[BTCC] BTCC 2017 Rumours & Silly Season

[thlbtcc]

Originally Posted by BLiTZ

Noticed that since you posted this, Rob's name has been removed from the original article. There's now just a gap between "BMW 125i M Sport" and "AMD". Last minute deal fell through or name taken off as not to 'spoil' the 'news'?

Anyway, looking forward to ASI!

Well spotted. Hopefully, it was just removed as a spoiler alert.

[luckn002]

Originally Posted by GregoryDG

Goff back to BMR and Turkington back to WSR?

From Jack Goff's Twitter when asked "any joy with getting your ride back next season" referring to the BTCC BMW he replied "Unfortunately not" so it seems very unlikely he'll be back at WSR.

Hope he can get a top drive like BMR or Motorbase!

[850Estate]

Originally Posted by plater99

Does anyone know if Kelvin Fletcher has a drive for next year?
I know few people were skepticial about his credentials, but I geninually believed he showed some promise last season. He showed good pace in free pratice getting quicker and improving, he was just very unfortunate he couldnt string this into great race results, although often this was due to other factors outside his control due to some careless driving at the back of the field.

I thought Fletcher was hugely disappointing last year to be brutally honest. A nice guy, absolutely, but not yet ready for the BTCC and that showed. Think Nic Hamilton - has ability, but needs to learn his trade for a few more years on the support package before making the step up.

The fact that he was comfortably outscored by Dave Newsham in the (2?) rounds he did tells its own story.

Anyway, on the Motorbase 2nd seat, I'd absolutely love to see Jake Hill get it. I'm also very surprised by KG's Facebook posts to be honest - I didn't think we'd see him back this year, especially not with Team Hard after the..erm...divorce last time out.

[luckn002]

Latest Motorbase tweet:

Looking forward to next week...new driver(s) revealed & a chance to show off our new 2017 look on the @DunlopLive #BTCC stand!

So potentially both drivers revealed!

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by luckn002

Latest Motorbase tweet:

Looking forward to next week...new driver(s) revealed & a chance to show off our new 2017 look on the @DunlopLive #BTCC stand!

So potentially both drivers revealed!

Heard they are very close with signing the 3rd driver so that fits

I also clocked that Rob Austin was originally listed by the Handy announcement, was going to post that it looked like he was staying with them as expected, but noticed it was quickly changed. More due to being a spoiler I think than any last minute changes!

[thlbtcc]

Steel Seal switches from PMR to Halfords Yuasa Racing.

http://www.btcc.net/2017/01/06/steel-seal-deal/



Small point, but the wording suggests the both Halfords and Yuasa and naming-rights sponsors again in 2017, despite that black body-shell tweeted by Neal throwing some off the scent.

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

Steel Seal switches from PMR to Halfords Yuasa Racing.

http://www.btcc.net/2017/01/06/steel-seal-deal/



Small point, but the wording suggests the both Halfords and Yuasa and naming-rights sponsors again in 2017, despite that black body-shell tweeted by Neal throwing some off the scent.

Steal Seal are owned by the parent company of Power Maxed. They're not leaving the team as such, just expanding their exposure.

[porsche962fan]

1+1 = 3 so Rob Austin at Motorbase

[Racing Harz]

Alex Martin leaves BTCC.
http://www.touringcars.net/2017/01/a...carrera-cup-gb

[pimmy]

No loss.

[AJD]

First post so hello all.

Agree about Martin being no loss. Can't say I fully agree with his reasons for his own poor showings last year. Sure the switch from RWD to FWD may be tough but I think quite a bit was down to his driving ability/style he just didn't adapt well to the series at all. Hopefully someone picks up the focus, runs it well and gets it at the pointy end of the pack where Jackson seems to stick it on a regular basis.

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

Alex Martin leaves BTCC.
http://www.touringcars.net/2017/01/a...carrera-cup-gb

the marshalls and drivers at the back must be happy

[porsche962fan]

removed Martin (thankfully)


Team Dynamics - Honda Civic - Matt Neal
Team Dynamics - Honda Civic - Gordon Shedden
Simpson Racing - Honda Civic - Mat Simpson

Eurotech - Honda Civic - Jeff Smith ???
Eurotech - Honda Civic - ????

Speedworks - Toyota Avensis - Tom Ingram

Handy Motorsport - Toyota Avensis - Rob Austin ?

PMR - Vauxhall Astra - Senna Proctor
PMR - vauxhall Astra - Tom Chilton

BMR - Subaru Levorg - Jason Plato
BMR - Subaru Levorg - Colin Turkington ?
BMR - Subaru Levorg - Warren Scott ???
BMR - Subaru Levorg - James Cole ?

888 - MG - Ash Sutton ??
888 - MG - ???

WSR - BMW 125 - Andrew Jordan
WSR - BMW 125 - Rob Collard ????
WSR - BMW 125 - ????

Motorbase - Ford Focus - Mat Jackson
Motorbase - Ford Focus - ???
Motorbase - Ford Focus - ???

Cicely Racing - Mercedes A-Class - Adam Morgan

Laser Tools - Mercedes A-Class - Aidan Moffat

AMD - Audi S3 - Ollie Jackson
AMD - Audi S3 - ??????

HARD - VW CC - Will Burns
HARD - VW CC - Mike Epps
HARD - VW CC - ?????

Team Parker Racing - Ford Focus - ?????

Maximum - Ford Focus - Stewart Lines ???

BTC Norlin - Chevrolet Cruze - Chris Smiley
BTC Norlin - Chevrolet Cruze - Dave Newsham

[BLiTZ]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Steal Seal are owned by the parent company of Power Maxed. They're not leaving the team as such, just expanding their exposure.

Poses an interesting scenario though in the manufacturers championship if PMR's main backer is funding their No. 1 rival?!

[porsche962fan]

please PMR is noway near Team Dynamics league, neither with cars or drivers and neither of WSR or BMR


they might be very lucky if they can compete with 888 in the manufacturers championship

[jsmee]

I wonder who will drive for Team Parker... They have a big pool of drivers in Porsches, maybe Stephen Jelley will return? Or Dan Lloyd? Both have raised for Parker recently.

Or Barry Horne of course - points scorer on his debut with Dextra Racing


Lea Wood has confirmed a second season of Pickups, so doubt he will be back.

[S griffin]

Agree on Alex Martin, he had his chance, but just never lost that ragged edge, so it's a relief for those further down the field

In other news, Sonic has confirmed he will race in both BTCC/WTCC this season. The last person to do that was Thommo in 09 (as well as DTC and Aussie V8s!). I assume though that BTCC will be the priority for him, like Plato in 05

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I assume though that BTCC will be the priority for him, like Plato in 05

I doubt it!

Good news on Martin leaving, and Howard. Neither have any business at all on a proper grid.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by S griffin

In other news, Sonic has confirmed he will race in both BTCC/WTCC this season. The last person to do that was Thommo in 09 (as well as DTC and Aussie V8s!).

Thompson only did a part-season in both BTCC/WTCC (and just 2 races in Aussie V8s), not the full season Chilton is planning.

Last person to race both BTCC and WTCC in the same year was Robb Holland in 2012, although that was just 2 BTCC rounds and 1 WTCC round.

[Rob877]

It'll be an interesting comparison to see where BTCC and WTCC are at in terms of driving talent. I accept that it's not a pure comparison as the Citroen will be a guaranteed front runner, where the Astra may not be that quick out the box, and it may take a bit of time for Tom to adapt to NGTC cars.

[Ry44]

Originally Posted by jsmee

I wonder who will drive for Team Parker... They have a big pool of drivers in Porsches, maybe Stephen Jelley will return? Or Dan Lloyd? Both have raised for Parker recently.

Or Barry Horne of course - points scorer on his debut with Dextra Racing


Lea Wood has confirmed a second season of Pickups, so doubt he will be back.

The first name with connections to Team Parker that I thought of was actually Tom Onslow Cole but very much doubt he will be making a return we can all wish though.

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by Ry44

The first name with connections to Team Parker that I thought of was actually Tom Onslow Cole but very much doubt he will be making a return we can all wish though.

I think we may just see the person with the deepest pockets take that ride, seems Martin's company paid for them to run his car, I don't think they have a load of sponsors on board. There may be hope for Mark Howard, Kelvin Fletcher & co yet! I hope not & would love to see someone like Jelly or Horne in the car, but we know that it comes down to £££.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

Small point, but the wording suggests the both Halfords and Yuasa and naming-rights sponsors again in 2017, despite that black body-shell tweeted by Neal throwing some off the scent.

Not sure why black would suggest something other than Halfords/Yuasa.
It would make a better base for both brands, as they both have black in their corporate colours. I would suggest a better base than having to introduce a black panel(s) for Yuasa like last year.

It would make even more sense if the Steel Seal deal has been on the cards for a while, as black is also common to their brand.

[850Estate]

All the best to Alex, but I'm not sad to see him go. He never looked comfortable in FWD, and became more and more erratic and incident prone the longer time went on - frustration I guess.

Looking forward to seeing who gets the car - it can be quick in the right hands, as Horne showed.

[BLiTZ]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Not sure why black would suggest something other than Halfords/Yuasa.
It would make a better base for both brands, as they both have black in their corporate colours. I would suggest a better base than having to introduce a black panel(s) for Yuasa like last year.

It would make even more sense if the Steel Seal deal has been on the cards for a while, as black is also common to their brand.

Whilst the Halfords orange and black livery has been pretty common since the Civic EP3 days (the only changes being the difference between the black elements, flames/flashes/tears etc) if you look at Halfords branding in recent years then an orange base is not a given any more. Sure their logo (on the stores at least) is black on orange, but their website has seen a recent shift to an orange logo against a dark grey (think matt black) background so a livery with a black base with orange flashes could look quite striking.

However its starting to look like a patchwork quilt of colours:

halfords - Orange + Black
YUASA - Red + White + Black
Steel Seal - Yellow + Black
Honda (if they still have a presence) - Red + White + Black

There's a risk the livery is going to look messy with lots of logos (don't forget theres likely to be an oil brand (Castrol/Petronas) and I guess Nextbase will still be on the car) and a return to a more independent style billboard appearance.

Fingers crossed they've got a great graphic designer on board who can knit this all together in a successful manner!