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

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

It's just a guess on my part - but my expectation would be that the race would see the second driver come from the same team (in the main).

e.g if we were looking at the 2022 grid, the entrants would be:

NAPA Racing - Sutton/Cammish
Apec Racing - Jackson/Osborne
Bristol Street - Ingram/Chilton
Bristol Street - Butel/Lloyd
Gazoo - Butcher/Collard

etc....


Why do I think this?
As you say, I can't see too many big names from elsewhere coming in. There is also the teams' budgets to consider. The teams will budget against a certain amount of mileage in a season. A 2-driver race will surely be over a longer distance, and so teams will want to share that mileage across 2 cars.

Noticeable exceptions may be Neal joining as a second driver, and possibly Tony Gilham. Otherwise, I would expect it to be drivers from a junior category stepping up to fill the spaces if the grid remains the same size for the race.

The return of Andy Nete

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

No big fuss from the BTCC about this year's show and not even a mention of them having a stand?

There is no official BTCC stand - Ash Hand Vauxhall and old Sam Osborne Focus in Wera livery the two cars present

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

It's just a guess on my part - but my expectation would be that the race would see the second driver come from the same team (in the main).

e.g if we were looking at the 2022 grid, the entrants would be:

NAPA Racing - Sutton/Cammish
Apec Racing - Jackson/Osborne
Bristol Street - Ingram/Chilton
Bristol Street - Butel/Lloyd
Gazoo - Butcher/Collard

etc....


Why do I think this?
As you say, I can't see too many big names from elsewhere coming in. There is also the teams' budgets to consider. The teams will budget against a certain amount of mileage in a season. A 2-driver race will surely be over a longer distance, and so teams will want to share that mileage across 2 cars.

Noticeable exceptions may be Neal joining as a second driver, and possibly Tony Gilham. Otherwise, I would expect it to be drivers from a junior category stepping up to fill the spaces if the grid remains the same size for the race.

What would be the point of seeing 15 cars going around the track over a distance that one fit driver would be easily capable of doing? As much as I appreciate some ideas to spice things up, this one seems a bit pointless unless there are actually international/star drivers as co-drivers and possibly a distance of the race longer than just a double the usual BTCC race length.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Matt K

What would be the point of seeing 15 cars going around the track over a distance that one fit driver would be easily capable of doing? As much as I appreciate some ideas to spice things up, this one seems a bit pointless unless there are actually international/star drivers as co-drivers and possibly a distance of the race longer than just a double the usual BTCC race length.

Yes, it would be much better if they had mainly guest drivers involved, like they did when they had the endurance races between 87-90

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

There is no official BTCC stand - Ash Hand Vauxhall and old Sam Osborne Focus in Wera livery the two cars present

Yes very lacking in BTCC presence, would have expected Kwik-fit having a BTCC stand at least even if TOCA weren’t bothered.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Overboost

Yes very lacking in BTCC presence, would have expected Kwik-fit having a BTCC stand at least even if TOCA weren’t bothered.

Why? £60,000 or more and for what? Better spent in the Championship? There is a reason the mega stands from Porsche, Prodrive, Tweeks, Dynamics, Dunlop, Michelin etc are not there now.Not even an announcement of any worth today - Autosport International has had its time? Oh and I hear £16 to park!!!!

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

No big fuss from the BTCC about this year's show and not even a mention of them having a stand?

Slightly playing Devil's Advocate here, do they even need to be there? Other series are there to promote themselves to potential entrants and maybe for a bit of PR with a car/driver reveal.

If you were running a team, it's not like you would see the BTCC stand and think "lets join this series". The TBL requirement means at this stage you couldn't even if you wanted to.

As a driver you should already know what the series involves and if you were series about entering you would have already been in discussion with teams and sponsors. Seeing a BTCC stand is not going to change that.

You might be promoting the series to a few fans on the public days but really anyone who makes the effort to attend is already a motorsports fan.

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Why? £60,000 or more and for what? Better spent in the Championship? There is a reason the mega stands from Porsche, Prodrive, Tweeks, Dynamics, Dunlop, Michelin etc are not there now.Not even an announcement of any worth today - Autosport International has had its time? Oh and I hear £16 to park!!!!

Better to park at the train station if you do go and save £4 - probably not as far to walk either

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

Better to park at the train station if you do go and save £4 - probably not as far to walk either

Or just wait until the end of the day and drive straight out, the barriers get left up

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by Pickles

Or just wait until the end of the day and drive straight out, the barriers get left up

Yeah but you’ll be ready to leave way before that point….

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

Yeah but you’ll be ready to leave way before that point….

Good point, I've been working there the last few years but before that when going as public I was ready to leave by lunchtime

[S griffin]

Hopefully an announcement or two once the weekend is over

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Hopefully an announcement or two once the weekend is over

Not a single worthwhile BTCC announcement at ASI - infact has there been any worthwhile announcement at ASI . Time was when there was one an hour....

[Millvi]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Not a single worthwhile BTCC announcement at ASI - infact has there been any worthwhile announcement at ASI . Time was when there was one an hour....

Not even any announcements being teased, let alone scheduled.

[crmalcolm]

So everybody missed Dan Lloyd's reveal of the Jag that he will be driving for HARD. in the BTCC?





































































































*** before anyone comments - I know, it's not a BTCC entry but is just a show car for one of Dan's sponsors for next season.
It just has the potential for some observers to get a bit carried away with a post that tags @TeamHardRacing and uses the #BTCC featuring a Jag ***

[Mike Harte]

Yes, Hard have announced that he will be driving one of their Cupras this season. So, who has lost their seat, then?

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Yes, Hard have announced that he will be driving one of their Cupras this season. So, who has lost their seat, then?

If Taylor-Smith was being retained on a deal I'd have expected them to announce it early, Hard tend to get them done quickly. Not seen any mention of him this off season?

[Millvi]

Originally Posted by Evantra

If Taylor-Smith was being retained on a deal I'd have expected them to announce it early, Hard tend to get them done quickly. Not seen any mention of him this off season?

All I’ve seen is an Instagram post about working with a sponsor for 2023.

His wife is expecting and I wouldn’t be surprised if 2023 was a sabbatical year for him.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Yes, Hard have announced that he will be driving one of their Cupras this season. So, who has lost their seat, then?

AT-S, Thompson, Lloyd and Patterson are all confirmed at HARD.

[InYourMirrors45]

Announcement due at 6 apparently, no idea what or who for.

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by InYourMirrors45

Announcement due at 6 apparently, no idea what or who for.

There isn't

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Yes, Hard have announced that he will be driving one of their Cupras this season. So, who has lost their seat, then?

There have been 7 HARD cars for the last 2 years... Who needs to have lost their seat?

[flatapex]

Dan won’t be driving that jag, the stand is for Formula Woman, the common ground is Dan shares a sponsor with them

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by flatapex

Dan won’t be driving that jag, the stand is for Formula Woman, the common ground is Dan shares a sponsor with them

For clarification, he won't be driving in Formula Woman either!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by flatapex

Dan won’t be driving that jag, the stand is for Formula Woman, the common ground is Dan shares a sponsor with them

Try quoting the post.