[BTCC] BTCC 2020 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Why would it mean a reduced payment? Motorbase would have lease the TBL for the full year, presumably with a penalty clause should they fail to field a car all season and TOCA revoke the TBL.

I'm not sure of the finer details, but I understand the situation as:

HMS leased their TBL to Rokit Racing (not direct to Motorbase).

Rokit Racing withdraw from the BTCC.

In the hope of retaining the TBL, HMS permit Motorbase to run Caine for the final rounds, but lose out on a portion of the Rokit fee.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by HopAlong

Well Laser Tools Twitter/Infogramme hint seems to confirm a second car.

Announcement at 6:00 tonight.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I'm not sure of the finer details, but I understand the situation as:

HMS leased their TBL to Rokit Racing (not direct to Motorbase).

Rokit Racing withdraw from the BTCC.

In the hope of retaining the TBL, HMS permit Motorbase to run Caine for the final rounds, but lose out on a portion of the Rokit fee.

not right.
motorbase leased HMS licence.

[RS67]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

not right.
motorbase leased HMS licence.

That's the way I heard it too. Even if Rokit had leased the licence, I can't see Motorbase not having paid up any shortfall for the remaining races.

[HopAlong]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Announcement at 6:00 tonight.

So do we think its most likely Sutton? I think he is still linked to the WAU seat from an interview I'd seen a few weeks back, but I don't think I'd be going against the grain by thinking its unlikely?

[Racing Harz]

Originally Posted by HopAlong

So do we think its most likely Sutton? I think he is still linked to the WAU seat from an interview I'd seen a few weeks back, but I don't think I'd be going against the grain by thinking its unlikely?

Fullwood likely get the second WAU-Car alongside Mostert.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by HopAlong

So do we think its most likely Sutton? I think he is still linked to the WAU seat from an interview I'd seen a few weeks back, but I don't think I'd be going against the grain by thinking its unlikely?

I think so. Paul O'Neil retweeted the announcement with an '👀' which is unusual, probably suggesting it's a big signing, which would fit with Ash.

Which, given his links to Supercars, TCR, seems like a bit of a step back.

[Pickles]

Kind of ironic that Duo (former HMS sponsor) pulling out was the reason for Hamilton not completing the season

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I'm not sure of the finer details, but I understand the situation as:

HMS leased their TBL to Rokit Racing (not direct to Motorbase).

Rokit Racing withdraw from the BTCC.

In the hope of retaining the TBL, HMS permit Motorbase to run Caine for the final rounds, but lose out on a portion of the Rokit fee.

Rokit racing would not be an entity that TOCA would approve to lease a REC surely it would have to go inter team so that TOCA have a comeback

[RS67]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I'm not sure of the finer details, but I understand the situation as:

HMS leased their TBL to Rokit Racing (not direct to Motorbase).

Rokit Racing withdraw from the BTCC.

In the hope of retaining the TBL, HMS permit Motorbase to run Caine for the final rounds, but lose out on a portion of the Rokit fee.

Someone posted up a piece from the HMS site concerning the TBL. It's a bit ambiguous in the reason for having to sell the TBL. It mentions loss of sponsorship and loaning the TBL to Motorbase for Nic and mentions Nic not finishing the season.
Then in a fresh paragraph says it resulted in having to sell the TBL.
I think it is just poorly written and gives the wrong impression.
The way I see it, they don't have a major sponsor for 2020 and at the risk of having to just hand the TBL back to TOCA, they have sold it to raise a bit of money. Could it have been bought by Moffat? According to TCT, HMS have been offered a loan TBL if their fortunes change. The bit about Nic not completing the season in their statement could just be a red herring.

[S griffin]

Shame HMS won't be back, there's no reason why it couldn't have been back on the pace after a season out

[antnee]

Originally Posted by RS67

The way I see it, they don't have a major sponsor for 2020 and at the risk of having to just hand the TBL back to TOCA, they have sold it to raise a bit of money. Could it have been bought by Moffat? According to TCT, HMS have been offered a loan TBL if their fortunes change. The bit about Nic not completing the season in their statement could just be a red herring.

This is how I understand it too - either sell the TBL and make a few quid back or run the risk of handing it back to TOCA and get nothing.

[medius]

PMR have a 2020 road going Astra in the workshop so presumably either updating the bodywork to current model or building a third car up? Or both. Probably just the former but unsure why it'd be at PMR instead of going directly to ABS in Lincolnshire.

[Robshillito1990]

Originally Posted by medius

PMR have a 2020 road going Astra in the workshop so presumably either updating the bodywork to current model or building a third car up? Or both. Probably just the former but unsure why it'd be at PMR instead of going directly to ABS in Lincolnshire.

It's a vauxhall press car. Wouldnt be surprised if that investment JP was on about at the end of last year is from Vauxhall themselves.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by RS67

Someone posted up a piece from the HMS site concerning the TBL. It's a bit ambiguous in the reason for having to sell the TBL. It mentions loss of sponsorship and loaning the TBL to Motorbase for Nic and mentions Nic not finishing the season.
Then in a fresh paragraph says it resulted in having to sell the TBL.
I think it is just poorly written and gives the wrong impression.
The way I see it, they don't have a major sponsor for 2020 and at the risk of having to just hand the TBL back to TOCA, they have sold it to raise a bit of money. Could it have been bought by Moffat? According to TCT, HMS have been offered a loan TBL if their fortunes change. The bit about Nic not completing the season in their statement could just be a red herring.

So who has the BMR entries?

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by rabussa

so Probably no Alfa Romeo (and Rob Austin) in 2020

https://mailchi.mp/08cb3bfe20d2/hand...M3hivaQJtCCPuE

I am so shocked. I never saw this coming.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I am so shocked. I never saw this coming.

seriously??

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Shame HMS won't be back, there's no reason why it couldn't have been back on the pace after a season out

It was NEVER on the pace.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

seriously??

Deep sarcasm.

It's more likely that I am in fact Shirley Bassey than HMS were to return.

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

So who has the BMR entries?

Laser. Expanded to 2 cars and offering the Merc for sale with their existing TBL. Not sure if it's sold yet?

[Alfisti]

...Shirley Bassey bought it for her BTCC debut.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

It was NEVER on the pace.

It was the first ground-up build by a relatively small team, ran as a single car, and didn't have a top level driver to develop it. It got a podium in it's third ever race and and should've gotten more than just one more. I think HMS did very well.

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

Fullwood likely get the second WAU-Car alongside Mostert.

Is there a clash with the Enduro Cup rounds?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

not right.
motorbase leased HMS licence.

Originally Posted by RS67

That's the way I heard it too. Even if Rokit had leased the licence, I can't see Motorbase not having paid up any shortfall for the remaining races.

It may have been leased to Motorbase, and not specifically Rokit Racing as an entity.

What I am still not understanding though - and hopefully you might be able to shed some light on it is the specific quote from Belcher:

'with the financial implication which followed after Nic was unable to fulfil his commitment to the BTCC we had to either lose our licence or sell it'

If that quote does not refer to the lease for the TBL being used for the entry under the Rokit Racing banner being paid in full - what does it refer to then?

Two facts are evident:
1) The Rokit Racing entry did not complete the full season.
2) Belcher has explicitly stated that the withdrawal of the Rokit Racing entry had financial implications on HMS Racing.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

It may have been leased to Motorbase, and not specifically Rokit Racing as an entity.

What I am still not understanding though - and hopefully you might be able to shed some light on it is the specific quote from Belcher:

'with the financial implication which followed after Nic was unable to fulfil his commitment to the BTCC we had to either lose our licence or sell it'

If that quote does not refer to the lease for the TBL being used for the entry under the Rokit Racing banner being paid in full - what does it refer to then?

Two facts are evident:
1) The Rokit Racing entry did not complete the full season.
2) Belcher has explicitly stated that the withdrawal of the Rokit Racing entry had financial implications on HMS Racing.

Has anybody considered that Austin my be spewing cr@p?. Having read his contribution to Motoring News this year I would have thought it is at least possible .....