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12 Mar 2023, 17:29 (Ref:4146819) | #1726 | ||
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My point was more about interest from sponsors from outside the motor industry. As well it's general high profile, F1 management has invested and will continue to invest in marketing around sustainability and values and I think this has been hugely appealing to sponsors (and manufacturers) to be associated with this. Very few casual formula 1 fans will be oblivious to the fact that the power units are hybrid. I'm a pretty keen follower of F1 and have no interest in reading its sustainability strategy but I know it involves reaching net zero and biofuels. What can BTCC offer? A confusing graphic on the TV race coverage, references to hybrid in news articles/race reports and I assume some banners, tents and free merch at race weekends. I think WRC may also be in a similar boat. I'm not dogmatically against the decision by Toca, I'm all for sustainability and I am sure I will enjoy fully electric racing if that's where motorsport is headed. I just wonder that if it is making competing in the series less financially viable, if privately Toca/Gow and the teams will be reflecting that this may have been a misguided. In addition, I imagine most BTCC fans are ambivalent about the hybrid element at best. Last edited by techspeed; 12 Mar 2023 at 17:39. |
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12 Mar 2023, 19:45 (Ref:4146834) | #1727 | ||
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Without the TOCA/BTCC platform I would be unable to attract the necessary funding to compete. The platform as a whole is hard work, but realistically very good value for money, and it’s also supposed to be the pinnacle, so it’s never going to be cheap. Manufacturers and their support is always going to get worse before it gets better IMO, so much governmental pressure for the B/S that is EV, but it’s something we have to suffer, it may be short lived, it may be the only future we have, I’m lucky enough to be able to see the end of my career and I should get to see out ICE if it were to get switched off in the future. Fingers crossed, sustainable fuels come on stream in some capacity and keep ICE alive, it’s noted that Germany and Italy are not yet singing the 2035 EU agreement to kill ICE, so let’s hope that for motorsport we can carry on with a modern fuel. Perhaps then, once released from the political B/S the manufacturers may get more involved? Who knows? But we can dream ??? |
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12 Mar 2023, 19:50 (Ref:4146835) | #1728 | ||
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Hybrid rules, though intended to be quite a boost in terms of the championship's profile, haven't brought anything but made running the team more expensive with no increased boost from sponsors etc. Social media and online presence of the BTCC is stuck in the 2000s, which doesn't help things. In theory, switching to hybrids was a good idea but situation looks like it hasn't given the series anything. |
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12 Mar 2023, 20:28 (Ref:4146836) | #1729 | ||
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Dan as a driver how to you feel about to the fragile toe linkage ? doesn't make you afraid to do any rubbing as it would mean instant DNF? (of course someone else can hit you slightly and you get same result) |
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13 Mar 2023, 09:21 (Ref:4146879) | #1730 | ||
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Knock-on effects of covid, post-Brexit inflation, current unstable state of gov policies. It's all combined to affect several industries, and importantly those who hold the marketing budget purse strings. The BTCC has mainstream viewers, and a large audience, so it deserves to be a premium product that costs significant sums to enter, but then also gains large sponsors to fund entries. In the meantime, series like TCR UK will gain more of those teams and drivers on the fringes budget-wise, the more traditional 'privateers' who don't necessarily have big sponsors who need big exposure to justify a significant investment. In these economic downtimes, it's natural to see a dip in perceived grid quality, but I hope things improve on a macro level in 2024/25 and thus help BTCC. |
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13 Mar 2023, 09:29 (Ref:4146882) | #1731 | |
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13 Mar 2023, 09:45 (Ref:4146885) | #1732 | ||
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Would Toyota be involved if it wasn't for the hybrid message? |
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13 Mar 2023, 10:05 (Ref:4146888) | #1733 | |
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The Supercar series has been through tough times, but it seems to be back on it's feet now. The BTCC doesn't need to worry though, it's good in it's own right and boasts some great teams and drivers.
Toyota are in the series because it still does something for them |
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13 Mar 2023, 10:57 (Ref:4146894) | #1734 | ||
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Well, probably Toyota wouldn't be involved, it's true, but on the other hand I have a feeling Toyota's 'involvement' gives little to the series. Yes, at least they have one strong driver who perhaps has more stability because of it. The name Toyota Gazoo Racing is also a nice thing in terms of the image of the series. But apart from that, there are no more manufacturers who could 'participate' at least in such an extent as Toyota. |
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13 Mar 2023, 11:07 (Ref:4146895) | #1735 | |||
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13 Mar 2023, 12:42 (Ref:4146907) | #1736 | ||
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I struggle to understand what this part of the post is getting at?
It reads like you are saying that the series is not stagnant and boring in terms of races. Surely that is the point? If other things stagnate to keep the on-track action exciting, then I would have thought that is a better option than trying to spice things up off-track, when the on-track product is not working. It also seems strange to suggest the series is stagnant: A major new change to regulations in hybrid has been introduced. A new champion in 2022. New drivers joining every season. 8 different makes of car represented in 2022. 12 different race winners in 2022. What is stagnant and boring? |
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13 Mar 2023, 13:10 (Ref:4146910) | #1737 | ||
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If we want to view a boring and stagnate entity I think F1 has it all. One of two truly competitive drivers dominating the racing fudged rules that give fake racing at expense of true entertainment and all the controversy of unsatisfactory resolutions ala 2021 championship . Would be very worried if tourers went that way. It’s excellent entertainment easily enjoyed through tv and the only thing I deliberately make time for outside domestic needs . |
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13 Mar 2023, 13:15 (Ref:4146911) | #1738 | ||
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A new champion in 2022. -> agreed. New drivers joining every season. -> tell me which ones have climbed up the ladder to get to the BTCC and can be perceived as future stars of the series. The remaining points I agree with but what I mean by 'stagnant' (even if that might be, to some extent, an exaggeration) is that there's a feeling we have had the same product for years and there's nothing that really moves 'forward' - constantly the same tracks, the same TV package, same points system, going back and forth with unexciting ideas of option tyres, the same format of the races, the same cars that go on for years after they're no longer sold which decreases the series' relevance. A feeling that there's lack of creativity to move the championship with the times. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm trying to say that changing the points system every year would make it suddenly super exciting or changing formats of the races each year would be a mind-blowing, no, I'm not saying that. That's just my, subjective feeling when taking everything, as a package, into consideration. You don't (and probably won't) have to understand my point of view because that is subjective and I have full right to feel that way. At the same time it's not like I'm not enjoying the BTCC as it is and, who knows, possibly some ideas to change things a bit wouldn't work out for whatever reason. I'm much happier with BTCC being 'stagnant'in this way than trying to force some changes and make it chaotic and off-putting for teams and fans. But at the same time, I'm not one of those who always wear pink glasses and find a counterargument for every criticism to justify that everything is pretty and fluffy. |
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13 Mar 2023, 13:20 (Ref:4146912) | #1739 | |||
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This time last year, we were still waiting for Speedworks and BTC to announce drivers.... |
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13 Mar 2023, 13:29 (Ref:4146915) | #1740 | ||
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13 Mar 2023, 13:33 (Ref:4146917) | #1741 | |||
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I would contest that hybrid offered nothing to the marketing. Many team members have commented that having hybrid as part of the series has made their negotiations with sponsors more fruitful. I think we also sometimes forget how short the career of some recent drivers has been. And also, how long it takes to be successful once they have joined the series. It's true, there will always be new drivers (probably the majority) who climb up to BTCC and never become stars - but that should be expected from something at the level of BTCC. If I look back over the last ten years: 2013 - Jake Hill - many see as a potential champion. 2015 - Josh Cook - established as a driver with potential for regular race wins. 2016 - Ash Sutton - one of the biggest stars on the grid today. 2018 - Dan Cammish - already came close to a title, and a star for the foreseeable future. 2022 - Ash Hand - with the right car, seen as having potential to become a future star? As you say, a lot of it is personal opinion - but I think we have a healthy supply of new arrivals to the series that will become the household names in the future. How long did it take the likes of Turkington, Neal, Ingram etc to become 'stars'? |
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13 Mar 2023, 13:38 (Ref:4146919) | #1742 | ||
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13 Mar 2023, 13:48 (Ref:4146921) | #1743 | |
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Those two teams are amongst those who are trying to expand and have this far failed , probably due to late withdrawal of sponsors . No fault of theirs , good to see ambition . The fact they took up extra entries , did that cost them or are the licences on a sale or return basis . If the first then it means they must have had serious intent rather than just taking a stab at it .
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13 Mar 2023, 14:11 (Ref:4146922) | #1744 | |
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One point I liked was the circuit familiarity . I remember the days of the smaller circuits and really liked the alternative of a street race . I guess one is now considered out of date or too ambitious . What alternatives are their I wonder. Multiple layouts available but currently not being used at silver stone and snetterton . Some May suit BTCC although silverstone GP circuit May not be one . Big empty spaces probably not the way to go .
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13 Mar 2023, 14:25 (Ref:4146923) | #1745 | ||
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With only 39 days to go until the first race of the 2023 season, any chance of a surprise win for a driver/team combo that isn't being touted as one of the front running teams ?.
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13 Mar 2023, 14:31 (Ref:4146924) | #1746 | ||
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With no new cars on the grid I imagine it’ll be Hill, Sutton, Ingram and Turkington leading the charge again. Cook too depending on the engine situation. |
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13 Mar 2023, 14:46 (Ref:4146927) | #1747 | ||
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Yeah, and the short careers of some drivers is an issue - some of them could've made a decent career but often for financial reasons couldn't make a lengthy career in the BTCC. The drivers you mention I absolutely agree on, but there's a cloud of uncertainty over Ash Hand. He aims to come back in 2024 but it's not actually settled he will, we know how tricky it can be. Guys like Dan Lloyd or George Gamble, the former had to settle for HARD seat and unless is taken by someone like Mark Blundell in case of Jake Hill, he may be forced to end his career prematurely (touch wood and I wish him otherwise). Gamble impressed me a lot last year but with Cicely gone he seems to be gone as well. Senna Proctor's been struggling with being consistently on the grid. I'm not really up to date with the support championships but doesn't seem there have been drivers who climbed up and stayed in the BTCC to make a career out of it and that seems a problem. And worry regarding teams such as Dynamics is another one unfortunately. But you're right, not every driver wins from the very beginning and there might be someone on the grid who'll soon start winning and become a BTCC star out of the blue almost. |
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13 Mar 2023, 14:47 (Ref:4146928) | #1748 | ||
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actually a nice discussion with both of you, Guys |
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13 Mar 2023, 16:06 (Ref:4146940) | #1749 | |
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Exactly this. I wouldn't be surprised if the final announcements come on April 11th, or even the following day on Media Day itself.
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13 Mar 2023, 16:10 (Ref:4146941) | #1750 | ||
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