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

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Out of interest (I genuinely do not know the answer) - on the other side of the equation how many other national series' are viewable in the UK?

Not sure how many of these you would classify as 'national series'.
IMSA - including support series, qualifying and races, where no local TV broadcast deal.
Indycar - practice/qualifying everywhere, race coverage where no local TV broadcast deal.
GT Challenge - qualifying/race/on-board
European Le Mans Series
GT Open
NLS / Nürburgring 24h
Creventic 24h series
European Clio Cup

Probably several more I've missed

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Not sure how many of these you would classify as 'national series'.
IMSA - including support series, qualifying and races, where no local TV broadcast deal.
Indycar - practice/qualifying everywhere, race coverage where no local TV broadcast deal.
GT Challenge - qualifying/race/on-board
European Le Mans Series
GT Open
NLS / Nürburgring 24h
Creventic 24h series
European Clio Cup

Probably several more I've missed

Thanks - are these via an online platform or a broadcast service?


Mods - apologies we're off topic, but the comparison between BTCC coverage as a national series and other examples around the world seems interesting.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Thanks - are these via an online platform or a broadcast service?

Mods - apologies we're off topic, but the comparison between BTCC coverage as a national series and other examples around the world seems interesting.

IMSA and Indycar are via their respective websites, other are on YouTube. Indycar requires you to register and log-in, so they can spam you with marketing emails.

If you are interested then could be worth starting a thread in Armchair forum to collate the various sources/channel names.

[redshoes]

From Motorsport News this week:
Option tyres will return in 2023.
Hybrid deployment rule (when and how much) will change. Perhaps no surprise on that one.
Gow saying they are looking at other things, including possible top ten qualifying shootout at selected rounds.

[antnee]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Personally - I think this is the most likely at present looking at what is out there.

We didn't get the Renault Clio R.S. V in the UK (IIRC), so adding to the Clio Cup Europe program would get my vote.

They were due to start in 2020....

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by redshoes

From Motorsport News this week:
Option tyres will return in 2023.
Hybrid deployment rule (when and how much) will change. Perhaps no surprise on that one.
Gow saying they are looking at other things, including possible top ten qualifying shootout at selected rounds.

The change to hybrid isn't a surprise really is it based on how little difference hybrid has made this year - can they increase the power of the hybrid using the existing units?

The return of the option tyre isn't a good thing as far as I'm concerned - it doesn't really add anything as you know cars running the unfavoured tyre will go backwards through the field and drivers will just be 'managing the tyre'.

As for the support package - Clios are an option but are they too similar to the MINIs? Not sure what else they could add that 'looks professional' - every other candidate is more club level I'd have thought. Certainly the BTCC package is looking less appealing to go and watch at the circuits.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by redshoes

If you are interested then could be worth starting a thread in Armchair forum to collate the various sources/channel names.

Done - https://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=157436

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

The change to hybrid isn't a surprise really is it based on how little difference hybrid has made this year - can they increase the power of the hybrid using the existing units?

I think it's more a case of adjusting when the hybrid can be used and for how long, rather than the adjusting power output.

Currently the car has to be doing 120kmh before hybrid can be deployed, that could be tweaked up or down. You get 15 seconds of boost per lap, that could be increased to extend the gap between the haves and the have-nots.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by redshoes

I think it's more a case of adjusting when the hybrid can be used and for how long, rather than the adjusting power output.

Ah - ok, I wondered if there was scope to give it a bit more welly.

Originally Posted by redshoes

Currently the car has to be doing 120kmh before hybrid can be deployed, that could be tweaked up or down. You get 15 seconds of boost per lap, that could be increased to extend the gap between the haves and the have-nots.

I think the 120kmh thing was put in to negate any rwd advantage coming out of corners so I'd assume they'd leave that in place (imagine the whinging otherwise!). How much hybrid is potentially available? Is it possible to increase it to say 30 seconds per lap or do the hybrid units not have the capacity?

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by redshoes

From Motorsport News this week:
Option tyres will return in 2023.
Hybrid deployment rule (when and how much) will change. Perhaps no surprise on that one.
Gow saying they are looking at other things, including possible top ten qualifying shootout at selected rounds.

Option tyres - big no for me.
Hybrid changes - I'm worried this will increase passing but will make it too random again.
Combining hybrid tweaks with option tyres we'll see the BTCC randomised again with more stupid moves from those who are a bit too in front for their talent....

Like the idea of Top 10 Shootouts though.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

The return of the option tyre isn't a good thing as far as I'm concerned - it doesn't really add anything as you know cars running the unfavoured tyre will go backwards through the field and drivers will just be 'managing the tyre'.

Ugghhh noooooo. Completely agreed, just means drivers have to waste a race going backwards, there's no strategy to it, and the commentary is almost exclusively talking about the tyres.

Even with the hybrid not being perfect, I don't think there's been one moment this season where the option tyres have been missed.

If it's truly an option, then that's fine, but the idea of forcing a driver onto a weaker tyre is just so wrong to me.

[S griffin]

Shame to lose the Ginetta junior series, by far and away the best support series, although the Minis have rivalled them for entertainment. Gonna be hard to find a replacement

[codename_47]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Shame to lose the Ginetta junior series, by far and away the best support series, although the Minis have rivalled them for entertainment. Gonna be hard to find a replacement

Best recently, but for me you can't beat the Clio Cup/Formula Ford/Formula BMW era

Wish we had more single seaters about tbh, they seemed to fit better than a GT ladder series anyway.

Clios were the most entertaining racing the BTCC package ever had imo, they definitely were a big part of the fact that the BTCC always has been the best days racing out there.

Hopefully it still will be in 2023

With the talk of a top ten shootout (single car qualifying....ugh, always dull to watch) maybe it means they are thinking about boosting their Saturday show with regards to streaming it or showing it on ITV4....hope so anyway.

[AnnoyedMoose]

Never mind tweaking the hybrid, just get it to work properly and reliably. Every race there is someone with problems.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by AnnoyedMoose

Never mind tweaking the hybrid, just get it to work properly and reliably. Every race there is someone with problems.

I assure you - everyone involved with implementing the hybrid system is working very hard to deliver a better level of reliability.

That doesn't mean that the deployment criteria should be overlooked though. It's a learning year over what effect the system has on the racing - remember the ballast system was continually being adjusted throughout its use.