[BTCC] Infiniti withdraws factory support

[CarsCarsCars]

Originally Posted by tux

There are some wild rumours out there, i wont repeat them and i personally dont actually think they are true. Im sure a little search and you can find them, but if they are true this team should be no where near charity work, let alone a racing paddock.

By "rumours" do you mean the twitter incident?

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

"team" is a stretch from even what is official...

[porsche962fan]

this is turning into an embarrassing FIASCO for Alan Gow too

wonder if he gets fed up and stripes them of their TBL

[tux]

Originally Posted by CarsCarsCars

By "rumours" do you mean the twitter incident?

Worse than that, much worse.

[rich07]

Originally Posted by tux

Worse than that, much worse.

Well I'm intrigued....

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by tux

Worse than that, much worse.

Do tell...

[BertMk2]

Soooo, let me get this straight:

1) Infiniti backs forces charity team, milks the positive publicity.
2) Intial results not good so Infiniti force a driver change on the team to one of their choice.
3) Infiniti bail out leaving team without the Infiniti money and without the money provided by the driver they ejected.

You stay classy Infiniti.

So unless there is something else going on behind the scenes that we don't know about then it's a pretty shitty effort from Infiniti.

[GTRMagic]

Is Infiniti UK a factory backed distributor or an agent only?

Given Nissan's strength in GT3, V8Supercar and now Le Mans, a half hearted effort does not make sense in BTCC..

[Bramzel]

I'm pretty sure Nissan and Infiniti both run their own marketing departments.

[Dudley]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Infiniti may be stuck watching these guys and gals wandering around the back of the grid for a few more seasons yet, muddying their brand up..

To punish them they should make the Infiniti logos bigger!

[touringlegend]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Is Infiniti UK a factory backed distributor or an agent only?

Given Nissan's strength in GT3, V8Supercar and now Le Mans, a half hearted effort does not make sense in BTCC..

Originally Posted by Bramzel

I'm pretty sure Nissan and Infiniti both run their own marketing departments.

I had assumed the Infiniti backing had come through Nissan as I believe the Palmers have (had?) a relationship with Nissan through running the older super tourers.

[auroan]

If Richard Hawkins is to believed... the biggest involvement in getting Infiniti, SOP and Palmer Motorsport together came from Hawkins himself.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by auroan

If Richard Hawkins is to believed... the biggest involvement in getting Infiniti, SOP and Palmer Motorsport together came from Hawkins himself.

[pedant]Hawken not Hawkins[/pedant]

[auroan]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

[pedant]Hawken not Hawkins[/pedant]

Oh, I'm sorry, I'll remember to chastise my phone's autocorrect function.

[850Estate]

Only one car will run at Oulton:

http://www.touringcartimes.com/2015/...t-oulton-park/

The quote that got me was this
The team had been left without a title sponsor since Infiniti pulled its backing between the last meeting at Thruxton and this weekend’s trio of races at Oulton Park. Team boss Derek Palmer Sr was hopeful a suitable driver and/or backer would surface before the fourth meeting of the season.

If an established team like Motorbase with a competitive car and strong history couldn't find a backer in the 6 months of pre-season, did Palmer really expect to find one for his new, uncompetitive team in the space of a few days?!

[psq43]

Originally Posted by 850Estate

Only one car will run at Oulton:

http://www.touringcartimes.com/2015/...t-oulton-park/

The quote that got me was this
The team had been left without a title sponsor since Infiniti pulled its backing between the last meeting at Thruxton and this weekend’s trio of races at Oulton Park. Team boss Derek Palmer Sr was hopeful a suitable driver and/or backer would surface before the fourth meeting of the season.

If an established team like Motorbase with a competitive car and strong history couldn't find a backer in the 6 months of pre-season, did Palmer really expect to find one for his new, uncompetitive team in the space of a few days?!

I've said it before......bitten off more than they could chew.

Maybe they thought with 75% of all cars being the same, they would be up to speed in no time.

More homework required next time. I suggest at the very least they watch a season review. That way they can see top class teams struggling to get their heads round NGTC too.

[porsche962fan]

bet Alan Gow will grab a TBL back

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

bet Alan Gow will grab a TBL back

he already has them. they are only on temporary loan to that team for this year.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Soooo, let me get this straight:

1) Infiniti backs forces charity team, milks the positive publicity.
2) Intial results not good so Infiniti force a driver change on the team to one of their choice.
3) Infiniti bail out leaving team without the Infiniti money and without the money provided by the driver they ejected.

You stay classy Infiniti.

So unless there is something else going on behind the scenes that we don't know about then it's a pretty shitty effort from Infiniti.

1) Hawken introduces Infiniti to charity team
2) Infiniti gives team €1m, and some cars
3) Team ****es Infiniti's cash away, so full season budget is spent before the fourth round. Goes back to Infiniti asking for more money.
4) Infiniti refuse to put any more money in.

I think Infiniti have been remarkably patient in the circumstances. I'd be asking them where the money went.

[thetool]

Talk about getting your fingers burnt. What a shame Infiniti didn't end up partnered to a reputable team. Budget wise that's enough to compete with Dynamics and 888.

[btccexpert]

Originally Posted by sceptic

1) Hawken introduces Infiniti to charity team
2) Infiniti gives team €1m, and some cars
3) Team ****es Infiniti's cash away, so full season budget is spent before the fourth round. Goes back to Infiniti asking for more money.
4) Infiniti refuse to put any more money in.

I think Infiniti have been remarkably patient in the circumstances. I'd be asking them where the money went.

i think it would be important to understand where the money went so quickly and if i were infinity i would be asking a lot of questions. rumours are they asked infinity for more money and they said they would help if they could enter there own driver, Donelly. but why has hawken been replaced when he bought in sponsorships? have the team managment spend all the money? why wasn't Donelly kept? are the cars not good?

Infinity marketing in europe are aiming the cars at professional peoples so it makes good sense they have parted from the team which seems to be very unproffesionaly managed.

i also think infinity should have gone with a more professional team, its not to late.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by sceptic

1) Hawken introduces Infiniti to charity team
2) Infiniti gives team €1m, and some cars
3) Team ****es Infiniti's cash away, so full season budget is spent before the fourth round. Goes back to Infiniti asking for more money.
4) Infiniti refuse to put any more money in.

I think Infiniti have been remarkably patient in the circumstances. I'd be asking them where the money went.

If that's the case then yes - it's a pretty poor effort from the team and questions need to be asked. I think that falls under my amazing get out clause below:

Originally Posted by BertMk2

So unless there is something else going on behind the scenes that we don't know about then it's a pretty shitty effort from Infiniti.

Originally Posted by btccexpert

but why has hawken been replaced when he bought in sponsorships?

Because it's Palmer snrs team and he wasn't about to ditch his boy.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

You get the feeling that Infiniti should pair with Motorbase to prove a point

I'll say it again. The team is a farce.

[btccexpert]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

You get the feeling that Infiniti should pair with Motorbase to prove a point

I'll say it again. The team is a farce.

it would be good to see infinity back in the btcc for sure as a manufacturer but i think the experience of the last 3 months and the lack of ability to do run a team properely may have put them off.

i afgree the team is a farce and palmer jnr should be progressing from last place by now. makes my laugh they quote on the face book page they finished 19 th or so out of 20 finishers and even then the guys behind had been off the circuit or in the pits. probably writen by the same team that deleted comments and restricted people from posting on social media.

team is a farce i agree.

[touringlegend]

€1m is about £770,000 at current conversion rates.

We have heard previously the NGTC cars aren't the cheapest to build. £385,000 each based on above figure, before you even look at running them. Dare I say that it's maybe Infiniti that haven't appreciated the scale of the task they were getting involved in, or perhaps they were mis-sold the whole programme.