[BTCC] BTCC 2022 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[Millvi]

https://twitter.com/SwindonPower/sta...TniVVd1kxLiftw

#PoweredbySwindon

Not MSport? So Excelr8 keeping Swindon unit and calling it a Hyundai engine?

[coffinpilot]

Looks dodgy, but that account has leaked embargoed news before, my main account got blocked when I followed it, check it with my business account every now and then. It did have the Alpine F1 launch photos up about 10 mins before they were published and the Williams renders.

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Millvi

https://twitter.com/SwindonPower/sta...TniVVd1kxLiftw

#PoweredbySwindon

Not MSport? So Excelr8 keeping Swindon unit and calling it a Hyundai engine?

Not sure they can do that if it isn't a Hyundai engine?

[mprmke]

Originally Posted by auroan

Come on. That's not what you said. Your comments were he was pretty much paying 200% for his drive... which is ludicrous.

I said that Chilton was covering his own drive, plus 50% at least one other driver in the time, which is correct. It's what Chilton has always brought to any team he's raced for.

How much of that is straight out of his own pocket and how much is down to the commercial partners he attracts is something no one can answer but those who are part of such deals, but that's the big attraction of Chilton, but he's a very solid driver. Always been around the top of the level below "elite", but has always been competitive and a race winner when in a decent seat.

[Squiggs]

Originally Posted by Andy Hamster

It has popped up on Twitter. Check #BTCC - click latest.
Does look a bit dodgy mind.

Not dodgy at all... Just been confirmed...

[mprmke]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Chilton's solid, but no megastar. Sometimes he has struggled to get results. 888 always had the attraction of being a big team, so Gio could have gone there anyway

Hopefully Chilton can show something this, it would be easier to find something else. He just needs a car and team he do justice in. Might take a bit of time with the Hyundai, but things should get better

888 were "the" team at the time, but is the late 2000's, even with decent works backing for the time, they couldn't have afforded Giovanardi without Chilton at the time.

As above, Chilton has always been a very solid driver. Not on the elite level of Turkington, Sutton or Plato and the like, but always amongst the best of the rest, but it's always been about the whole package with Chilton. His family's money and his commercial viability have always made him one of the most attractive drivers on the grid for any team. Ingram in 2022 may be a better driver, but Chilton is still more famous and still brings more to the team in many other ways than Ingram can, and that's how modern-day BTCC works.

Chilton's money and backing will help Exceler8 develop this season and grown them as a team, he gets himself back into what should be a very competitive seat and they get a very good driver to boot. Win/win for everyone involved.

[mprmke]

Originally Posted by Squiggs

Not dodgy at all... Just been confirmed...

Parfitt gets his wish. Another crack at the BTCC, in a RWD car...

[Robshillito1990]

Good to see him back he is a real character out of the car but Team HARD need to stop trying to run the entire field.

[Evantra]

So which one of you said he had a GT drive all signed and ready?

Difficult to see much improvement if he's on the (very large) HARD side of the garage. Back to two Laser Tools branded cars I assume.

[Pdh]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Something doesn't seem quite right about the rumour at the moment.

Apologies Andy Hamster if it seems cynical, but:

New poster opens with a driver / car combo that has been considered as highly unlikely previously.
Follows up with a 'screenshot of press release email claim'.
This morphs into an apparent photo of said driver, with details that are inconsistent with previous press releases.

In previous releases the Laser Tools side of the operation confirmed that they are planning to run a 3rd Infiniti under the Laser Tools banner.
In previous releases the HARD. side of the operation confirmed that they are running 2 Cupras under the Yazoo banner.

Now apparently we have an Infiniti driver, signed for HARD., promoted with Yazoo, yet the team name is Upton Steel with.....
Yet Tony Gilham has not primed us for an announcement in any way?

Does it sit right now with you

[Evantra]

Autosport:

"Following LTR’s split with former title-winning Subaru team BMR Racing, its Infinitis for Aiden Moffat and Dexter Patterson are being run out of Hard’s premises, and now one of the cars will be fielded for Parfitt under the Hard name alongside its regular four Cupras"


Also...

“The team clearly shares my passion for putting on a show, but at the same time is hugely focused on delivering consistent results."

Yep, certainly consistent.

[Robshillito1990]

Good to see him back he is a real character out of the car but Team HARD need to stop trying to run the entire field. 7 cars is a bit of a joke.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Millvi

https://twitter.com/SwindonPower/sta...TniVVd1kxLiftw

#PoweredbySwindon

Not MSport? So Excelr8 keeping Swindon unit and calling it a Hyundai engine?

hyundai engine built by swindon
https://www.touringcars.net/2021/07/...yundai-engines

[auroan]

Originally Posted by mprmke

888 were "the" team at the time, but is the late 2000's, even with decent works backing for the time, they couldn't have afforded Giovanardi without Chilton at the time.

As above, Chilton has always been a very solid driver. Not on the elite level of Turkington, Sutton or Plato and the like, but always amongst the best of the rest, but it's always been about the whole package with Chilton. His family's money and his commercial viability have always made him one of the most attractive drivers on the grid for any team. Ingram in 2022 may be a better driver, but Chilton is still more famous and still brings more to the team in many other ways than Ingram can, and that's how modern-day BTCC works.

Chilton's money and backing will help Exceler8 develop this season and grown them as a team, he gets himself back into what should be a very competitive seat and they get a very good driver to boot. Win/win for everyone involved.

Do you know Chiltons commercial deals ? Because based on the conversations I've had in and around various paddocks when I'm racing.... I'm off the slightly informed position that your vue is not the reality. But by all means we're here to share our opinions.

[Millvi]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

hyundai engine built by swindon
https://www.touringcars.net/2021/07/...yundai-engines

Looks like that deal has moved onwards then.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Pdh

Does it sit right now with you

So - I'll freely admit, I was cynical about it. But, turns out my cynicism was misplaced.

In my defence:

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

On a grammatical basis, you could argue that it is not an absolute that he won't be in the BTCC.

So it is possible that Parfitt may be trying to throw people off the scent, and the Rowbo example would indicate that it is a possibility.

[Steel Wheels]

On to the next left field conundrum. Bert Taylor posting on Instagram under a picture of a BTCC winners board ‘I really can’t wait for this to start #btcc simply the best’

So Smiley under his Restart Racing banner???

[crmalcolm]

So a few more announcements this week to move the grid forward.

Firstly, George Gamble at Ciceley gave us another JST entry.
Then we had Crees announced at PMR, which also confirmed the entry as being Astras (another JST entry).
We then got a change of title sponsor for EXCELR8's first two cars, giving them the longest name on the grid (Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com).
To round the week off, another JST entry in one of the most 'rumour-ish' reveals of the off-season so far as Parfitt Jr was announced at HARD. in a Q50.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by mprmke

Parfitt gets his wish. Another crack at the BTCC, in a RWD car...

And with Hexathron coming to HARD., then he might be really competitive.

[Pdh]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

So a few more announcements this week to move the grid forward.

Firstly, George Gamble at Ciceley gave us another JST entry.
Then we had Crees announced at PMR, which also confirmed the entry as being Astras (another JST entry).
We then got a change of title sponsor for EXCELR8's first two cars, giving them the longest name on the grid (Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com).
To round the week off, another JST entry in one of the most 'rumour-ish' reveals of the off-season so far as Parfitt Jr was announced at HARD. in a Q50.

I’m not sure if Crees will be a JST entry because he’s a previous winner

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

And with Hexathron coming to HARD., then he might be really competitive.

Seen others say that Hexathron are not too brilliant.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

On to the next left field conundrum. Bert Taylor posting on Instagram under a picture of a BTCC winners board ‘I really can’t wait for this to start #btcc simply the best’

So Smiley under his Restart Racing banner???

Can't be Bert. He used an apostrophe!

Hope Smiley can get a seat either way.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Pdh

I’m not sure if Crees will be a JST entry because he’s a previous winner

Yes, my mistake. I'd just looked at overall results and forgot about that rule.

[BTCC frog]

Originally Posted by Pdh

I’m not sure if Crees will be a JST entry because he’s a previous winner

Actually, from Autosport:
“I’m absolutely over the moon to be back in the BTCC, so glad to finally get a deal done,” said Crees, who remains eligible for the Jack Sears Trophy in 2022.

I don't know why though.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by BTCC frog

Actually, from Autosport:
“I’m absolutely over the moon to be back in the BTCC, so glad to finally get a deal done,” said Crees, who remains eligible for the Jack Sears Trophy in 2022.

I don't know why though.

I'd assume to bolster entries?