New Look BTCC

[SJC-214]

I would just like to say I think Alan Gow has done an excellent job on his return to the BTCC.

Having just watched the excellent coverage from Thruxton on MotorTv, the new three race format definitely gets my vote. The racing was very close and there was plenty of overtaking especially in race 2 with the reversed gid.

The support races were also excellent, really enjoyed the Formula BMW.

Great job Alan

[Kicking-back]

Agreed.

[Duffacus]

From what I saw on ITV I would say he's done a more then excellent job! Well done, can't wait for next time out!

[touringlegend]

Not just the racing, the whole presentation of the TV programme is much better. Graphics - gone are the dodgy yellow and blue scheme with some red which to me looks classy. In car cameras seem to be far much better quality, if a little bit intermittant.

But...the BTCC is back!

[SPARK Msport]

shame that ITV didn't show all the action from rounds 1 and 2, I thought it would be two 15 min highlight runs but all they did was a 30 second re-cap which to me was a shame as there was alot going on. Tho I have MotorsTV I stick to the ITV stuff and was disappointed by what ITV did with the first 2 races but the 3rd was great.

On the subject of the 'racing' i'll agree with all of you, Alan has done a great job, close racing and some very impressive drives!

[ADnet]

yeah the highlights were poor thats my only fault with it.
well done alan gow, and well done watson-smith! go proton!

[rdjones]

Well I am just back from Thruxton. All I have to say was is wow they where 3 fantastic races, let just hope the next 27 are as a good. Can't wait for Brands in 2 weeks time

[bluebeard]

great touring car races. great coverage all day well done motors tv

[codename_47]

Well, I'm going to chime in with predictable agreeing-ness!

Amazing that you can see 10 races a day, and all of them kept your attention througout!

Also notable that Motors TV didn't have an advert break during racing action ONCE during those whole 10 races!!

A great start for FBMW, and the Clios were exciting as ever.

And the BTCC races, well, that race 2 was pretty tense wasn't it, watching for lap after lap to see if Plato can hold off Muller...fantastic stuff.

It works!

[ATF]

Watson-Smith's performance today has really made a lot of people sit up and listen (or watch!). He has definitely gained a few fans today and hopefully he can get that Proton up the order a bit - I would love to see him on the podium!!!

[oily oaf]

Yeah great racing guys and I enjoyed the 3 sprint format however call me thick but if the result of race 1 results in the grid being reversed for race 2 with the winner starting at the back then where's the incentive to really go for it balls on the dash in race 1???

[touringcarnut]

Originally posted by oily oaf
Yeah great racing guys and I enjoyed the 3 sprint format however call me thick but if the result of race 1 results in the grid being reversed for race 2 with the winner starting at the back then where's the incentive to really go for it balls on the dash in race 1???

Unless your in a top 5 position, there isn't!

As Plato said, it was better for him to finish lower down with a very light car, so that he could have a real chance of victory in race two.

Its a bit artificial, but it really was good racing, especially as this was the first round of the year, which usually doesn't have the level of action that we saw yesterday

[Rene]

Must admit, I found the slow-bicycle race across the line in race 1, by Plato, Chilton and Watson-Smith to be a little disconcerting, especially with Rob Collard steaming up on them. There's potential there for a nasty situation, imagine 8th 9th & 10th slowing, and 11th 12th and 13th racing, all going for 9th & 10th place. Maybe a total grid reverse, with no weight penalties until the 3rd race would be better.

[Kicking-back]

Originally posted by SPARK Msport
Tho I have MotorsTV I stick to the ITV stuff

Why?

[Kicking-back]

Originally posted by oily oaf
Yeah great racing guys and I enjoyed the 3 sprint format however call me thick but if the result of race 1 results in the grid being reversed for race 2 with the winner starting at the back then where's the incentive to really go for it balls on the dash in race 1???

The incentive is points!

And it's only the top 10 who're reversed.

[oily oaf]

I'll get me coat

[rdjones]

Having just watched the TV Coverage from yesterday, I still have the same feeling about this year BTCC, as I did as I left Thruxton yesterday. It is going to be mega. Looks like we could be going back to the good old days.....

[krt917]

Originally posted by Rene
Must admit, I found the slow-bicycle race across the line in race 1, by Plato, Chilton and Watson-Smith to be a little disconcerting, especially with Rob Collard steaming up on them.

I must admit that the reversed top 10 and weight penalties are the only things I have a problem with in the new BTCC. I like the idea of three races, but reversing the top 10 and wacking weight on the quickest cars is too artificial for my purist liking

It would be good to see a whole season where good on-track performances are indicative of a) Good team development; b) A brillint piece of driving. I don't like the fact that some 'good' (or bad) performances are due to relative weight differences.

Does anyone think the BTCC has yet grown to a point strong enough to consider getting rid of weight penalties?

[md28]

Originally posted by krt917
I must admit that the reversed top 10 and weight penalties are the only things I have a problem with in the new BTCC. I like the idea of three races, but reversing the top 10 and wacking weight on the quickest cars is too artificial for my purist liking

It would be good to see a whole season where good on-track performances are indicative of a) Good team development; b) A brillint piece of driving. I don't like the fact that some 'good' (or bad) performances are due to relative weight differences.

Does anyone think the BTCC has yet grown to a point strong enough to consider getting rid of weight penalties?

I agree that the weight penalties and reverse top 10 is a bit fake and that 3 pure races showing the best at their best would be the better otption, but i feel that VX or another high runner will run away with the championship yet again. I think we need to get a more consistant result of wins and performances before pure races are brought back in, but that would be the best.

[touringcarnut]

Unless there was 6 fully works teams on the grid, the weight penalties have to stay.

They're not ideal, but it makes for more interesting racing when the cars are closer.

[Les]

Race 2 is always going to be a lottery - get a light car, high up the grid and defend like mad. Not sure if I like it or not

[Neil Adams]

Originally posted by SPARK Msport
Tho I have MotorsTV I stick to the ITV stuff.

yeah why?

i'd give my right arm to have motors tv but my parents dont want any of those new fangiled gagd
ets in and on the house.

i thought the whole presentation was better, the only critiscism would be that the highlights where very short.

also the graphics for positions and names where unreadable in the font chosen - too blocky.

also i felt that the camermen missed a lot of the action (from what itv showed anyway) when people went off we had no idea why / who had hit them.

for the future i think they ought to show the second race live as theres likely to be more action.

- note to teams -
get your cars liverys finalised for the media day, theres official merchandise with the wrong liverys on them!

[Neil Adams]

just thougt i'd add that there was a different winner in each class for all 3 races which is great for unpredictabitley.

[Sodemo]

Now all the BTCC needs is some entries from BMW and a few 2004 spec Alfas. Does anyone think that the 2004 Alfas with their excellent engine could out perform the BTCC cars?

[Neil Adams]

im not sure i dont really follow the etcc, allthough i think plato / seats win will make other etcc manufacturers think again about the btcc.