BTCC 2018 in-season discussion

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

years ago they tried some sort of lap time equalisation method but now its just engines equalised. nothing to do with chassis performance.

I hope it stays this way too. No messing about with the unrealistic goal of lap-time BoP.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by redshoes

...or did Kingston leaving HARD prompt Simpson to branch out on his own?

Would explain the unusual timing of Simpson's move.

Correct - https://is.gd/bxF5J7

[S griffin]

So it seems he is highly regarded in the paddock, otherwise Simpson would not have started his own team

[Evantra]

Correct me if I am wrong, but we should have 3 driver announcements before Silverstone?

Boardley was only in for Knockhill, Geddie only for Rock and Knock (likely AWE back in?) and the Collards.

I don't believe I've seen or heard anything to suggest Rob will be back at Silverstone this weekend past..?

[Alfisti]

Agreed Evantra, if Boardley or Geddie are to continue or not these would definitely be announcements... pretty sure Carl was a one off taster with an eye on next year switching from the Ginetta.

Not heard anything about Rob C, think the family are being quiet which I fully understand. The sensible course of action would be to stay away from racing until there is no doubt at all the concussion is cured. Is Ricky able to continue or does he have other clashing commitments?

[Racing Harz]

Blancpain GT Series endurance Cup Barcelona and Brands Hatch is clashing.

[Matt K]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think Rob is coming back for Brands while Ricky is still on duty at Silverstone.

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by Matt K

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think Rob is coming back for Brands while Ricky is still on duty at Silverstone.

i think the original announcement was Ricky was Rockingham and Knockhill with Rob back for Silverstone, but i think that was dependent on doctors advice

[Sodemo]

I think if Turks does win this year, it might well be his sweetest victory yet in arguably not the quickest car on the grid.

[porsche962fan]

and if I would be him if Sutton or Tingram are behind and are faster I would just let them pass and follow them so not risk that they "outbreak" themselves into his rear ....

[mickb]

whilst I'm a Turk's fan its clear he is not as fast as the other title contenders, but always scoring points. But lets face it if he had been punished for hitting Jelly ( even as a fan I think he was luck- it was his fault deliberate or not that someone's race was ended) And Tings and Sutton passed the ride hieight he would have been in trouble now championship wise.

Ting's could take a few points at Silverstone then a wet Brands and it;s wide open-

[Sodemo]

I can't recall the exact championship situation in 2017, but I recall it being pretty much the same (or similar). Turks going into the last two events with a points advantage, he then had a shocker at Silvestone and performed poorly at Brands GP (although I think he had a good race 2 from memory - did he win?!).

Both Silverstone and Brands GP don't really suit the BMW, since it gets a lot of its pace from slow corner exits.

Its not over yet.

[S griffin]

True, but Turkington has a bigger points advantage than this time last season. And he didn't really have a shocker at Silverstone, only in R3. Although I might be mistaken, but I think Sutton had the points advantage going into Silverstone last season

[Matt K]

I'd say it's far from being over. He's got more than 40 points of advantage but there are 120 still to grab. Okay, no one's going to win them all but still there's lot to gain and I think especially Tingram has chances. It looks it's Turkington's title to lose but seeing his and BMW's pace, I believe he may be vulnerable at both Silverstone and Brands. The only chance is Turks being constantly around Top 5-6 and maybe getting some podium in R3. But if he faces some trouble in R1, then we may be starting everything from the scratch.

[mickb]

To be fair he ( Turks) was looking good for the championship last year until R3 when he was speared off ( by an out of control M Jackson I think???). But IMO he has not shown the outright pace he has had in past years, then its a bit like the tortoise and the hare!! And it points the win the championship.

But I thought Sutton would walk it this year so its great that its coming down to the wire again..Sutton to replace Cammish?? Top team? the real deal? plug and play?

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Correct me if I am wrong, but we should have 3 driver announcements before Silverstone?

Boardley was only in for Knockhill, Geddie only for Rock and Knock (likely AWE back in?) and the Collards.

I don't believe I've seen or heard anything to suggest Rob will be back at Silverstone this weekend past..?

There's been nothing to suggest that Rob Collard won't be back for Silverstone either.

He had to not race for a month after Snetterton, that time is up on Thursday.

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by sceptic

There's been nothing to suggest that Rob Collard won't be back for Silverstone either.

He had to not race for a month after Snetterton, that time is up on Thursday.

The merry-go-round of drivers is set to continue....

[Sodemo]

Turks will be lucky to qualify in the top 10 at Silverstone. I'll stick my neck out and say he will qualify between 12th - 16th.

[porsche962fan]

Sutton probably won't do any better either


Tingram is very very strong in a straight line so he may get top 5

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

Sutton probably won't do any better either


Tingram is very very strong in a straight line so he may get top 5

I think Sutton will do better, simply because of the cars ability to put the power down out of corners. Also a car's speed through Copse is crucial for lap time and despite all the work done by TOCA to try and slow them down, they still have a chassis advantage, so they should be quick through Copse. Sure its engine isn't the best but I think Sutton should be breaking into the top 10.

If you watch the Knockhill footage, look at the direction change of the Subaru, the lack of relative front roll (compared to other cars) and how it was able to jump kerbs and still put the power down, impressive stuff.

[thlbtcc]

For me, Sutton and Jordan are out of it.

Two horse race, and Ingram is a little too far behind. It could be the first time in a while that the finale isn't a close title decider.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

For me, Sutton and Jordan are out of it.

Two horse race, and Ingram is a little too far behind. It could be the first time in a while that the finale isn't a close title decider.

I disagree. Sutton is very much still in it. However he will need to be leading the championship after Silverstone, as Ingram's car is better at Brands.

[porsche962fan]

Sutton is 51 points behind and a track comes where his car doesn't suit


I rather think Tingram will score very well at Silverstone while for Turks it will about damage limitation and he will probably pray for scorched heat


come to think of it the only venues this year where the BMW worked really well were Thrxuton and Oulton which happened to be the hottest ones so far this season

[Steel Wheels]

Does anyone know who was testing with steam HARD today? Ollie was in his car but someone was running no. 17 on the ex-Caine car. Welch ran that number so is he back testing for them?

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

Does anyone know who was testing with steam HARD today? Ollie was in his car but someone was running no. 17 on the ex-Caine car. Welch ran that number so is he back testing for them?

Not Welch as he was racing in the C4 race at Rockingham with Rob Austin. Dave Newsham also ran 17..?

Didn't think in-season tests were allowed?