BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[tocatrucky]

Originally Posted by thetool

That line-up is indictive of the stife the whole package/UK motorsport finds itself in. It's the sort of racing you'd have found on Men & Motors 20 years ago rather than the premier UK race package.

Agreed, basically clubbie championships stepping up to fill the gaps. Simple fact is, only 3 car brands support motorsport in the UK to a degree people expect. Porsche, Caterham, Ginetta.

In America Mazda have an MX5 championship, Australia have their Toyota GT86 series. VW had a Lupo/Beetle/Polo one make series in Germany through the years. Ford missed a trick not creating a Fiesta championship when the Mk7 was announced. Toyota UK do support the 750mc MR2 championship but its still clubbies racing a 20+ year old car.

Sad fact is motorsport doesn't sell cars like it used to. the motorsport ladder for aspiring racers is narrower than ever.

[Evantra]

Incidentally, I assume there’ll be some more news on the new TOCA junior series soon, assuming that’s still in the works.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by tocatrucky

Agreed, basically clubbie championships stepping up to fill the gaps. Simple fact is, only 3 car brands support motorsport in the UK to a degree people expect. Porsche, Caterham, Ginetta.

In America Mazda have an MX5 championship, Australia have their Toyota GT86 series. VW had a Lupo/Beetle/Polo one make series in Germany through the years. Ford missed a trick not creating a Fiesta championship when the Mk7 was announced. Toyota UK do support the 750mc MR2 championship but its still clubbies racing a 20+ year old car.

Sad fact is motorsport doesn't sell cars like it used to. the motorsport ladder for aspiring racers is narrower than ever.

Is that because Motor Manufacturers are not interested in ICE activities? Their future is electric

[thetool]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Incidentally, I assume there’ll be some more news on the new TOCA junior series soon, assuming that’s still in the works.

That was never anything more than TOCA saying that if someone would run like to run this hypothetical series, we'd like to include it on the BTCC support package. I wouldn't hold your breath on anything ever materialising.

[Sodemo]

A bit like BTCC 1999, the writing was on the wall, only about 16-18 entries at most rounds that year. Still loads of quality and every works driver was a class act but the grid looked a bit thin at times

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by thetool

That was never anything more than TOCA saying that if someone would run like to run this hypothetical series, we'd like to include it on the BTCC support package. I wouldn't hold your breath on anything ever materialising.

What apart from TOCA saying the car would be on display at 2024 events including demos? Why is everyone so doom laden Cheer up!

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

A bit like BTCC 1999, the writing was on the wall, only about 16-18 entries at most rounds that year. Still loads of quality and every works driver was a class act but the grid looked a bit thin at times

Yes I did recently rewatch the season review and while there were still plenty of great moments, it was a bit of a step down from 98 and quite frankly the grid felt too thin. It was a good job the quality was there

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Yes I did recently rewatch the season review and while there were still plenty of great moments, it was a bit of a step down from 98 and quite frankly the grid felt too thin. It was a good job the quality was there

I think whilst most people would think 21 cars is a decent grid, it wasn’t too long ago that TOCA was boasting about having a “full” 32 car grid and the world all seemed rosy.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

I think whilst most people would think 21 cars is a decent grid, it wasn’t too long ago that TOCA was boasting about having a “full” 32 car grid and the world all seemed rosy.

Yes, I think with a few teams having fallen by the wayside, it’s harder to fill spaces. Which I why I’m glad Restart were able to enter

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by thetool

That was never anything more than TOCA saying that if someone would run like to run this hypothetical series, we'd like to include it on the BTCC support package. I wouldn't hold your breath on anything ever materialising.

https://www.btcc.net/2023/11/06/prop...hip-announced/

[coffinpilot]

Just been reading the V2 regulations for this year, the ones posted a while ago, and noticed this change. Causing yellow flags in Qualifying will have the same penalty as a red flag!
I can imagine some heated debate in the stoppages between sessions in the new format, unless it's changed before the season starts.

3.3.6. Any driver deemed to have caused a stoppage, or yellow flag situation, during any Part of Official Qualifying, or otherwise interrupts the session as may be determined by the BTCC Clerk, will have their two Fastest Lap times cancelled from that Part and the driver will not be permitted to move into the next Part of the session.
Any driver deemed to have caused two stoppages, or two yellow flag situations, will have all their times cancelled and they shall not participate further in the Official Qualifying session. They will start the First Race at the back of the grid.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Just been reading the V2 regulations for this year, the ones posted a while ago, and noticed this change. Causing yellow flags in Qualifying will have the same penalty as a red flag!
I can imagine some heated debate in the stoppages between sessions in the new format, unless it's changed before the season starts.

3.3.6. Any driver deemed to have caused a stoppage, or yellow flag situation, during any Part of Official Qualifying, or otherwise interrupts the session as may be determined by the BTCC Clerk, will have their two Fastest Lap times cancelled from that Part and the driver will not be permitted to move into the next Part of the session.
Any driver deemed to have caused two stoppages, or two yellow flag situations, will have all their times cancelled and they shall not participate further in the Official Qualifying session. They will start the First Race at the back of the grid.

So if you have a brief run through the gravel on your out-lap in the first session, presumably that would require a marshal to wave a yellow flag (there are no full-course yellow flags in qualifying?) and that would be that, you can’t progress out of Q1? Seems rather harsh!

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by Evantra

So if you have a brief run through the gravel on your out-lap in the first session, presumably that would require a marshal to wave a yellow flag (there are no full-course yellow flags in qualifying?) and that would be that, you can’t progress out of Q1? Seems rather harsh!

That was my thought. Into a gravel trap on the first out lap when pitlane opens in Q1 and clear before anybody is anywhere near starting a flying lap and you could be toast!

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by Evantra

So if you have a brief run through the gravel on your out-lap in the first session, presumably that would require a marshal to wave a yellow flag (there are no full-course yellow flags in qualifying?) and that would be that, you can’t progress out of Q1? Seems rather harsh!

I call it the Nick Halstead rule

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Just been reading the V2 regulations for this year, the ones posted a while ago, and noticed this change. Causing yellow flags in Qualifying will have the same penalty as a red flag!
I can imagine some heated debate in the stoppages between sessions in the new format, unless it's changed before the season starts.

3.3.6. Any driver deemed to have caused a stoppage, or yellow flag situation, during any Part of Official Qualifying, or otherwise interrupts the session as may be determined by the BTCC Clerk, will have their two Fastest Lap times cancelled from that Part and the driver will not be permitted to move into the next Part of the session.
Any driver deemed to have caused two stoppages, or two yellow flag situations, will have all their times cancelled and they shall not participate further in the Official Qualifying session. They will start the First Race at the back of the grid.

I can see there being a lot of contention, maybe a few handbags over this rule. I just wonder why they even feel it’s necessary. No one deliberately causes a yellow flag. And what if the yellow flag is only out for a second or two?

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Evantra

So if you have a brief run through the gravel on your out-lap in the first session, presumably that would require a marshal to wave a yellow flag (there are no full-course yellow flags in qualifying?) and that would be that, you can’t progress out of Q1? Seems rather harsh!

I think it will be a question of degrees, and hopefully a bit of common sense is applied.

You run through the gravel on an out lap resulting in a brief yellow flag but the only people behind you were also on an out lap, so it didn't cost anyone a fast lap - fine, no problem.

You run through the gravel and cause a brief yellow right in front of someone on a fast lap, causing them to back off - that's a penalty

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by sceptic

I call it the Nick Halstead rule

Must admit he was first to come to mind!

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by redshoes

I think it will be a question of degrees, and hopefully a bit of common sense is applied.

You run through the gravel on an out lap resulting in a brief yellow flag but the only people behind you were also on an out lap, so it didn't cost anyone a fast lap - fine, no problem.

You run through the gravel and cause a brief yellow right in front of someone on a fast lap, causing them to back off - that's a penalty

I hope it’s regulated as well as the track limit rules…

[thetool]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

https://www.btcc.net/2023/11/06/prop...hip-announced/

As I said. All very hypothetical. It's much easier to propose a series than actually get it off the ground. We'll see if it shows up at Donington Park in April?

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by thetool

As I said. All very hypothetical. It's much easier to propose a series than actually get it off the ground. We'll see if it shows up at Donington Park in April?

The press release only states that the official launch will be in the Spring, so that's not necessarily at Donington in April. So it could be at Brands, Snetterton or even stretched to the meeting at Thruxton.

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by ACF_

Any chance he could make the 3rd seat at PMR?

I think there are a number of drivers like Bobby vying for that seat, as there aren’t many available. I could see that going down to the wire on entry deadline.

[ACF_]

Originally Posted by Jiiiiiiim

I think there are a number of drivers like Bobby vying for that seat, as there aren’t many available. I could see that going down to the wire on entry deadline.

I've noticed on Instagram, that Bobby T was racing a GT3 BMW a few weeks ago. Could that be a clue as to the 4th WSR seat, or am I reading too much into it?

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by ACF_

I've noticed on Instagram, that Bobby T was racing a GT3 BMW a few weeks ago. Could that be a clue as to the 4th WSR seat, or am I reading too much into it?

He was testing - he coaches Darren Leung and so has a relationship with Century (I assume through Leung anyway). Century’s GT3 program and WSR in the BTCC have no connection, nor are BMW dictating between the two - so it won’t have anything to do with BTCC.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by ACF_

I've noticed on Instagram, that Bobby T was racing a GT3 BMW a few weeks ago. Could that be a clue as to the 4th WSR seat, or am I reading too much into it?

With all respect if he couldn’t fund a full season at HARD I doubt he could fund 2 rounds at WSR!

[Inside BTCC]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Some interesting stuff here. Only read the Rowbottom, One Motorsport and Powell articles. I usually read the mag when it comes through my letterbox, but it's cool that they've put it up online to read for free.
Best thing since Inside BTCC was out.


https://motorracinguk.com/2024/02/10...-for-free-now/

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