[BTCC] BTCC 2017 Rumours & Silly Season

[ExplodeTheApex]

I too am glad Chilton has returned, however in the video interview he seems to suggest he expects to be winning multiple races (5-10?!) in 2017.

Maybe he was pushed into those figures by the interviewer but surely those aims are unrealistic considering his lack of NGTC knowledge, the Vauxhall being a new car and the fact he may be concentrating on a WTCC campaign too?

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by mark_l

There is no way Max can dress this up except as a step down from WTCC, if he was good enough he would of found a drive in WTCC, money is not an issue for the Chilton family.

Two things
1) Tom not Max Chilton
2) There's a chance he will be racing in WTCC as well as BTCC

[AdrianM]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Two things
1) Tom not Max Chilton
2) There's a chance he will be racing in WTCC as well as BTCC

1) So only Max gets money from Dad and Tom doesn't?

[jsmee]

Originally Posted by AdrianM

1) So only Max gets money from Dad and Tom doesn't?

No idea where you got that statement from?

Good to see Tom Chilton back, has been a great competitor in WTCC on unknown circuits. Multiple race winner against some of the best drivers in world tintop racing!

[mark_l]

Originally Posted by AdrianM

1) So only Max gets money from Dad and Tom doesn't?

Thanks, I meant Tom but wrote Max.

If Tom does a WTCC campaign as well that would be a major mistake, no commitment to either despite there being no calendar clashes. Andy Priaulx struggled when trying to do two different programmes.

[Rob877]

Originally Posted by mark_l

It will be interesting to see how PMR get on 2017, with an unknown package in the new car, an unknown entity in Proctor and a down on his luck Tom Chilton.

There is no way Tom can dress this up except as a step down from WTCC, if he was good enough he would of found a drive in WTCC, money is not an issue for the Chilton family.

Talk about spending more time at home just smacks of his heart not being in motorsport anymore.

I expect PMR to be in 2017 what they were in 2016, a mid field team.

I'm probably not the only one that thinks BTCC is not a step down from WTCC. If anything he'll find it a lot harder coming back to BTCC in my opinion. The amount of winners in BTCC last year wasn't far off the entire entry list of WTCC.

I'd be pleasantly surprised if he troubles the top guys this year, pretty sure he's never driven a NGTC spec car before so might be a bit of a learning curve. Hope I'm wrong as I really want to see PMR succeed.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Rob877

I'm probably not the only one that thinks BTCC is not a step down from WTCC.

Probably only British people would imagine that

[ExplodeTheApex]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Probably only British people would imagine that

I reckon the depth of quality in the BTCC is higher, but if you were to compare the top top drivers in each category, WTCC would come out on top. In terms of driver quality in all touring car championships, I believe V8 Supercars wins.

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by luckn002

From BTC Norlin's Twitter:

Keep Your Eyes Peeled @2pm Tomorrow as we have our second Official @DunlopBTCC Announcement . #btcc #who #2017

Thoughts?

Dave Newsham would be my guess

[Rob877]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Probably only British people would imagine that

To be fair, 5 years ago I would've been the first to admit that WTCC was a more desirable championship to compete in. I'm definitely not just some BTCC fanboy who looks at it through rose tinted specs. Nowadays I genuinely don't see the attraction with WTCC, unless you can bag yourself a paid works drive.

[Alfisti]

I remember watching Tom Chilton in his first few years in BTCC and was impressed - fast, fearless and pretty damn good. If PMR have some decent Engineers then I for one reckon he could do well. Good luck Tom !

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by ExplodeTheApex

I reckon the depth of quality in the BTCC is higher, but if you were to compare the top top drivers in each category, WTCC would come out on top. In terms of driver qualitywRCC is in all touring car championships, I believe V8 Supercars wins.

WTCC is FIA and a proper WORLD Championship. It has proper works cars, and drivers get paid in far higher regularity compared to the one in 20 in BTCC which is a local championship run to unique silhouette rules with cars all *******s under the skin, most with developments of the old Vauxhall engine from 25 years ago! Be serious please people!! Entertaining it may be but high level, open racing it isn't...

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by peebee2

WTCC is FIA and a proper WORLD Championship. It has proper works cars, and drivers get paid in far higher regularity compared to the one in 20 in BTCC which is a local championship run to unique silhouette rules with cars all *******s under the skin, most with developments of the old Vauxhall engine from 25 years ago! Be serious please people!! Entertaining it may be but high level, open racing it isn't...

LOL
so you've exactly just described the Australian supercars championship too! (Local unique silhouette rules, all cars the same under the skin, many with development of a GM engine from more than 25 years ago). and that's not high level either LOL!

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I remember watching Tom Chilton in his first few years in BTCC and was impressed - fast, fearless and pretty damn good. If PMR have some decent Engineers then I for one reckon he could do well. Good luck Tom !

I only remember him being outperformed by TOC in his own Arena team and TOC being forced to move over for him


also that he was totally overshadowed by Giovanardi a driver who didn't even know most of the tracks...

and his Team Dynamics endeveur in 08 wasn't that better either, Shedden finished 7th in the standings with 2 wins and more podiums while Chilton 10th and a sole win in the very last race of season

[jsmee]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

I only remember him being outperformed by TOC in his own Arena team and TOC being forced to move over for him


also that he was totally overshadowed by Giovanardi a driver who didn't even know most of the tracks...

You'd be a fool to right TC off - he has shone in the last few years in WTCC, one of the top drivers in that category.

[porsche962fan]

the main puzzle for me is this rather foolish decision to try with what so far was a midfield team with a new unproven car and an inexperienced team mate instead of going for WSR (if budget wasn't such an issue for him) who has a veteran champion of Andy Jordan and a very proven car , heck Tordoff almost was champion in it

[jsmee]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

the main puzzle for me is this rather foolish decision to try with what so far was a midfield team with a new unproven car and a inexperienced team mate instead of going for WSR if budget wasnt such an issue for him and who was a veteran champion of Andy Jordan

Because Vauxhall is a works drive - he said in a previous interview he wanted to be paid if he came back to BTCC. I doubt he'd be paid by WSR, only indirectly through his own sponsors.

[porsche962fan]

if this was a wokrs drive and they could afford to pay drivers wouldn't be there the likes of Menu, Giovanardi , maybe even Priaux ?

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

LOL
so you've exactly just described the Australian supercars championship too! (Local unique silhouette rules, all cars the same under the skin, many with development of a GM engine from more than 25 years ago). and that's not high level either LOL!

Meow!! Comparing Supercars to BTCC is like comparing Formula Ford to Undycars.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by jsmee

Because Vauxhall is a works drive

Really?? Or a motor factors with some Astra shells?

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Meow!! Comparing Supercars to BTCC is like comparing Formula Ford to Undycars.

Huh? who's comparing them?
I just drew attention to your really dumb description that's all.

[Craner Curves]

Count out PMR at your peril. They have a lot of ex 888 people involved and those people know success.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

the main puzzle for me is this rather foolish decision to try with what so far was a midfield team with a new unproven car and an inexperienced team mate instead of going for WSR (if budget wasn't such an issue for him) who has a veteran champion of Andy Jordan and a very proven car , heck Tordoff almost was champion in it

The puzzle for me is that rather foolish decision [by Jason Plato] to try with what was a midfield team [888 in 2010, BMR in 2013] and an inexperienced team mate instead of going for WSR.

In 888, manufacturer backing followed with a much improved performance.
In BMR, manufacturer backing followed with a much improved performance.

Why can't PMR do the same?

WSR, Motorbase, Team Dynamics, 888 and BMR were all midfield teams at one point.

WSR after 2005 or 2011?
Motorbase after 2006, 2007?
Team Dynamics after 2009?
888 after 2010?
BMR after 2013?

[antnee]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

if this was a wokrs drive and they could afford to pay drivers wouldn't be there the likes of Menu, Giovanardi , maybe even Priaux ?

Big names, big £££ but don't bring in the results.

[Bramzel]

I don't see the benefit of Menu over Chilton, and Gio's performance in his last Motorbase season wasn't exactly fantastic either.

I like Chilton at PMR. It makes sense for both parties, I hope they'll do well.