BTCC 2024 News & Rumours

[geordiecriag101]

Hey everyone, had a fun day at Donington Park for the Media day yesterday, despite the thunder & lightning & hail storm finishing the day an hour early ��. looking at the times it's going to be a super close season ������. Here's my trackside vid for anyone who interested:

https://youtu.be/d6ae6zgXk7U?si=pl-HsJ8gHYTPCt_h

[jsmee]

After much searching, found a pic of the DeLeon Cupra

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by jsmee

After much searching, found a pic of the DeLeon Cupra

Nice unique colour scheme at least!

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by jsmee

After much searching, found a pic of the DeLeon Cupra

Actually a very nice livery , it's going to stick out from the Restart liveries at least.

[coffinpilot]

I wonder if there will be any data sharing between HARD/Unlimited and Restart?

I did notice a few people wearing HARD gear from last season going in and out of the Restart truck at Croft (along with some faces I recognise from BTC/One) but couldn't tell you if they were engineers or what.

Gilham might be the bad man at the moment, but he has three years with the Cupra and not all former team members are enemies of his so there must be some useful data that can be exchanged.

Going to be hard (excuse the pun) for DeLeon, even with a half season in the car, to go on his own, unless his supposedly wealthy family can pay for Bobby Thompson to come along as a driver coach if WSR doesn't work out.

[Adamcas87]

Originally Posted by jsmee

After much searching, found a pic of the DeLeon Cupra

Nice look to the car, interesting the guy in the black and green polo top works for Jamsport Racing

[Robin Marriott]

Originally Posted by Adamcas87

Nice look to the car, interesting the guy in the black and green polo top works for Jamsport Racing

Owns.

[BTCC frog]

I am not sure about this hard tyre idea. It's not great that it would often be beneficial to finish 11th rather than 10th. The reason that success ballast worked well is that it was gradual gaps between each position so it would still always be best to finish as high as possible. I still think the BTCC could do with a return to that system instead of the hybrid, but only in qualifying and race two with level playing field for race one and the reversed grid race.

For the 2024 season, I suspect the top four teams will all produce similarly-paced cars. It has been a while since there was a considerable disparity between the top cars in the championship, and rarely has a change in team brought a considerable change in fortune for one driver. Maybe the Honda was a bit off the pace last year but that is gone now, and I would predict that the Ford, Hyundai, BMW and Toyota will all be approximately equal, with the Vauxhall and Cupra just a small step behind.

I think the driver makes the biggest difference in the BTCC compared to other championships and so I think Ash Sutton will be the differentiating factor and win his fifth championship this year, becoming, deservedly, the most successful driver in the BTCC.

Whether or not it will be a good season often comes down to complete chance, and I don't think the diminished grid will make any difference at all (although the often processional races in recent years due to the hybrid, compared to the old ballast system, might). Hopefully, it will happen to be extremely close between the top contenders at every meeting and we will have a great title fight and lots of wide open races. I think the most exciting development of the silly season is Josh Cook and Rob Huff in the Toyotas and it would be nice to see them spring a title challenge.

[Lee TinTop]

Originally Posted by Adamcas87

Nice look to the car, interesting the guy in the black and green polo top works for Jamsport Racing

Doesn't just work for Jamsport, he IS Jamsport (along with the guy in the black jacket)

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by Lee TinTop

Doesn't just work for Jamsport, he IS Jamsport (along with the guy in the black jacket)

Someone beat you to that (two posts up).

[houston]

Originally Posted by geordiecriag101

Hey everyone, had a fun day at Donington Park for the Media day yesterday, despite the thunder & lightning & hail storm finishing the day an hour early ??. looking at the times it's going to be a super close season ??????. Here's my trackside vid for anyone who interested:

https://youtu.be/d6ae6zgXk7U?si=pl-HsJ8gHYTPCt_h

Nice footage that thanks for sharing.