BTCC: Donington Park - Page 3

**Craig** · 10 Apr 2005, 11:19 (Ref:1274571)

Looks like I was the only one who was totally underwhelmed by what I saw on Motors! Watching Seat Cupras now - small grid too - but some entertaining racing!

**Craig** · 10 Apr 2005, 13:36 (Ref:1274712)

Second race better - good dice between Collard and Neal for second place - just desperate for more cars so we have two or three battles to watch throughout the race... I fear I am repeating myself

Hazard · 10 Apr 2005, 13:39 (Ref:1274716)

Agreed...though even then I still don't think we saw all the battles with just 9 runners!

As for the WTCC race I just saw, may aswell just have been 8 cars...from a TV perspective anyway...I'm sure it looked awesome to those who are there - they've gotta sack those race directors!

**Craig** · 10 Apr 2005, 13:44 (Ref:1274718)

Take the BTCC's superb TV coverage and style of circuits (ie not huge great GP tracks) and add the WTCC's huge numbers of cars, superstar drivers and large crowds and we would have something huge. Hopefully something can be done to improve the WTCC coverage.

Hazard · 10 Apr 2005, 14:07 (Ref:1274726)

DNFing doesn't appear to count with the top 10 reversal (quite rightly IMO)...so only the top 9 (whole finishing pack) will be flipped for race 3...

So Williams' Lexus is on pole! Then the youngens (Hines, Pickford, Smith) in their Seat's & Vauxhall's to follow. Muller will start 9th.

JAG · 10 Apr 2005, 14:55 (Ref:1274734)

Quote:

Originally Posted by kickstart

BTCC has just moved a hundred miles away from what the spectators and the drivers want as I think they should be spectacular 400bhp plus rear wheel drive cars without driver aids.
But even putting that aside 11 or 12 cars out at Donington is an absolute joke. With MG going bust I hardly think that bodes well for West Surrey's entries.

I was a huge fan of the BTCC in the late 80's-90s watching everthing from the spectacular RS500s on TV to the super touring cars in the flesh.

Since the new regs came into force my interest has dwindled and I am absolutly shocked that there were only '11 or 12 cars' at Donnington.

Edit:- Just saw the start of race one on ITV and it looks pathetic.

With that number of cars I'm suprised the championship is still going!

The current BTCC/WTCC machines are relatively 'slow and unspectacular so you desperatly need a field of 20+ cars to generate any kind excitement, to enthuse the spectators and get them off their backsides and down to the tracks.

I 'was' considering going to Oulton Park this year but with a field of less than 15 you can forget it.

I'll be going to Silverstone in May to watch the FIA GT's and am looking forward to seeing a big field of WTCC cars also.

IMO, the BTCC needs to adopt the S2000 regs NEXT YEAR or it is finnished.

I suppose it is too much to expect the BTCC to adopt some regs that actually produce some exciting cars.

MPPIX · 10 Apr 2005, 15:01 (Ref:1274737)

Hi this is my first post (be gentle!!)

Some pics (out of 760 taken) are online here

Mark

Vicki · 10 Apr 2005, 15:09 (Ref:1274741)

Well, I'm recording the races, and support stuff. Just watched race 2, and is my hearing on the blink or did I hear [insert name of lead commentator on Motors here] say the Plato incident was going to be reported to the "Clark"? I still think the racing is good, even with few cars. Oh, and I don't post in here much, so have faith, my knowledge will improve!

Ian Sowman · 10 Apr 2005, 15:43 (Ref:1274752)

More likely to be the Clerk, Vicki

Hazard · 10 Apr 2005, 15:51 (Ref:1274754)

Nice load of pictures there MPPIX.

FF...insert name - Ben Edwards.

Race three....good again. Didn't realise before today that they'd removed the Seat teams handicapped...been fun hearing Plato whine about it, and suffer accordingly - however, he's probably right...it's not fair.

Team Halfords an excellent one-two, and they were racing for it, excellent. Matt Neal surely leaves with the championship lead...excellent.

In an interview inbetween, Alan Gow defending the small grid saying more teams due for Thruxton who didn't get their finances sorted...well, we'll see.

BootsOntheSide · 10 Apr 2005, 16:09 (Ref:1274773)

GA should get a car out there, Arena might, and second WSR and HPI Lexus entries are possible, but even if all of those come off, 16 is a feeble total for what's meant to be the pinnacle of British motorsport. Maybe some 'Gow-fare' is required to help teams fund tehir efforts, especialyla s there should be plenty of cars available to buy second-hand?

At least the racing was pretty good, the third race seemed action-packed with loads of duelling between the top few cars, and the new cars generally having the upper hand over the SEATs and MG. Great weekend for Matt Neal and Rob Collard in particualr, while Turkington and Plato will just have to hope for better next time.

**Craig** · 10 Apr 2005, 17:00 (Ref:1274808)

Missed the final race sadly - was doing some gardening - did the reverse grid work its magic?

**Adam43** · 10 Apr 2005, 17:06 (Ref:1274819)

It did. Although the pole Lexus pulled into the pits at the end of the warm up lap. Plato got in the lead and held everyone up for a few laps. Everyone got past, but it was fun watching them do it.

**Craig** · 10 Apr 2005, 17:11 (Ref:1274823)

Will try and watch out for it if it is repeated later

Vicki · 10 Apr 2005, 17:36 (Ref:1274858)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Sowman

More likely to be the Clerk, Vicki

So, was it just my hearing then?

Coops · 10 Apr 2005, 17:48 (Ref:1274867)

its a shame that the SCV8 Championship never got off the ground and killed off the BTCC. 12 car grids! what a load of rubish and these cars dont even go as fast as ma road car.

SCV8. REAR WHEEL DRIVE, 600BHP! COME ON!!!!!

**Woolley** · 10 Apr 2005, 18:02 (Ref:1274876)

Someone will eventually work out that regardless of the individual vehicle rules, Touring Cars and Sports Cars need to be team sports, not manufacturers. Two makes in Aussie V8s doesn't hurt the grids, and virtually nothing but Porsches wasn't a problem in Group C, and i remember great battles between hordes of Sierras. Make something simple, sell them on to the teams at a sensible price and you'll get a good, long lasting championship. How about awarding manufacturers points to the first 6 cars for each make for a start?

Ian Sowman · 10 Apr 2005, 18:06 (Ref:1274878)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FerrariFanatic

So, was it just my hearing then?

Well, clerk and Clark are pronounced in exactly the same way...

rdjones · 10 Apr 2005, 18:27 (Ref:1274891)

Just back, 3 good and enjoyable races today but WE NEED more cars. I just hope there are few more at Thruxton in 3 weeks time. Pictures later.

runnyhunny · 10 Apr 2005, 19:04 (Ref:1274925)

I can't see any technical or sporting issues with the BTCC. Today's racing, considering the number of cars, was superb. I thought it was better than the WTCC, and they had about three times the number of cars!

There is no need to 'change to S2000'. Since the start of 2004, S2000 cars have been permitted to race in the BTCC. The current 'BTC Touring' and 'S2000' cars are not significantly slower than the spaceship-technology Super Touring machines (you only notice if you look at the laptimes - there is no difference trackside).

I suspect there are various political issues with the BTCC. And if I were a manufacturer, I'd be mightily unimpressed with the total lack of coherent and organised promotion by TOCA, the teams, and the circuits. They need to take a long hard look at their marketing.

There will always be a problem with manufacturer teams coming and going. It's pretty much the same in GTs, F1, WRC etc. TOCA should ensure we have quality privateer entries. I'd have no problem with a gridfull of Dynamics-esque teams.

**Peter Mallett** · 10 Apr 2005, 19:38 (Ref:1274954)

I'm seriously impressed. 12 cars. Wow.

**Peter Mallett** · 10 Apr 2005, 19:40 (Ref:1274955)

Sorry. I just find this really sad. 12 cars in the premier Touring Car ategory. Its not difficult. Lower the cost by reducing the technical requirement.

At the end of the day, its not outright speed, its competition.

JAG · 10 Apr 2005, 19:49 (Ref:1274964)

As was mentioned in another thread, if the BTCC do not want to adopt the S2000 regs why not adopt some kind of 'stock' car regs with tuned production cars.

BootsOntheSide · 10 Apr 2005, 20:13 (Ref:1274977)

It looks like S2000 cars can't race on an even keel though - SEAT didn't show the kind of pace we could've expected this weekend, GA had no success with their Alfa last year, and running a BMW isn't an option because it's front-wheel drive. Even Dynamics, who are very well-funded by independent standards, opted to build their Integras to BTC regulations. It does seem like Plato's complaints about their car being overweight due to the rules were justified.

tonyp · 10 Apr 2005, 20:19 (Ref:1274982)

I can't understand why Renault & BMW have got such big support races and have nothing in main event.

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