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

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by redshoes

EDIT: Note to self, read the full story first. SR1 Cup and Challenge are combining for 2023 so maybe the photo is representitive.

Ah ok, sounds promising.

The one Radical race I've "watched" was in person at Silverstone in 2018 I think, had about 6 cars...

[SSmith]

UPDATE 2 - Radicals added. 4 slots to go...

Donington Park National 22/23 April
BTCC
British F4
MINI JCW
Porsche Carrera Cup GB
Porsche Sprint Challenge GB

Brands Hatch Indy 6/7 May
BTCC
British F4
MINI JCW
Porsche Carrera Cup GB
TBA

Snetterton 20/21 May
BTCC
British F4
MINI JCW
Porsche Sprint Challenge
Radical Cup UK

Thruxton 3/4 June
BTCC
British F4
MINI Trophy
Porsche Carrera Cup GB
TBA

Oulton Park 17/18 June
BTCC
British F4
MINI JCW
Porsche Carrera Cup GB
Radical Cup UK

Croft 29/30 July
BTCC
British F4
MINI Trophy
Porsche Sprint Challenge
TBA

Knockhill 12/13 August
BTCC
British F4
MINI JCW
Porsche Carrera Cup GB
TBA

Donington GP August 26/27
BTCC
British F4
MINI Trophy
Porsche Carrera Cup GB
Porsche Sprint Challenge

Silverstone National September 23/24
BTCC
MINI JCW
Porsche Carrera Cup GB
Porsche Sprint Challenge
Caterham Seven Championship UK

Brands Hatch GP October 7/8
BTCC
British F4
MINI JCW
Porsche Carrera Cup GB
Porsche Sprint Challenge

[InYourMirrors45]

Caterhams at Silverstone will be the race of the weekend make my words. Saw them at brands hatch as part of the GT Europe series event and it was the best race I’ve seen live.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by InYourMirrors45

Saw them at brands hatch as part of the GT Europe series event and it was the best race I’ve seen live.

It is a different championship, though.

[Pickles]

Team HARD testing at Donington today, Moffat in one of the Cupras

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Pickles

Team HARD testing at Donington today, Moffat in one of the Cupras

Doing their hot laps isn't he? Thought the Moffats had fallen out with HARD after last year.

[PGib92]

Dexter also giving the cupra a run out. As well as data gathering and development for Hard, I assume this is laser also assessing their options for the infinity replacement

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Doing their hot laps isn't he? Thought the Moffats had fallen out with HARD after last year.

You're right - he is doing hot laps at Brands on 10 Nov.
https://www.team-hard.com/store/trac...ition-hotlaps/

So either - the speculation that there has been a disagreement between the two parties is wide of the mark.
Or - Moffat is fulfilling his contractual obligation.

If there has been a falling out, it is a big decline from - Bob Moffat: "With our ongoing collaboration with Tony Gilham and Team HARD, we are really looking forward to the 2022 season now."

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Doing their hot laps isn't he? Thought the Moffats had fallen out with HARD after last year.

There was no falling out, just the usual rumours.

[Moneyseeker]

Sign of the times that even TOCA is having to piece together the extra supports (like any other race organiser), not the usual queue this side to be considered approach.

Ginetta a big gap to fill.

[antnee]

I'm sure there was a 'press release' from Laser Tools earlier in the year saying they were parting ways with Hard - I can't find it at all now.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

Sign of the times that even TOCA is having to piece together the extra supports (like any other race organiser), not the usual queue this side to be considered approach.

Ginetta a big gap to fill.

Not really a sign of the times, more that the Ginetta decision was very last minute.

By the time Ginetta decided to switch, a lot of other series had already planned their 2023 calendars.

I think the combination of Caterhams, Miglias, Radicals and Legends that will be filling the gaps is actually pretty strong given the short notice.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by sceptic

Not really a sign of the times, more that the Ginetta decision was very last minute.

By the time Ginetta decided to switch, a lot of other series had already planned their 2023 calendars.

But the very fact that Ginetta were able to switch so late demonstrates that TOCA were at their whim rather than the other way round. If there was a whole line of series queuing up to have (and crucially, pay) for a slot on the package, it would have been resolved months ago. The reason there's a mix of series next season is nobody would pay for a full season. Obviously TOCA/Alan Gow are hoping that changes for 2024.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by thetool

If there was a whole line of series queuing up to have (and crucially, pay) for a slot on the package, it would have been resolved months ago. The reason there's a mix of series next season is nobody would pay for a full season.

Different circumstances but reminds me a little of 2001. The separate sprint races for BTC-T and BTC-P classes were combined after the first round leaving a gap in the timetable. BARC were left trying to organise an open saloons race or extra non-championship round for some random club series at short notice.

I think some people don't realise just how expensive a slot on the TOCA schedule is, even just for one round.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Different circumstances but reminds me a little of 2001. The separate sprint races for BTC-T and BTC-P classes were combined after the first round leaving a gap in the timetable. BARC were left trying to organise an open saloons race or extra non-championship round for some random club series at short notice.

I think some people don't realise just how expensive a slot on the TOCA schedule is, even just for one round.

Everyone seems to be be second guessing Alan Gow. Remind me when was the last time he C@cked up? The TOCA package seems to be in good hands....

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by thetool

But the very fact that Ginetta were able to switch so late demonstrates that TOCA were at their whim rather than the other way round. If there was a whole line of series queuing up to have (and crucially, pay) for a slot on the package, it would have been resolved months ago. The reason there's a mix of series next season is nobody would pay for a full season. Obviously TOCA/Alan Gow are hoping that changes for 2024.

Nobody expected Ginetta not to renew the contract, even Ginetta. (You can see that from the fact that in the programme for Silverstone, the advert for the Ginetta Scholarship says the Ginetta Junior championship will be supporting the BTCC in 2023).

This was a last minute decision that came completely out of the blue.

[S griffin]

It will be a big gap to fill. But at least we should have a bit more variety in support series in 2023

[Pickles]

Seems a pretty decent solution, bit more variety throughout the year and hopefully one of these series may commit fully in 2024

[redshoes]

Just circling back to a point from many weeks ago; seems that Hill will be leading a 2-car MB Motorsport team of BMWs. Question now is where does Adam Morgan go to?

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Just circling back to a point from many weeks ago; seems that Hill will be leading a 2-car MB Motorsport team of BMWs. Question now is where does Adam Morgan go to?

Sorry, I've completely missed this... How is this happening?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Evantra

MB Motorsport hoping to return to two cars next year.

https://twitter.com/btcc/status/1573...830957059?s=21

This was the post which included the link to 2 cars for MB Motorsport next season.

[tocatrucky]

Originally Posted by sceptic

Nobody expected Ginetta not to renew the contract, even Ginetta. (You can see that from the fact that in the programme for Silverstone, the advert for the Ginetta Scholarship says the Ginetta Junior championship will be supporting the BTCC in 2023).

This was a last minute decision that came completely out of the blue.

Mike Simpson's hand is quite heavy. His vision was to create GT-headed career drivers not F1-headed wealthy family drivers. That meant getting away from the FIA F4/F3/F2 ladder and aligned with a GT package, Plus good optics for the business anyway.

[Pdh]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Just circling back to a point from many weeks ago; seems that Hill will be leading a 2-car MB Motorsport team of BMWs. Question now is where does Adam Morgan go to?

I would imagine he will be staying with the family team in their BMWs

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

This was the post which included the link to 2 cars for MB Motorsport next season.

A long way from confirmed as happening though

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Pdh

I would imagine he will be staying with the family team in their BMWs

That's what threw me, I couldn't see why MB expanding would affect Ciceley. Also am I right in saying WSR will no longer have factory BMW support from next year?