[BTCC] BTCC 2021

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Glad Cook is staying, he did well to bounce back from the early season bad luck. Crees did alright last season, sometimes impressive like at Thruxton, so he should be alright

Slightly O/T, a sad end for an ex BTCC support race series:
https://www.autosport.com/national/n...cup-uk-in-2021

I'm glad he's staying too. I think he's a quality driver and in the right car should be a championship contender. He's generally a tidy and fair racer (but has been known to be overly-aggressive at times for some reason). It'll be good to see how he goes with some continuation.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Glad Cook is staying, he did well to bounce back from the early season bad luck. Crees did alright last season, sometimes impressive like at Thruxton, so he should be alright

Slightly O/T, a sad end for an ex BTCC support race series:
https://www.autosport.com/national/n...cup-uk-in-2021

Isn't that a general problem for the Clio Cup, also outside UK?

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by tator2001uk

Chilton to Cisley . . . i believe another driver had already signed on the dotted line in pencil


I can see Either Proctor or Rowbottom going to BTC

I predict that the Chilton destination won’t be clear until WSR announce. If the BMW support is gone then likely Turkington is gone to. Then Chilton steps in with his € if no place at WSR then Cicely beckons. What other option does he have?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

If the BMW support is gone then likely Turkington is gone to.

Is there anything to suggest BMW support is gone?

[bella]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Isn't that a general problem for the Clio Cup, also outside UK?

the french series has a very decent sized grid (albeit without a national touring car series), so i think it's more that mini currently dominate the just-below-touring cars options in the uk (three seperate series, iirc?). there's just not enough competitors willing to switch over, particularly when they made the car less impressive rather than more so.

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Is there anything to suggest BMW support is gone?

This is what I wonder about as well, numerous times I've seen some doubtful comments about BMW's involvement and I'm curious where they come from.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Matt K

This is what I wonder about as well, numerous times I've seen some doubtful comments about BMW's involvement and I'm curious where they come from.

I think it was the fact that BMW are dropping at lot of their other programs. So depends on how much BMW Motorsport are connected with BMW UK.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by bella

the french series has a very decent sized grid (albeit without a national touring car series), so i think it's more that mini currently dominate the just-below-touring cars options in the uk (three seperate series, iirc?). there's just not enough competitors willing to switch over, particularly when they made the car less impressive rather than more so.

But IIRC there are several European series merged into a not so successful central European series. The Dutch Clio Cup is long gone.

Wasn't there also the issue with the latest cup car less powerful? Something teams/drivers didn't like.

[mark_l]

Do we know for certain that Team HARD are running 4 cars next year, 3 drivers have been announced but has there been any mention of a 4th?

I am wondering if the 4th TBL has moved from HARD to Laser Tools to run Carl Boardley and each of these two teams are just running 3 cars.

With TPR rumoured to be leaving the series I make it this would leave 30 TBL's in the hands of the teams, same as 2020. 2 TBL's being retained by TOCA.

[Alfisti]

I got one right! Cookie was putting ink on paper.

I believe Mr Procter may be his new buddy.

RWD Sonic is I believe a thing, think some timing of the announcement for sponsor benefit is why it's all quiet at the 2 BMW team.

I also hear WSR is as expected... only the one change that is no secret at all.

Still can't get a sniff about PMR though.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by mark_l

Do we know for certain that Team HARD are running 4 cars next year, 3 drivers have been announced but has there been any mention of a 4th?

I am wondering if the 4th TBL has moved from HARD to Laser Tools to run Carl Boardley and each of these two teams are just running 3 cars.

With TPR rumoured to be leaving the series I make it this would leave 30 TBL's in the hands of the teams, same as 2020. 2 TBL's being retained by TOCA.

Yeah, Tony has confirmed 4 Leons. The only non confirmed part is the pink (or brown) squishy bit in the seat. Nic I think if he gets the $$$ sorted.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by mark_l

Do we know for certain that Team HARD are running 4 cars next year, 3 drivers have been announced but has there been any mention of a 4th?

Team HARD, meanwhile, will operate four newly built Cupra Leons and has already confirmed Aron Taylor-Smith, Jack Goff and Glynn Geddie. A yet-to-be-announced driver will complete the line-up in the new year.

https://www.btcc.net/2020/12/24/team-hard-and-laser-tools-racing-join-forces/

[mark_l]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Yeah, Tony has confirmed 4 Leons. The only non confirmed part is the pink (or brown) squishy bit in the seat. Nic I think if he gets the $$$ sorted.

Can you give me a link to the press release confirming this, I am trying to trawl back through the announcements on btcc.net

[mark_l]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Team HARD, meanwhile, will operate four newly built Cupra Leons and has already confirmed Aron Taylor-Smith, Jack Goff and Glynn Geddie. A yet-to-be-announced driver will complete the line-up in the new year.

https://www.btcc.net/2020/12/24/team...g-join-forces/

Thanks, that was the next release I was going to read.

[touring fan01]

post deleted

[Jay87]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I got one right! Cookie was putting ink on paper.

I believe Mr Procter may be his new buddy.

RWD Sonic is I believe a thing, think some timing of the announcement for sponsor benefit is why it's all quiet at the 2 BMW team.

I also hear WSR is as expected... only the one change that is no secret at all.

Still can't get a sniff about PMR though.

No inside knowledge just thinking aloud but could it be that pmr don't intend to return and that is where the tbls have come from to run the rumoured 3rd dynamics car and 2nd Toyota

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Jay87

No inside knowledge just thinking aloud but could it be that pmr don't intend to return and that is where the tbls have come from to run the rumoured 3rd dynamics car and 2nd Toyota

Rumour seems to be that Motorbase will run 4 cars, although that sounds like it will be a merger of MB (Motorbase) and MB (Blundell). If so that frees up one TBL.

Today's BTC announcement made no reference to a third car, although I believe they had previously said they were planning for three. That may or may not free up another TBL; probably not.

TOCA have previously said that hey held back 2 TBLs for a future manufacturer entry. Possibly they could make one of those available for the second Toyota, although given Gow's desire to reduce numbers maybe that's not likely.

[porsche962fan]

why does Gow try to reduce grid numbers that much ?

if there were too many entries for some tracks they could have used the old F1 procedure, the worst placed teams/drivers in the standings have to pre-qualify

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Rumour seems to be that Motorbase will run 4 cars, although that sounds like it will be a merger of MB (Motorbase) and MB (Blundell). If so that frees up one TBL.

Today's BTC announcement made no reference to a third car, although I believe they had previously said they were planning for three. That may or may not free up another TBL; probably not.

TOCA have previously said that hey held back 2 TBLs for a future manufacturer entry. Possibly they could make one of those available for the second Toyota, although given Gow's desire to reduce numbers maybe that's not likely.

Don’t forget Simpson returned his TBL so TOCA hold their 2 ‘reserved’ ones plus 1, so Lord Gow may let one back out.

[mark_l]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

why does Gow try to reduce grid numbers that much ?

if there were too many entries for some tracks they could have used the old F1 procedure, the worst placed teams/drivers in the standings have to pre-qualify

At places like Oulton Park the back of the grid are hampered by being on the downhill slope at Deer Leep.

At Thruxton the back of the grid are nearly in the chicane, and at Knockhill they are nearly in Kelty.

[medius]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

why does Gow try to reduce grid numbers that much ?

if there were too many entries for some tracks they could have used the old F1 procedure, the worst placed teams/drivers in the standings have to pre-qualify

To reduce paddock crowding with all the supports/BTCC crews + hospitality. Every year the circus gets bigger but the tent doesn't. Nothing to do with the on-track product. Gow has said it many times in interviews the last 3-4 years that he wants to naturally reduce to a 20-22 car grid.

[mark_l]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

Don’t forget Simpson returned his TBL so TOCA hold their 2 ‘reserved’ ones plus 1, so Lord Gow may let one back out.

I make it 31, if PMR return with 2 cars, MB (Blundell) run the 2 cars they did this year and Motorbase run the 3 cars that they entered in 2020.

[thetool]

Gow's target is 26. Don't think he's ever suggested wanting it to fall as low as 20.

Remember, each entry is worth quite a bit of £££ to TOCA. They want to reduce the numbers a little bit to weed out the low quality entries that devalue the series.

If they thought they could sustainably attract 32 well-prepared cars with high calibre drivers then I'm sure that would be the target.

[Sodemo]

Why not just limit the amount of kit and tents etc that teams can bring? I’d prefer to see larger grid numbers than the mid 20s. They seemed to cope with 32 entrants for the past few years so it’s possible, it’s not like parting the seas.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Why not just limit the amount of kit and tents etc that teams can bring? I’d prefer to see larger grid numbers than the mid 20s. They seemed to cope with 32 entrants for the past few years so it’s possible, it’s not like parting the seas.

As we've seen this year, running a hospitality unit can be a huge part of how teams get their budget. Limiting what they can bring, or moving hospitality to outside of the paddock will be counter-productive.