[BTCC] Races 19, 20 & 21 - Knockhill, Fife - 16th August 2009

[V8thunderfan]

I think its more than just putting juice in the transporter. But your right Knockhill is becoming an optional round for the smaller teams these days.

[Craner Curves]

Surprising really, given the carnage that usually occurs there. The minnows would have more of a chance of scoring some decent points when the likes of Plato and Neal wipe out half the remaining field.

[belter]

People just dont get it !!!!!!!

If it was £200 diesel everyone would be there.Let me try to explain on a normal weekend in BTCC its Fri Sat Sun with Scotland its Thurs,Fri,SAt Sun,Mon Thats about 50% more in costs.And its £1000 for diesel in our truck!
Also for the paying driver which is just about everyone there are 3 meetings this month and believe it or not thats best part of £100k just for August.

Its tough out there very Tough but the cost to you are nothing compared to these boys

Tyres alone for Knockers will be £5k because its going to be a wet one

Wish we were there like all the others who are not bet they think the same.

Sponsor a driver thats the best way !!!!!!!

Liam Please!!!

[touringlegend]

I can definitely appreciate belters point having paid to have a car moved round the country - it aint cheap!

Perhaps the problem is just how accesible the BTCC is. I don't mean this to be dis-respectful to anyone, it might just sound like it, but given that the championship is more affordable to independants than it was in ST days, I guess a lot of drivers have a budget thats near enough to compete, but when it comes to doing far away rounds such as Knockhill, they scrap them so they can spend more on a meeting closer to home.

[Sodemo]

If you are going to compete and have a serious assault on the series, surely you would attend all rounds?

I can appreciate that doing a Scotland round is more expensive, but would people not factor that into competing when finalising a budget?

[crmalcolm]

I think everyone who is serious about challenging for a title will be running at Knockhill.
It's the smaller entries, as identified by touringlegend, that don't see the extra outlay as being worth their while.

Perhaps a better way to run it might be that smaller teams entering pay into a pot that had a set fee per event, and then have their expenses covered from this pot. This would make a round at Silverstone, Rockingham, Knockhill or even Mondello Park cost the same for entry regardless of team's location.

[Icebaby]

I agree, Knockhill is an important addition to the calander as many events are held in England when it is a "British championship", if anything I would like to see one more race added to Scotland.

I am suprised the demonstration on the city is only in scotland and no other citys take this idea on board.

As said the main title fighters are there but as pointed out the independants stand a great chance of bagging points. If wet I can see this being a controversial incident packed event.

[Craner Curves]

It all depends on the willingness of the councils as to whether these demos take place. There was supposed to be one in Southampton a few years back prior to Thruxton, but when they realised the 30mph limit would be broken, they backed out because they thought it would set a bad example.....

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

If you are going to compete and have a serious assault on the series, surely you would attend all rounds?

Many teams/drivers will start the season knowing that they probably don't have the budget to last all year but hoping to pick up enough extra sponsorship along the way. That's not just at the lower end either, look at Plato for example. His first run in the RML Chevrolet was mostly paid out of his own pocket, had he not signed Silverline it's doubtful he would have even made a second meeting, let alone all the way to Knockhill.

I can appreciate that doing a Scotland round is more expensive, but would people not factor that into competing when finalising a budget?

In Liam's case I'm sure he didn't factor in writing off his car at Thruxton, or having to deal with someone else's unpaid bills. Things don't always go as planned.

It might help if Knockhill was earlier in the year and before teams started to realise the coffers were running dry.

[Hazard]

Plato fastest in second practice, but Shedden's right behind him in the CWR Leon!

Pos	Driver	No	Team	Car	Time
1	Jason Plato	3	Racing Silverline	Chevrolet Lacetti	54.184
2	Gordon Shedden	52	Cartridge World Racing	SEAT Leon	54.187
3	Matt Neal	5	VX Racing	Vauxhall Vectra	54.438
4	Jonathan Adam	12	Team Airwaves	BMW 320si	54.465
5	Colin Turkington	4	Team RAC	BMW 320si	54.469
6	Fabrizio Giovanardi	1	VX Racing	Vauxhall Vectra	54.669
7	Mat Jackson	2	Racing Silverline	Chevrolet Lacetti	54.695
8	James Thompson	35	Team Dynamics	Honda Civic	54.713
9	Andrew Jordan	77	VX Racing	Vauxhall Vectra	54.813
10	Robert Collard	11	Team Airwaves	BMW 320si	54.831
11	Tom Chilton	10	Team Aon	Ford Focus ST	55.050
12	Harry Vaulkhard	17	Bamboo Engineering	Chevrolet Lacetti	55.157
13	Paul O'Neill	29	Techspeed	Honda Integra	55.379
14	David Pinkney	55	Team Dynamics	Honda Civic	55.637
15	Martin Johnson	63	Boulevard Team Racing	Vauxhall Astra Coupe	56.367
16	John George	50	TH Motorsport	Honda Integra	56.893
17	Stephen Jelley	44	Team RAC	BMW 320si	58.721

[Hazard]

Some surprises near the front, Gio's got a lot of work to do.

After all the Thommo talk recently - he's pretty far down.

Grid for Race 1

1 - Jason Plato (3) - Racing Silverline - Chevrolet Lacetti - 53.370


2 - Gordon Shedden (52) - Cartridge World Racing - SEAT Leon - 53.443


3 - Jonathan Adam (12) - Team Airwaves - BMW 320si - 53.488


4 - Colin Turkington (4) - Team RAC - BMW 320si - 53.540


5 - Robert Collard (11) - Team Airwaves - BMW 320si - 53.596


6 - Mat Jackson (2) - Racing Silverline - Chevrolet Lacetti - 53.622


7 - Matt Neal (5) - VX Racing - Vauxhall Vectra - 53.626


8 - Andrew Jordan (77) - VX Racing - Vauxhall Vectra - 53.787


9 - Stephen Jelley (44) - Team RAC - BMW 320si - 53.826


10 - Paul O'Neill (29) - Techspeed - Honda Integra - 53.893


11 - Fabrizio Giovanardi (1) - VX Racing - Vauxhall Vectra - 53.924


12 - Tom Chilton (10) - Team Aon - Ford Focus ST - 53.933


13 - James Thompson (35) - Team Dynamics - Honda Civic - 54.103


14 - Harry Vaulkhard (17) - Bamboo Engineering - Chevrolet Lacetti - 54.309


15 - David Pinkney (55) - Team Dynamics - Honda Civic - 54.541


16 - John George (50) - TH Motorsport - Honda Integra - 54.896


17 - Martin Johnson (63) - Boulevard Team Racing - Vauxhall Astra Coupe - 55.002


Car Graphics Courtesy of Andy Blackmore Design | Spotter Guides

[redshoes]

Wow, that's some grid. Did all 17 cars really all set the same time?

[Sodemo]

Wow, close times.

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Wow, that's some grid. Did all 17 cars really all set the same time?

I know, mighty close.

But whoever sets it first gets the position - so Plato got it.

Alright, I'm BS-ing...tech issue! That is the pole time though.

[werner]

Originally Posted by Hazard

Some surprises near the front, Gio's got a lot of work to do.

After all the Thommo talk recently - he's pretty far down.

Probably because I have been on holiday, I don't understand this. Can someone enlighten me?

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Hazard

I know, mighty close.

From the DTM thread it looks like it was just as close over at the Nurburgring as well. What are the chances of that happening twice in the same day

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by redshoes

From the DTM thread it looks like it was just as close over at the Nurburgring as well. What are the chances of that happening twice in the same day

It's good to have beta testers for my new grid sheet. Thankfully one simple fix takes seconds now.

Sorted!

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by werner

Probably because I have been on holiday, I don't understand this. Can someone enlighten me?

Refering to the Herbert joining Team Dynamics thread

[touringlegend]

Three BMW's in the Top 5 could cause trouble at the start! Out of them all I would say Collard looked like he was pushing his car the most.

That Focus does sound beautiful though. It's criminal it's not more competitive.

[adstubbs]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

the support races from Renault don't attend and the remaining TOCA regulars have fields in the mid teens.

Why do the Renault series not go to Knockhill? Is it on cost grounds?

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by adstubbs

Why do the Renault series not go to Knockhill? Is it on cost grounds?

Yeah it is - though more from the promotional aspect.

Research has shown most scots are too tight to pay out for something as pricy as even a Renault. If they had a Dacia series...well!

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by adstubbs

Why do the Renault series not go to Knockhill? Is it on cost grounds?

They do the World Series by Renault event instead.

[touringlegend]

Up until a few years ago the Renault series did appear at Knockhill on their own weekend if I remember. They should be persuaded back if possible, if it wasn't for the Scottish Legends and Formula Fords this weekend the show would be very poor. The Ginetta G50 race today had 9 cars!

[nickyf1]

Last time I was at Knockhill (2005)there were plenty of races! FBMW, F Renault, Clio Cup, Porsches.

Looks poor this year, especialy as there are no Formula Fords on the Sunday IIRC.

[MikeH]

Originally Posted by nickyf1

Last time I was at Knockhill (2005)there were plenty of races! FBMW, F Renault, Clio Cup, Porsches.

Looks poor this year, especialy as there are no Formula Fords on the Sunday IIRC.

There are.