[BTCC] BTCC 2021

[touringlegend]

Supply and demand. Limit the entries you will see more demand from the commercial partners and that should lead to higher quality.

I think perhaps the Tingram situation could be used as an example of this ?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Supply and demand. Limit the entries you will see more demand from the commercial partners and that should lead to higher quality.

I think perhaps the Tingram situation could be used as an example of this ?

Or - limit the entries and see the grid filled with a higher percentage of drivers who are there for budget alone?

Every Turkington, Shedden, M.Jackson etc is usually part-funded by a team-mate.

[mark_l]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Or - limit the entries and see the grid filled with a higher percentage of drivers who are there for budget alone?

Every Turkington, Shedden, M.Jackson etc is usually part-funded by a team-mate.

M. Jackson should be sponsored by lastminute.com as that is usually how he's told he has a drive.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by mark_l

M. Jackson should be sponsored by lastminute.com as that is usually how he's told he has a drive.

Yeah, literally. One year Bartie phoned him over breakfast on media day and asked him to get up to Donny sharpish!

(so the story goes)

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by redshoes

As we've seen this year, running a hospitality unit can be a huge part of how teams get their budget. Limiting what they can bring, or moving hospitality to outside of the paddock will be counter-productive.

Indeedy. Unless my memory is getting worse there haven't been any monstrous hospitality setups in BTCC for a while. The last HUGE one I recollect was when WSR ran the MG team in the early naughties. Internal space was for 200/ 250 ish guests + a large decked outdoor area, "garden" and a couple of replica cars. Lord only knows what the budget was for that lot when you add the entertainment, catering and bar. Back in my less responsible days I probably consumed several car sales worth of profit

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by mark_l

I make it 31, if PMR return with 2 cars, MB (Blundell) run the 2 cars they did this year and Motorbase run the 3 cars that they entered in 2020.

As rumoured there will only be 4 cars out of a Motorbase/MB stable, so that would make 30 cars, IF Simpsons old TBL is allowed back into use, of course.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Overboost

As rumoured there will only be 4 cars out of a Motorbase/MB stable, so that would make 30 cars, IF Simpsons old TBL is allowed back into use, of course.

If those 4 drivers are Hill, Ollie Jackson, Osborne and Neate, then that's really a pretty poor lineup from 4 cars. (Jake aside obviously. Jackson is alright but not a number 2 driver of a 4 car team)

Of course money talks with the latter two, but it's still very disappointing with so many great drivers without a drive yet, a couple stuck at HARD and I'm sure a lot of promising rookies wanting to move up.

[Pdh]

Originally Posted by Evantra

If those 4 drivers are Hill, Ollie Jackson, Osborne and Neate, then that's really a pretty poor lineup from 4 cars. (Jake aside obviously. Jackson is alright but not a number 2 driver of a 4 car team)

Of course money talks with the latter two, but it's still very disappointing with so many great drivers without a drive yet, a couple stuck at HARD and I'm sure a lot of promising rookies wanting to move up.

Well the fact that Osborne Snr is now part owner of motorbase it’s pretty obvious Sam will drive one of the cars

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by Evantra

If those 4 drivers are Hill, Ollie Jackson, Osborne and Neate, then that's really a pretty poor lineup from 4 cars. (Jake aside obviously. Jackson is alright but not a number 2 driver of a 4 car team)

Of course money talks with the latter two, but it's still very disappointing with so many great drivers without a drive yet, a couple stuck at HARD and I'm sure a lot of promising rookies wanting to move up.

So much wasted talent and good cars being wasted. 🙄

[JDMROB]

Anyone heard any news on Rick Parfitts progress on securing a drive?

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Happy new year everyone. The rumours for this year are sure making for more interesting reading than usual.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by JDMROB

Anyone heard any news on Rick Parfitts progress on securing a drive?

One social media post hardly constitutes a serious effort. I want to fly to Mars - budget permitting. ....

[S griffin]

He says he wants to enter the series. Can’t remember the exact wording of his tweet though

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

One social media post hardly constitutes a serious effort. I want to fly to Mars - budget permitting. ....

Originally Posted by S griffin

He says he wants to enter the series. Can’t remember the exact wording of his tweet though

8 Mar 2019 - '“This new medication that I’m on seems to be keeping it slightly under control so hopefully that’s a benefit. But still, I just thought I was looking forward to a good year and I was very lucky – I got offers from Blancpain, from BTCC. I turned everything down – genuinely I was pipe and slippers or just concentrating on my band and stuff.”'

Feb 21 2020 - 'I was all set to race in Europe this year but following the operation I knew that I wouldn't be ready for testing or fully fit for at least the first round which was a very tough pill to swallow however I am already engaging in talks about what series to be part of and my aim is to be in BTCC for the 2021 season.'

Nov 18 2020 - 'So in other news, it’s time to chase another dream for ‘21.
Following major #Crohns surgery in Jan, this year has helped me heal well and feel well so... @BTCC is calling and I have some incredible sponsor packages available to join me on the journey. Let’s do this'

Nov 23 2020 - 'Hey you!....it’s a new week! Let’s smash it!
The @BTCC budget hunt continues...some amazing partners already on board...exciting times ahead.'

Dec 8 2020 - 'Mega new partnerships formed so far,...it’s all getting closer! a couple of mega package sponsorship opportunities left to get me on the ‘21 #BTCC grid. Get in touch and/or spread the word! Let’s do this!'

[S griffin]

For some reason I would have linked him to MB Motorsport and the mega comments seem to indicate that could be where he ends up on the BTCC grid

[AnnoyedMoose]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Indeedy. Unless my memory is getting worse there haven't been any monstrous hospitality setups in BTCC for a while. The last HUGE one I recollect was when WSR ran the MG team in the early naughties. Internal space was for 200/ 250 ish guests + a large decked outdoor area, "garden" and a couple of replica cars. Lord only knows what the budget was for that lot when you add the entertainment, catering and bar. Back in my less responsible days I probably consumed several car sales worth of profit

From what I remember from interviews with Gow when he announced that he wanted to reduce the size of the grid it wasn't all about BTCC hospitality. In the support series stacker trailers and large hospitality tents are common place now. To generate the money the sponsors expect that now.

Plus there is a growth in size as well which can be seen in club racing. Heck, when I started only a few years ago there weren't that many enclosed trailers let alone converted lorries, coaches, awnings etc etc. Where you used be able to fit six cars in a club meeting you would be lucky to fit one or two at some these days.

[S griffin]

You have to say it’s credit to everyone involved that the paddock can now accommodate more teams from various series

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

8 Mar 2019 - '“This new medication that I’m on seems to be keeping it slightly under control so hopefully that’s a benefit. But still, I just thought I was looking forward to a good year and I was very lucky – I got offers from Blancpain, from BTCC. I turned everything down – genuinely I was pipe and slippers or just concentrating on my band and stuff.”'

Feb 21 2020 - 'I was all set to race in Europe this year but following the operation I knew that I wouldn't be ready for testing or fully fit for at least the first round which was a very tough pill to swallow however I am already engaging in talks about what series to be part of and my aim is to be in BTCC for the 2021 season.'

Nov 18 2020 - 'So in other news, it’s time to chase another dream for ‘21.
Following major #Crohns surgery in Jan, this year has helped me heal well and feel well so... @BTCC is calling and I have some incredible sponsor packages available to join me on the journey. Let’s do this'

Nov 23 2020 - 'Hey you!....it’s a new week! Let’s smash it!
The @BTCC budget hunt continues...some amazing partners already on board...exciting times ahead.'

Dec 8 2020 - 'Mega new partnerships formed so far,...it’s all getting closer! a couple of mega package sponsorship opportunities left to get me on the ‘21 #BTCC grid. Get in touch and/or spread the word! Let’s do this!'

We'll believe it when we see it. Maybe it will be a last minute announcement. There's always at least one.

[billy bleach]

So on Nov 18 we were hot to trott , by23 Nov we are searching for sponsors. Looks like pathetic kite flying to me. Also are pretty much all the seats full now ?

[bella]

Originally Posted by S griffin

For some reason I would have linked him to MB Motorsport and the mega comments seem to indicate that could be where he ends up on the BTCC grid

nah, mega is just one of those de rigeur motorsport words that people use cause it makes them part of something cooler than they are. bit like “sending it”

Originally Posted by billy bleach

So on Nov 18 we were hot to trott , by23 Nov we are searching for sponsors. Looks like pathetic kite flying to me. Also are pretty much all the seats full now ?

depends doesn’t it? nobody’s ever going to stop inviting sponsors to join in - means they spend less of their own money or they get more tyres to use during testing.

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

So on Nov 18 we were hot to trott , by23 Nov we are searching for sponsors. Looks like pathetic kite flying to me. Also are pretty much all the seats full now ?

I would have thought it was a paper plane and not a kite.

[Alfisti]

Guess we'll see. His name guarantees coverage in non motorsport media; now that's an attractive proposition I would say.

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

I would have thought it was a paper plane and not a kite.

My money was him being in a 3 grand Deutsche car

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Guess we'll see. His name guarantees coverage in non motorsport media; now that's an attractive proposition I would say.

Will he get whatever he wants?

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Will he get whatever he wants?

He'll be down down if he doesn't!