BTCC 2008 Off-season: News & Rumours

[Craner Curves]

I think duke_toaster has succeeded AlfaFan in being king of the speculation list.

[Sodemo]

So many false promises surround racing in general, but seemingly more Touring Cars than anything else.
I remember when Nordauto said that they were going to be attending the final rounds of the BTCC in 1998 with Larini and Tarquini in the Alfa 156, with a full assault in 1999, I was overjoyed! Though this all turned out to be a heinous lie of gargantuous proportions, and we all know that didn't happen.

Since then ive been very wary about cars making it on the grid, ive adopted a "i'll believe it when I see it" mentality.

[touringlegend]

I see in Autosport the deal with Dunlop has been extended to 2011 and the ITV coverage another 3 years. Not sure on what format, but we'll find out soon no doubt.

[andy_b]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

So many false promises surround racing in general, but seemingly more Touring Cars than anything else.
I remember when Nordauto said that they were going to be attending the final rounds of the BTCC in 1998 with Larini and Tarquini in the Alfa 156, with a full assault in 1999, I was overjoyed! Though this all turned out to be a heinous lie of gargantuous proportions, and we all know that didn't happen.

Since then ive been very wary about cars making it on the grid, ive adopted a "i'll believe it when I see it" mentality.

true, I know first hand of three big deals over the last 20 years, which were signed, sealed and fell apart at the last minute. One thing can easily change what looked like a certainty (one even had their cars delivered)...so treat pretty much everything as unconfirmed until qualifying at the first race.

[cos]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

I see in Autosport the deal with Dunlop has been extended to 2011 and the ITV coverage another 3 years. Not sure on what format, but we'll find out soon no doubt.

Rubber of some sort for the first deal I presume?

[jonnyuk]

has there been any more rumours about the Arena/Ford thing? Was thinking today that now Chilton has gone to TD perhaps this might affect this as he would have been the main driver?

[Aunt Sally]

As the main person funding the project was reportedly Tom Chilton's dad. One can only assume that the project may have stopped!

[jonnyuk]

Originally Posted by Aunt Sally

As the main person funding the project was reportedly Tom Chilton's dad. One can only assume that the project may have stopped!

i guessed so as this would have been his last hope should it not be for the TD drive he has got

[JMeissner]

BTCC to limit CO2 levels from 2009:

http://www.touringcartimes.com/news.php?id=1664

[werner]

That is a bit strange. How would they fit that into the S2000-regulations? And how do they want to check it?

[touringlegend]

One of those emmisions probe that are stuck up the end of the exhaust I guess.

[BootsOntheSide]

Which manufacturers and existing cars would suffer from this regulation? How do TDi cars fit in with it?

[duke_toaster]

I don't like the sound of this, surely the point of S2000 is a car from any country can race in any other ...

[Bramzel]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

How do TDi cars fit in with it?

I actually think the TDIs will have less problems with this than the normal petrol cars, as they are quite filtered already to avoid the typical big black clouds when they hammer the throttle down.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by Bramzel

I actually think the TDIs will have less problems with this than the normal petrol cars, as they are quite filtered already to avoid the typical big black clouds when they hammer the throttle down.

Aye, the petrol cars ironically have black smoke when the lift the throttle.

[thereal_tdb]

If it is policed like the "compulsory catalytic convertors" then it won't affect anyone. but it looks good to the press and the enviro-mentalists.

[werner]

Diesels produce less CO2 by nature. Unfortunately they still have other environmental disadvantages, like highe emissions of dust and CO. Slightly going offtopic, I think in a densely populated area dieselengines are worse for health and the environment then petrol-fuelled cars.

[davyboy]

Road car emissions are assessed under road conditions. Surely its meaningless trying to simulate a road car under race conditions in order to properly parallel the emissions between the two as the general public will never drive their cars in that way ? It looks like a PR stunt to me, one that plays into the hands of the environmentalists and cynics alike.

If Alan Gow wants to embrace the green lobby he would be better focusing on fuel economy - each car has a fuel allowance for the weekend, they have to do a certain amount of practice laps and of course the race itself. That would automatically deal with 'scarce resources', 'emissions' and of course give the manufacturers the opportunity of advertising tag lines - 'winner of the BTCC at Thruxton at 35mpg'.

As purebred racer myself, I despise all of the above though.

[gwyllion]

Turner stays with Seat: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64193

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

Turner stays with Seat: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64193

I'm extremely surprised at that, but glad. I'd have thought Turner would have wanted to go back to sportcars, but hopefully he'll shake off some of that bad luck for 2008.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Hazard

I'm extremely surprised at that, but glad. I'd have thought Turner would have wanted to go back to sportcars, but hopefully he'll shake off some of that bad luck for 2008.

In BTCC he is payed, in sportscars he has to pay?

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by FIRE

In BTCC he is payed, in sportscars he has to pay?

Doubt it - he's no gentleman driver.

[cmk]

Originally Posted by Hazard

Doubt it - he's no gentleman driver.

He does a great deal of the testing for Prodrive with the Aston DBR9, DBRS9, V8 Vantage N24 and the new V8 Vantage GT2 mule. I'm pretty sure he shakes down all the new chassis being sold for customers too. That definitely says non-gentleman driver, decent 'day job' all the way...

[touringlegend]

I've got no doubt Darren can be a genuine challenger for the title providing it goes his way next year. I think perhaps he was surprised how competitive (and physical) it can get.

Next year's Leon has to be good, whether it has the TDi under the bonnet or not. Going by the Vectras pace this year, I have my fears what Neal & Giovanardi will do with a further winter's development on it.

[Aunt Sally]

Darren Turner staying at SEAT... Glad we got that sorted!

Driver	Team	Car	Likely/notes?
F Giovanardi	Vauxhall	Vaux Vectra	confirmed
M Neal	Vauxhall	Vaux Vectra	confirmed
C Turkington	RAC	BMW 320si	waiting confirmation WTCC or BTCC
T O-Cole	RAC	BMW 320si	waiting confirmation WTCC or BTCC
J Plato	SEAT	SEAT Leon	confirmed
D Turner	SEAT	SEAT Leon	confirmed
R Kerry	AFM	BMW 120d	confirmed
Nick Leason	AFM	BMW 120d	waiting confirmation.
G Shedden	Dynamics	Honda Civic Mk 8	confirmed
T Chilton	Dynamics	Honda Civic Mk 8	confirmed
A Jordan	Eurotech	Honda Integra	confirmed
M Jordan	Eurotech	Honda Integra	confirmed
Erkut	Arkas	Vaux Astra SH	waiting official confirmation
TBC	Arkas	Vaux Astra SH	Plans to run second car
J George	TH	Honda Integra	confirmed
A Taylor	R'shaw	Honda Integra?	waiting confirmation
M Doyle	R'shaw	Honda Civic?	waiting confirmation
M Bell	Bell	TBC	waiting confirmation
K Burt	Bell	TBC	plan to run second car
M Jackson	J'son	BMW 320si	waiting confirmation
R Collard	GR Asia	SEAT Leon	waiting confirmation WTCC or BTCC
TBC	GR Asia	SEAT Leon	waiting confirmation WTCC or BTCC
C Stockton	BTC	Lexus IS2000	Waiting confirmation
TBC	BTC	Lexus IS2000	plan to run second car
D Pinkney	A-Tech	Alfa 156	waiting confirmation
TBC	A-Tech	Alfa 156	plan to run a second car
E Murray	Qwest	Alfa 156	No recent news
TBC	Motorbase	TBC	waiting confirmation
TBC	Motorbase	TBC	waiting confirmation
J Hughes	Kartworld	TBC	waiting confirmation
TBC	Kartworld	TBC	waiting confirmation
P Luti	Dread0	MG ZS	waiting confirmation
Dan Eaves	Clyde	Chevy Lacetti	No recent news
Colin Neil	Clyde	Chevy Lacetti	No recent news
TBC	Xero	Lexus IS2000	waiting confirmation
TBC	Xero	Lexus IS2000	plan to run a second car
TBC	TBC	TBC	Rumour
TBC	TBC	TBC	Rumour
S Vickers	Oddball	Mazda 3	Rumour

There is also a list of drivers can be anyone of the TBC drivers!