BTCC 2019 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

Kind of knew Laser Tools would switch but I thought it would be next year, the Merc is going nowhere (same with Cicerly - im expecting them to change something up before next season) so makes sense to get some race distances under their belt to understand the car and where it is before a full assault next year.

Odds on Team Hard running 3 mercs next year now?

Would make sense for cicely to move to c class.


Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk

[dwh43scale]

Thinking of heading to the tyre test at Snetterton on Wednesday. Can anyone confirm if the day is timetabled and is it just BTCC or are support series there as well ? Do teams tend to do a lot of mileage ? Thanks !

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by dwh43scale

Thinking of heading to the tyre test at Snetterton on Wednesday. Can anyone confirm if the day is timetabled and is it just BTCC or are support series there as well ? Do teams tend to do a lot of mileage ? Thanks !

Just Btcc, I made it up a few years ago as was visiting friends in Suffolk that week and it rained so spent most of the day in the car eating sandwiches, but teams were putting the laps in and it was generally an open pit to go and talk to people and grab pictures etc.
I think thr cafe and toilets etc were open but don't expect burger stands and ice cream vans you get at an actual weekend event

[andrewc]

Reasonable mileage according to the timing data from last years event here: https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=T.../182841trg.pdf

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by Johno.UK

Like Moffats reply to a post on the BTCC facebook group.


post - "Now he can be mediocre in a nice new model"


reply - "there’s a second one there if you want to put your money where you keyboard warrior mouth is"

Nice one. I rate this young man highly and have done long before his first BTCC outing in the Cruze. If he and his team can develop the car then there's no good reason it can't be a good 'un. RWD should help at some tracks, and aero wise eyesight says it's going to be cleaner through the air than the A Class.

Wondering if we'll see the A Class on track with another team in the future or whether the Laser boys have stripped it of bits for the Infiniti? Have to wonder Ciceley are working on something for next year too...

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by dwh43scale

Can anyone confirm if the day is timetabled and is it just BTCC or are support series there as well ?

AM session starts at 9, PM session finishes at 5, an hour for lunch in the middle.

Just BTCC teams. Paddock dinner will be open but don't expect any burger vans. Don't expect any commentary.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

aero wise eyesight says it's going to be cleaner through the air than the A Class.

Not a perfect measure, but a good indication of cleanness through the air of the base models can be derived from the coefficient of drag and frontal area figures:

Model	Cd	Area m^2	CdA
G20 3-Series	0.23	2.22	0.51
Q50	0.26	N/K	N/K
Civic FK8	0.26	N/K	N/K
Civic FK2	0.27	N/K	N/K
A-Class	0.28	2.2	0.62
Avensis	0.28	N/K	N/K
VW CC	0.3	N/K	N/K
A4	0.31	2.2	0.68
Giulietta	0.31	N/K	N/K
F20 1-Series	0.32	2.14	0.68
Giulia	0.32	N/K	N/K
Corolla	0.32	N/K	N/K
S3	0.34	2.13	0.72
Focus RS	0.36	N/K	N/K

[Alfisti]

Genuinely surprised that the A Class figure wasn't higher - I imagined it would be on par with the slab fronted Giulietta.

[Lancsbreaker]

I see that HMS are bringing Rob Austin out to the tyre test to dust the cobwebs off the Alfa



Talking to the team at the AROC National Alfa Day where they had the second car on display they were pretty confident that they'll be back next year

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Genuinely surprised that the A Class figure wasn't higher - I imagined it would be on par with the slab fronted Giulietta.

Some manufacturers (typically those of higher priced cars) spend a lot of time on improving their aero. It's one of the unseen factors that makes makes them better engineered cars over cheaper alternatives.

The new A-Class saloon has a very impressive Cd of 0.22, but a lot of work goes into getting that figure.

'the A-Class's aerodynamics were managed by minimizing the car's frontal area on the drawing board, developing sealing further to include even the headlamp surroundings, and paneling nearly the entire underbody, including the engine bay and rear axle. There's also an optional shutter system for the radiator grille on some markets, to further reroute airflow.'

[dwh43scale]

Thanks for the info.

[Sodemo]

Can someone knowledge me? What are the NGTC rules for the car’s underbodies? Are flat bottoms allowed?

[Alfisti]

I know WSR had worked hard on a flat bottom (must stop sniggering) on the 1. And were then made to take it away for 2018.

Cue crmalcolm rule book in hand...

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Can someone knowledge me? What are the NGTC rules for the car’s underbodies? Are flat bottoms allowed?

only under the front part. under the engine area
not the whole underbody

[btccbloke]

Something that I'm surprised we haven't discussed a bit more is what's happened to engineer Geoff Kingston? I assume he is still with Matt Simpson but for a man of such reputation, last year he went to Team Hard, they went backwards, this year same with Simpson.

[S griffin]

I heard on the commentary at Croft that he's left Simpson and he is on the market again

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I heard on the commentary at Croft that he's left Simpson and he is on the market again

Correct - he is no longer with the team

[Alfisti]

Damaged goods I think. Would fit in at Ferrari F1!

[S griffin]

I’ve met him a few times and I guess he hasn’t really gelled with HARD and Simpson, the same way he did with Colin and Tingram

[Matt K]

Maybe BMR should try and engage him to their team. This could be a boost for the team as they struggle this year even in places where they usually did well.

[S griffin]

He did work with them in 2014, but that was because Menu was there

[billy bleach]

BTCC official news feed trumpeting Austin’s “pace “ at the Snetterton test. New tyres, weight out low fuel and goodness knows how much boost. No only did he make the regulars look stupid now the Championship has joined in as well. Maybe he should show up at Snetterton race and show everybody what he really has...

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by S griffin

He did work with them in 2014, but that was because Menu was there

You're right, I forgot about that!

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

BTCC official news feed trumpeting Austin’s “pace “ at the Snetterton test. New tyres, weight out low fuel and goodness knows how much boost. No only did he make the regulars look stupid now the Championship has joined in as well. Maybe he should show up at Snetterton race and show everybody what he really has...

Ridiculous low weight/high boost lap for a time he couldn't replicate in that car in normal conditions if his life depended on it.

So why is the official feed is now covering people not actually in the championship? why are they at official tests?
Yes they have a TBL loaned out but by definition that stopped them being involved.

How many other teams with nothing but aspirations have been given this treatment to help them get sponsors again?

[S griffin]

Typical glory run to attract backing?