[BTCC] BTCC 2021

[Robin Marriott]

Any idea on the final PMR seat yet?

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

Any idea on the final PMR seat yet?

It's between those not signed yet, heard Proctor, Bobby Thompson (though one of those two signed to Excelr8 if the jungle drums are correct), Rick Parfitt Jnr etc. Adam Weaver openly saying they aren't rushing as they are only one of 2 Seats left, so can pick 'the best' from the free agents!

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by Robshillito1990

He will be there. Along with Oliphant who has been posting on twitter about how good the bmw m5 was in the snow. Just wondering who will drive the 3rd car. Could be anyone.

I thought it was commonly accepted that Jelley would be in the 3rd car.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Overboost

Hopefully Sam will put some effort and work to learn touring cars rather than just trying to rely on talent and expect to do okay this time.

Having seen him in F4 I’m not sure that relying on talent will take him too far.

[Daverb]

So the question of BTCC 2021 (if it happens) will be what did Sam smell?

[Millvi]

Originally Posted by Overboost

It's between those not signed yet, heard Proctor, Bobby Thompson (though one of those two signed to Excelr8 if the jungle drums are correct), Rick Parfitt Jnr etc. Adam Weaver openly saying they aren't rushing as they are only one of 2 Seats left, so can pick 'the best' from the free agents!

I’d be happy to see Bobby T at Excelr8 and Proctor at PMR. Plato and Proctor would be a strong pairing and Thompson got some good performances out of the Audi last year.

[S griffin]

Hopefully not long before another announcement. Although it feels it bit weird without the Autosport International happening this month, we always look forward to announcements there

[BTCC frog]

Originally Posted by Overboost

It's between those not signed yet, heard Proctor, Bobby Thompson (though one of those two signed to Excelr8 if the jungle drums are correct), Rick Parfitt Jnr etc. Adam Weaver openly saying they aren't rushing as they are only one of 2 Seats left, so can pick 'the best' from the free agents!

So are the two seats left at PMR and Excelr8? If they are, the remaining question marks on crmalcolm's list are probably Turkington at WSR and Hamilton at HARD. Senna Proctor is surely the best free agent remaining, unless PMR can bring back someone like Mat Jackson, Andrew Jordan or Sam Tordoff (but this is very unlikely). Then Bobby Thompson could be at Excelr8, which makes sense as he was at TPC last year. It could be the other way round with Proctor staying at Hyundai and Thompson going to PMR, but I think Proctor will leave Excelr8. I would love for Paul Rivett to get a full season in the Hyundai, but I can't see that happening.

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by BTCC frog

So are the two seats left at PMR and Excelr8? If they are, the remaining question marks on crmalcolm's list are probably Turkington at WSR and Hamilton at HARD. Senna Proctor is surely the best free agent remaining, unless PMR can bring back someone like Mat Jackson, Andrew Jordan or Sam Tordoff (but this is very unlikely). Then Bobby Thompson could be at Excelr8, which makes sense as he was at TPC last year. It could be the other way round with Proctor staying at Hyundai and Thompson going to PMR, but I think Proctor will leave Excelr8. I would love for Paul Rivett to get a full season in the Hyundai, but I can't see that happening.

The remaining seats are PMR & HARD, just not got the info on who's penned the Excelr8 deal.

Agreed I'd love to see Rivett get a full season, but don't think he's in the mix sadly.

[mprmke]

I really hope Mat Jackson gets the PMR seat. I was delighted to see him finally returning last season and was very disappointed that it couldn't happen in the end.

PMR said he would have first refusal on the seat this season, but sounds unlikely that it will happen, which is a crying shame.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by mprmke

I really hope Mat Jackson gets the PMR seat. I was delighted to see him finally returning last season and was very disappointed that it couldn't happen in the end.

PMR said he would have first refusal on the seat this season, but sounds unlikely that it will happen, which is a crying shame.

Yeah it looks like it was the shortest BTCC return in history. Shame, I would've loved to have seen him whup Plato.

[S griffin]

Mat was probably eager to come back and show he still has it and now sadly it looks like we’re never gonna see him in the series again

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Counting two seasons of BGT too.

Simon bloody Cowell gets everywhere.

[redshoes]

Hamilton back for another year, although doesn't say which team.


https://www.instagram.com/p/CKjshADARaC/
"So pleased to extend my partnership with @rokitofficial for 2021 onwards & to sign my #BTCC deal at the same time!"

[BTCC frog]

Originally Posted by Overboost

The remaining seats are PMR & HARD, just not got the info on who's penned the Excelr8 deal.

Agreed I'd love to see Rivett get a full season, but don't think he's in the mix sadly.

I felt sure Nic Hamilton would be at Team HARD, but if Excelr8 have just signed someone, and Hamilton has just announced that he’s signed a deal, maybe that means Hamilton will be in a Hyundai.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Hamilton back for another year, although doesn't say which team.


https://www.instagram.com/p/CKjshADARaC/
"So pleased to extend my partnership with @rokitofficial for 2021 onwards & to sign my #BTCC deal at the same time!"

Another meh announcement...

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Another meh announcement...

I'm pleased to see him.

[Alfisti]

He's a very nice young man, is very humble and I am very happy he is continuing his motorsport adventure. My gut says with Tony, though I do not know - certainly the two have been talking.

[S griffin]

I guess the logical place for him would be HARD, but we’ll see

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

He's a very nice young man, is very humble and I am very happy he is continuing his motorsport adventure. My gut says with Tony, though I do not know - certainly the two have been talking.

He's given it a go, good on him. But being brutally honest, this'll be his fourth year and I cannot see him troubling the points, or even the top 20. I know the car was awful last year, but he's out of his depth in the BTCC...

I apologise for being so pessimistic, but a line-up of Hamilton, Edwards, Crees, Butel, Smelt, Neate, etc, is hard to get excited about. In recent years it seems more backmarkers are staying and less promising rookies are stepping up.

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by Evantra

I apologise for being so pessimistic, but a line-up of Hamilton, Edwards, Crees, Butel, Smelt, Neate, etc, is hard to get excited about. In recent years it seems more backmarkers are staying and less promising rookies are stepping up.

indeed , the other spectrum would have been guys like Priaux, Huff , Yvan Muller etc (re)join the series but those are pipe dreams

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Evantra

I apologise for being so pessimistic, but a line-up of Hamilton, Edwards, Crees, Butel, Smelt, Neate, etc, is hard to get excited about. In recent years it seems more backmarkers are staying and less promising rookies are stepping up.

Interesting view - as a discussion point, is your concern with the ability of the backmarkers, or that backmarkers are continuing to enter?

Out of interest, which of the following sets of five drivers would be your least favourite:

Boardley, Goff, Neate, Butel, Hamilton.
Bushell, Plato, Thompson, Jelley, Smelt.
Martin, Simpson, Lines, Fletcher, Howard.
Holland, O.Jackson, Belcher, Stockton, Welch.
O.Jackson, Morgan, Griffin, James, Hughes.
George, Wood, Depper, Forster, Hollamby.

** I had no idea who would appear when I decided to trawl back every two years - but some names stand out as backmarkers who are now accepted as worthy of 'hanging around' **

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Interesting view - as a discussion point, is your concern with the ability of the backmarkers, or that backmarkers are continuing to enter?

Neither. Just a little bit annoying not seeing new names come in.

Still, there's a lot more good names at the front than bad ones at the back.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Neither. Just a little bit annoying not seeing new names come in.

Still, there's a lot more good names at the front than bad ones at the back.

Good point. I wonder if we will get a complete rookie this season, we’ve yet to see one on the entry list

[Alfisti]

I'm not aware of anyone from the obvious feeder series knocking on BTCC team doors; the funding step from Clio/ Mini to BTCC is big, will probably look even bigger at the moment with the train wreck of an economy and many businesses trying to survive. Few are thriving.