BTCC 2019 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[Johno.UK]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

Sorry to state what you missed, but as you will have seen from the context on my quote I was kind of already pointing this out to the guy who said "It's happened in F1 several times so if it's not an issue there I don't see why it would be in BTCC." - im still waiting for his example where this happened in F1 several times
2020

So you've never heard of teams searching for sponsors doing "glory" runs to get the headlines then? I can't remember exact time and dates but I've been following F1 and motorsport since the early 70's and I'm 100% sure that many teams have been accused of it over the years.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Johno.UK

So you've never heard of teams searching for sponsors doing "glory" runs to get the headlines then? I can't remember exact time and dates but I've been following F1 and motorsport since the early 70's and I'm 100% sure that many teams have been accused of it over the years.

Day 4 at Barcelona this year comes to mind:

'Renault's Nico Hulkenberg was having a fairly quiet pre-season test – at least until the German came out of nowhere on the final day of the first week to post the fastest time seen so far in Barcelona this year: a 1m 17.393s.'

[S griffin]

I think a lot of people are getting worked over nothing. The Alfa is an established car in the series. HMS is an established team. Rob Austin is an established driver. They still have their licence, they are allowed to do the test and it’s up to them how they do it

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by Johno.UK

So you've never heard of teams searching for sponsors doing "glory" runs to get the headlines then? I can't remember exact time and dates but I've been following F1 and motorsport since the early 70's and I'm 100% sure that many teams have been accused of it over the years.

Yes I have heard of teams who are competing in a championship to do "glory runs" in test or practice sessions by running perhaps an unorthodox set up in order to get their name in lights and dazzle their sponsors.

What I have never heard of is teams that have surrendered their right to compete turning up and doing it.

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I think a lot of people are getting worked over nothing. The Alfa is an established car in the series. HMS is an established team. Rob Austin is an established driver. They still have their licence, they are allowed to do the test and it’s up to them how they do it

well thats it, they dont, if we are basing their participation on still having their licence then motorbase should only have been allowed to run 2 cars

[Robin Marriott]

Not sure why it even really matters. HMS were there, Austin did some laps, nobody knows what boost/ballast/bits they were running, they set some times. Who cares about the non existent drama of it all?

[S griffin]

Get over it, if Gow was happy for them to turn up, then what’s the problem? The other teams didn’t seem to mind Rob being there

[Johno.UK]

Nice idea for the fans but I can see some issues - https://www.autosport.com/btcc/news/...setup-for-fans


The teams will still have to have the fuel drums etc on the paddock side as they can't be stored in the pitlane plus they all have closed backs to their garage setups which they're going to have to do something about to get the cars in and out.

[Alfisti]

My brain is telling me walls will have to be knocked down... (unless I'm out of date again!)

Fans are allowed in pit lane during the lunch break/ autograph session so a decent view is afforded albeit for a short time.

And the cars are being worked on pretty much constantly, how many hard working mechanics get to put their feet up for a buttie and cuppa 'til the car leaves the garage for it's final outing of the day?

[S griffin]

I remember they did it round the back at Silverstone in 06. Worked quite, no reason why it can't again

[Johno.UK]

Silverstone no problem as the garages are massive compared to most circuits. Other circuits not so much.

[Peter Mallett]

Indeed, Snet, Oulton and Thruxton are limited.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Johno.UK

Silverstone no problem as the garages are massive compared to most circuits. Other circuits not so much.

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Indeed, Snet, Oulton and Thruxton are limited.

From the BTCC website (Gow):

'Normally the garages are ‘dressed’ and set-up to face the pit-lane so are really only seen by ourselves – the fans usually just get to see the back walls of the garage and all the messy bits. By effectively reversing the pit garages so that the front faces into the paddock, they will get to see everything going on inside. If it works – which I’m sure it will – in addition to Silverstone, the same layout could also be used at Donington Park and Snetterton – anywhere we can make plenty of room behind the garages. This will create a more immersive atmosphere as the fans can watch the teams and drivers preparing for their races. Then, when the cars need to be on track, the team will just push the car back and out the pit-lane door. '

[Peter Mallett]

Fair enough, there is room behind the garages at those circuits. The is also a fire corridor immediately behind the garages so I hope they don't infringe on that. Especially at Donington where the lady fire marshal is particularly vicious.

[VIVA GT]

But the trucks park behind the garages, team access into & out of the garages with tools & bits etc (including the huge tyre trolleys) is through the back of the garages. Surely encouraging spectators to access this area is going to be very awkward for the teams?

[Johno.UK]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

From the BTCC website (Gow):

'Normally the garages are ‘dressed’ and set-up to face the pit-lane so are really only seen by ourselves – the fans usually just get to see the back walls of the garage and all the messy bits. By effectively reversing the pit garages so that the front faces into the paddock, they will get to see everything going on inside. If it works – which I’m sure it will – in addition to Silverstone, the same layout could also be used at Donington Park and Snetterton – anywhere we can make plenty of room behind the garages. This will create a more immersive atmosphere as the fans can watch the teams and drivers preparing for their races. Then, when the cars need to be on track, the team will just push the car back and out the pit-lane door. '

That makes more sense. The original autosport article (changed since) didn't mention directly that it would only apply to certain tracks.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

But the trucks park behind the garages, team access into & out of the garages with tools & bits etc (including the huge tyre trolleys) is through the back of the garages. Surely encouraging spectators to access this area is going to be very awkward for the teams?

Goodness I bet TOCA agent thought this through at all and will take onboard all of the "advice" being offered........or maybe they have and it will just be fantastic....

[Peter Mallett]

It's true what they say. Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.

[RS67]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Indeed, Snet, Oulton and Thruxton are limited.

At Thruxton the cars are in the awnings and you can already stand and watch the cars being prepared. The garages are just used by the teams to watch the races on their monitors and if they are fortunate enough to have their trucks/awning behind the garages, they can push their cars through and out into the pitlane.

[Evantra]

https://twitter.com/teamhardracing/s...966067200?s=21

Interesting image here showing a CC in a plain livery...

So... is it a spare car? A non BTCC spec show car? An old picture? Or has a HARD driver stepped down?

[S griffin]

They will probably give him at least a test run

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Evantra

https://twitter.com/teamhardracing/s...966067200?s=21

Interesting image here showing a CC in a plain livery...

So... is it a spare car? A non BTCC spec show car? An old picture? Or has a HARD driver stepped down?

It's in the same base livery as Crees' car, so would suggest that it might be a show car that can be stickered up as required.

[Alfisti]

Interesting. I don't believe there is a spare. If it were a show car I'd reasonably expect some branding on it - even if that were simply #HARD logos. Has Goff #HAD enough #HARD? Or vice versa - he's not brought anything to the party. Crees has been surprisingly good (to me at any rate), the only #HARD incumbent I've been pleasantly surprised by this season.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Interesting. I don't believe there is a spare. If it were a show car I'd reasonably expect some branding on it - even if that were simply #HARD logos. Has Goff #HAD enough #HARD? Or vice versa - he's not brought anything to the party. Crees has been surprisingly good (to me at any rate), the only #HARD incumbent I've been pleasantly surprised by this season.

Goff's car has more green, with pink and yellow accents. It would seem a bit strange to change the colour to match Crees' base scheme if Goff has left?

It also has different colour door handles to the four cars that have been on track this season, along with the rear arches looking different also?

[redshoes]

There isn't a 5th VW to use as a spare. Could be the car they ran in VW Cup a while back, or just a 'replica' built for show purposes. From the details you can make out, it definitely not an NGTC car.