First Thommo, now Plato?

Hazard · 10 Jun 2005, 10:54 (Ref:1324693)

Well, Thompson did this, worming his way into several rounds of the ETCC for Alfa last year before announcing a full time ride for this year.

Now, Plato's been confirmed for Mexico aswell, so that'll be 4 out of the 10 WTCC races he's been in...thinking he might be forming a Rydell, Gené & Plato line-up (unless four cars again) for next year?

Based on Hines & Pickford's 'backup' performance in the BTCC so far, Seat might just put all their eggs in that basket (the WTCC).

newoutsider · 10 Jun 2005, 11:31 (Ref:1324718)

The UK effort is funded by Seat UK so they would need to make a big marketing decision to go to the WTCC, but unless they get some sort of confirmation that the BTCC will have more works involvement next year it must be tempting

E46 · 10 Jun 2005, 13:35 (Ref:1324785)

racingworld.it said days ago SEAT can have a 5th car at Spa for Alessandro Balzan or... Yvan Müller. This one it would be a more expensive and dangerous, with Plato, choice. Thinking Muller ran for SEAT in 2003, other leaving BTCC in 2006?

Red Baron · 10 Jun 2005, 14:02 (Ref:1324801)

Was it not in Autosport or MSN a few weeks ago that SEAT might concentrate on WTCC next year???

N I Tram · 10 Jun 2005, 14:08 (Ref:1324808)

I can't see much value in SEAT running a second WTCC team in 2006. Four cars should be enough to be competitive, and the UK effort has showed a lot of potential. Switching Plato over to the international championship and running someone like Oli Wilkinson in a third BTCC entry for next year might be an option, but I think bolstering the WTCC team is the main aim here. Remember that Matt Neal did a few ETCC wildcard drives but never switched full-time.

newoutsider · 10 Jun 2005, 14:51 (Ref:1324835)

N I Tram - we may have been talking (or in my case listeningto) the same people.....

luke · 10 Jun 2005, 14:59 (Ref:1324843)

Seat want him in the WTCC for 2006, and I sure hope it doesn't happen.

racingdad · 10 Jun 2005, 15:12 (Ref:1324858)

Quote:

Originally Posted by N I Tram

. Switching Plato over to the international championship and running someone like Oli Wilkinson in a third BTCC entry for next year might be an option, but I think bolstering the WTCC team is the main aim here.

Now there's an interesting proposition

Kicking-back · 10 Jun 2005, 15:28 (Ref:1324870)

Hopefully if Jason goes to WTCC full time, he could do the non-clashing BTCC races too - in a reverse of this year's arrangement

**touringlegend** · 10 Jun 2005, 15:30 (Ref:1324872)

Some people are not far off what I've heard may well happen next year to Plato and/or SEAT Sport UK.

Remember SEAT UK would need to run the new Leon model next year in the BTCC if they participate.

luke · 10 Jun 2005, 18:16 (Ref:1324969)

Quote:

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Some people are not far off what I've heard may well happen next year to Plato and/or SEAT Sport UK.

Remember SEAT UK would need to run the new Leon model next year in the BTCC if they participate.

And hopefully It'll be 100 times better than the understeery as hell Toledo cupra.

sceptic · 10 Jun 2005, 19:25 (Ref:1325014)

Going to the WTCC is not a smart career move for Jason...

...not only does he suddenly become a small fish in a big pond, but he loses the UK TV coverage on which his own meejah career thrives.

maximus · 10 Jun 2005, 19:42 (Ref:1325025)

he's not done too bad so far though has he? Plus he has a pretty steady media career too so I don't think hes too worried about coverage.

Hazard · 10 Jun 2005, 20:40 (Ref:1325079)

Quote:

Originally Posted by maximus

he's not done too bad so far though has he? Plus he has a pretty steady media career too so I don't think hes too worried about coverage.

He managed to stay on TV with car review stuff etc. when he 'disappeared' off into ASCAR.

If he enjoys his TV celebrity persona more than his racing career, he'll stay in the BTCC. The WTCC is a far better jumping point into major league sportscars, and obviously is itself the biggest Touring Car series by title and international scope.

maximus · 10 Jun 2005, 22:35 (Ref:1325138)

Plus I feel that Jason may want a change and feels like a different challenge.

Hazard · 11 Jun 2005, 00:48 (Ref:1325181)

Quote:

Originally Posted by maximus

Plus I feel that Jason may want a change and feels like a different challenge.

Maybe, but at Vauxhall he was on a par with Muller...at Seat he's comfortably numero uno. At Seat Spain he would end up being the third guy at best to Rydell & Gené.

racingdad · 11 Jun 2005, 12:21 (Ref:1325562)

My limited knowledge of the situation is that JP has a multi-year contract with Seat UK and will race with them next year - his deal with the factory team is over and above, so unless Seat UK do the WTCC JP will be mainly focused on the BTCC next year as well. But I still like the sound of this.

Wilbo · 11 Jun 2005, 13:12 (Ref:1325584)

I have a feeling the BTCC will suffer big time next year. The WTCC is such a major draw and had has all the marketing power that is needed that more manufacturers will join the party. I feel Seat and Vauxhall will pull out of the BTCC, but remember folks there is no rumour attached to this just my opinion!

I hope it doesn't go this way, otherwise BTCC will be about independants (no bad thing for hopefuls, but money is the issue) and will feed drivers into the WTCC.
There is an advantage to running a car or two in the BTCC or STW etc in that it allows more testing for the WTCC teams. Only the future will tell.....

BootsOntheSide · 11 Jun 2005, 14:14 (Ref:1325617)

He might want to complete his current challenge, of bringing the BTCC title to SEAT, before doing anything else though, epsecially if Vauxhall and Dynamics remain strong. And for all the WTCC's strong entrants and biggrids, tehr acing is processional compared to the BTCC.

rustyfan · 17 Jun 2005, 10:34 (Ref:1331394)

Can you blame Plato for being interested in the WTCC? It is, after all, a fully sanctioned World Championship.

**FIRE** · 17 Jun 2005, 12:06 (Ref:1331452)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

And for all the WTCC's strong entrants and biggrids, tehr acing is processional compared to the BTCC.

But still every driver wants to be in F1...

kmchow · 19 Jun 2005, 00:54 (Ref:1332596)

[QUOTE=Wilbo]I have a feeling the BTCC will suffer big time next year. The WTCC is such a major draw and had has all the marketing power that is needed that more manufacturers will join the party. I feel Seat and Vauxhall will pull out of the BTCC, but remember folks there is no rumour attached to this just my opinion![QUOTE]
OTOH, with another year of S2000 cars being built/run in the WTCC and elsewhere, perhaps more cars will be made available to potential BTCC teams. OTOH, I get the impression that the current BTCC rules still favour teams running BTC than S2000 spec cars? Add to that well funded BTC teams versus indepedent S2000 teams, it looks pretty hopeless. It's tough enough managing one set of rules instead of trying to balance 2 sets of rules.

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