BTCC 2019 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by medius

In other musings. Turkington holdings generally buys the chassis in which Colin used when he wins a title. So does that mean his 2019 125i is a chassis his family owns or would WSR build a fresh one for him alone? Its a unique situation for him having never defended a title! I think the Oliphant/Jordan chassis are going to be last years cars as there's nothing wrong with them. Would Turkington risk a piece of coins racing career being written off in competition?

There's only been four cars built. The one used by Turkington for the last 2 years is from 2015, the other 3 are all from 2013.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by redshoes

There's only been four cars built. The one used by Turkington for the last 2 years is from 2015, the other 3 are all from 2013.

but really only the original centre bodyshell section/cage is all that would remain of those cars. since then they have had all the different new subframes, suspension, different engines etc.

[RS67]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

(and incidentally on the earlier point, I work as a contractor and typically get a 6 or 12 month contract at a time, if i want to leave after 3 months because i get a better offer I am able to with agreed notice, I wouldnt expect to be talked into staying then told my contract is terminated when the other offer is no longer available)

Do you pay your employers for your work contracts then?
I still can't see Motorbase having to pay MJ anything. If it is true that Dynamics had approached Jackson for the drive, then I would have thought Dynamics would have had to buy MJ out of his contract. I can't imagine DB being happy about another team wanting a driver he had already signed. Perhaps DB wanted more money than Dynamics were willing to pay and who could blame him. The only way I can see MJ doing well financially out of it is if Dynamics felt guilty about MJ losing his drive and paid him out of the money they would have used to buy him out of the contract.

[btccbloke]

yeah, I get your point, I am very interested how more than 1 person has claimed to know Mat's year out was "very good for him financially, not so much the other party" and "MJ has come of it all far better than motorbase"


I have tabled a couple of ideas how this may be the case but like you say its not completely logical.


I dunno, this is of course only a forum and with the lack of clarity, most of the "in the knows" who make these claims probably have no more information than most of us

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

yeah, I get your point, I am very interested how more than 1 person has claimed to know Mat's year out was "very good for him financially, not so much the other party" and "MJ has come of it all far better than motorbase"


I have tabled a couple of ideas how this may be the case but like you say its not completely logical.


I dunno, this is of course only a forum and with the lack of clarity, most of the "in the knows" who make these claims probably have no more information than most of us

I believe some on here do know more, but last year one was warned to ‘keep quiet’ or not be welcome in the paddock after passing some of the ‘interesting’ info on. However I think some of this will come to light during this season.

[Evantra]

Jack Goff on a 2019 BTCC drive -

"With the uncertainty with the uk it’s really hurting me getting a deal put together with sponsors. So yeah, highly likely it won’t be happening."

[Alfisti]

Maybe MJ won the lottery? 🤣

Pity about Goff but that's looked like it was coming for a while. Don't think he's the last name who won't have a seat 😞

[porsche962fan]

this years grid quality seems to be drooping like May's approval ratings

Collard out, Goff out


if the likes of Cook , Proctor are also gone it won't be that much exitment

[S griffin]

Shame Goff won’t be on the grid. Looks like we’re not going to get the top quality of British drivers we have had the last couple of seasons throughout the grid

[bella]

do we have any firm rumour (i was going to say “concrete information” but..) that cook won’t be back? that’d be particularly rubbish considering he signed the year off being a part of That Battle with ash sutton at brands.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by bella

do we have any firm rumour (i was going to say “concrete information” but..) that cook won’t be back? that’d be particularly rubbish considering he signed the year off being a part of That Battle with ash sutton at brands.

According to the article on BTCC.net today, Josh & Senna are both looking to retain their PMR drives but other drivers are in the question too - rumours seem to say Plato is one of them!

Definitely agree with you, he was much improved last season, and like Jack Goff one of the bigger personalities in the paddock.

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Jack Goff on a 2019 BTCC drive -

"With the uncertainty with the uk it’s really hurting me getting a deal put together with sponsors. So yeah, highly likely it won’t be happening."

Apart from the year when he had the BMW drive, he's always been fighting to get and then stay on the grid. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.

[S griffin]

The loss of Eurotech has hit him harder than we thought

[Pdh]

I think teams are having to ask for the drivers to bring more budget because teams are finding it harder to get team sponsors

[mattcanary]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

I think it would be a shame if Josh Cook doesn't return (especially if the main reason for this being poor old JP is frightened to have such a talented team mate who might show him up - again!). I think he has great talent and although has been off the rails and over aggressive on occasions, he does appear to be able to race hard but far, as his duel with Ash Sutton in the final race last year showed. I'm sorry, but I certainly hope you're wrong on this one.

Probably niot likely but it would be good to see him team up again with Ash

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Pdh

I think teams are having to ask for the drivers to bring more budget because teams are finding it harder to get team sponsors

So what’s new? There is not a team in the pit road that does not require external funding that drivers bring

[touringlegend]

Originally Posted by Evantra

According to the article on BTCC.net today, Josh & Senna are both looking to retain their PMR drives but other drivers are in the question too - rumours seem to say Plato is one of them!
.

Reading the article I thought it strange how Cook and Proctor would be mentioned like they were if there was another driver rumoured to be joining, just my take from it.

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Reading the article I thought it strange how Cook and Proctor would be mentioned like they were if there was another driver rumoured to be joining, just my take from it.

Sounds a bit like turning the heat up on those chasing the seat. Maybe with no TAG sponsorship the drivers need to bring more backing themselves. I can imagine that Cook & Proctor are their first choice if funding is sufficient but expect the likes of Plato & Cole to be pushing for a seat with their respective backers & budgets.

[BLiTZ]

I can't help feeling that if Plato is 'up to something' behind the scenes it'll be too little too late. If it is a new car, then if it's not already in-build, it'll be behind the curve, and with testing season approaching unless he's signed up in another seat I can see a few rounds of "I'm yet to get to grips with the car; it's a big departure from the Subaru (acting as though he's forgotten how to drive a FWD car before) etc etc".

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by BLiTZ

I can't help feeling that if Plato is 'up to something' behind the scenes it'll be too little too late. If it is a new car, then if it's not already in-build, it'll be behind the curve, and with testing season approaching unless he's signed up in another seat I can see a few rounds of "I'm yet to get to grips with the car; it's a big departure from the Subaru (acting as though he's forgotten how to drive a FWD car before) etc etc".

The only new car will be Ingram's Toyota.
If Jason's planning something it would only be finding sufficient sponsorship to buy one of the remaining seats.

I can't imagine those seats look particularly attractive either.

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by sceptic

The only new car will be Ingram's Toyota.
If Jason's planning something it would only be finding sufficient sponsorship to buy one of the remaining seats.

I can't imagine those seats look particularly attractive either.

Do you think he'll take a drive at a team that's outside of the "Big 4", aim for a few wins (reversed grid or otherwise) and bow out in October with a big fanfare?

[BobJones]

Sponsorship is extremely hard to come by for this coming season.

Spurious investments such as sponsorship are on hold for a lot of major businesses.

[mprmke]

This was released towards the back end of last year by the BTCC don't forget.....

Confirmed entries for the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship:

Aiden Moffat Racing, 1
AmD/Cobra Exhausts, 2
AmD/Trade Price Cars, 2
BTC Racing, 2
Ciceley Motorsport, 2
Excelr8 Motorsport, 2
Motorbase Performance, 3*
Power Maxed Racing, 2
Simpson Racing, 1
Speedworks Motorsport, 1
Team Parker Racing, 1
Team BMR, 2
Team Dynamics, 2
Team HARD, 4
West Surrey Racing, 3

[OultonGold]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Reading the article I thought it strange how Cook and Proctor would be mentioned like they were if there was another driver rumoured to be joining, just my take from it.

The article for me makes for very interesting reading - but more about what Adam Weaver is quoting what PMRs ambitions are for 2019.

“I really want to make sure that we’ve got drivers on-board in the car capable of meeting that aim of a title in the fifth year, I want to be in contention heading into the final race weekend”

Fifth year of course being 2019.

Josh Cook won two races and finished 6th in the championship last season. He also proved his race craft in the final round with an epic drive bringing the car home racing hard but very fairly. 3 retirements over the season.

Senna Proctor won a race and finished 12th in the championship. He only retired the car twice.

Jason Plato - do I really need to say anything? Numerous Championship battle experience and everything else that comes with him - covered to death previously - positive and negative. But, crucially - proven race craft in BTCC in FWD.

Turning back to the quote from Weaver and the ambition and aim for this year - surely we are just waiting to see “how much” sponsorship Plato and Cook can bring to the table in addition to what they already have.

He sounds like he means the quote to me. What good is Proctors current proven race craft if they genuinely want to be in the title race at the last round?

[mprmke]

Originally Posted by OultonGold

The article for me makes for very interesting reading - but more about what Adam Weaver is quoting what PMRs ambitions are for 2019.

“I really want to make sure that we’ve got drivers on-board in the car capable of meeting that aim of a title in the fifth year, I want to be in contention heading into the final race weekend”

Fifth year of course being 2019.

Josh Cook won two races and finished 6th in the championship last season. He also proved his race craft in the final round with an epic drive bringing the car home racing hard but very fairly. 3 retirements over the season.

Senna Proctor won a race and finished 12th in the championship. He only retired the car twice.

Jason Plato - do I really need to say anything? Numerous Championship battle experience and everything else that comes with him - covered to death previously - positive and negative. But, crucially - proven race craft in BTCC in FWD.

Turning back to the quote from Weaver and the ambition and aim for this year - surely we are just waiting to see “how much” sponsorship Plato and Cook can bring to the table in addition to what they already have.

He sounds like he means the quote to me. What good is Proctors current proven race craft if they genuinely want to be in the title race at the last round?

My original prediction was Plato and Cook at PMR and Proctor at TPC.

None of those drivers have signed anything yet and none of those seats are filled yet, but there have been conversations regarding all of the above.