[BTCC] BTCC 2020 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[Pickles]

BTCC news from Team HARD at 5.30pm today...

[redshoes]

Team HARD teasing a (probably underwhelming) announcement; that's a sure sign the BTCC season is truly back.

[S griffin]

I wonder what it could be? Anything from VW? Anyway it’s gonna be good to see HARD again, we’ll see if they can maintain what they have with their current lineup

[redshoes]

They talked about an NHS tribute livery some time ago, could be related to that

[Racing Harz]

Ollie Brown replacing Bushell
http://www.btcc.net/2020/07/27/team-...2020-campaign/

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

Ollie Brown replacing Bushell
http://www.btcc.net/2020/07/27/team-...2020-campaign/

They mention how it has been 20 years since Brown has done a competitive race. A natural choice for the biggest British motorsport series then. I thought there were license requirements.

Last weekend, he did attend a competitive race meeting in the VW Cup, and to be fair, after a pretty underwhelming first race, just missed out on the win in the second.

It'll be hard in the CC (ha...) without a miracle, but good luck to him.

Gutted for poor Bushell though.

[Greem]

Originally Posted by Evantra

They mention how it has been 20 years since Brown has done a competitive race. A natural choice for the biggest British motorsport series then. I thought there were license requirements.

Last weekend, he did attend a competitive race meeting in the VW Cup, and to be fair, after a pretty underwhelming first race, just missed out on the win on the second.

It'll be hard in the CC without a miracle, but good luck to him.

Gutted for poor Bushell though.

The quote was actually "Brown won the scholarship – run by Team HARD Racing – having never entered a competitive car race before."! I think he'll find it a lot harder than the VW Cup, but I definitely wish him good luck.

I'm with you on Bushell. He just hasn't been getting the luck he needs, has he?

[pimmy]

The licensing system in the UK really needs to change. Ridiculous that someone with no experience before this year is allowed to have an international licence.

[Matt K]

Can someone explain me the licensing rules and requirements to drive in BTCC? Because this one is an utter surprise. Great that Brown will have a chance but isn't BTCC too big of a jump for him? Crazy....

And will Bushell's luck will finally change? I'm so gutted for him...

[pimmy]

Don't quote me but I think you need an International C to drive in BTCC.

[Peter Mallett]

Hmm, whatever it is you don't get a licence above grade b without completing six(?) races.

[snowen250]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Hmm, whatever it is you don't get a licence above grade b without completing six(?) races.

He did 3 at the GT Cup meeting last weekend too. Still only equals 5 in my book. Unless he did one of the club saloons series in the Golf?

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by snowen250

He did 3 at the GT Cup meeting last weekend too. Still only equals 5 in my book. Unless he did one of the club saloons series in the Golf?

He also raced in the Ginetta at Thruxton this weekend (and won) plus he's done the required testing mileage in the CC

[Peter Mallett]

Well that gets him a Nat A so can we assume he's got the necessary licence?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Matt K

Can someone explain me the licensing rules and requirements to drive in BTCC?

'Drivers (also referred to herein as “Competitors”) must be registered for the Championship and be in possession of a valid 2020 International Racing Licence (Grade C or higher, not Historic) and a medical certificate of aptitude. An ASN Visa is required if the licence is issued by an ASN other than Motorsport UK.'

And as I understand it - Signatures from: 3 National A races OR 2 National ‘A’ plus 2 National ‘B’ or Clubman Races OR 6 National ‘B’ or Clubman Races. All from three different venues.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by snowen250

He did 3 at the GT Cup meeting last weekend too. Still only equals 5 in my book. Unless he did one of the club saloons series in the Golf?

Used to be that you could only get 2 upgrading signatures per event?

[Alfisti]

Whatever the Gents experience, I wish everyone well in pursuing their dreams. If he can afford the ride he's providing income for the team and thus employment for folk and hopefully providing entertainment for viewers.

I've seen too much criticism Stateside the past week or so against a relatively inexperienced driver who made one mistake. One mistake all season to date. Heck, even tge likes of Schumacher made mistakes now and then; we're human, and therefore fallible.

Racewise I think we'll see Dan Camm and the WSR pair dominate this coming weekend. I'm going so far as to say young Mr Oliphant will snag his first victory in BTCC.

[auroan]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Used to be that you could only get 2 upgrading signatures per event?

Still is.

[sceptic]

As far as I can tell he has entered 10 races in July alone, 6 in the Ginetta and 4 in the Golf.
And he's finished all of them.

He's certainly put the miles in.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Used to be that you could only get 2 upgrading signatures per event?

You can only get two signatures per event.

However, one needs six signatures to upgrade from National B to National A. However, two of these can take the form of an extended ARDS test and a day's marshalling, meaning that only four to five races are required. A further three races are needed to move from National A to International C.

Whilst he did four GT Cup races at Snetterton, only two of these count. However, he could still have exceeded gbe minimum requirements.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by pimmy

The licensing system in the UK really needs to change. Ridiculous that someone with no experience before this year is allowed to have an international licence.

There are quite a few instances of this occurring in the past - particularly in the case of GTs, but also some single seater drivers.

[Craner Curves]

Quite well known as a driver coach? I can't find much on him.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by kipper

You can only get two signatures per event.

However, one needs six signatures to upgrade from National B to National A. However, two of these can take the form of an extended ARDS test and a day's marshalling, meaning that only four to five races are required. A further three races are needed to move from National A to International C.

Whilst he did four GT Cup races at Snetterton, only two of these count. However, he could still have exceeded gbe minimum requirements.

He's done 10 races at 4 different meetings on three circuits.

That gets him 8 signatures. Extended ARDS gets a ninth.

So in theory he has enough for International C.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by sceptic

So in theory he has enough for International C.

More importantly, it gets him a pink bobble #HARD hat.

[crmalcolm]

It's a good job we're speculating/confirming Ollie's eligibility to participate here.

I expect the officials and team had not considered eligibility before making the announcement...