[BTCC] Round Three, Thruxton 28-29 May, Races 7,8&9

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by antnee

The 2 lists of drivers look identical...

I guess you could say that the cream rises to the top?
Or that in the BTCC you expect to see the usual suspects at the front of the field?

There are some differences though, for example:

In BTCC frog's list, he calculates that Sutton will be the top scorer.
In the three lists I put up, I may have weighted the current form a bit too highly.

In the end - it's all just another way to experience the contest. Take it or leave it, some people will be interested, others will not.

When it all comes down to it - I'm sure that the eventual results will not match either list entirely.

[S griffin]

The best driver/team/car combination will always make the best of what they have. I expect to see a competitive order after a while, although some teams will improve as the season goes on.

Interesting analysis though. The Fords should be quick, but they need to have a clean weekend. I have my own idea of who should be at the front, I expect the Hyundais to be up there, but don't rule out others. The Vauxhalls look to be getting quicker

I'm just looking forward to a great weekend of racing. Hopefully we get some close competitive action. Just hope we get some decent weather this weekend

[Robin Marriott]

I find Thruxton incredibly boring, I can’t remember a single good race and it baffles me that there’s two rounds there this year. Fingers crossed someone ends up in a field to jazz it up a bit or it’ll just be lap after lap of cars pegged to the limiter in 6th and nothing else.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

I find Thruxton incredibly boring, I can’t remember a single good race and it baffles me that there’s two rounds there this year. Fingers crossed someone ends up in a field to jazz it up a bit or it’ll just be lap after lap of cars pegged to the limiter in 6th and nothing else.

It may be to a viewer, but it is one of the most exciting and at the same time the most frightening tracks to race at in the UK. It is hugely challenging for drivers with long curves with adverse cambers leaving you pretty much fighting to stay on the circuit.

[S griffin]

I always enjoy watching it on TV. A real drivers’ circuit and one that should be respected. It does produce some interesting racing too, it’s certainly a circuit where you need to keep your momentum up, especially when passing others

[VIVA GT]

I know I have a personal bias here but the Mini Se7en support race from Thruxton a few years ago was awesome!

[antnee]

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

I find Thruxton incredibly boring, I can’t remember a single good race and it baffles me that there’s two rounds there this year. Fingers crossed someone ends up in a field to jazz it up a bit or it’ll just be lap after lap of cars pegged to the limiter in 6th and nothing else.

Not remember a few years back when there were 6 cars battling for 1st place and had about 4 car lengths separating them?

Edit - found the image

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

I find Thruxton incredibly boring, I can’t remember a single good race and it baffles me that there’s two rounds there this year. Fingers crossed someone ends up in a field to jazz it up a bit or it’ll just be lap after lap of cars pegged to the limiter in 6th and nothing else.

So - if I present a narrative of 2021 racing at Thruxton, does it sound boring?
It reads like it had everything you are looking for in a BTCC meeting:


"Cook had to work hard for the win in the curtain-raiser as he slipped past pole-sitter Sutton and Team BMW’s Colin Turkington after last season’s top-two drivers clashed on the opening lap of the new season. Racing got off to an enthralling start – as you’d expect in the BTCC – and Cook initially seemed to lose out as his Honda Civic Type R bogged down from second on the grid. Sutton held the lead down into the Complex for the first time, with Turkington and Cook’s #66 machine running side-by-side immediately behind. As Sutton braked into the right-hander he was clipped by Turkington’s BMW 330i M Sport, and the reigning champion’s Infiniti was tipped into a spin.

Cook made the most of an opportune moment as he slipped into the lead, with the rear-wheel drive BMWs seemingly struggling for early grip. Turkington had by now dropped to fourth – behind Cook, Tom Ingram’s Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com Hyundai and Hill – whilst Tom Oliphant’s BMW was spinning to the rear of the field.

The opening lap drama was far from over, however, with the most dramatic moment still to come as Ollie Jackson’s MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square Ford Focus wriggled through one of the quickest parts of the circuit.

Three-time champion Gordon Shedden was unable to avoid the rear of Jackson’s Ford and the Halfords Racing with Cataclean car was subsequently speared across the track and into the unfortunate Hyundai i30N of Chris Smiley. Heavy impact with the barrier followed for Shedden and the safety car was immediately deployed.

[...]

Bath-born Cook eventually took a more straightforward victory in the second contest, but not before a couple of significant incidents punctuated proceedings.

The Ford Focus of Andy Neate (Racing with Wera & Photon Group) made contact with Glynn Geddie’s Cupra Leon (Team HARD. with Autobrite Direct), whilst Jade Edwards’ Honda (PHSC with BTC Racing) was also collected as the cars ran through turn one for the first time.

All three cars made heavy contact with the barrier, as the Team HARD-run machine of Geddie barrel-rolled to an eventual standstill. The drivers involved were thankfully unharmed in the accident, but the race was immediately halted by a red flag.

The restart got underway in a similar fashion when the Toyota Gazoo Racing UK car of Rory Butcher slammed into a tyre-stack after a high-speed run through Noble, as the Scotsman battled with Hill and Ingram.

The second race of the season gradually settled, but not before pole-sitter Cook had slid through the Complex into Ingram’s Hyundai i30N, although both cars were able to continue relatively unscathed.

[...]

Sutton then splashed to a first victory of the season as the weather fell his way during a frenetic wet-dry-wet bout at the UK’s fastest circuit.

The Laser Tools Racing star was in fighting form throughout the day following two recovery drives and had already scythed his way to the front early in the reversed-grid encounter, as the vast majority of the field chose to run on Goodyear wet tyres.

Hill, Team BMW’s Oliphant and Smiley proved to be exceptions to the rule in terms of tyre choice, and when conditions improved after just a handful of laps it looked as if the trio had played a masterstroke.

The Ford Focus of Hill was particularly quick at mid-distance as he carved his way back through the order and eventually passed Sutton’s Infiniti Q50 for the lead on lap ten.

Incredibly, no sooner had Hill hit the front than the rain began to fall again on the high-speed Hampshire circuit, giving Sutton the opportunity to come back for the victory in the latter stages.

Hill was now hanging on to second with both Jason Plato (Adrian Flux with Power Maxed Racing) and Gordon Shedden (Halfords Racing with Cataclean) closing in on the final lap.

The trio went three-wide as the chequered flag fell and it was Plato who had snatched second from Hill by just 0.070s, with Shedden only 0.166s further in arrears.

It was yet another valiant effort by Hill and he was duly rewarded with the championship lead following his podium treble during this exciting season-opening weekend at the 2.36-mile circuit."

[mprmke]

Qualifying at Thruxton, if it's dry, well tell us a lot more than anything else has so far this season.

Josh Cook in a BMR Honda would, historically be the strongest package at Thruxton. If he's not right up there in qualifying, then it will show the M-SPort engine is lagging behind the others.

At a speed circuit, the balance of performance measures should hinder Ingram. If it doesn't, the hybrid BoP isn't anywhere near as effective as ballast at the moment.

If a BMW takes pole, and all/most of the BMW's are right up there, then it shows they have the strongest all-round package and will probably have BoP measures thrown at them.

[S griffin]

No I though in 2021 it was action packed throughout. Plenty of different cars battling for position. The first race of last year was one of the best. Great win by Cook, after immense pressure, shame Sutton got hit on the first lap, it wrecked his chances. The other two races were good too. Bit of an easier win for Cook in the second race, but plenty happening behind. And plenty of different makes there. The incident at the start though was unnecessary.

Race 3 was action packed in the rain, with drivers choosing different compounds. Those on slicks seemed to have made the right choice, until the rain came down again. And Sutton deserved that one

[BTCC frog]

Originally Posted by antnee

Not remember a few years back when there were 6 cars battling for 1st place and had about 4 car lengths separating them?

Edit - found the image

That was the race I thought of, race one in 2016. One of the best BTCC races I've ever seen.

There was also a fantastic Mini race in 2020, where Leo Panayiotou won by passing three cars into the final corner, before Alex Jay cut the final chicane to provisionally take the win before it was taken away: https://www.minichallenge.co.uk/2020...on-thriller-2/

And VIVA GT, is this the Mini Se7en race you were referring to?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNs5...Ns5BJM0Ahk&t=0

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by mprmke

At a speed circuit, the balance of performance measures should hinder Ingram. If it doesn't, the hybrid BoP isn't anywhere near as effective as ballast at the moment.

I'm not sure this would be the case. The hybrid deployment is most effective at lower speed, and in the early stages of traction.

I think that the high speed nature of the circuit means that the hybrid effect is negated. Circuits where HEM will have the most effect (IMO) are those that are traditionally RWD favoured - e.g accelerating from low speed corners. This would be places such as the hairpin at Knockhill or Croft.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I'm not sure this would be the case. The hybrid deployment is most effective at lower speed, and in the early stages of traction.

I think that the high speed nature of the circuit means that the hybrid effect is negated. Circuits where HEM will have the most effect (IMO) are those that are traditionally RWD favoured - e.g accelerating from low speed corners. This would be places such as the hairpin at Knockhill or Croft.

In principle I tend to agree with you but wouldn't this effect/advantage be nullified slightly as the electrical boost isn't operational below a certain speed and when traction is limited?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

In principle I tend to agree with you but wouldn't this effect/advantage be nullified slightly as the electrical boost isn't operational below a certain speed and when traction is limited?

I think slightly - yes.

In general, the lower the speed the greater the effect of more power gives.
At Croft and Thruxton for instance - the cars spend more time accelerating through the 120kph mark than they would at Thruxton.

[Sodemo]

I asked the question about this in another thread but never got an answer.

If a driver hits the hybrid button and hybrid deployment starts, if they then encounter a situation where they get wheelspin (going over a bad bump, hit a kerb, put one wheel onto the grass), what happens? Does the Hybrid deployment just stop dead or do the wheels spin up and the boost effect carries on?