[BTCC] BTCC 2021

[steve_r]

Originally Posted by medius

How do we think hey are funding the project? I've heard paddock rumors about the whole outfit but lets stick to facts.

Pay drivers?
Lottery win?
outside BTCC activities?

Who are you asking about?

Almost all the teams have pay drivers.

[medius]

Originally Posted by steve_r

Who are you asking about?

Almost all the teams have pay drivers.

The Team HARD announcement this morning.

[Matt K]

The news is a game changer. I wonder if switching to new cars may help HARD move up the order a bit. Actually, I've never thought of them as a team that can build and prep new cars. Good luck to them however

[S griffin]

HARD have got a bit of reputation that they bite off more than they can chew, but they’re still in the series, so they must be doing something right. Hope that get a good reward for going down this route

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Matt K

Actually, I've never thought of them as a team that can build and prep new cars. Good luck to them however

They were responsible for bringing the VW CCs to the grid initially, so they do have form in this area.







[Yes - I know technically the cars were built by RML, but they were commissioned by HARD to carry out the build. I expect these cars will be built under a similar arrangement with a chassis builder]

[S griffin]

Makes up for them not gettimg the Astra or the Volvo they were talking about onto the grid

[AnnoyedMoose]

Originally Posted by Matt K

The news is a game changer. I wonder if switching to new cars may help HARD move up the order a bit. Actually, I've never thought of them as a team that can build and prep new cars. Good luck to them however

They build a lot of cars.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Makes up for them not gettimg the Astra or the Volvo they were talking about onto the grid

They're not the only ones to have had such aspirations.

'When I first saw the Astra I thought it would make a fantastic BTCC car and I’m excited about this new programme,” team boss Shaun Hollamby said. “While this is a privateer programme, Vauxhall has been an integral part of British Touring Cars for a long time and we are fully focused on producing a car that will be capable of challenging at the sharp end of the grid.'

[S griffin]

Whoops, I stand corrected. It was AMD, I remember now

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Makes up for them not gettimg the Astra or the Volvo they were talking about onto the grid

I think the Volvo was always a bit of a throwaway 'Who'd like to see this' rather than an official statement confirming the cars are being built.

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

They were responsible for bringing the VW CCs to the grid initially, so they do have form in this area.







[Yes - I know technically the cars were built by RML, but they were commissioned by HARD to carry out the build. I expect these cars will be built under a similar arrangement with a chassis builder]

Yeah, probably I've got memory like a sieve but you're right, it's just last few years when they sort of made us used to them being backmarkers with worst drivers and I just didn't see that coming. But good for them and great that we'll have new models in BTCC instead of these geriatric CCs.

[Alfisti]

Wow. #HARD teased a big announcement and it actually was.

Wish them well with that. New VW platform which in my books is the ideal size for BTCC - a few millimetres here and there from the Focus. No reason why a driver like Jack Goff shouldn't be competing toward the front if #HARD engineer it right and can get some test miles in.

Someone make a diecast of it, it's a sharp looking car and the simple base #HARD livery looks well on it.

[AnnoyedMoose]

They are more than capable of building a BTCC car. There isn't really anything that much different to building one than compared to a "normal" race car and they've built plenty of those.

The complex bit is the roll cage and even the likes of WSR use Willie Poole for that.

Age is all relative in the BTCC. The MB Hondas are older than the CC's and both the 1 series are the same age. Of course a lot is down to how much money is spent on the car during that lifetime.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by AnnoyedMoose

They are more than capable of building a BTCC car. There isn't really anything that much different to building one than compared to a "normal" race car and they've built plenty of those.

And some seem to forget that the last time they introduced a new NGTC model to the grid, it picked up a 3rd, 2nd and 4th place finish at its third meeting....

I wonder how much we are experiencing a case of repeating a criticism often enough it becomes accepted as fact.

HARD - revolving door of drivers.
HARD - not capable of engineering a front-running car.
HARD - always talking about doing something but never achieving.

In reality - they've been in general a positive to the series for s number of years now, and the criticism aimed at them could easily be aimed elsewhere on the grid.

[S griffin]

I seem to remember TOC was their driver when they got that result. So it helped they had a top driver in their seat. Such a shame their credibility went down when they seemed to change a least one driver per meeting towards the latter end of that season

[Matt K]

You may say there's quite a lot of negativity around HARD and we may discuss whether it's fair or not but statistics say it all. Since 2015 there have been just two HARD drivers who finished the season in Top 20 and the team's scored two podiums. And in most of these seasons (if not all) they had more than just two drivers. I'm not saying HARD is doing everything wrong but let's face it, they've been among worst teams recently.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Matt K

You may say there's quite a lot of negativity around HARD and we may discuss whether it's fair or not but statistics say it all. Since 2015 there have been just two HARD drivers who finished the season in Top 20 and the team's scored two podiums. And in most of these seasons (if not all) they had more than just two drivers. I'm not saying HARD is doing everything wrong but let's face it, they've been among worst teams recently.

Dextra, Welch, Handy, SOP, and others have all been and gone in that time.

HARD may not have had much success in championship positions, but is that a bad thing?

AmD have only just begun to get in the top 20, it's taken a bit of time to get there. Hopefully HARD can do the same with the Cupra..

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

HARD may not have had much success in championship positions, but is that a bad thing?

Isn't that kind of the point of racing?

They definitely have a lot of redeeming to do with the CUPRAs, because they've been very poor the last couple of years.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Matt K

Since 2015 there have been just two HARD drivers who finished the season in Top 20 and the team's scored two podiums.

And had it not been for a tyre gamble, they wouldn't have scored points in those races either...

[Matt K]

Exactly so 'criticism' towards HARD being just a backmarker team is not something people used to saying, it's just true. Many teams have come and gone but HARD's stayed at the bottom.

[Mike_Powell]

On the other hand, they've turned up and given many drivers a chance to fulfill their aim of driving in the BTCC whilst other teams have come and gone.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Isn't that kind of the point of racing?

So everyone who's not winning should pack up and go home?

As I've said before, every competitor will have their own goals. If for HARD it is to be taking part in the BTCC and occasionally pick up points, then I applaud them for doing so.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Matt K

Exactly so 'criticism' towards HARD being just a backmarker team is not something people used to saying, it's just true. Many teams have come and gone but HARD's stayed at the bottom.

It's true they have been regularly towards the back of the grid. I'm just not certain it should result in criticism....

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

It's true they have been regularly towards the back of the grid. I'm just not certain it should result in criticism....

It's not criticism, it's stating the fact. No team should be criticised for being a backmarker, if they have money/willingness/patience/whatever to do that, then it's okay. But it's kind of sign they're doing something not entirely well if they're backmarkers for many years now. Look at AMD, they've been back there but now they have one of the most respecatble teams in the business. Hanging around for years and being at the back seems sometimes...pointless? But of course, respect for their work regardless of the effects and respect for patience. Such teams are still vital part of any championship. But if they can't make any steps forwards it's a sign something should be done. Maybe new cars will prompt them up a bit. Good luck to them.

[Craner Curves]

I think HARD are more into it for the business than some teams are, therefore it's not always about success. It's more about balancing the books and enjoying the experience.