[BTCC] 2010 rumour mill

[PDS]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Dave Bartrum must be a pretty persuasive man, to make Airwaves change their mind!

Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

Hmm, go one better says Dave Bartrum? Does that mean having two experienced front line drivers instead of one and one rookie, or going one car better, three instead of two? I'd guess the former but it doesn't seem clear to me.

I think you will find that the team line-up may not only be one of the best driver line-up's in 2010. But it will certainly one of the most exciting..

[Aunt Sally]

Originally Posted by tin-top fan

Now on possibly the most unreliable btcc site on the web: http://www.btcccrazy.co.uk/2010/03/1...irm-lpg-power/

Looks like they have completely buthchered a press release though



- What second season? Auto windscreens sponsored racing silverline last season...

- Team Arena?? You mean Team AON? Arena international motorsport? Maybe someone should tell them they have a new name

Keep this up tin-top fan and you will get a PM like some of us have already..

[Alfa Fan]

From Mr Mappin? Who just needs to calm down a bit. His approach isn't winning him many supporters.

[Aunt Sally]

YOU got one as well???

[Alfa Fan]

I haven't....yet! Easy enough to guess who might have sent you one though Not that you've done anything wrong!

[Aunt Sally]

Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

Not that you've done anything wrong!

Do I take that as a compliment???

[medius]

I wouldn't read too much about Kane testing, I recall he did last winter for Motorbase too.

Time for another compilation table with all the possibilties/rumours/confirmed testing etc.

[Alfa Fan]

Your wish is my command...

Team	Car	Driver	Likelihood
Team Dynamics	Honda Civic Type-S	Matt Neal	Confirmed
Team Dynamics	Honda Civic Type-S	Gordon Shedden	Confirmed
Techspeed Racing	Honda Integra	Paul O'Neill	Confirmed
Techspeed Racing	Honda Integra	John George	Confirmed
Techspeed Racing	Honda Integra	TBA	Possible
Arena International	Ford Focus	Tom Chilton	Confirmed
Arena International	Ford Focus	Tom Onslow-Cole	Confirmed
Pinkney Motorsport	Vauxhall Vectra	Dave Pinkney	Confirmed
Jordan Sport	Vauxhall Vectra	Andrew Jordan	Confirmed
West Surrey Racing	BMW 320si	Andy Neate	Confirmed
West Surrey Racing	BMW 320si	Rob Collard	Confirmed
West Surrey Racing	BMW 320si	Colin Turkington	Possible
Motorbase	BMW 320si	TBA	Confirmed
Motorbase	BMW 320si	TBA	Confirmed
Motorbase	BMW 320si	TBA	Possible?
Forster Motorsport	BMW 320si	Arthur Forster	Confirmed
Forster Motorsport	BMW 320si	Martin Depper	Confirmed
RML	Chevrolet Cruze	Jason Plato	(all but) Confirmed
RML	Chevrolet Cruze	Alex McDowall	(all but) Confirmed
AmD Technik	VW Golf	Shaun Hollamby	Confirmed
Team Wood	Honda Integra	Lea Wood	Confirmed
Special Tuning	SEAT Leon	Tom Boardman	Confirmed
Special Tuning	SEAT Leon	TBA	Confirmed?
TH	Honda Civic Type-R	Matt Hamilton	Confirmed
InTune	Honda Civic Type-R	Michael Doyle	Possible
Triple Eight	Vauxhall Vectra	TBA	Likely
Triple Eight	Vauxhall Vectra	TBA	Likely

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

Your wish is my command...

Assuming most of those materialise, it looks like quite a strong grid.

[Aunt Sally]

I see you have left Nick Leason off your list?

[Alfa Fan]

Oh yeah, I forgot about him, its gone a bit quiet but then probably won't be confirmed until media day. Do you know if he's still on target to race the Vectra?

[medius]

I'd file him under the Alan Blencowe catagory i.e. ''Thats the plan, if theres a budget''.

Thanks for the table Alfa Fan

[Aunt Sally]

Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

Oh yeah, I forgot about him, its gone a bit quiet but then probably won't be confirmed until media day. Do you know if he's still on target to race the Vectra?

From what I hear. The term is 'Way Off'!

I don't know where he is getting his supposed Vectra from?

[touringlegend]

Off topic now, but on the note of people getting PM's, I hope none of these are threatening in any way..

I'm not saying they are, this is just a warning in advance to anyone who is planning on sending one. If you do feel they step over the line then forward them on to any of the touring car mods or site admin.

[Aunt Sally]

Touringlegend, as for me, I am big enough to deal with grumpy PM's.

I've done a bit of 'Care in the Community'!

Rest assured, if any cross the line you will be aware of it!

[andy_b]

If you hadn't already seen it. Team Aon put out a press release earlier with the 2010 livery and confirmation of TOC

http://btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=1845

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Maybe it's only come off as Collard not being there allowed them to use the driver that is "one better"? Maybe the Airwaves deal is on the back of having a better driver than Collard in the car

From what I've heard you couldn't be more wrong, negotiations started on the basis of Collard being the lead driver.

Whatever you think of him as a driver Collard is very good for the sponsors. On track he's always in the thick of it, which means more TV coverage and thus more exposure for the sponsors. Out of the car he has no problem doing TV interviews (some drivers struggle to string a sentence together on camera) and always got the Airwaves tag-line in.

I'm sure at this point the usual suspects will chime in with a rant about driving standards but that's missing the point.

[Alfa Fan]

Don't look at me. I won't ever deny he plays the role of the championship clown to perfection

[tin-top fan]

Originally Posted by redshoes

From what I've heard you couldn't be more wrong, negotiations started on the basis of Collard being the lead driver.

Whatever you think of him as a driver Collard is very good for the sponsors. On track he's always in the thick of it, which means more TV coverage and thus more exposure for the sponsors. Out of the car he has no problem doing TV interviews (some drivers struggle to string a sentence together on camera) and always got the Airwaves tag-line in.

I'm sure at this point the usual suspects will chime in with a rant about driving standards but that's missing the point.

Well said. The only sport I can think of, which is comparable, is road cycling. Here some of the teams not in contention for the win send a guy on a break so as to get some exposure for a part of the race. Collard always looks up for it and gets stuck in wherever he is on the grid. It has to be better for sponsors than sitting around in the mid pack doing nothing race after race!

[touringcarnut]

Originally Posted by redshoes

From what I've heard you couldn't be more wrong, negotiations started on the basis of Collard being the lead driver.

Whatever you think of him as a driver Collard is very good for the sponsors. On track he's always in the thick of it, which means more TV coverage and thus more exposure for the sponsors. Out of the car he has no problem doing TV interviews (some drivers struggle to string a sentence together on camera) and always got the Airwaves tag-line in.

I'm sure at this point the usual suspects will chime in with a rant about driving standards but that's missing the point.

A part of the game seems to be being able to be a salesman for your sponsors these days. Nothing wrong in that if it helps secure sponsors and secure your own drive! A strong personality always helps along the way and Collard is definitely in that category of driver.

I would love to think turks could be the one for Motorbase but I just don't see it happening

[Jamesy-18]

Suprised about Sheds back to Dynamics. I'd have put a fair amount of money on him going to Special Tuning UK alongside Boardman. Now that's happened though, I'd say Adam Jones is the most likely candidate for that seat. Not long till media day now!

[trebor901]

if we see Chevy as an actual works team this year do you think we could see a surprise showing from a certain Italian?

[Jamesy-18]

Originally Posted by trebor901

if we see Chevy as an actual works team this year do you think we could see a surprise showing from a certain Italian?

Doubt it. It's most likely going to be Plato/MacDowell but a Plato/Giovanardi team would be ace, I think they'd be fighting for the championship with Motorbase if they have Turkington/Jackson.

[Icebaby]

Im not sure that Dynamics line up will be strong enough to take any titles, with Sheeden as the second driver it makes me think the money fronted by Honda UK does not extend to paying the drivers.

Giovanardi has a chance to pop up with motorbase or 888, Jackson odds on for the motorbase drive.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by redshoes

From what I've heard you couldn't be more wrong, negotiations started on the basis of Collard being the lead driver.

I'm sure I could be more wrong - ask me who's going to win the title (then nip down the bookies and put your house on them having a nightmare season )