BTCC 2018 in-season discussion

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Nononsensecapeesh

Not to me, they don't and I'm not stupid.

This is the first post to introduce the word 'stupid'.

No one referred to any member here as stupid - the word was introduced in the context of championships other than the drivers' having no relevance.

It's hard to discuss or debate topics, if any opposing view is dismissed and the poster is requested to stop disagreeing!


In 2015, the VW CC was driven to the independent teams' trophy, and the teams' championship - so no matter how it is spun, the car is a championship winner.
It could be argued that the teams' championship is a better judge of the quality of a car than the drivers' - so IMO I think we're not looking at a case of the VW CC coming good, more that it is showing a return to its former performance level.

This also must be a credit to HARD, who having done the initial development saw the cars decline from their peak in the hands of others, and are now putting them back at the sharp end again.

[Robin Marriott]

Eurotech will no longer be running Simpson’s car. Seems to me like he’s had a win, had a podium and managed to get as much setup data as he needs so has decided he doesn’t need any help anymore. Bit cheeky!

[BobJones]

Weird.

“Having helped Matt to his best ever season in BTCC we were completely shocked to be told that he no longer wanted to run with us, especially immediately after the podium in race three,” Smith said.

“Whilst we are disappointed not to be running Matt for the rest of the 2018 season we wish him the best of luck in the remaining three rounds and beyond.”

https://www.touringcartimes.com/2018...rotech-racing/

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

Eurotech will no longer be running Simpson’s car. Seems to me like he’s had a win, had a podium and managed to get as much setup data as he needs so has decided he doesn’t need any help anymore. Bit cheeky!

Running independent, and no longer wants to be part of Eurotech.

Where does he have eyes on next - Norlin?

Or will we see a 3rd FK8 soon?

[Robin Marriott]

I think he’ll just carry on as an independent.

[Evantra]

Didnt expect that, especially the morning after getting a podium. Not really sure how this can benefit Simpson.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Didnt expect that, especially the morning after getting a podium. Not really sure how this can benefit Simpson.

No, it's all a bit strange. Like most of these 'situations' I'm sure that there's more to this than meets the eye which we may, or may not learn about as things unfold.

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

This is the first post to introduce the word 'stupid'.

No one referred to any member here as stupid - the word was introduced in the context of championships other than the drivers' having no relevance.

It's hard to discuss or debate topics, if any opposing view is dismissed and the poster is requested to stop disagreeing!


In 2015, the VW CC was driven to the independent teams' trophy, and the teams' championship - so no matter how it is spun, the car is a championship winner.
It could be argued that the teams' championship is a better judge of the quality of a car than the drivers' - so IMO I think we're not looking at a case of the VW CC coming good, more that it is showing a return to its former performance level.

This also must be a credit to HARD, who having done the initial development saw the cars decline from their peak in the hands of others, and are now putting them back at the sharp end again.

I meant it is great to see the CC returning to some degree of its previous form with Team HARD, really thought Bushell was going to get a podium in Race 2, gutted that he dropped back.

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Running independent, and no longer wants to be part of Eurotech.

Where does he have eyes on next - Norlin?

Or will we see a 3rd FK8 soon?

I like Matt, I've spoken to him many times at BTCC and he always comes across as a decent enough guy, but he is becoming a real journeyman here, 3 teams running his car in 3 seasons.
Sounds like a bit of a bridge burned with Eurotech and I'm not sure how he left the situations with Speedworks and Dynamics

I am also wondering if hes now wanting to jump to Norlin after they have had a decent run of results. He is kind of getting the team swapping reputation Andrew Jordan had 2 or 3 years ago which isn't going to be good for him.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

I like Matt, I've spoken to him many times at BTCC and he always comes across as a decent enough guy, but he is becoming a real journeyman here, 3 teams running his car in 3 seasons.
Sounds like a bit of a bridge burned with Eurotech and I'm not sure how he left the situations with Speedworks and Dynamics

I am also wondering if hes now wanting to jump to Norlin after they have had a decent run of results. He is kind of getting the team swapping reputation Andrew Jordan had 2 or 3 years ago which isn't going to be good for him.

Will the HARD and Simpson wheels align at any point? 😜

I do wonder if he feels it is time to move to a newer car, and this was not possible with Eurotech?

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Will the HARD and Simpson wheels align at any point? 😜

I do wonder if he feels it is time to move to a newer car, and this was not possible with Eurotech?

Time to resurrect the "new cars at Speedworks, Tingram/ Simpson run from the same stable"? 🤣

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Will the HARD and Simpson wheels align at any point? 😜

I do wonder if he feels it is time to move to a newer car, and this was not possible with Eurotech?

To me at least, it seems a really strange time to do it tho, its not like he will get a new car for the last 3 rounds, surely he would have been best off seeing the season out and sorting it in the close season?

[Robin Marriott]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Will the HARD and Simpson wheels align at any point? 😜

I do wonder if he feels it is time to move to a newer car, and this was not possible with Eurotech?

I’m not sure a ‘newer’ car is really of any benefit these days, engines tend to be updated every year and any updates to the subframes or suspension components are the same across the board too so other than some aero advances on newer stuff maybe, it’s probably better the devil you know, as Dynamics have proven this year. Had they retained the FK2, they’d be in a much better place.

[S griffin]

Simpsons has improved massively this season, but it’s a bit of a gamble leaving Eurotech before the season is out, having done so well with them

[antnee]

Could it be a financial decision? He will have been paying £xxx per round for Eurotech to run the car, maybe the kitty is getting a bit low so he needs to cut costs and that can be done by going at it alone.

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by antnee

Could it be a financial decision? He will have been paying £xxx per round for Eurotech to run the car, maybe the kitty is getting a bit low so he needs to cut costs and that can be done by going at it alone.

Or did he feel he was definitely the 3rd driver in the team? He might of felt the focus was on Goff & Smith, but no doubt the story will come out in time!

[medius]

Originally Posted by antnee

Could it be a financial decision? He will have been paying £xxx per round for Eurotech to run the car, maybe the kitty is getting a bit low so he needs to cut costs and that can be done by going at it alone.

I think most likely this situation. The car got quite badly beaten up at Rock so having Eurotech putting it straight will cost a fair bit, a cost saving Simpson Racing could avoid by doing it themselves.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by medius

I think most likely this situation. The car got quite badly beaten up at Rock so having Eurotech putting it straight will cost a fair bit, a cost saving Simpson Racing could avoid by doing it themselves.

Lol. the Simpsons have a HUGE amount of money. budget won't be the issue!

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by antnee

Could it be a financial decision? He will have been paying £xxx per round for Eurotech to run the car, maybe the kitty is getting a bit low so he needs to cut costs and that can be done by going at it alone.

You don't cut costs by setting up your own team and buying all the kit to run your own car.

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Hope Matt Simpson knows what he's doing going it alone after all the support he received from Eurotech....

[Robin Marriott]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

You don't cut costs by setting up your own team and buying all the kit to run your own car.

Although that does rather depend on what he owned anyway. The car belongs to him and he presumably owns the truck as well so he may own everything and could just have been paying for staff and knowledge.

[Racer65]

I can totally see why he's doing it. He's always run his own cars and it must be really galling to pay other people to do what you've always done yourself. Doing it now gives him three rounds to see where the issues are and then the whole winter to sort them out. If he split at the end of the season he could waste the first few rounds trying to sort out things.

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by Racer65

I can totally see why he's doing it. He's always run his own cars and it must be really galling to pay other people to do what you've always done yourself. Doing it now gives him three rounds to see where the issues are and then the whole winter to sort them out. If he split at the end of the season he could waste the first few rounds trying to sort out things.

These are tricky beasts to run, the margins are so small you are chasing tenths between being 20th or 10th on the grid and he has progressed well this year with a win and a podium, but we don't know what goes on within teams. Interesting he didn't gel with Speedworks as you could argue that the Avensis is probably the best engineered car on the grid, no one can seem to be able to place a car where Ingram does and get the stablility and turn in and that is down to chassis engineering and I would suggest Ingrams's Verstappen-esque feel for the car and particularly the braking.

[PeterY]

Having known some guys from Speedworks this was all was always Simpsons intention.
They wanted to run their own car but pretty sure they probably looked and realised that moving to btcc and trying to set up a team and learn the ropes all in one go was too much.
They have been to 3 different teams looked at processes how they work probably some of their own staff working and learning and now they feel the time is right to go it alone and with a chance to get more staff in over the winter if they find they have a weakness.
Not a good way to go about it though and doesn't make for friends in the paddock as and when the do need help in the future. will be interesting to see their progress from now on.

[S griffin]

So now they’ve got the experience, maybe going off to run their own team may pay off