BTCC 2019 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I don't see TV as being a major issue for a night race to be honest - maybe that is me being naive.

Our US brothers turn out and tune in to many a race that runs 'til late in the evening; so I think fans would not be a major stumbler: especially if you placed the night race before a non-school day: i.e. the Sunday of a bank holiday weekend or a Saturday evening.

Lighting the track would cost, but needn't necessarily be crippling. Plastic light columns and LEDs.

Stumbling blocks are likely with noise restrictions I should think: you'd be needing a circuit without near neighbours.

You'd also realistically be needing plenty of camping provision so folks aren't trying to drive home when tired out or on non existant public transport.

I can't see Gow going for another night race, or the teams. Even if it did happen, I doubt TOCA would light the track per se, you would need to light the corners so the marshalls could work if there was a car off and you would need to light the paddocks, public areas and car parks. Only place you could hold it would be Snett.

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

I would like to see a bit more variety
maybe bring back a proper "feature" race with pitstops or even go as far as a driver change endurance style for the last round of the season

Also if they want to call it the "option" tyre make it a bloody option!

I agree with btccbloke, the Le Mans-esque driver changes were great back in the day.

[S griffin]

Especially if you would get a star name in these events

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Especially if you would get a star name in these events

Yes indeed, some of course were former or future F1 Drivers like Damon Hill in 1989, reviving something like that would be great if it were possible.

[S griffin]

And who can forget a certain WRC champion throwing it off at the last corner

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by S griffin

And who can forget a certain WRC champion throwing it off at the last corner

Oh yes, Stig Blomqvist spinning at the last corner at Donnington in 1990.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Nononsensecapeesh

Yes indeed, some of course were former or future F1 Drivers like Damon Hill in 1989, reviving something like that would be great if it were possible.

The most recent F1 driver in BTCC was only 3 seasons ago - but I think the chances of more appearing are very slim.

The issue with trying to attract F1 drivers [to BTCC] nowadays is how far removed the series is with the routes to/from F1. It would be hard to imagine the likes of Stroll, Verstappen or even Max Chilton seeing BTCC as a step on the way towards a seat in F1.
Coming the other way - what appeal does BTCC carry nowadays to tempt a multi-millionaire into the seat?
Unless the name was someone from the sharp end of F1 - how much difference would it make to the BTCC profile getting in a 'big name'. Can you imagine any difference to ticket sales, or viewing figures, if someone like Jaime Alguersuari was to make an appearance. I don't even think Jolyon Palmer would make more than a few extra column inches for a round or two.

Hoping for big name F1 stars in BTCC is a bit like hoping for full-fledged manufacturer entries - a bygone era that will not return. Better to look at what BTCC can do to the current format to broaden the current audience. A feature race might help, and the recent Diamond Double was probably on the cusp of time that the majority of viewers will watch a race for. If it had been double distance it may not have gone down as well.

Driver changes are another thing that I think would be wrong for the current BTCC grid. Each driver is trying to make a name in his own right, and has to bring backing to fund their seat. The situation of Hill/HARD is complex enough, without introducing the issue of another driver potentially hampering his results.:

Plato would lose the ability to claim his car was set up worse than Sutton's.
Jordan and Tordoff may have to see their backing compromised if they were sharing seat time.
The grid may reduce in numbers, as each seat is being split two-ways.
At Cicely - who would get the first run? And what would be the impact on the other drivers if the first run saw accident or poor results?

Although thinking about it - it should be brought in soon. That way, Neal can drive for the first stint, and keep the car in prime condition. Then Cammish can unleash his full pace, without fear of having to save performance in the tyres/brakes for the later stages!

[Nononsensecapeesh]

A pipe dream obviously but people are entitled to have them.

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Especially if you would get a star name in these events

Get Honda to put Button in a Civic....

Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Nononsensecapeesh

Yes indeed, some of course were former or future F1 Drivers like Damon Hill in 1989, reviving something like that would be great if it were possible.

Ah, the benefits of hindsight.

Back then he wasn't Damon Hill, World Champion, or even Damon Hill, F1 driver, he was simply Damon Hill, bob-a-job rent-a-driver. As a great addition to the grid or a someone to draw in crowds, he was a nobody.

Who knows, 20 years from now this thread may get resurrected and we can all reminisce on how great it was when some future some world champion was once a Team HARD's driver of the week.


Serious point though; the BTCC doesn't need big name F1 drivers. There are plenty of good touring car drivers already in the series, and that's what makes it the success it is. Trying to live off the cachet of another series is just admitting defeat.

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

T
Plato would lose the ability to claim his car was set up worse than Sutton's.
Jordan and Tordoff may have to see their backing compromised if they were sharing seat time.
The grid may reduce in numbers, as each seat is being split two-ways.
At Cicely - who would get the first run? And what would be the impact on the other drivers if the first run saw accident or poor results?

Although thinking about it - it should be brought in soon. That way, Neal can drive for the first stint, and keep the car in prime condition. Then Cammish can unleash his full pace, without fear of having to save performance in the tyres/brakes for the later stages!

This is assuming it was to be teammates sharing, that wouldnt be ideal, I was thinking more driver 2 would be a guest driver. Take this year for a 1 off race there are plenty of talented drivers not in BTCC full time who could showcase themselves (think Mike Epps, Mat Jackson, Max Coates, Howard Fuller, Ollie Taylor, AWE...) who probably have some sort of connection to a team or driver. No need for Cammish and Neal to share etc, and no need for F1 hasbeens

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

This is assuming it was to be teammates sharing, that wouldnt be ideal, I was thinking more driver 2 would be a guest driver. Take this year for a 1 off race there are plenty of talented drivers not in BTCC full time who could showcase themselves (think Mike Epps, Mat Jackson, Max Coates, Howard Fuller, Ollie Taylor, AWE...) who probably have some sort of connection to a team or driver. No need for Cammish and Neal to share etc, and no need for F1 hasbeens

You got a point, could be drivers from the support categories like Clios or Ginettas, like I said before, it's a pipe dream but still...

It wasn't always F1 has-beens, some of them were F1 yet-to-bes

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by Nononsensecapeesh

You got a point, could be drivers from the support categories like Clios or Ginettas, like I said before, it's a pipe dream but still...

It wasn't always F1 has-beens, some of them were F1 yet-to-bes

Touring cars isnt really a conventional journey to F1, but as for the counter argument made about sponsors for people like Jordan and Tordoff, if required didnt Pirtek also sponsor Jamie Caroline, and Gardex is on one of the Clios (Dorlin?), so im sure things could be arranged to get another of the sponsors drivers involved.

But as you say its all a bit pipe dream unfortunately

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

Touring cars isnt really a conventional journey to F1, but as for the counter argument made about sponsors for people like Jordan and Tordoff, if required didnt Pirtek also sponsor Jamie Caroline, and Gardex is on one of the Clios (Dorlin?), so im sure things could be arranged to get another of the sponsors drivers involved.

But as you say its all a bit pipe dream unfortunately

At least as Matt Neal said, it was nice to have a change from the usual format, one-off or not.

[Pdh]

The reason there will never be a 2 driver race is the cars aren’t designed for it, the cockpit is designed around the driver so the pedals, wheel position and seating position isn’t easily adjustable like sat in a GT car
I very much doubt will we ever see a night race again because of the cost, Mr Gow is there to make money not spend it on a one off race which would be expensive and the tracks certainly wouldn’t pay for it because it wouldn’t make them money either
Pits stops may make a return one day but not any time soon the cars wheel nuts aren’t designed for fast style changes and some teams would have to move away from battery guns to fast pit stop style wheel guns

[Racer65]

Originally Posted by Pdh

The reason there will never be a 2 driver race is the cars aren’t designed for it, the cockpit is designed around the driver so the pedals, wheel position and seating position isn’t easily adjustable like sat in a GT car

It's all the same components in there that many series with 2 or more drivers use. The setup isn't adjustable in most shared cars. The drivers just compromise and have their own seat inserts.

BTCC doesn't go to the lengths of building the cockpit around a particular driver either. The pedal boxes and seats are off the shelf items. They don't mould the seat around the driver etc.

[Sodemo]

What costs are involved with doing a night race? Silverstone run the 24H there every year and its a really low budget series...?

[Pdh]

[QUOTE=Racer65;3841020]It's all the same components in there that many series with 2 or more drivers use. The setup isn't adjustable in most shared cars. The drivers just compromise and have their own seat inserts.

BTCC doesn't go to the lengths of building the cockpit around a particular driver either. The pedal boxes and seats are off the shelf items. They don't mould the seat around the driver etc

Well in GT cars the steering wheel is adjustable some pedal boxes are adjustable and the seats are on runners so they are very different to a btcc car

Well some teams do actually go to the lengths of building there cockpits to each driver because not all drivers are the same size, I’ve seen some cars from the same team have gear levels in different place, seats set different with seat mounded to the driver

[Racer65]

Perhaps, but not always. So it's definitely possible to have two (or more) driver BTCC races.

[Robin Marriott]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

What costs are involved with doing a night race? Silverstone run the 24H there every year and its a really low budget series...?

Lighting is the big one, you might not need to light the whole circuit but you need to light all the spectator walkways, toilets, the trade areas and so on. Site security and car parking staff will be more expensive at night.

Silverstone has an insane budget compared to the other BTCC circuits. They can afford permanent lighting around the circuit.

[Greem]

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

Lighting is the big one, you might not need to light the whole circuit but you need to light all the spectator walkways, toilets, the trade areas and so on. Site security and car parking staff will be more expensive at night.

Silverstone has an insane budget compared to the other BTCC circuits. They can afford permanent lighting around the circuit.

I wouldn't be too sure of that - a large majority of the income and expenditure for Silverstone is over a single weekend in July, everything else is chicken feed in comparison. There isn't a large pool of cash available for things like lights which would only get used once or twice a year.

Also, to light the circuit overnight (which isn't done for the 24 hour race, not even on corners) would almost certainly invoke the wrath of the neighbours.

In terms of other costs, the marshals cost nearly 10 times as much overnight

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by Greem

In terms of other costs, the marshals cost nearly 10 times as much overnight

maybe they can get east europeans who are much cheaper ?

[Alfaholic]

The other major problem with a night race is trying to find a circuit that doesn't have a curfew allowing them to run late evening races.
Brands Hatch - firm 18:30 stop to activities
Snetterton and Silverstone are the same with the exception of one(?) event per year like the 2CVs.
Thruxton, Oulton Park & Croft can't even start until midday on a Sunday so I'd guess they have a 18:00 or 18:30 curfew as well
Knockhill - no idea
Donington Park seems to be able to run later into the evening so could be a possibility
Rockingham has been running late Saturday evening Pickup Truck racing meetings (there's one tomorrow) but they're off the calendar next year.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

maybe they can get east europeans who are much cheaper ?

Not much time left before doomsday..eh sorry exit day.

[Greem]

I doubt it, very much...

How much is 10 times nowt?

Still, poor gag and irrelevant, so I'll withdraw it

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

maybe they can get east europeans who are much cheaper ?