[BTCC] BTCC 2023 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by InYourMirrors45

Strong line up that. Would expect Sutton to be there or there abouts, Cammish with a heap of podiums and some wins and Rowbo to more than likely chip in with a podium or two.

Which might all add up to a diluted Championship points tally…

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Which might all add up to a diluted Championship points tally…

Unfortunately, this is a real & potential problem but I suppose no worse than WSR have to contend with.
I'm all for 'let them race', it should make for entertaining racing to watch, but if Ash, Dan C & Dan R take it in turns winning (sorry Sam), they will effectively all be taking points off each other too. However, if one of them is either chosen as team leader, or manages to gain a strong points advantage over the others, maybe the team can rely on 'the others' to act as tail gunners for the leader, and also take points away from potential rivals.
It's going to be interesting to see how this pans out.

[Rowbo01]

Originally Posted by InYourMirrors45

Strong line up that. Would expect Sutton to be there or there abouts, Cammish with a heap of podiums and some wins and Rowbo to more than likely chip in with a podium or two.

I certainly expect more of myself than that.

Hope you guys are all well.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

Unfortunately, this is a real & potential problem but I suppose no worse than WSR have to contend with.
I'm all for 'let them race', it should make for entertaining racing to watch, but if Ash, Dan C & Dan R take it in turns winning (sorry Sam), they will effectively all be taking points off each other too. However, if one of them is either chosen as team leader, or manages to gain a strong points advantage over the others, maybe the team can rely on 'the others' to act as tail gunners for the leader, and also take points away from potential rivals.
It's going to be interesting to see how this pans out.

This is exactly the problem that WSR had last year, as you point out. Without fighting for each win, either Hill or Turkington could have easily won the driver's championship. I'm pretty sure that I or someone else made this observation during the last season.

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I wonder if TPR will make a comeback, especially as there is space on the grid.

With George Gamble and the other Ciceley 3 series? Assuming the car that Turks raced up till Oulton was repaired.

[mphplastering]

Originally Posted by Rowbo01

I certainly expect more of myself than that.

Hope you guys are all well.

You been quietly watching the comments Rowbo

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by Rowbo01

I certainly expect more of myself than that.

Hope you guys are all well.

Well I certainly expect more too! I’m sure you’ve enjoyed reading the posts, so what happened to you going to Speedworks as per the rumour mill

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by mphplastering

You been quietly watching the comments Rowbo

He usually does, it’s so good to have some drivers on here. Best of luck at NAPA Rowbo.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

Unfortunately, this is a real & potential problem but I suppose no worse than WSR have to contend with.
I'm all for 'let them race', it should make for entertaining racing to watch, but if Ash, Dan C & Dan R take it in turns winning (sorry Sam), they will effectively all be taking points off each other too. However, if one of them is either chosen as team leader, or manages to gain a strong points advantage over the others, maybe the team can rely on 'the others' to act as tail gunners for the leader, and also take points away from potential rivals.
It's going to be interesting to see how this pans out.

To be fair Cammish was the absolute team player last year. Having had a crap early session - fires , other people’s crashes etc - he even tossed a win away I think to help Sutton. First few races should be hammer and tongs with NAPA and WSR drivers!

[BTCC frog]

Originally Posted by Rowbo01

I certainly expect more of myself than that.

Hope you guys are all well.

Thanks as always for coming on here, Rowbo, and congratulations on getting another strong BTCC drive. Out of interest, when and why did you decide to switch teams?

Also, I would be interested to know if you have any information about Motorbase’s failed attempt at a new car for 2023, and how it affected development of the Ford. I hope you can challenge for the championship in it but last year the car’s performance seemed quite inconsistent from meeting to meeting, and required some heroics from Ash Sutton, in my opinion the best BTCC driver since Andy Rouse at least, to drag it into title contention. Do you know if the Ford is expected to be better for next year or if it is a waiting year before the new car arrives in 2024?

[InYourMirrors45]

Originally Posted by Rowbo01

I certainly expect more of myself than that.

Hope you guys are all well.

Look forward to being proven wrong for about the 4,576 time. Congrats on the deal and best of luck.

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

With George Gamble and the other Ciceley 3 series? Assuming the car that Turks raced up till Oulton was repaired.

Turks’ car (006) has been repaired and he’ll be racing that this year by all accounts.

WSR bought both Ciceley cars so unless a deal has been done since, I don’t expect to see the 5th BMW on the grid this season.

[Swedishsuffle]

Does anyone feel Dynamics may well be a shadow of themselves similar to the Herbert/Pinkney years when they struggled for backing.

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by Swedishsuffle

Does anyone feel Dynamics may well be a shadow of themselves similar to the Herbert/Pinkney years when they struggled for backing.

Much points to that. Slowly but surely getting there I fear.

[PeterY]

Josh Cook and Aiden Moffat at one motorsport (BTC)

https://www.brandshatch.co.uk/news/cook-and-moffat-remain-in-btcc-for-2023-with-one-motorsport?fbclid=IwAR2M0043UgerNJjWazYQ2OjKKV-beW5IXnatFAhtxa1HWx1FP-6Abzhl4LI

[Matt K]

Err... it's last week's news

[Swedishsuffle]

Originally Posted by Matt K

Much points to that. Slowly but surely getting there I fear.

Can see a black Civic with minimal backing. Just Dynamics stickers.

Would love to be wrong. If it was last year you could have seen Plato there with backing and giving that a go. Something I never thought would be possible.

If Matt Jackson had the funds and still had the talent it would be interesting to see if he could keep the team up there with Shedden.

I fear obscurity looms for them

[Craner Curves]

Are they reverting to their status of 25 years ago? Have the glory days gone?

[Evantra]

Probably just merge with another team as seems to be the trend… hopefully Halfords sticks around for the foreseeable future.

Can’t be looking good for the Civic if they can’t improve this year, and seems bringing a new model to the grid is getting more difficult (expensive). But who knows, they might have a brand new car and manufacturer deal secretly lined up for April

[Swedishsuffle]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Probably just merge with another team as seems to be the trend… hopefully Halfords sticks around for the foreseeable future.

Can’t be looking good for the Civic if they can’t improve this year, and seems bringing a new model to the grid is getting more difficult (expensive). But who knows, they might have a brand new car and manufacturer deal secretly lined up for April

Realistically all they would need is the shell for the new civic and transfer the running gear over. You would think Honda UK would be able to provide shells for free or cheap. I guess the new civic and Type R don’t need much publicity mind you. Fairly in demand.

Shedden is still quick and can get results. Not sure a title is there however. I am trying to think who could be a quick FWD driver with backing that would suit them. You would think they may have someone lined up as Moffat would have been an easy choice if they needed funds and obviously he is elsewhere.

[billy bleach]

[QUOTE=Swedishsuffle;4144571]Realistically all they would need is the shell for the new civic and transfer the running gear over. You would think Honda UK would be able to provide shells for free or cheap. I guess the new civic and Type R don’t need much publicity mind you. Fairly in demand.

Not made in local Swindon now. Shipping shells from Japan would be horrendous in terms of cost - probably cheaper to strip fully built road cars!

[Swedishsuffle]

[
Not made in local Swindon now. Shipping shells from Japan would be horrendous in terms of cost - probably cheaper to strip fully built road cars![/QUOTE]

Not sure it would cost a horrendous amount of money to import shells from Japan. 33k for a civic In the U.K. I have no doubt it’s cheaper than that to ship and also taking in to account the Labour to strip a road car. Maybe the cost for molding body parts and wings however might be a fair bit.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Swedishsuffle

[
Not made in local Swindon now. Shipping shells from Japan would be horrendous in terms of cost - probably cheaper to strip fully built road cars!

Not sure it would cost a horrendous amount of money to import shells from Japan. 33k for a civic In the U.K. I have no doubt it’s cheaper than that to ship and also taking in to account the Labour to strip a road car. Maybe the cost for molding body parts and wings however might be a fair bit.[/QUOTE]

Container from Osaka - Felixstowe 20’ $22,000 …..

[antnee]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Not sure it would cost a horrendous amount of money to import shells from Japan. 33k for a civic In the U.K. I have no doubt it’s cheaper than that to ship and also taking in to account the Labour to strip a road car. Maybe the cost for molding body parts and wings however might be a fair bit.

Container from Osaka - Felixstowe 20’ $22,000 …..[/QUOTE]

Under $10k for a 40ft'er.... https://moverdb.com/container-shipping/japan/

[teabag1993]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Are they reverting to their status of 25 years ago? Have the glory days gone?

I'd say this year will be the best indication. It's very disheartening to see, especially for Dynamics fans such as myself.

I think Shedden's got it in him still to win another title, and he put up a good fight last year considering the Civic was roundly out-developed by the Hyundai and Toyota by the closing rounds.

One thing I'm almost certain of is that Dynamics can't keep doing the same thing that they've done for the past 2 seasons. Shedden has a number of personal sponsors that seem very involved with his campaign (GS Yuasa, Tunnocks etc)- perhaps one of them could write a bigger cheque this year and upgrade to a title sponsor?

Or, they need to think outside the box again like in 2005 with the Integra. Find a loophole, or employ a new grid or points strategy, anything really. I just want to see Dynamics back at the top before I lose my marbles.