[CM388]

Originally Posted by Londoner

Jeff Smith ruled out for the entirety of 2018. Can't help but feel we've seen the last of him as a driver in the BTCC, what a sad way to bow out.

That's really cruel. Hopefully everything goes well in his recovery and he'll be out in 2019, he's been a lot more consistent over the past couple of seasons.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Think of NGTC as being closer to a space-frame where you hang the body over the cage, rather than a traditional race car where the cage and body become a single item. That's a little over-simplified, but you get the idea.

The old Civic hatch / Type R /Tourer were effectively the same car with minor sheet metal changes. The new Civic is a different space - not as tall but with a longer wheelbase, so wouldn't fit over the existing chassis.

Very well put Sir; space frame was the term I could not bring to mind.

Wheelbase is vastly different from old gen to new gen.

I would place a safe guess Smithy made the big deal over Type R for commercial reasons.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Do you mean another team - or outside of BTCC?

Simpson has commented that he can't wait for the next BTCC season, and that he is part of the 'full entry list'.
If he was to move from TD, where would be best to go?

A return to a two car Speedworks with either:

Matt and Flashs 2017 wheels

Or

Tingrams and the Handy Toyota.

😀

[luckn002]

Team HARD seem to be winning the silly season - more rumours!

"Early start @Brands_Hatch for the @TeamHardRacing track day today. Then tomorrow we will share some more @DunlopBTCC news as we continue piecing together our 2018 plans"

- TG on Twitter. 'Liked' by Mike Bushell

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

A return to a two car Speedworks with either:

Matt and Flashs 2017 wheels

Or

Tingrams and the Handy Toyota.

😀

Whatever car Speedworks are considering switching to either has to have pedigree (BMW/Subaru/Honda) I would think. They ran Simoson’s Civic so maybe they’ve seen the chassis potential? With Geoff Kingston leaving it makes me think the Toyota had reached its limit of development.

I think they’ll be a few surprises for us yet 😊

[S griffin]

Shame Jeff Smith won't be out, he makes mistakes, but he always goes well when he's got a race winning team mate with him.

[luckn002]

Matt Salisbury on twitter -

"Some genuinely interesting things going on behind the scenes in the #BTCC - and some announcements still to be made that are certainly going to be eye-opening...."

In my mind this means there'll be a major car change / new build or some change in the regulations or race structure...
And with the mystery over SW I would guess they might bring in a new manufacturer...?

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by luckn002

Matt Salisbury on twitter -

"Some genuinely interesting things going on behind the scenes in the #BTCC - and some announcements still to be made that are certainly going to be eye-opening...."

In my mind this means there'll be a major car change / new build or some change in the regulations or race structure...
And with the mystery over SW I would guess they might bring in a new manufacturer...?

wont be change in regs or race structure. theyve already been published.

[psq43]

I'll stick my neck on the line and suggest a driver making a move to somewhere you'd never imagine....again...

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by psq43

I'll stick my neck on the line and suggest a driver making a move to somewhere you'd never imagine....again...

Jason Plato at Team Dynamics ? cos that's the only thing literally "you'd NEVER IMAGINE"

[psq43]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

Jason Plato at Team Dynamics ? cos that's the only thing literally "you'd NEVER IMAGINE"

Ok, ALMOST somewhere you'd never imagine

[Alfisti]

I did imagine Plato at Dynamics. Admittedly I have a vivid imagination...

I still have a feeling he will be popping up in a non Warren Scott motor. Maybe with the best RWD car on the grid with his bessie mate Turks...

[BLiTZ]

Originally Posted by luckn002

Matt Salisbury on twitter -

"Some genuinely interesting things going on behind the scenes in the #BTCC - and some announcements still to be made that are certainly going to be eye-opening...."

In my mind this means there'll be a major car change / new build or some change in the regulations or race structure...
And with the mystery over SW I would guess they might bring in a new manufacturer...?

Perhaps they've final coaxed Toyota and are switching to the Auris?!

[luckn002]

HARD / Brisky driver announcement at 4:00 today

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by BLiTZ

Perhaps they've final coaxed Toyota and are switching to the Auris?!

Doubt it: Auris is being replaced with a ground up new motor in 2019. Having said that the Handy Alfa caught me off guard...

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by luckn002

HARD / Brisky driver announcement at 4:00 today

Bushell?... He's got the talent 😀

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Doubt it: Auris is being replaced with a ground up new motor in 2019. Having said that the Handy Alfa caught me off guard...

FCA have forgotten to replace any small or medium-sized platforms, so the Giulietta has to stagger on for years yet.