[BTCC] BTCC News & Rumours 2025

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by TyH

Been told that Nic Hamilton could well be running the 3rd Unlimited Cupra.

Thoughts on how plausible it is?

Presumably a 3rd car would be dependent on whether a deal can be struck to loan or acquire a PMR TBL. If that can/has been achieved then it could be plausible.

He knows the car well and Nic clearly has a determination to get back on the grid (judging by comments made in 2024) and through a strong work ethic and finding sponsors on his own has had an ability to raise sponsorship in the past. Whether he can find sponsorship in today's financial climate when others are struggling is another question.

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by TyH

Been told that Nic Hamilton could well be running the 3rd Unlimited Cupra.

Thoughts on how plausible it is?

Pretty plausible, they have the 3rd car and he has been known to want back into the series.

[Protonman]

Originally Posted by Pickles

Pretty plausible, they have the 3rd car and he has been known to want back into the series.

Quite possible . The Hamilton name and his profile can draw sponsors. Certainly has determination and I for one think he’s great not for pace but his refreshing attitude. Many would be moaning and complaining about triviality but he just gets his head down and goes for it. Gow would go for it and maybe even add a TBL is numbers required .
Going back to the One Engine deal , assume issues in 2022 was down to chassis it handled like it was on rails but was embarrassing on straights . They will have to adjust that this year

[Ant25]

Apparently we might be seeing an announcement from PMR soon according to another forum.

[Protonman]

Originally Posted by Ant25

Apparently we might be seeing an announcement from PMR soon according to another forum.

Hope it’s good news , if they have secured backing maybe Doble to continue with another. Watson return would be good but unlikely.

[MarcusH26]

Would be great to have Nic back on the grid , he's a fantastic ambassador for the series and obviously has experience with the Cupra.

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

Would be great to have Nic back on the grid , he's a fantastic ambassador for the series and obviously has experience with the Cupra.

I wonder if the TBL might be coming from Speedworks or Excelr8 if the rumours that PMR are sorted are true & that we might not see the 4th car from either Speedworks or Excelr8?

[tocatrucky]

Tom Ingram giving a short walkaround Dynamics and talk through the i30N. New builds for Exceler8 this year.

https://youtu.be/mnEtcaNkVMk?si=aqcuzNHFxLe6eIJ4

[Dudley]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

I read online today that they changed their print company because of the change in paper quality and hard spine, and need to have most of the writing in much earlier than when they were weekly, but that means that the gap between print and release is longer, but the print company organise the delivery to subscribers, which explains why some arrive earlier.

Autosport used to print on Tuesday for Thursday release.

I don't know what they do now but monthly magazines I do know about often have a print deadline 2 weeks ahead, with subscribers getting the magazine anything up to a week before the shops.

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by Jiiiiiiim

I wonder if the TBL might be coming from Speedworks or Excelr8 if the rumours that PMR are sorted are true & that we might not see the 4th car from either Speedworks or Excelr8?

I wouldn't be surprised because it's Nic if Alan Gow gives them one of the TOCA ones he keeps back in spare. Think Speedworks will fill that fourth seat but I have a suspicion Excler8 is Zelos or don't run the fourth.

[tee.1s]

Have there been any updates surrounding Bobby Thompson's bid for that final seat at Speedworks?

[MarcusH26]

Don't know if anyone else caught it yesterday but Friday livery announcement for the Excler8 Vertu cars. Looks like it's at St Andrews , the home of Birmingham City.

[Protonman]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

Don't know if anyone else caught it yesterday but Friday livery announcement for the Excler8 Vertu cars. Looks like it's at St Andrews , the home of Birmingham City.

Would be good if it also confirmed a little certainty on the 4th car . Will they all have roughly the same look or will one or two have separate liveries like that of Halstead last year ? Morgan has occasionally surprised with new sponsors (think Car Gods in the past)

[RoadFool]

Car Gods had to be the worse livery ever, especially for a car cleaning product lol.

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by RoadFool

Car Gods had to be the worse livery ever, especially for a car cleaning product lol.

All I remember with them was some really badly made announcement video with some definitely not BTCC engine sounds and Crofty commentary

[Protonman]

Pre Christmas they indicated a bright green with elements of the old blue and white of last year . Bit messy ! Pearson last year had a slightly different scheme with allegiance to the Scottish part of BSM . Now everything is under the one name I hope they have a universal branding . Ingram will of course make room for his personal sponsors who have backed him for years .

[RoadFool]

Yeah I hope the new livery has been properly penned and not just a rehash of the old one as seen previously like you pointed out.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

It beat every other form of media in breaking the Shedden news!

Because every other form of media was sticking to the Monday embargo.

[Millvi]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

I wouldn't be surprised because it's Nic if Alan Gow gives them one of the TOCA ones he keeps back in spare. Think Speedworks will fill that fourth seat but I have a suspicion Excler8 is Zelos or don't run the fourth.

I'm in agreement with your thinking there. Especially so with regards to Zelos. The team clearly really do want him as their top choice for that final seat. Hence them joining in with the Social Media push to share his push for additional sponsors. Zelos would be a good man for a strong Jack Sears campaign for 2025.

Crees still pushing for a seat, perhaps Unlimited as the prime seat for him? Competition with Hamilton? Or Crees in a third Cupra with Unlimited and Hamilton in a Toyota?

If PMR run in 2025 perhaps Doble + Halstead?

Final seat at One Motorsport to go to Jade or Watson or Proctor? But all 3 of them seem very quiet. I'd reckon Jade and Proctor short of budget and Watson could afford a drive there?

If things play out anything close to that then we have a quality field for 2025. Here's hoping.....

[antnee]

I thought Proctor's money came from family?

[MarcusH26]

Would still be very surprised to see Watson back on the grid. Expect he'll be in British GT or GTWC.

The 4th Toyota I would absolutely love to be Thompson but I can see him being outbid unless Toyota are kicking some funds in for a proper tilt. One I'm still expecting to be Proctor and I guess PMR is a wait and see

[Protonman]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

Would still be very surprised to see Watson back on the grid. Expect he'll be in British GT or GTWC.

The 4th Toyota I would absolutely love to be Thompson but I can see him being outbid unless Toyota are kicking some funds in for a proper tilt. One I'm still expecting to be Proctor and I guess PMR is a wait and see

Both the alternatives for Watson are filling up seats without him thus far . Would be surprised if he sat out completely given he has been ok for funds thus far , unless his backers have pulled out . Wasn’t he also one favoured by Mark Blundell. ?
For Doble think he will try elsewhere rather than wait for PMR unless their situation has eased .
With regard to One , a name that popped into my head is Carl Boardley . He appears to have dropped off TCR entry , maybe little more to prove their having won title twice , BTCC may appeal more now that hybrid has gone . With lighter car it’s more like his origins in short track racing . He prefers to have a hand in car prep which conflicts with many teams . He could also be a candidate for a third Cupra at unlimited .

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by Protonman

Both the alternatives for Watson are filling up seats without him thus far . Would be surprised if he sat out completely given he has been ok for funds thus far , unless his backers have pulled out . Wasn’t he also one favoured by Mark Blundell. ?
For Doble think he will try elsewhere rather than wait for PMR unless their situation has eased .
With regard to One , a name that popped into my head is Carl Boardley . He appears to have dropped off TCR entry , maybe little more to prove their having won title twice , BTCC may appeal more now that hybrid has gone . With lighter car it’s more like his origins in short track racing . He prefers to have a hand in car prep which conflicts with many teams . He could also be a candidate for a third Cupra at unlimited .

Watson is managed by MB.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Overboost

Watson is managed by MB.

Watson has stepped away

[auroan]

Originally Posted by Protonman

Both the alternatives for Watson are filling up seats without him thus far . Would be surprised if he sat out completely given he has been ok for funds thus far , unless his backers have pulled out . Wasn’t he also one favoured by Mark Blundell. ?
For Doble think he will try elsewhere rather than wait for PMR unless their situation has eased .
With regard to One , a name that popped into my head is Carl Boardley . He appears to have dropped off TCR entry , maybe little more to prove their having won title twice , BTCC may appeal more now that hybrid has gone . With lighter car it’s more like his origins in short track racing . He prefers to have a hand in car prep which conflicts with many teams . He could also be a candidate for a third Cupra at unlimited .

If the info I have is accurate, via the team who ran Boardly in TCR, he won't be back in BTCC.