BTCC 2019 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[mprmke]

MJ is one of the most interested and dedicated racers in the BTCC. He had a drive last season and it was snatched away from him. No matter who’s side you’re on with what went on there, it was a crying shame that he wasn’t able to race last season and it was Bartrum/Motorbase cutting off their nose to spite their face.

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by mprmke

MJ is one of the most interested and dedicated racers in the BTCC. He had a drive last season and it was snatched away from him. No matter who’s side you’re on with what went on there, it was a crying shame that he wasn’t able to race last season and it was Bartrum/Motorbase cutting off their nose to spite their face.

I completely agree re Bartrum cutting off his nose to spite his face, (I also think him signing Ollie this year is just an attempt at trolling on his part) but I don't see Jackson coming back or how he can be realistically liked to BTC on anything aside from wishful thinking.

Being "interested and dedicated" means very little when a team wants assured finances, just ask Jack Goff for instance.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by mprmke

MJ is one of the most interested and dedicated racers in the BTCC. He had a drive last season and it was snatched away from him. No matter who’s side you’re on with what went on there, it was a crying shame that he wasn’t able to race last season and it was Bartrum/Motorbase cutting off their nose to spite their face.

“Snatched away”? I thought the statements last year made it clear he turned his back on Motor base for what he thought was a better deal? But hey it’s all in the past maybe he has found a sack of cash

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

I don't see this, He's not exactly someone renowned for bringing budget, as a Jackson fan, this might be a nice story but money talks over talent these days, and considering his radio silence since the end of 2017 I'm not sure he's even that interested. There are 3 contenders for me would be Goff who has talent but no money, Cole has a tie in with BTC sponsors but that may not be enough, Plato ticks all the boxes - talent (assuming he still has it) and money

Jackson's enforced 'year off'ended up being very good for him financially (not so for the other party involved), so along with his backers he isn't short of racing funds for 2019.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I'm confident Bert has FK8's. The James Cole rumour fits nicely as he likely has a title sponsor, thus potentially two very different liveries. Or is it actually young Nic H or the panto villain?

The FK2s may well appear in Stewart Lines championship, would go some way to funding the FK8's.

I would think Norlin is the third priciest ride after WSR and Dynamics? Or am I wide of the mark?

Interesting line at the end of 2018 from BTC.

Bert Taylor, 2nd Oct 18: “Watch out for our 2019 announcements that will be made sooner than you might expect, it is going to be a cracker!”


Now that ASI has been and gone (when most people may expect announcements), and there are still no announcements from BTC except for the confirmed entry on the TBL list, is it a case of something seemed to be in place, but has now fallen through?

Or has someone/something else become available that they are looking for?

[Alfisti]

A late in the day deal for running works Kias with JP? 🤔🙄

It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings. Or rather, media day...

[mprmke]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

“Snatched away”? I thought the statements last year made it clear he turned his back on Motor base for what he thought was a better deal? But hey it’s all in the past maybe he has found a sack of cash

Like I say, it’s open to debate who you think was in the right and in the wrong, but Bartrum made it impossible for him to leave and then as soon as the other team announced their new driver he was sacked, with no time left for him to realistically find an alternative.

It did, however, leave him with a lot more time and motivation to try and sort a good drive for 2019.....

[mprmke]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

A late in the day deal for running works Kias with JP? 🤔🙄

It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings. Or rather, media day...

TBL’s are all allocated and whilst that doesn’t mean 100% they can’t be transfered, a new team like that is highly unlikely at this stage.

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by mprmke

Like I say, it’s open to debate who you think was in the right and in the wrong, but Bartrum made it impossible for him to leave and then as soon as the other team announced their new driver he was sacked, with no time left for him to realistically find an alternative.

It did, however, leave him with a lot more time and motivation to try and sort a good drive for 2019.....

I agree Bartrum acted a c**k and i lost a lot of respect for Motorbase that day.
but thats a story for 12 months ago

[S griffin]

I wonder if Stockton is making a return to BTC

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by mprmke

TBL’s are all allocated and whilst that doesn’t mean 100% they can’t be transfered, a new team like that is highly unlikely at this stage.

For clarity that was a joking BTC reference to an earlier post.

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by mprmke

TBL’s are all allocated and whilst that doesn’t mean 100% they can’t be transfered, a new team like that is highly unlikely at this stage.

I dunno how "unlikely", whilst Alan Gow wants a reduced grid, only allocated 30 TBL's blah blah blah.... i wouldnt say he couldnt change his mind for the right offer and give out one of the spares



Remember 2016 when BKR were given the 2 loan TBL about a week before media day for the VWs?


Pretty sure if there was something going on in the background and someone turned up with a works backed team, decent drivers and a "take my money" attitude he could be persuaded

[MagicBoy]

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

I had an argument with him on Twitter, it’s definitey not an act, his ego is as massive as his nose.

Ditto. One tongue in cheek comment and I got blocked for eternity. Ironic as I quite like him...

Originally Posted by Jiiiiiiim

There is one driver no-one seems to of mentioned who has a decent amount of backing and won’t be returning with the team he raced for last year - James Cole. His recent comments seem to point to him being back on the grid again this year.

I'm sure BMR will happy take his money!

[porsche962fan]

anyone know what happened with the Speedworks Avensis ? is it scrapped for parts ?


given how comoetitve it was I assume there would be buyers interested in it !!

[MagicBoy]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

anyone know what happened with the Speedworks Avensis ? is it scrapped for parts ?


given how comoetitve it was I assume there would be buyers interested in it !!

The standard parts will likely be transferred into the Corolla, which leaves just the shell...

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by mprmke

TBL’s are all allocated and whilst that doesn’t mean 100% they can’t be transfered, a new team like that is highly unlikely at this stage.

the teams all know 100% that no transfer of a TBL can happen after december 1st

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by MagicBoy

The standard parts will likely be transferred into the Corolla, which leaves just the shell...

Which is useful to someone somewhere with whatever version of subframe fitted to it. The ex-Wrathall/Morgan/Wood-Lines/Hard Avensis being a good case. Stripped, rebuilt, stripped again, rebuilt.

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by Overboost

Jackson's enforced 'year off'ended up being very good for him financially (not so for the other party involved), so along with his backers he isn't short of racing funds for 2019.

I suppose this could be plausible as to the reason Motorbase had to sell on the TCR Golf's they bought pretty sharpish after the Jackson "sabbatical" announcements

[Pdh]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

I suppose this could be plausible as to the reason Motorbase had to sell on the TCR Golf's they bought pretty sharpish after the Jackson "sabbatical" announcements

Not sure that had anything to do with it, more the fact the championship they were looking at running them in was very poor

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by Pdh

Not sure that had anything to do with it, more the fact the championship they were looking at running them in was very poor

They were not bought just for TCR UK

"It opens up a lot more opportunities for us as a team as we now have a stable of cars that we can take all over the world, we’re no longer limited to just the UK market which is a downside of the BTCC"

Massive investment to just sell them on 3 months or so later, could this have been to help a pay off and stay away for a year agreement?

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

They were not bought just for TCR UK

"It opens up a lot more opportunities for us as a team as we now have a stable of cars that we can take all over the world, we’re no longer limited to just the UK market which is a downside of the BTCC"

Massive investment to just sell them on 3 months or so later, could this have been to help a pay off and stay away for a year agreement?

ridiculous
why on earth would motorbase have to pay Jackson to stay away for a year!

[Alfisti]

As I know it - and I'm not "in" at Motorbase - Jacksons contract was terminated as he (Jackson) had breached terms by sucking up to Dynamics. I suspect Barty paid his brief for advice and a "stuff you fat boy" letter and that's where the expenditure ended. Jackson couldn't race in BTCC as Gow/TOCA wouldn't allow it - which is why AmD couldn't run Hill. He who tries to shaft his contracted team shall stand in the corner for the duration.

[redshoes]

Motorbase sold the Golf because they anyone who wanted to pay to drive it. Far better to sell it straight away and make loss than to leave an asset gathering dust then make a bigger loss selling it a year later.

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

ridiculous
why on earth would motorbase have to pay Jackson to stay away for a year!

I agree that it seems odd, but Overboost is normally quite reliable and his comment was

Jackson's enforced 'year off'ended up being very good for him financially (not so for the other party involved),"

I cannot see why Jackson not racing was "good for him financially" and "not so the other party" (i assume motorbase)??

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by MagicBoy

I'm sure BMR will happy take his money!

Not in exchange for a drive... at least not this year, as they have two drivers signed already.

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

anyone know what happened with the Speedworks Avensis ? is it scrapped for parts ?

Originally Posted by MagicBoy

The standard parts will likely be transferred into the Corolla, which leaves just the shell...

The team isn't planning on using any parts from the Avensis for the Corolla. Indeed they may even run the two cars back to back in pre-season testing to give them an idea how good the Corolla is.