BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[Evantra]

With these rumours seemingly very true, we’re looking at six cars dropping off the entry list if they don’t get picked up elsewhere. And most notably Bobby Thompson and Dan Lloyd out of perhaps the only seat they could afford.

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by Pickles

I don't believe there's any coming back this time

Yep, sadly it looks pretty final.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Evantra

With these rumours seemingly very true, we’re looking at six cars dropping off the entry list if they don’t get picked up elsewhere. And most notably Bobby Thompson and Dan Lloyd out of perhaps the only seat they could afford.

Which is probably why the team seemed to struggle. Cheap deals are just that - a cheap deal

[coffinpilot]

The whole thing looks like it'll ramp up prices for a drive at the back of the field. Those above Hard will be able to charge a little more you'd think with supply and demand. And if a new entity was to take over the HARD entries you'd imagine to do things properly they'd charge more than the £260,000 one driver said they were quoted for a season.

I wonder if a driver or three who loses out will be able to convince backers that with £120,000 or thereabouts they could win TCR next year instead of the cost of a proper BTCC drive?

[redshoes]

If what I've heard is true, HARD's TBLs have gone to Bert Taylor and Carl Boardley.

[Matt_123]

Originally Posted by redshoes

If what I've heard is true, HARD's TBLs have gone to Bert Taylor and Carl Boardley.

ik that Hard was using Boardleys TBL last year so does Boardley just get his 1 back or does he have more

[thetool]

Originally Posted by redshoes

If what I've heard is true, HARD's TBLs have gone to Bert Taylor and Carl Boardley.

I suspect this will be confirmed by TOCA tomorrow morning, along with the full allocation for 2024.

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by redshoes

If what I've heard is true, HARD's TBLs have gone to Bert Taylor and Carl Boardley.

Smiley was apparently shopping around for a BTCC drive at Brands.
What is the deal with One? They didn't test, I'm sure I read something about the Dynamics cars/engines going back. A reunion with the old BTC machines? (if he can shift the TCR FL5...)
Is that 2+2 = 22?

Bert Taylor has committed to TCR Europe and UK too, would love to see the family back in BTCC.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Bert Taylor has committed to TCR Europe and UK too, would love to see the family back in BTCC.

Would be great, but all sounds ridiculously expensive if BTCC is getting too much on its own!

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Matt_123

ik that Hard was using Boardleys TBL last year so does Boardley just get his 1 back or does he have more

More than the one he previous let HARD use.

For however takes on the TBLs there is still the question of what cars do they run. By my calculation 5 of the 6 Cupras were mortgaged to various finance companies, and I assume the 6th one is in the hands of the liquidators. Depending on how involved this all gets there may be a question over how soon they can be sold.

That's not to say that the new teams would have to use the Cupras, but short of building new cars there's not much else on the market at the minute.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by redshoes

That's not to say that the new teams would have to use the Cupras, but short of building new cars there's not much else on the market at the minute.

I’m sure a few enquiries will be made to Alliance (and Excerl8) who made it known customers car could be supplied - for the right price!

Sounds like the mortgage companies have enough at their disposal to enter a fleet of Cupras themselves!

[touringlegend]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Smiley was apparently shopping around for a BTCC drive at Brands.
What is the deal with One? They didn't test, I'm sure I read something about the Dynamics cars/engines going back. A reunion with the old BTC machines? (if he can shift the TCR FL5...)
Is that 2+2 = 22?

Bert Taylor has committed to TCR Europe and UK too, would love to see the family back in BTCC.

Someone did post on here that the TD cars went back mid season. How true that is who knows.

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Someone did post on here that the TD cars went back mid season. How true that is who knows.

One raced them all season, but I believe they went back after Brands.

[psq43]

Anyone been to or near Blyton over the last few days? Hard are/were meant to running their scholarship program up there from the 28th Nov to the 1st Dec.

[Adamcas87]

Originally Posted by psq43

Anyone been to or near Blyton over the last few days? Hard are/were meant to running their scholarship program up there from the 28th Nov to the 1st Dec.

From some people who have paid to be running they haven’t heard anything and still haven’t anything in regards to getting there money back

Also people who paid for the passenger ride day haven’t got there money back either

They have gone silent on everyone by sounds of it

[Pickles]

Complete silence unfortunately. A lot of people owed money including staff who now have to find new jobs a few weeks before Christmas.

[thetool]

Unfortunately, if they are about to fall into receivership, then that is standard operating procedure.

[touringcarnut]

The Team Hard website seems to be down now as well.

[antnee]

For new teams, I would think it would be cheaper to buy the Cupras off the finance company(s), however I suspect there is a procedure in place which may take a long period of time.

Do we know if Hard actually owned all the Cupras or did the likes of Boardley actually own some of them?

[Evantra]

BTCC: “With the deadline closing today, the list of approved TBL holders for the 2024 British Touring Car Championship will be issued early next week.”

[SSmith]

Matt Bishop's Diagonal Comms agency is taking control of the BTCC press office, PR, media liaison, content creation, & digital & social media management for 2024. Hopefully a good step towards improving the championship's media presence.

[ScottS]

I'm calling it now, Matt Neal and Jason Plato team up and put their finances together to scoop up Team Hard and become team bosses. They acquire 2 TBL's to run a 2 car team under the race name of Matt Plato Racing or Jason Neal Racing. Halfords livery on 1 of the cars and Adrian Flux livery on the other. Huff drives for Plato and Sheddon for Neal. Barry Ploughman engineers Sheddon's car and Charlie Broughton becomes an engineer for Huff with added personnel coming from RML from Plato's olden days.


Now roll on next year to prove I'm right.

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by touringcarnut

The Team Hard website seems to be down now as well.

Working fine as far as I can see.

https://www.team-hard.com/

[touringcarnut]

Originally Posted by SV8Predator

Working fine as far as I can see.

https://www.team-hard.com/

Indeed. I wonder if it was because of traffic from people worrying about refunds for track days and other experiences booked with Hard. And everyone else just checking...

[tocatrucky]

Some of the people booked onto the scholarship days have reported getting refunded Yesterday.