BTCC 2019 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

BMR had 3, now 2. https://www.touringcars.net/2018/07/team-bmr-sell-tbl-as-josh-price-departs-the-btcc

I believe the TBL used by Plato is now held by Plato, as a result of other financial matters at BMR.

[touringlegend]

Originally Posted by sceptic

I believe the TBL used by Plato is now held by Plato, as a result of other financial matters at BMR.

That’s definitely interesting and would point to what Plato maybe planning in the future perhaps?

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by sceptic

I believe the TBL used by Plato is now held by Plato, as a result of other financial matters at BMR.

thats rubbish. toca always state any changes in tbl ownership. like they did last month with the bmr one going to pmr.

[Redshift]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

thats rubbish. toca always state any changes in tbl ownership. like they did last month with the bmr one going to pmr.

Who's to say that there isn't a contract to transfer the TBL to him at the end of the 2018 season?

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Redshift

Who's to say that there isn't a contract to transfer the TBL to him at the end of the 2018 season?

and whos to say there is?
i think i'll wait to hear it offically instead of accepting someone randomly saying it on a forum

[btccbloke]

...must get very boring on an active forum where we just wait to confirm an official version of events that we can just read elsewhere rather use a bit of imagination and opinion to discuss and speculate ideas

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

...must get very boring on an active forum where we just wait to confirm an official version of events that we can just read elsewhere rather use a bit of imagination and opinion to discuss and speculate ideas

i like imaginative specualtion and discussion!
but thats very different from when people go on a forum and state misinformation as being 'facts'

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Plato sure likes the sound of his own voice....

[Alfisti]

Well something flicked Mr Plato's switch prior to him banging in that qualy lap at the weekend; as he likes to remind people from time to time you do not forget how to race, so I would suggest something has lifted his spirits and had a positive effect.

So maybe he has a deal lined up, or is in the latter stages of lining one up. Maybe that includes some part or parts of BMR. Maybe not.

It'll be wait and see unless he gets spotted somewhere or in the company of someone...

[S griffin]

We’ll see how the rest of his season goes. I remember not being too impressed with his performances in the last two meetings of 2017

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Well something flicked Mr Plato's switch prior to him banging in that qualy lap at the weekend; as he likes to remind people from time to time you do not forget how to race, so I would suggest something has lifted his spirits and had a positive effect.

So maybe he has a deal lined up, or is in the latter stages of lining one up. Maybe that includes some part or parts of BMR. Maybe not.

It'll be wait and see unless he gets spotted somewhere or in the company of someone...

If I had him in my team, and it took acquiring his own TBL before he performed to his potential, I'd be pretty disappointed?

[Alfisti]

So Shedden is getting more vocal about his Audi being crap and his teammates cars being better.

Sounds a bit JP, but in fairness to Sheds he is a handy driver and his teammates are faster.

I wonder if this is a prelude to a "******** to this, hello Matt, I'm coming home, put the kettle on" ?

[S griffin]

Well more and more drivers seem to be returning to the BTCC, so I wouldn’t rule it out

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

So Shedden is getting more vocal about his Audi being crap and his teammates cars being better.

Sounds a bit JP, but in fairness to Sheds he is a handy driver and his teammates are faster.

I wonder if this is a prelude to a "******** to this, hello Matt, I'm coming home, put the kettle on" ?

Ive thought this, been to 2 rounds this year, and on both occasions mr Sheddon was sniffing about the Dynamics garages, having a joke with the mechanics.

Whilst its good to keep in touch with old friends, and he was there a number of years, I couldnt help feel that he hadnt really let go of being their driver.

Personally I dont think its really working out with Cammish quite how they expected, and I dont think this is helping him settle in, I wouldnt be surprised to see Sheddon back next year

[Matt K]

I'd happily welcome Shedden back in Dynamics but only if he is to replace Neal not Cammish. Cammish may have not been as good as some expected but still it's his first season and he needs to adapt. I think BTCC needs such drivers in top teams because how long are we going to watch Neal, Shedden, Collard, Plato?
Cammish should stay and be given a chance to prove himself in the second straight season in the same team, the same car. It's way too early to lay him off after one season only.

[S griffin]

I was thinking the same thing. Flash comes back to replace Neal and Cammish stays, as I think he has the potential to do better next season

[TR4racer]

Do you really think that Shedden would want to return to BTCC 'with his tail between his legs'? Surely he would want to prove himself in WTCR?

Perhaps BTCC drivers are not the 'greatest' in the world of Touring Cars after all...

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by TR4racer

Do you really think that Shedden would want to return to BTCC 'with his tail between his legs'? Surely he would want to prove himself in WTCR?

Perhaps BTCC drivers are not the 'greatest' in the world of Touring Cars after all...

Nothing but idle chit-chat, keep it cool.

[TR4racer]

Originally Posted by BobJones

Nothing but idle chit-chat, keep it cool.

Sorry, don’t get it. I give a view and get told to keep it cool....

Surely the point of a forum such as this is to encourage discussion...

Very odd statement from you...

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by TR4racer

Do you really think that Shedden would want to return to BTCC 'with his tail between his legs'? Surely he would want to prove himself in WTCR?

Perhaps BTCC drivers are not the 'greatest' in the world of Touring Cars after all...

I dont think its a tail between legs situation necessarily, hes still hanging around the paddock all the time. Tordoff for example went away for a year and came back, sometimes you just need a change of scenery and focus for a while to give you your mojo back

[Matt K]

The problem is Shedden, as a triple BTCC champion didn't prove himself (and BTCC) abroad and it may just look that this is not the level of international racing. I'm not saying it is like that, there are too many factors that decide about Gordon's results in WTCR. But coming back home after one poor season in 'World Cup' would be seen as kind of walkover or just giving up.

[btccbloke]

this is true, but sometimes people just struggle to settle in a new environment when they have been comfortable in their surroundings for a long time, and that could well be why he is there pretty much all the time at BTCC still. To be honest id like to see him give the world tcr a fair crack but i wouldn't blame him and wouldn't rule him out for coming back sooner rather than later

[BLiTZ]

People seem to be neglecting the following facts with Shedden’s performance in the WTCR:

1. Different type of car – NGTC and TCR are massively different. As many drivers have proven, switching between NGTC and other touring formulas can produce mixed results. Drivers that performed well in S2000 really struggled with NGTC (Gio’, Boardman, and initially Chilton) the cars clearly require a different style of driving. Conversely, look at how well Dan Lloyd and Aiden Moffatt have gone in TCR compared to middling performances in NGTC machines (yes it could be argued that’s against a smaller, less experienced field).

All of Shedden's BTCC championship wins have come from the same car. He clearly gelled with the NGTC Civic and it worked for him, perhaps his driving style just doesn't work with the TCR car.

I'd also like to see how the other top WTCR drivers would fair in NGTC machinery. History has shown us that on a level playing field a BTCC driver (Turkington in the WSR S2000 BMW E90) can embarrass the rest of the WTCC field, so it’s not fair to say that Shedden is not on par with the rest of the field just yet.

2. Circuits – Shedden’s career hasn’t seen him race regularly on the international scene so the WTCR’s calendar is taking him to circuits that he may be racing on for the first time. Compare that to racing on the same circuits for the last decade or more then there’s a huge gulf in experience.

I guess the bigger question is what does he want to do with himself? Neal has been happy to stick to what he knows without chasing the international dream. He’s a businessman with a family and that clearly meant more. Compare his career to Andy Priaulx’s who has had seats in BTCC, DTM, GT, WEC and LeMans, with each step taking him higher and higher. Is that what Shedden is now going for?

[Sodemo]

What is this different driving style that people speak of for NGTC? Can anyone shed any light on it?

[BLiTZ]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

What is this different driving style that people speak of for NGTC? Can anyone shed any light on it?

My understanding is that the suspension in NGTC cars handles quite differently to production bodied touring cars resulting in quite a soft setup with lots of body roll. People often say NGTC is closer to a silhouette series a bit like the Aussie Super Cars.