BTCC 2019 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[Greem]

Originally Posted by sceptic

Apparently the rebrand is a smokescreen for large-scale cost cutting.

That's by the by. No longer being known as the MSA, but now Motorsport UK, makes the BTCC official championship title even longer than it was! Following last year's model, will it now be the "Kwik-Fit Motorsport UK British Touring Car Championship"?

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Greem

That's by the by. No longer being known as the MSA, but now Motorsport UK, makes the BTCC official championship title even longer than it was! Following last year's model, will it now be the "Kwik-Fit Motorsport UK British Touring Car Championship"?

http://www.btcc.net/2018/11/25/toca-...-championship/
"For 2019 the championship will be known as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship"

No mention of MSA or Motorsport UK. Given that the press releases always previously including the full Dunlop/MSA branding, I doubt that's an unintended omission.

[Greem]

I would definitely agree with that. Neither the organisers nor the ASN are known for their publicity slip ups (thankfully).

[BLiTZ]

I wonder is Kwik-Fit's backing will have any effect on teams sponsored by similar outlets. I can't see the bosses of Halfords Autocentre being too happy at their rival's name being plastered on the same car! Similarly wasn't PMR backed by some sort of PSA service group?



I guess it also means Hi-Q are stepping down so there'll be different stickers on the headlights too.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by BLiTZ

I guess it also means Hi-Q are stepping down so there'll be different stickers on the headlights too.

Given that the Hi-Q Franchise is owned by Goodyear (along with the Dunlop Brand), I would expect that to be the case.

It was only a few years ago that Goodyear decided to alternate between Dunlop and Hi-Q as being the headline sponsor, so if Goodyear have stepped down then Hi-Q will probably disappear as a brand being promoted.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by BLiTZ

I wonder is Kwik-Fit's backing will have any effect on teams sponsored by similar outlets. I can't see the bosses of Halfords Autocentre being too happy at their rival's name being plastered on the same car! Similarly wasn't PMR backed by some sort of PSA service group?

wont be an issue. same thing happened when HiQ sponsored the series for a couple of years and they are a big Halfords competitor like KwikFit.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Hi-Q will probably disappear as a brand being promoted.

well obviously - because they wouldnt have both kwik fit and hiQ as championship sponsors at the same time would they...

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

well obviously - because they wouldnt have both kwik fit and hiQ as championship sponsors at the same time would they...

Goodyear have withdrawn from being championship sponsors.

My point was, they (Goodyear) will probably withdraw their Hi-Q backing to BTCC, and just concentrate on Dunlop branding via the tyre supply.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

My point was, they (Goodyear) will probably withdraw their Hi-Q backing to BTCC, and just concentrate on Dunlop branding via the tyre supply.

my point was that theres no 'probably' to it.
of course they wouldnt have two different competitive tyre stores both as championship sponsors.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

my point was that theres no 'probably' to it.
of course they wouldnt have two different competitive tyre stores both as championship sponsors.

My response was to a question regarding the Hi-Q stickers on the headlights, not the championship sponsorship.

Hi-Q was last seen as the main championship sponsor in 2009, and since then has been the brand has been used for some of the individual trophies (teams' championship), not the overall championship.

It is entirely feasible that Goodyear may continue to us the Hi-Q brand in their BTCC backing, there is nothing definite about them withdrawing Hi-Q. In fact, they are still promoting the association with BTCC as part of the attraction for taking on a Hi-Q franchise, so the brand might not be gone from the grid. I wonder if Hi-Q might appear on a number of cars/drivers - they've been involved with Rob Austin previously and might explore this avenue again?

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by sceptic

Apparently the rebrand is a smokescreen for large-scale cost cutting.

What like cheaper licence and fines!

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

It is entirely feasible that Goodyear may continue to us the Hi-Q brand in their BTCC backing, there is nothing definite about them withdrawing Hi-Q

really? do you really think there is a hope in hell that both competing kwik fit and hiQ brands would be seen on the cars as part of a continued series sponsorship?!

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

really? do you really think there is a hope in hell that both competing kwik fit and hiQ brands would be seen on the cars as part of a continued series sponsorship?!

Anything's possible. A personal/ team sponsor that directly competes with a series sponsor is rare but not unheard of. The series sponsor will have minimal space on the cars, and likely not be prominent unless you're (or the TV camera zoom is) up real close to the cars.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Goodyear have withdrawn from being championship sponsors.

My point was, they (Goodyear) will probably withdraw their Hi-Q backing to BTCC, and just concentrate on Dunlop branding via the tyre supply.

I think this is the nail hit on the head. We'll likely have Dunlop stickers only and no doubt itv will be receiving money to ensure the commentators say Dunlop tyres not just tyres!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

really? do you really think there is a hope in hell that both competing kwik fit and hiQ brands would be seen on the cars as part of a continued series sponsorship?!

Absolutely - I would not be surprised in the slightest if we saw an entry that had Hi-Q backing in 2019, even as title sponsor.

If KwikFit had an exclusivity clause, then Halfords would be out at TD.

Hi-Q HMS would seem a possibility.
Or maybe Adrian Flux Hi-Q Subaru Racing if JP spots an opportunity?

I know these are only speculations, and I am not suggesting in any way that these are deals in place - purely stating that Hi-Q could still be seen in the BTCC in some way.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Anything's possible. A personal/ team sponsor that directly competes with a series sponsor is rare but not unheard of.

Exactly - Norlin Ventures have no issue with their portfolio, even though it is in direct competition to series sponsor IHG.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Absolutely - I would not be surprised in the slightest if we saw an entry that had Hi-Q backing in 2019, even as title sponsor.

you and i are at cross purposes. i was talking about series sponsorship. not team sponorship.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

you and i are at cross purposes. i was talking about series sponsorship. not team sponorship.

It seems so. I was contemplating the likelihood of Goodyear withdrawing the Hi-Q brand from BTCC in total, they withdrew it from series sponsorship a number of years ago.






Now - when's ASI? Maybe some things will become clearer.....

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

My response was to a question regarding the Hi-Q stickers on the headlights, not the championship sponsorship.

Same thing. The logos on the headlights, bumper corners and number plates are reserved for the championship sponsor - see final page of http://www.btcc.net/wp-content/uploa...egulations.pdf

In theory, you could still see Hi-Q logos on a car if they chose to sponsor that team, but the logos in those places.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Same thing. The logos on the headlights, bumper corners and number plates are reserved for the championship sponsor - see final page of http://www.btcc.net/wp-content/uploa...egulations.pdf

In theory, you could still see Hi-Q logos on a car if they chose to sponsor that team, but the logos in those places.

Thanks for that, had forgotten about that graphic.

Wonder if KwikFit will add another brand from their group portfolio to the cars?

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Thanks for that, had forgotten about that graphic.

Wonder if KwikFit will add another brand from their group portfolio to the cars?

Somewhere in the back of my mind I recollect Kwik Fit owns a tyre brand or two. Mischief?

Having just nosed at the available offerings for my daily driver the cheapest tyre on offer is a Dunlop at £77. No budget cheapies to be seen. Have Kwik Fit moved up market in the last year or two?

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Now - when's ASI?

Yes.. Let's have some more gossip other than a never ending debate about where Sam Tordoff got his TBL from and KwikFits business model

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

Yes.. Let's have some more gossip other than a never ending debate about where Sam Tordoff got his TBL from and KwikFits business model

Maybe he got it from Kwik fit

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Absolutely - I would not be surprised in the slightest if we saw an entry that had Hi-Q backing in 2019, even as title sponsor.

If KwikFit had an exclusivity clause, then Halfords would be out at TD.

Hi-Q HMS would seem a possibility.
Or maybe Adrian Flux Hi-Q Subaru Racing if JP spots an opportunity?

I know these are only speculations, and I am not suggesting in any way that these are deals in place - purely stating that Hi-Q could still be seen in the BTCC in some way.

I could well see JP doing that, though it wouldn't be with Subaru.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

Yes.. Let's have some more gossip other than a never ending debate about where Sam Tordoff got his TBL from and KwikFits business model

he doesnt have one!