[BTCC] BTCC 2022 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

The date of this post - along with the text of the btcc.net article suggests the announcement was delayed for some reason?

Latest News posted 3rd May 2022 - 'Will Powell has today (29 April) been confirmed'......

Yes, was originally due to be announced last week.
...and then Powell's GT Cup car got written off and its driver hospitalised so it got delayed.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

He was/is doing BGT GT4 with Lines, wasn't he?

His most recent activity has been in the British Endurance Championship.

In the first round at Silverstone, Lines partnered Anton Spires in a Seat TCR entered by Motus One. They finished 5th overall and 2nd in Class E.
At the same event, Powell partnered Dave Scaramanga in a McLaren GT3 entered by Motus One. They finished 9th overall and 2nd in Class A.

In the second round at Oulton Park, Lines partnered Rob Butler in a Seat TCR entered by Maximum Motorsport. They finished 15th overall and 3rd in Class E.
Powell partnered Dave Scaramanga again, but this time in a McLaren 570S GT4 entered by Motus One. They finished 21st overall and 6th in Class D.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by sceptic

Yes, was originally due to be announced last week.
...and then Powell's GT Cup car got written off and its driver hospitalised so it got delayed.

Understandable delay.

[BobJones]

Hopefully news that the BTCC game is pushed back by a year or two and not canned. https://traxion.gg/btcc-game-status-...-of-june-2022/

Happy to wait for something more polished.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by BobJones

Hopefully news that the BTCC game is pushed back by a year or two and not canned. https://traxion.gg/btcc-game-status-...-of-june-2022/

Happy to wait for something more polished.

So. Looks like the game is still on the way, but probably the earliest we can expect it is Q3 2023....

[Alessio]

I wouldn’t trust anything Traxion says about anything Motorsport Games. A lot of significant staff are leaving and the rumours are that both IndyCar and NASCAR are trying to find a way out of their contracts…

[Redshift]

Steve Rider is interviewed in the Daily Telegraph and the article says this: -
'His last major event as a presenter was the 2011 Rugby World Cup for ITV, but he keeps his oar in fronting ITV4’s coverage of the British Touring Car Championship. “Possibly this will be my last year,” he says.'

Who could be his replacement as programme anchor?

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Redshift

Steve Rider is interviewed in the Daily Telegraph and the article says this: -
'His last major event as a presenter was the 2011 Rugby World Cup for ITV, but he keeps his oar in fronting ITV4’s coverage of the British Touring Car Championship. “Possibly this will be my last year,” he says.'

Who could be his replacement as programme anchor?

For me, Steve really is an integral and hugely likeable part of the BTCC, so it would be huge shame when he does step down. He's been presenting for much longer than I seem to realise! That said, I did notice a few unusual mistakes on last weeks coverage.

Would be very hard to replace.

Personally, I think when Plato vacates he could be funny doing the commentary alongside Addison.

[antnee]

They are some big shoes to fill - there are a few people around who fit the bill, including Matt Neal

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Evantra

For me, Steve really is an integral and hugely likeable part of the BTCC, so it would be huge shame when he does step down. He's been presenting for much longer than I seem to realise! That said, I did notice a few unusual mistakes on last weeks coverage.

Would be very hard to replace.

Personally, I think when Plato vacates he could be funny doing the commentary alongside Addison.

Rider has been involved since at least 1988 - his subconscious knowledge must be huge. Plato may be an option except I suspect he would be like Chris Evans on Top Gear - all about me- Big shoes to fill....

[Mike Harte]

A question, please, for regular Croft visitors. We will be parked up near the hairpin as last year, but wondered what the viewing is like on the infield, and if it's any good, how do you get access to it?

[S griffin]

I've never visited Croft, but your question does make me wonder how spectators get to the infield, as I've never seen any obvious place to access it from what I've seen on TV

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

A question, please, for regular Croft visitors. We will be parked up near the hairpin as last year, but wondered what the viewing is like on the infield, and if it's any good, how do you get access to it?

a marshal opens up to cross the track to the infield between races
the track crossing is on the back straight between the chicane and tower bend

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

a marshal opens up to cross the track to the infield between races
the track crossing is on the back straight between the chicane and tower bend

Thanks for that, and I had a brain fart because I meant that we will be parked by the chicane as last year. However, what is the viewing like on the infield; are you able to see more than if you were sat on the bank overlooking the chicane?

[Greem]

Steve Rider is one of the old school class of presenters. Listening to him speak is like sitting on your favourite sofa with a beverage of your choosing, all warm and comfortable. A bit like a good radio host, he talks to _you_, the viewer, rather than the viewers plural, and although he's got encyclopaedic knowledge of touring car racing he doesn't pepper his speech with facts but drips bits into conversation so Tim & Paul (or whoever else he's talking to) then fill in the gaps.

Finding a non-grating replacement that satisfies everyone will be hard!

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Thanks for that, and I had a brain fart because I meant that we will be parked by the chicane as last year. However, what is the viewing like on the infield; are you able to see more than if you were sat on the bank overlooking the chicane?

its well worth trying
if you dont like it you can always go back to the chicane

[S griffin]

It sounds like it’s a great spectator experience, with plenty of good viewing places around the circuit

[coppice]

It's my local , and while the viewing is good ,it was so much better when Tower was accessible. Originally (ie when the circuit reopened in '96 ) you could walk down to the inside at Tower , having crossed to the infield . It is the most important overtaking spot on the circuit , and the close quarters view was fantastic . Watching F3 or a grid full of Tuscans there was wonderful .Then MSUK (or its then equivalent) decided it was too enjoyable , sorry dangerous , for spectators but for a time we could then watch from the outfield next to the marshals' post . That was too much fun too, and now it's a distant view from the infield.

Given that the circuit was extensively redesigned in the 90s , the other annoying missed opportunity was enabling viewing close to the hairpin . You get a rear view from the Complex , and a distant view from the infield (actually, everything is a distant view from the infield) . Croft has four main overtaking spots - Tower, Hairpin, Sunny , Complex - with Clervaux a possibility too. A shame that we can't see the best two properly.

[S griffin]

I'm sure people will still say it's a great experience, I've always enjoyed watching it on TV. They did a great job reopening it when they did. We should have some great racing there again this year. It's a shame we don't get other major national series racing there, but maybe sometime in the future. So we shouldn't complain too much. Those people who are going, enjoy

It seems the circuit might be a bit limited for space though, but that doesn't matter, other circuits have that problem, so spectator areas are limited

[coppice]

I'll be going , as usual and will try to bite my lip as yet another bloody gazebo is erected to spoil the view. Litter and drunk chavs apart it can be a good day out - we all like a good panto .

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Mondeo Man33

Thank you! It does seem to resemble the Ford EcoBoost engine, although with lots of upgraded parts of course.

Just to pick up on this.

If not already aware - it has now become common knowledge in the public domain that the engine is based on the EcoBoost block.

[BvtchxrSqvadNathan]

BMW UK, deleting their “BMW UK Motorsport” account, citing users to follow BMW UK for all things road car and WSR for motorsport activities. Is this perhaps the beginning of a possible end? Or am I being far too pessimistic and joining dots where they don’t align?

[porsche962fan]

oh dear

now we have to worry about Turkington being on the grid again

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by BvtchxrSqvadNathan

BMW UK, deleting their “BMW UK Motorsport” account, citing users to follow BMW UK for all things road car and WSR for motorsport activities. Is this perhaps the beginning of a possible end? Or am I being far too pessimistic and joining dots where they don’t align?

I guess there's not much point in a general UK motorsport account when they only have one UK motorsport program(me? I never know!), so might as well just direct people to WSR's feed.

But if 'closing' means deleting, sounds like they want to cut an association with motorsport, which doesn't look promising for long-term support.

If 'closing' means stopping updating, probably less to worry about in that regard.

[Mike Harte]

Wasn't there something last year, or was it even before that, that BMW started closing down their "own" motorsport divisions including in Germany. If this was so, surely it is just another step along those lines.