Racing Rivals

[ss_collins]

Well It was damn good TV.. More please

[chezza]

I wanted Stefan Hodgetts(or however its spelt) to win!!! Well done to Rob Huff though!!

At least on tdays programme the driving didn't seem to be too bad!

[Craig]

Huff seems to get involved in some big clashes but, more often than not, comes out on top. That is the sign of a good touring car driver and I'm sure he has a good career ahead of him now.

Race two live on ITV2 now... good stuff!

[chezza]

ohhh...wish I had ITV2...well any digital channels for that matter!

[Craig]

They're behaving very well in race two!

Huffy's out of the running though - broken car. It's currently Hodgetts from Shedden. Last lap.

[chezza]

Looks like they finally learnt how to race!!!

[touringlegend]

The good driving standards will be back for Brands Hatch Superprix, I'm sure..

Was it me or have RR nicked half the BTCC TV graphics, the commentator too, and the F1 pit correspondent!!??!!

[carrera]

Saw it for the first time today, thankfully it was on video so managed to condense it down to about ten minutes viewing. Appalling driving standards and even worse hair cuts!

[Les]

well done Huffy

[Spudgun]

I wanted Stefan to win.. Oh well, it wasn't to be. Okay so Huff has won the ETTC drive for next year alongside Plato. It would be a turn-up for the books if he outshone Plato, but we'll see..

If I was a team manager in the BTCC I'd certainly look at Stefan as a possibility. Wouldn't it be ironic if he landed a decent BTCC drive.

Plato said 2004 may be difficult for SEAT next year since they're still sorting out the car.

[SteveH]

well hang on! everyone who is into motor sport says 'hey more coverage'/ So, here it is! Take it, get sponsorship. You could enter the series with ITV!

[chezza]

Would be good to see stefan in the BTCC!!

[Les]

this series has been the making of Stefan. He always came across so shy when I talked to him but he seems really at ease with the interviews and fans now and his race craft was always good.

The comment from Plato about carrying too much baggage around (in his dad) was a little harsh.

[jamescrofts]

Hopefully we have seen the last of Emmet O'Brien.

[Rocktracer]

he is bit of a dirty driver isn't he JAmes... How did Thruxton go?

[jamescrofts]

Lee Caroline took 1 win and 1 second in the Tuscan races. Chris Stockton took his first win in the TVR Tuscan feature race. This is what we want not the SEAT racing idiots! (apart from Stefan)

James

[tally-bally-ho]

Well done Rob Huff. Can't believe all this *****ing - you jealous bunch, "daddy's got a big cheque book", er find me someone under 25 who can afford £75,000 + has time for racing, who's daddy hasn't got a big cheque book! As for the racing incidents, I don't think Rob's to blame for all of them really is he? Agree it will be tough being Plato's team mate up against the might of BMW and Alfa.

[chezza]

We haven't blamed any one driver have we?! We've just said all of the driving in the series has left a lot to be desired!

I'm not jealous, if I wanted to race I could...without daddy's cheque book, although not it that series!!!

[Maisie]

I've seen a couple of episodes of this, and I have to say I'm appalled!

1) This is not the impression of club racing we want newcomers to the sport to see.
2) This is not the sort of example to set to new racers.
3) I haven't seen any drivers that seem to have an ounce of mechanical sympathy. If they owned the cars themselves, I'm sure they'd be driving a whole heap differently!
4) They have absolutely no sympathy or respect for each other either. You can get 3-4 club racing Mini drivers abreast round Rockingham without panel damage, so there is no need to go shoving each other into the wall at over 100mph just because you're on TV! I'm amazed there hasn't been any serious injury in this series!
5) Surely any TV "talent contest" should be for newcomers to the sport, and not for has-beens and wannabes who have had their chance to impress in high-profile series (Fiestas, Clios etc). From what I saw of the general driving standards of this bunch, they don't deserve to be racing, and I think any one of them would be getting a huge wake-up call once they got to the ETCC!

[JR Ewing]

This is 'club racing,' Maisie??

[Keith Wheeler]

Wasn't it lucky that the advert break in race 2 came during the safety car period?!!

[Maisie]

Well, OK, it's a reasonably high level of racing, but only IMO on a par with, say, FPA, which I don't consider to be professional racing either. I'm not sure where the line is between club and pro racing, but I guess a lot has to do with the amount of money involved and who's paying for it!

[chezza]

I have to agree with Maisie...they've set a bad example.

I certainly wouldn't start racing if i thought that was what all racing was like.

Also none of them deserve an ETCC drive off the back of what they have done, I think they're gonna have a big shock in 2004 cos they're not going to be getting away with so much!!!

[Les]

it probably didn't help that the winner took all - nothing for second or third.
Of course that is going to add fuel to the flames.

[Craig]

Originally posted by Les
this series has been the making of Stefan. He always came across so shy when I talked to him but he seems really at ease with the interviews and fans now and his race craft was always good.

Every wondered if perhaps you scare him, Les?

Maisie, this series is hardly club racing, who do you think you are, Marcus Pye?!