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

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Johno.UK

I would think everyone on the grid with a spare 500k would want that seat.

If you gathered everyone on the grid with a spare 500k together, would you need to buy a family meal or a meal for one?

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by mprmke

Honda’s manufacturer backing will be coming to an end before too long. Shedden really wants a BTCC return, so if you add all the things into the mix there’s a “rumour” to be found in there.

"Before too long" so not this season, Honda do well out of BTCC so I don't know where the source of this is from other than Honda pulling their factory out of the UK in a couple of years.
Dynamics have at least 2 cars ready made up, so they dont require a manufacturer support for supply of shells etc, if the backing is reduced then sponsorship would be required to fill the budget gap - same as other teams, it would be a brave move to bring in a new car for 2020 with the bigger regulation changes in 2021.
Considering the issues with Brexit, I am not convinced a big German automotive manufacturer will be committed to targeting UK sales in 2020/21 until there is a bit more stability.

I haven't seen anywhere Shedden is desperate to return to the BTCC, is there an article about this out there?

[Racing Harz]

Very exciting news for Cayman owners! @PorscheGB
@PorscheRaces
unveils "Porsche Sprint Challenge GB ….. feature the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport”. Split programme between BTCC and Brit GT support slots.

https://twitter.com/addison1972/stat...96774911791104

[S griffin]

So I wonder if there are any new independent teams planning to come in?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

"Before too long" so not this season, Honda do well out of BTCC so I don't know where the source of this is from other than Honda pulling their factory out of the UK in a couple of years.
Dynamics have at least 2 cars ready made up, so they dont require a manufacturer support for supply of shells etc, if the backing is reduced then sponsorship would be required to fill the budget gap - same as other teams, it would be a brave move to bring in a new car for 2020 with the bigger regulation changes in 2021.
Considering the issues with Brexit, I am not convinced a big German automotive manufacturer will be committed to targeting UK sales in 2020/21 until there is a bit more stability.

I haven't seen anywhere Shedden is desperate to return to the BTCC, is there an article about this out there?

It all seems a bit like wild speculation at the moment rather than being based on anything definitive coming from Dynamics, Honda, Audi or Shedden.

Since taking the ex-factory Civics in 2004, they have remained with the brand despite only receiving factory backing for part of this period. It would appear (at least from the outside) that it would take a significant investment from another manufacturer to make Dynamics change marques in the BTCC.

In fact recently, Dan Cammish has actually been upping his cross-promotion of Honda products across the social media platforms, so if a departure from the marque was expected soon it doesn't seem to have reached Dan's inbox?

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

https://twitter.com/addison1972/stat...96774911791104

Hopefully it'll get a good sized grid as GT4 racing is usually pretty entertaining - though with British GT and Ginetta Supercup doing well, it sounds a bit like a TCR UK-type situation. Maybe stick them on the back of the Carrera Cup grid.

Edit - Will be for Silverstone National and Croft. Sounds like that will be instead of the Carreras for those circuits but wasn't very clear in the article.

[mprmke]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

It all seems a bit like wild speculation at the moment rather than being based on anything definitive coming from Dynamics, Honda, Audi or Shedden.

There's still plenty of racing left in the 2019 season yet, so anything at this stage will be a "punt".

Honda have been "close" to pulling out for about 5 years now and at one point it took considerable persuasion for TD for them not to, although things have settled down since then, but I think when they pull out of UK production it might become difficult. TD will be well aware of this and will have a plan in place for if/when this does happen.

Shedden wants to come back. He didn't want to leave in the first place. Take that as a given. He WILL be back. No one knows whether it will be next season or further down the line, but he will be back.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by mprmke

He didn't want to leave in the first place. Take that as a given.

And yet when he left, Team Dynamics, Honda UK, and Shedden himself all stated that is was his decision to leave and take on another opportunity.
Neal: 'He’s got a new and exciting opportunity and we would never hold him back from that.' Team Dynamics then had to search for a replacement?

Originally Posted by mprmke

Honda have been "close" to pulling out for about 5 years now and at one point it took considerable persuasion for TD for them not to, although things have settled down since then, but I think when they pull out of UK production it might become difficult. TD will be well aware of this and will have a plan in place for if/when this does happen.

Honda removed their backing as recently as 2016 only providing some technical support, so it's something Dynamics have already been faced with in the past. The main Honda backing comes from the credit services and dealer network, rather than the main production arm anyway, so a lack of production in the UK need not affect their involvement in BTCC.
They probably do have a plan in mind, but where does the Audi suggestion come from?

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by mprmke

There's still plenty of racing left in the 2019 season yet, so anything at this stage will be a "punt".

Honda have been "close" to pulling out for about 5 years now and at one point it took considerable persuasion for TD for them not to, although things have settled down since then, but I think when they pull out of UK production it might become difficult. TD will be well aware of this and will have a plan in place for if/when this does happen.

Shedden wants to come back. He didn't want to leave in the first place. Take that as a given. He WILL be back. No one knows whether it will be next season or further down the line, but he will be back.

Motorsport support is driven by sales. I does not matter where the cars are made, its sales that are king

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Motorsport support is driven by sales. I does not matter where the cars are made, its sales that are king

Current BTCC manufacturer entries with UK production:
Vauxhall Astra, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic.

Current BTCC manufacturer entries without UK production:
BMW 330, Subaru Levorg.

We've also recently seen MG and Infiniti as manufacturer entries. Moving the Civic production outside of the UK will not make a bit of difference to Honda UK's decision to support Team Dynamics or not.

[Johno.UK]

Anyone fancy joining the grid?

https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/De...l-toca-licence

[touringlegend]

So if the Merc is for sale with a TBL what are the Moffats doing?

Leaving BTCC altogether?
Gettting backing from Infiniti and the guest TBLS from Toca.

Or something else

[Maxpower1]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

So if the Merc is for sale with a TBL what are the Moffats doing?

Leaving BTCC altogether?
Gettting backing from Infiniti and the guest TBLS from Toca.

Or something else

My money is on bought another team with two tbls with the plan of running a second infinity in 2020.

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

So if the Merc is for sale with a TBL what are the Moffats doing?



Leaving BTCC altogether?

Gettting backing from Infiniti and the guest TBLS from Toca.



Or something else

Infiniti are withdrawing from the UK and Western Europe market in 2020, so no backing from them..

Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

So if the Merc is for sale with a TBL what are the Moffats doing?

Leaving BTCC altogether?
Gettting backing from Infiniti and the guest TBLS from Toca.

Or something else

Purchased another team with 2 TBLs and running both Infinitis

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Pickles

Purchased another team with 2 TBLs and running both Infinitis

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Pickles

Purchased another team with 2 TBLs and running both Infinitis

Ooh... that makes sense. Silly season has begun then!

BMR are the only 2 car team I can see leaving? (Though not convinced the Infinitis are going to be much higher up the grid than the Subarus...)

[touringlegend]

If that’s the case then it opens more questions.

What team is selling up. Or my own thoughts are which teams could down size?

Team Hard. Or maybe AMD want to operate just two cars.

So I guess I’ll be first to say that the two Infiniti’s will be piloted by Moffat and Sutton in 2020..

[Evantra]

https://twitter.com/lexusuk/status/1...091669510?s=21

Just to add fuel to fire... Lexus UK tweeting about the old IS200s in the BTCC.

I know they're a divison of Toyota so definitely not coming back as a manufacturer, and they're tweeting about the brand's history, but interesting none the less to see the official account tweet about the series.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Ooh... that makes sense. Silly season has begun then!

BMR are the only 2 car team I can see leaving? (Though not convinced the Infinitis are going to be much higher up the grid than the Subarus...)

Yes.

And one of their drivers tested Aidans Infiniti.

Pretty much a done deal. Aidan IS racing in BTCC next year for definite.

[Evantra]

Really can't see Ash in an Infiniti though. He's got his eye on TCR, WTCR, etc, and I don't think he's the kind of person to spend a season pottling about in an undeveloped car.

But I'll probably be wrong as usual

[Alfisti]

Dynamics won't be featuring GS and Audis next year - utter nonsense I'd say (cue a need to eat humble pie come media day!) GS is earning good $, way more than he can earn in BTCC. Pretty sure he'll jack in WTCR at some point - but very much doubt as soon as next year!

The current Audi A3 is getting old, a new one is due relatively soon (2021 in UK I believe). So it might be possible, especially with the hybrid system to use BTCC as a marketing tool for the next gen hybrid and fully electric Audi A3. VAG overall and VW and Audi brands in particular are aiming at an electric future in a big way.

But who says A3 necessarily? WSR have done a fantastic job with the A4 sized 3 series BMW...

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

GS is earning good $, way more than he can earn in BTCC. Pretty sure he'll jack in WTCR at some point - but very much doubt as soon as next year!

more like wtcr will jack in GS !!
hes failed miserably there and will be back here next year no doubt

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Evantra

BMR are the only 2 car team I can see leaving? (Though not convinced the Infinitis are going to be much higher up the grid than the Subarus...)

That's what I would have said. Warren has been trying to offload the team and maybe now with 2 ready built cars Bob is in the position to do a deal. Ash in the Infiniti isn't as daft as it sounds, obviously he's fairly handy in RWD and maybe he's looking to have more input in developing the car from a relatively blank canvas. I don't think the recent test was just for the hell of it either, why would he be openly helping out a rival?

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

more like wtcr will jack in GS !!
hes failed miserably there and will be back here next year no doubt

I guess we'll see. You're absolutely right in that Sheds had been bloody awful in the TCR car. Whereas Ash Sutton turned up, drove and seemed at home pretty much immediately. Sutton really is very talented and deserves far better than the donkey he's saddled with currently.