[BTCC] BTCC 2020 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[antnee]

Ollie Jackson is announcing something @ 6pm today.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by MagicBoy

GGR are back for 2020 with a RS500? Epic!

Old News

[DaviePHD]

Originally Posted by antnee

Ollie Jackson is announcing something @ 6pm today.

Yeah, taking bets anyone?

[Evantra]

Probably Motorbase, I would guess, although does it specifically state BTCC? Can see him doing well in GTs too.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by DaviePHD

Yeah, taking bets anyone?

What he's having for tea?

[Robshillito1990]

Team Hard.

[antnee]

Originally Posted by Robshillito1990

Team Hard.

I'm sure Hard put a while ago that they were announcing their final driver at the end of Jan - but I can't find the post now (maybe edited/deleted?)

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by antnee

I'm sure Hard put a while ago that they were announcing their final driver at the end of Jan - but I can't find the post now (maybe edited/deleted?)

I can't find that at the moment, but there is possibly some interesting insight from the comments HARD have made recently.

Gilham: 'our time with [the] Volkswagen CC’s is coming to an end due to the current regulations, which means we have a maximum of two years left with these cars. It’s a good time to start exploring all avenues as we look for a worthy successor.'

Gilham: 'to have Jack and Mike as a two-car pairing in 2020 is just fantastic'

So - if JG and MB are considered a pairing, and the team are exploring other options for the post-CC era, their final reveal might also be seen as a development opportunity?
At the least, it suggests they'll be running under a different sponsorship banner. Who is around that can bring a new title-sponsor for their drive?

[Robshillito1990]

So hes at motorbase and they're still using them rubbish Focuses urgh

[Csaba]

In a newly built Focus RS, which is good, but probably the same car.

http://www.btcc.net/2020/01/28/jacks...HBAlfJvrAMjjPU

[JDMROB]

Says in the btcc article that they are running newly built focus rs's. So that's the same car as the past 6 years then. How disappointing.

Cant see rory butcher leaving AMD and the civic to drive that? I think we can also knock shedden returning on the head now?

I hope I am wrong.

[Matt K]

So no new Focus ST. Probably no Vodafone and no Shedden. Can't see them moving up the order then.

[Alfisti]

Well, that's the widely known driver announced. Next up is the one I know I don't know with I believe Rory the racing car following.

It is a new build car. So maybe the weight has been improved on which will allow strategic ballast to bring it to minimum weight. The later Avensis knocked spots off the early ones, so the new car could be a lot better. Time will tell.

[Evantra]

Surprised at the Focus comments. It really isn't all that bad, was one of the quickest cars in 2018 and pretty decent in 2019 on a good weekend. Not the best NGTC car but certainly much better than some others.

[Robshillito1990]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Surprised at the Focus comments. It really isn't all that bad, was one of the quickest cars in 2018 and pretty decent in 2019 on a good weekend. Not the best NGTC car but certainly much better than some others.

Its rubbish. A few new body panels and they call it a "new build" even Giovanardi couldn't do anything with it. Chilton gave up on it aswell. Hopefully Butcher isnt there because it will be a step backwards and very much doubt Shedden would want to drive a mediocre at best car.

[JDMROB]

Thinking again. Could we see Ollie in an RS and 2 new build STs under another sponsor with Rory and Flash driving?

[porsche962fan]

only 6 seats left


Toyota Corolla - Speedworks - Tom Ingram

Honda Civic - Team Dynamics - Matt Neal
Honda Civic - Team Dynamics - Dan Cammish

Infiniti Q50 - Laser Tools - Aiden Moffat
Infiniti Q50 - Laser Tools - Ash Sutton

VW CC - HARD - Jack Goff
VW CC - HARD - Mike Bushell
VW CC - HARD - ??????

BMW 125 - HARD - Carl Boardley

BMW 125 - Team Parker - Stephen Jelley

BMW 3 - WSR - Colin Turkington
BMW 3 - WSR - Tom Oliphant
BMW 3 - WSR - Andrew Jordan

Mercedes - Ciceley - Adam Morgan
Mercedes - Ciceley - Daniel Rowbottom

Vauxhall Astra - PMR - Jason Plato
Vauxhall Astra - PMR - ????

Hyundai I30 - Excelr8 Motorsport - Rob Smith
Hyundai I30 - Excelr8 Motorsport - Senna Proctor

Audi S3 - TPC - Bobby Thompson
Audi S3 - TPC - James Gornall

Honda Civic - AMD - Jake Hill
Honda Civic - AMD - Sam Osborne

Honda Civic - BTC Racing - Josh Cook
Honda Civic - BTC Racing - Tom Chilton
Honda Civic - BTC Racing - Michael Crees

Honda Civic - Simpson Racing - Matt Simpson ??

Ford Focus - Motorbase - Ollie Jackson
Ford Focus - Motorbase - Rory Butcher ??
Ford Focus - Motorbase - ??

[Crazyknight]

Who says they’re gonna be running all three drivers in the same focus’ they might be running a split like ‘ard are

[Robshillito1990]

With the comment of PMR might have their most successful line up ever has anyone considered that Shedden could end up there? And Collard back at motorbase?

[Rob877]

To be fair, I think if there hadn't been the fallout between Mat Jackson and Motorbase he could've been on for a title. Chilton was right up there (ended up third iirc) and I would rate Jackson more highly than Chilton. Plus he had been at Motorbase for a long time so was settled with the team etc. 2019 seemed a much more difficult year for them to be fair though.

[porsche962fan]

JP actually allowing a team mate who can kick his *** ?

[mj088]

Originally Posted by Rob877

To be fair, I think if there hadn't been the fallout between Mat Jackson and Motorbase he could've been on for a title. Chilton was right up there (ended up third iirc) and I would rate Jackson more highly than Chilton. Plus he had been at Motorbase for a long time so was settled with the team etc. 2019 seemed a much more difficult year for them to be fair though.

Ship has sailed, Mat won't be back and Motorbase have to put up with the inferior Jackson.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

'An exclusive evening event on 16 March [...] other media interviews and activities.'

Maybe these other activities include a reveal or two.....

Activities.... hmmm, why do I suspect this will involve gravity increasing fluids being consumed...

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

JP actually allowing a team mate who can kick his *** ?

Yes. He has had very good in team competition before - Mssrs Muller and Sutton for example. And it's not like JP owns or runs PMR. He has influence undoubtedly, but he has nothing like the say in the running that some seem to imagine.

[Alfisti]

Wildish Motorbase thought (I have not seen the car so do not know!) but it could be the new shape Focus. The road going RS may not be on sale but it's just a badge on the race car - the roadcar engine, transmission, suspension etc etc don't get anywhere near the NGTC race cars.

A thought. Most likely wrong...