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

[Redshift]

Originally Posted by S griffin

And let me spell this out. You can't compare a four time champion making one mistake under pressure compared to someone who hasn't even stood on a BTCC podium makeing several mistakes under pressure

I can and I did, shoot me for having an opinion.

[GT6]

Lets all just look forward to a return to racing, ok it may be not quite what we were hoping for 6 months ago but it will return and we should all be happy.

[medius]

Add a VW to the casualty list.

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by medius

Add a VW to the casualty list.

Fuller replaced by Bushell, sure.
Unless that car/Hamilton is going to be absent too? Damn.

I make it so far:
Jordan gone from BMW
Cook gone from BTC
Jackson in strife at PMR
-1 Team HARD VW

[RS67]

Could be Goff out. He normally struggles for budget and he owed money for last years Brands Hatch accident damage.

[GT6]

Well fingers crossed there are not to many more

[S griffin]

This is tense times. Hope we still get a decent grid come Donny

[EastonNeston]

A lot of companies, with severely reduced marketing budgets will, rightly, be considering what gives the best return on investment. In a lot of cases, I can see racing sponsorship being cut, for other marketing tools that give a better return, and wider exposure to the companies target market demographic.

[Peter Mallett]

Sadly, I suspect they'll be looking at this on a long term basis not just this year. In which case we come to the problem of sustaining the BTCC as it is.

[EastonNeston]

I think marketing budgets will be under pressure for many years.


It doesn't look good to be spending fortunes on racing, or any other sponsorship, when you're making staff redundant.

[S griffin]

BTCC has survived financial crisis before. It’s learned from the Super Touring days not to get too expensive. I’m sure it will be back on it’s feet in a couple of years

[Peter Mallett]

I think you mean it came back from the brink by making things much cheaper. Which is true. Now I'd suggest that the costs of these current machines is somewhere near where they were with ST.

[S griffin]

They also had a tough time in 09-10, with them losing some big names, but they managed to keep it going before NGTC came in

[thetool]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Now I'd suggest that the costs of these current machines is somewhere near where they were with ST.

The true cost never really changes, if you want to win. The top teams have always spent large sums of money, and will continue to do so regardless of the regulations. And more often than not, these will be the teams doing the majority of the winning.

What has changed since the 90s is how much easier it is to be much closer to the pace whilst spending considerably less money. Due to the limitations enforced by the regulations, the stuff the wealthy teams pore their money into is only worth tenths of seconds rather than multiple seconds a lap.

[redshoes]

In some ways the actual cost is largely irrelevant. The public perception is that any motorsport is expensive, and as mention earlier it's difficult for a company making staff redundant to justify spending money on sponsorship.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by thetool

The true cost never really changes, if you want to win. The top teams have always spent large sums of money, and will continue to do so regardless of the regulations. And more often than not, these will be the teams doing the majority of the winning.

What has changed since the 90s is how much easier it is to be much closer to the pace whilst spending considerably less money. Due to the limitations enforced by the regulations, the stuff the wealthy teams pore their money into is only worth tenths of seconds rather than multiple seconds a lap.

What is the true cost if you are spending umpteen 000's on that final tenth? Which is what you suggest the top teams are doing? But if you start from a highly technical and thus costly formula it soon becomes clear that value for money is not high on anyone's radar.

Originally Posted by redshoes

In some ways the actual cost is largely irrelevant. The public perception is that any motorsport is expensive, and as mention earlier it's difficult for a company making staff redundant to justify spending money on sponsorship.

Yes racing is expensive and the punters don't care, but the businesses see it as pouring money down a very deep drain if they are also having to deal with the effects of a pandemic and letting personnel go. That is definitely not a good look.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

I think you mean it came back from the brink by making things much cheaper. Which is true. Now I'd suggest that the costs of these current machines is somewhere near where they were with ST.

you serious?

in ST days the top teams were spending 3-4 million per car per season.

now its only about 10-15% of that

[Peter Mallett]

Well I confess it's not that interesting anymore but I'd also suggest the top teams are not far from that.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

What is the true cost if you are spending umpteen 000's on that final tenth?

The true cost is however much the top teams can raise. Teams like Dynamics and WSR will spend whatever they can raise in order to win.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by thetool

The true cost is however much the top teams can raise. Teams like Dynamics and WSR will spend whatever they can raise in order to win.

There you go. And it doesn't matter what the technology, they'll spend it. But, if the sponsors can no longer justify it, where then?

[GT6]

The days of big sponsorship have be slowly receding into the past, the growth of so many sports all glamouring for sponsorship money and the wealth of different ways products can now be advertised had already taken it's toll. The problems caused by the current situation are just the final straw that will break the backs of many teams, in motorsport and in all other sports. Times are a changing as Bob Dylan used to say.

[S griffin]

The main difference between NGTC and ST is more control over components, which means there is less areas to gain advantage in and meaning we see less of an arms race in development

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Well I confess it's not that interesting anymore but I'd also suggest the top teams are not far from that.

you really think the top teams are not far from spending 3-4 million per car??!!

with respect i really dont know what planet your on

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

A 4-time and reigning champion, in a car that took the constructors' title in it's first season winning 11 races is an underwhelming prospect?

Have you read the whole post or just seen 'underwhelming' word? Yes, a 4-time champion in a car that won 11 races seems underwhelming given his teammate is a guy who hasn't won a race and seemed an odd-one out. As a third driver he was a very good and solid completion of the team but WSR is going to feel lack of AJ badly unless Oliphant steps up significantly.
Jordan and Turkington were a very power-duo and they shared these whopping 11 wins between them. It's a thing that won't be replicated this year. So yes, it will be underwhelming especially comparing to 2019 situation in which there were two top drivers and the third solid one.

[RS67]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

I think you mean it came back from the brink by making things much cheaper. Which is true. Now I'd suggest that the costs of these current machines is somewhere near where they were with ST.

In the early 90's maybe. A 93/94 Mondeo cost around £250k to build, but costs escalated. By 2000 the Prodrive Mondeos cost in the region of £1M each.