[BTCC] Snetterton 20/21 May 2023, Rds. 7/8/9

[Sodemo]

I’m surprised the Focus can reach those top speeds when they have a somewhat supposedly unfavourable “draggier” hatchback body shape.

[pimmy]

Straight line speed has always been a strong point of the Focus.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by pimmy

Straight line speed has always been a strong point of the Focus.

But wasn't it commented on here after either Donington or Brands that none of the Focii were anywhere near being the fastest through the speed traps? It was stated on that thread that their huge advantage was that they had far superior handling which more than made up for their lack of straight line speed.

[billy bleach]

Was their times done on soft tyres?

[Pdh]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Was their times done on soft tyres?

Why would they wear out there soft tyres in free practices that doesn’t mean anything

[Sodemo]

So the Focus has a better straight line speed than the BMW which is meant to have one of the best drag coefficients?

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

I’m surprised the Focus can reach those top speeds when they have a somewhat supposedly unfavourable “draggier” hatchback body shape.

The hyundai of ingram has the highest top speed so far today

[Evantra]

Sutton looks a step ahead, can see R1 and 2 going his way fairly easily tomorrow! 3/3 poles for Napa.

Only the top 9 within a second, of course it’s a longer lap.

[porsche962fan]

the usual suspects at front

the boost reduction sledgehammder should come

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

the usual suspects at front

the boost reduction sledgehammder should come

For the fastest drivers being at the front? And 4 different models in the top 5?

[porsche962fan]

doesn't TOCA do such revisiions every 3 rounds ?? surelly having same car at front is not desirab le for front

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Evantra

For the fastest drivers being at the front? And 4 different models in the top 5?

and two bmws had the two fastest top speed times in qualifying

top speeds in order were jelly, hill, ingram, pearson, gamble, loyd, sutton

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

and two bmws had the two fastest top speed times in qualifying

top speeds in order were jelly, hill, ingram, pearson, gamble, loyd, sutton

So top speeds don’t show the Ford to be at the top - must be chassis or driver skill…

[Evantra]

Jade Edwards excluded from qualifying, seems to be for an underweight car.

https://www.barc.net/wp-content/uplo...-Team-Hard.pdf

[thetool]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Jade Edwards excluded from qualifying, seems to be for an underweight car.

https://www.barc.net/wp-content/uplo...-Team-Hard.pdf

Not that it makes much difference anyway. 22nd to 27th.

[VIVA GT]

I've just watched the qualifying coverage on YouTube (dead handy not having to watch live, we had visitors for lunch!).
Firstly 'they' seem to be making this more of a programme now with quite a bit more build up before the actual qualifying action, could this be TOCA finally taking notice of the criticism from fans about not opening access away from ITV4?
I also think that it was extremely lucky that no-one suffered too badly after the oil induced off at the start of the session, a few relatively light impacts into the barriers but fortunately (as far as I saw) all of the spinning cars seemed to miss everyone else, otherwise there could have been carnage.
Ash Sutton appears to be streets ahead of everyone else (again) this weekend and I know that they've got the Focus working well (and to his liking) but as the speed trap figures show, this certainly isn't down to a power advantage, it is a combination of the chassis & driver working in harmony with each other. Dan Cam seemed to be going well too until his strange off, I'll be interested to know what really happened there.
Although it looks like Ash should walk away with the first couple of races, this is The BTCC, plus there's the tyre compound situation they all have to deal with too, so hopefully we will be in for a trio of exciting races tomorrow.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

doesn't TOCA do such revisiions every 3 rounds ?? surelly having same car at front is not desirab le for front

Not as definite as every 'X' rounds. Boost is changed when it is deemed necessary.

[BTCC frog]

The last time they did this three-compound rule was 2019, also at Snetterton, and the third race that day was one of the greatest BTCC races I have ever seen with that classic Jason Plato vs Ash Sutton battle.

[touringlegend]

Think the drivers involved in the oil off got away very lightly. As Turkington said he was waiting on connecting with another car.

Not sure what happened with Dan Cam, remember when Plato rolled his car there.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Think the drivers involved in the oil off got away very lightly. As Turkington said he was waiting on connecting with another car.

Lucky it happened at a corner with generous run-off. Had flashbacks to the big one at Croft in 2016.

[Mike Harte]

Cammish was the lucky one when he rolled back across the circuit right in front of, I think, one of the Beemers.

[Sodemo]

I feel like when BMW introduced their 3 series in 2019 they took the rest of the field by surprise. Now some other teams have got it together it makes all those BOP measures hit on the RWD teams seem somewhat unwarranted. I wonder if there is any system to review such changes because they really hobbled those cars after the 2019 season. Longer first gear, extra weight, higher ride height are among the measures I can remember.

[Alfaholic]

Having been at Snetterton today (and will be tomorrow), it seemed to me that the atendance was quite a bit down on last year - certainly the camp site looked emptier as well. I don't know if this is a result of holding it a couple of months earlier than usual, the cost of attending, a smaller package with the loss of the Ginettas or something else.

[Jon411]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

I feel like when BMW introduced their 3 series in 2019 they took the rest of the field by surprise. Now some other teams have got it together it makes all those BOP measures hit on the RWD teams seem somewhat unwarranted. I wonder if there is any system to review such changes because they really hobbled those cars after the 2019 season. Longer first gear, extra weight, higher ride height are among the measures I can remember.

.

Over the past few years Dick Bennetts has made the odd comment that he feels the BMW is punished by having to run a lower boost level also. We also had the success ballast box placed as far forward as possible (they tried to do the same but couldn't with the hybrid gear), the boost electronically restricted during start procedure to cancel any start line advantage, tyre compounds generally harder than they once were (but it's ok for the tyre warm up to be better for FWD) and at one point 10kg of ballast having to be placed Infront of the front axle I think also.

Unfortunately the perception is that if a FWD team does well it's because the team has worked hard, but if the BMW does well it's due to an unfair advantage that has miraculously appeared over the winter or something, not that WSR is one of the best teams around or has put any work/ money in.

People like Tim Harvey don't help either as he is always very quick to point out when he feels the BMW has an advantage, if that had been a BMW on pole today by 4 tenths he would be saying the BMW has an advantage but he made me laugh how during commentary he mentioned how even he felt it was today. (Before anyone says anything I think Ash deserved pole today as his lap was fantastic and he clearly is on top of his game).

[mattcanary]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Absolutely. I haven't been for about 15 years, but I gather the road network has improve massively since the changes at Elveden.

It's good from the south nowadays. Not so good from the north.
Unfortuantely there have been roadworks just north of the circuit on the A11 for about two years now.

Far better road newtork nearby than say Thruxton or Cadwell, though
From the south, must be easiest to get to in country, (in the sense of being just off a dual-carriageway), with dual carriageway/motrway extending all the way down to London some 100 miles away.

Many parts of Norfolk are not far, far away from civilisation nowadays, despite the stereotypes!


PS: Dual carriageway. mototway driving is not interestibg. I would often try to avoid those roads in the main, on longer journeys as I enjoy driving and the trip to a raceday weekend