[BTCC] 2010 rumour mill

[James Mappin]

They're also on Jakob Ebreys site too.

[Aunt Sally]

Originally Posted by James Mappin

They're also on Jakob Ebreys site too.

As someone from Jakob's took them, not surprising really?

[tin-top fan]

Originally Posted by From honda uk press release

BTCC team launched
The limited edition car also celebrates the launch of Honda’s BTCC team for 2010, continuing its long-standing relationship with Team Dynamics. The team will compete in two Civics – which will feature a similar White and Black colour scheme to the MUGEN 200 cars. More details will be announced before the first race of the season, which is at Thruxton on 4 April.

Guessing herbert and neal for the two cars?
(full press release here: http://www.hondauk-media.co.uk/release/?release=1283 )

[kristof14]

Interesting wording, are Honda giving a lot more support to Dynamics this year?

[touringlegend]

Sounds positive that does.

[Aunt Sally]

The limited edition car also celebrates the launch of Honda’s BTCC team for 2010.
Does that mean that Dynamics will be a 'works team' for 2010?

Alongside RML???

[medius]

At least that explains why the Civic that Neal was driving was built up in white, rather than orange or black.

[Aunt Sally]

And another new team announced..

http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=1817

Tom Boadman with SEAT Leons...

[gregc]

Originally Posted by Aunt Sally

Does that mean that Dynamics will be a 'works team' for 2010?

Alongside RML???

I did wonder that when I first saw the pictures of the white Civic. Not enough detail in that press release to decide if it's a proper works effort or the kind of semi-works arrangement they had previously.

If it is the full deal, that to me makes RML/Chevy more likely - surely Honda would only really want to get involved if there was going to be another manufacturer to race against....

Great to have Boardman back too, hopefully they can get a decent pedaller in the second car - Shedden? Jones?

[Alfa Fan]

BTCC seems to be showing signs of life again after a sluggish winter. By my reckoning we're still looking likely to achieve a 20 car grid.

[tin-top fan]

Good news. Likely to see super sheds in the 2nd car, continuing his association with the club-seat brand?

special tuning uk: http://www.special-tuning.co.uk/

[gregc]

Just had a gander at the official Dynamics Facebook page (yes, I know about taking stuff on social networking sites too seriously ) , and noticed this in the description:

Originally Posted by TD Facebook

2010 sees Matt Neal returning to the fold - watch this space!

OK, so not exactly a surprise and not an announcement as such, but another bit of gossip anyway...

[steve_r]

It's good to see Tom Boardman back. He seemed to be a decent peddler in WTCC.

I also noticed that John George's old Integra is showing as "Sold" on TCS. I wonder if another privateer has bought it to race...

[gregc]

A thought on the Dynamics/Honda thing - given that it looks like they're using it to promote the Mugen brand, I wonder if they might go down the Mugen Racing route...

[Jamesy-18]

Good to see Tom back in the BTCC, he's a handy driver. If they can get a handle on the car, I'd be very suprised if he wasn't fighting for podiums or even victories. Interesting speculation on Team Dynamics too, would be great to see Honda return as a manufacturer if it's true!

[davyboy]

Its been a very good day for good news on the BTCC hasn't it. It would be nice to see Honda back as a manufacturer but I'm not so sure they'll do it like that. The involvement of Mugen in international motorsport in the past has been a sort of 'arms length' support to a private team. In any event I'm sure any support, particularly technical support like this, would be welcomed by Steve Neal for TD.

[kezza7]

But does this mean they will be a true works team, or like a "Honda dealer team UK"??

[redshoes]

What's the difference, other than where the money comes from and maybe how much money there is. These days 'works' teams are all outsourced to specialists. A Honda UK backed team might have a bigger hospitality tent than a Honda Dealer team but on track it makes no difference.

[Jamesy-18]

Drawn up a list of confirmed/expected/rumoured.

Confirmed

Martin Depper-Forster Motorsport-BMW 320si
Arthur Forster-Forster Motorsport-BMW 320si

Lea Wood-Team Wood-Honda Intergra

Dave Pinkney-Pinkney Motorsport-Vauxhall Vectra

Andrew Jordan-Team Pirtek-Vauxhall Vectra

Paul O'Neill-Sunshine with TechSpeed-Honda Integra
John George-Sunshine with TechSpeed-Honda Integra

?-Thorney Motorsport-Vauxhall Insignia (built to NGTC rules, late campaign ahead of '11)

Tom Chilton-Team AON-Ford Focus (more manufacturer backing?)
? (Tom Onslow-Cole?)-Team AON-Ford Focus (more manufacturer backing?)

Shaun Hollamby-Team AmD-VW Golf
Simon Shaw-Team AmD-VW Golf? (Trying to raise funds for selected rounds)

Tom Boardman-Special Tuning UK-SEAT Leon TFSI

Expected

Colin Turkington-Team WSR-BMW 320si (No RAC title sponsorship, Alvara now. Colin is rumoured to want a deal with WSR over any else)

Stephen Jelley-Team WSR-BMW 320si (Confirmed intentions at Autosport International, should be there funds permitting)

? (Alan Blencowe?)-Sunshine with TechSpeed-Honda Integra ("Humphries also confirmed the team is currently in talks with a second driver and that it has capacity to run a third Integra..." although maybe not straight away in the season)

Jason Plato-RML/Team Silverline-Chevrolet Cruze (All but confirmed)
Mat Jackson-RML/Team Silverline-Chevrolet Cruze (Likely to be kept, funds permitting)

Rob Collard-Team Motorbase-BMW 320si (Deal reportedly close according to AUTOSPORT)
? (Adam/Kane/Bridgeman/Glew?)-Team Motorbase-BMW 320si (Team have intentions to run a second car)

Matt Neal-Team Dynamics-Honda Civic (Deal reportedly close, more Honda backing?)
? (Johnny Herbert)-Honda Civic (Hebert wants full campaign. More Honda backing?)

Adam Jones-Team Aircool-SEAT Leon? (Return to own team in Leon? Chance of Special Tuning UK seat?)

? (Gordon Shedden?)-Special Tuning UK-SEAT Leon TFSI (Team has ambitions to run second car, and "expects to sign a (second) driver within the next few weeks.")

? (Fabrizio Giovanardi?)-Triple 8-Vauxhall Vectra (Tripe 8 confirm intentions to return with one Vauxhall Vectra)

Phil Glew-?-? (Reportedly in talks with Motorbase. However, didn't rule out running own team)

Rumoured

?-IF Motorsport-Abarth Grande Punto (confirmed intentions, may miss first round-car not eligible?)
?-IF Motorsport-Abarth Grande Punto (confirmed intentions, may miss first round-car not eligible?)

? (Anthony Reid/Andy Neate?)-WSR-BMW 320si (Intentions to run third car? Ceravision decals on new livery, link to Neate over Reid?)

?-Team Parker-BMW 320si (Reportedly looking to enter BTCC as well as PCCGB)

? (Alex McDowell?)-RML-Chevrolet Lacetti (Lacetti to be run alongside the two Cruzes?)

?-Team AON-Ford Focus (chance for a 3rd car?)

?-?-Honda Integra? (George's old car is now sold, will we see it in BTCC in 2010?)

Martin Johnson-Team Boulevard-? (Could be back with newer car)

Paul Luti-?-MG ZS? (Rumours that he has bought one of Hughes' ZS)

Jason Hughes-Team Kartworld-MG ZS (Still owns car, plans to come back next season? Team site is down however)

Ginetta G50 champion, Nathan Freke, is also hopeful of a ride in 2010.

Volvo/KIA/VW? (All rumoured before, all rumoured again)

[gregc]

And now this from TD's Facebook:

We can confirm that Honda (UK) and Team Dynamics will be entering a team into the British Touring Car Championship in 2010, competing with two Civics, which will feature a similar white and black colour scheme to the Limited Edition Civic Type R MUGEN 200 cars.

The partnership between Honda (UK) and Team Dynamics builds on their long-standing relationship which has seen the team competing in the new Civic since 2007 and prior to that when the team won the championship in 2005 and 2006 racing the Honda Integra.

More details will be announced over the coming weeks - watch this space!

Make of that what you will, but it sounds good to me

[steve_r]

That is a comprehensive list. The only name I can think of that is missing is Matt Hamilton, who appeared for the last couple of rounds with a TH motorsport prepared old shape Civic. I thought their plan was to return for a full season this year.

[Jamesy-18]

Hmm, I'm not sure about that one. TH Motorsport was George's outfit, wasn't it? And George is now in techspeed.

[GroupOfOne]

No TH Motorsport only ran John George, they weren't his team, in the same way they ran Matt, but weren't his team.

Trevor Humphrey (hence the TH) is their boss and they've been around since the late '90s in various saloon series.

[Jamesy-18]

Ahh, okay, thanks for clearing that up. Matt could improve with some more milage, but we were saying that about Micky Doyle after his first season, but he didn't turn up in '09.

[GroupOfOne]

Yeah and maybe if he does return with TH Motorsport he'll benefit from being the #1 driver and the team focussing around his just his car, unless of course they found a second driver.

The fact that George's Integra is listed as sold by him would indicate the driver owned that rather than the team, but I've a feeling the team did own the Civic that Hamilton drove in 2009, so that's the more likely car to see out. Unless of course they bought the Integra

Anyway Hamilton has said on Twitter (I know!!!) recently that he/we should know soon about his 2010 plans.