2018 TCR UK

[touring fan01]

theres an article in Autosport magazine today about TCR UK.

it says that the "momentum for the series has come to an abrupt halt" and go on to say "it may not even get off the ground".

dead parrot.

[Sodemo]

Very sad to hear. I bet Alan Gow is dead chuffed though.

[Alfisti]

Laughing all the way to the fridge for a fresh tinnie to put in the barbie...

[Sodemo]

Then in 2-3 years time the BTCC announces its switching to TCR regs.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Then in 2-3 years time the BTCC announces its switching to TCR regs.

I can see that... though timescale will depend on how healthy the entry list continues to be I should think. And although BTCC looks in rude health, Tony Gilham had serious financial worries a few years back, Thorney had a rude awakening with real costs vs. what he understood they may be, Motorbase sat out half a season and BMR is not sat with a large chest full if dubloons (depending on who you listen to).

How many of the teams are commercially viable and not propped up by their enthusiastic owners? I'd say WSR and Dynamics with a degree of confidence, the rest?

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

How many of the teams are commercially viable and not propped up by their enthusiastic owners? I'd say WSR and Dynamics with a degree of confidence, the rest?

and thats exactly the same in all series - including tcr, nascar, formula one, indycar, australian supercars, dtm, etc etc

and football teams
and rugby teams
and so on and so on

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I can see that... though timescale will depend on how healthy the entry list continues to be I should think. And although BTCC looks in rude health, Tony Gilham had serious financial worries a few years back, Thorney had a rude awakening with real costs vs. what he understood they may be, Motorbase sat out half a season and BMR is not sat with a large chest full if dubloons (depending on who you listen to).

you can add to that the various crowd funding we have had for people like Rob Austin, Simon Belcher, Mike Bushell, Dan Welch etc to help them pay to nail their crippled cars back together post accidents... definitely not a cheap series for hobbyists to come out to play in

[S griffin]

Yet we have managed to season after season to get as close to capacity grids that makes little difference. I agree with the Autosport article, if there haven’t 2 or 3 more entries by this time next week, I think we can cynically say it’s not going to happen for TCR UK

[Sodemo]

I believe any series needs at least 12-15 cars to appear credible, anything less and it looks a bit desperate I think.

[antnee]

I wonder how small of an entry list the series organisers can afford? I would think the costs are based on around 15 car grids.

[VIVA GT]

It's chicken & egg really. Until more people sign up for the series (other) more people won't be encouraged to sign up for the series (because it doesn't look like there's going to be one).
I do believe that there is a place for TCR in the UK but there are too many vet=sted interests above (BTCC) and below (one-make) that will do thier utmost to stop it from happening.
Motorsport has always been an expensive hobby (I've been there in my own little way), but to me, the costs nowadays are more than eye watering.
I think that TCR could be like Group 1 / Group A of the 80's where wealthy or well sponsored competitors from local series could hop abroad (either to, or from the UK) to contest races elsewhere, we just need to get it up & running in the UK first. If only some of the manufacturers could get behind TCR UK, that would make a huge difference.

[Sodemo]

Yep, I remember Formula Ford Ecoboost which ran as a BTCC support. It started with about 5-6 cars, not a good spectacle really. Thankfully the racing actually wasn't bad.

[billy bleach]

No communication to teams, no decent Tv deal, early(expensive) round at Knockhill, generally presented in a clubby way , no wonder it hasn’t caught on

[codename_47]

Originally Posted by sceptic

So we have news of TCR UK's TV coverage: Highlights on Sky Sports, Front Runner and Motortrend on Demand.

The races (including support races) will be shown on Facebook.

On Facebook? Not youtube?

Oy yoy yoy!

I bet it'll all be from the championship co-ordinators mobile-phone on the pit gantry, filmed entirely on portrait instead of landscape so there's 2 black bars down the picture at all times :P

If the only thing that comes out of this mess is that is encourages the BTCC to stop being so backwards about social media it'd at least be something

C'mon Gow/ITV, even F1 is doing it now, stop hiding away from the modern world and get your races and extra content on youtube.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by codename_47

If the only thing that comes out of this mess is that is encourages the BTCC to stop being so backwards about social media it'd at least be something

C'mon Gow/ITV, even F1 is doing it now, stop hiding away from the modern world and get your races and extra content on youtube.

but all BTCC races are also live streamed via the itv or BTCC website, free of charge to your device (tablet or phone or computer) etc., as well of course free to air on ITV4. Also highlights available on whatever device through the internet.

[jakew7498]

Originally Posted by codename_47

On Facebook? Not youtube?

It's on YouTube. http://www.brscc.co.uk/tcr-uk-confir...eaming-details

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

but all BTCC races are also live streamed via the itv or BTCC website, free of charge to your device (tablet or phone or computer) etc., as well of course free to air on ITV4. Also highlights available on whatever device through the internet.

No live streaming outside UK.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by FIRE

No live streaming outside UK.

Those broadcasters who own the rights to BTCC outside the UK are free to stream it live in whichever countries they serve, they just choose not to. Presumably because the cost of doing so would be far greater than the revenue they could get back.

[redshoes]

Knockhill meeting to use the reverse (anti-clockwise) circuit configuration.

[Rob877]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Knockhill meeting to use the reverse (anti-clockwise) circuit configuration.

Bit of a daft move, Knockhill totally loses its appeal to me when I've attended meetings that run the circuit in reverse. Duffus Dip and the Chicane aren't anywhere near as much fun to spectate at.

[Moneyseeker]

I wonder if they got over giddy, as the initial idea to run as a support to British GT was more realistic.

'TCR UK had considered running as a support series to the British GT championship, but the organiser has elected to run with the British Racing and Sports Car Club (BRSCC) at the top of its own billing.
Of the equivalent 2017 meetings to the TCR UK calendar, only Knockhill is not a BRSCC meeting.
The series also confirmed that drivers will get at least two races irrelevant of how many entries the series receives.
If entries go above the maximum grid for UK circuits, which is 40 at some circuits but lower at others, the series will run to a different format, featuring qualifying and then an 'A' and a 'B' final race.'

[touring fan01]

and still no drivers have announced their firm commitment besides only the 3 or 4 who have

dead parrot

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

and still no drivers have announced their firm commitment besides only the 3 or 4 who have

dead parrot

Not even pining why does UK need ANOTHER tintop series Why doesn't the MSA just say no and not issue permits for this and other half baked series that never get off the ground?

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

and thats exactly the same in all series - including tcr, nascar, formula one, indycar, australian supercars, dtm, etc etc

and football teams
and rugby teams
and so on and so on

Where would WSR be without Collard and Jordan pay drivers?

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Not even pining why does UK need ANOTHER tintop series Why doesn't the MSA just say no and not issue permits for this and other half baked series that never get off the ground?

I don't think it's the MSAs job to shut down series based off of opinion like that. If the series is going to fail, it should be allowed to fail (or succeed) on its own, without having someone shut it down for them.