BTCC 2019 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

No only did he make the regulars look stupid now the Championship has joined in as well.

In what way did he make regulars look stupid?

Those who understand the situation a bit deeper will recognise that the times were probably 'assisted', but those same people will not have their interest in the series swayed much by publicity.

Those who are not as well versed on the multitude of factors that can affect a car's time will be attracted by the publicity. With what happened in the tyre test, the series has a driver who is known outside of the BTCC and a brand that is not competing in 2019 doing something that allows them to run a story in media that can be portrayed in a positive light.

It's easy to sit at a keyboard and throw criticism at what happened, but I expect the organisers of the series care little about a small minority of 'hot air blowers' compared to the RAR Club who bring fans, money and support to the track each and every race weekend.

[Sodemo]

Interesting Autosprt podcast this week. They discuss the dominance of the WSR BMWs and hypothesise what TOCA will do about it before the season resumes.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Interesting Autosprt podcast this week. They discuss the dominance of the WSR BMWs and hypothesise what TOCA will do about it before the season resumes.

Yes, I listened to the first half of that yesterday lunchtime and am just about to listen to the rest of it...

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

....but I expect the organisers of the series care little about a small minority of 'hot air blowers' compared to the RAR Club who bring fans, money and support to the track each and every race weekend.

I also suspect the organisers care very little about the 'hot air blowers' or 'the RAR club' - both very small groups with no real clout.

Austin topped the time on the final session but that time was only the 6th best of the test overall - so unless the cars that had quicker times were also on glory runs then his performance isn't all that impressive.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

In what way did he make regulars look stupid?

Those who understand the situation a bit deeper will recognise that the times were probably 'assisted', but those same people will not have their interest in the series swayed much by publicity.

Those who are not as well versed on the multitude of factors that can affect a car's time will be attracted by the publicity. With what happened in the tyre test, the series has a driver who is known outside of the BTCC and a brand that is not competing in 2019 doing something that allows them to run a story in media that can be portrayed in a positive light.

It's easy to sit at a keyboard and throw criticism at what happened, but I expect the organisers of the series care little about a small minority of 'hot air blowers' compared to the RAR Club who bring fans, money and support to the track each and every race weekend.

Sorry forgot the UK lives in a time now where nobody can have an opinion without getting slagged. If you race all year and a now one off nobody arrives and instantly goes fast I would have thought that makes all the regulars look pretty under par .....

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

If you race all year and a now one off nobody arrives and instantly goes fast I would have thought that makes all the regulars look pretty under par .....

You do realise that HMS Racing/Rob Austin are not one off nobody's?

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

You do realise that HMS Racing/Rob Austin are not one off nobody's?

Well they sure ain’t WSR, 888 , Prodrive or Dynamics....

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

You do realise that HMS Racing/Rob Austin are not one off nobody's?

What I do realise is that they are not on the roster for 2019 through deciding to surrender their entry to another team to enter in their place.
I dont recall any other time that this has happened and the BTCC administrator still lets them compete on test days or the site gives coverage to them. Can Dan Welch rock up as he must still have his Proton? or anyone with a suitable car and a dream turn out for a tyre test now?

My understanding is that they are still looking to see if they can comeback in 2020, it isnt a given so effectively at the moment they are nothing more than trialists.

If they are going to come back then good luck to them but I don't understand why a team with no ability to compete in 2019 is afforded time on an official test day

[antnee]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

If they are going to come back then good luck to them but I don't understand why a team with no ability to compete in 2019 is afforded time on an official test day

Few £££ in Lord Gow's pocket probably

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by antnee

Few £££ in Lord Gow's pocket probably

Didn't they also let Mr Gow test the car sometime last year too? (I think they've 'cosied up' to him before...)

[S griffin]

I see nothing wrong with letting him do it, after all he's looking to make a comeback next season, so he needs to be prepared

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I see nothing wrong with letting him do it, after all he's looking to make a comeback next season, so he needs to be prepared

Agreed but dont pop up and take the p!ss

[Johno.UK]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Well they sure ain’t WSR, 888 , Prodrive or Dynamics....

And why would any of those teams want to top the timesheets in a test anyway? When I go testing there are many things I work through, going for an out and out fastest lap with low fuel, new tyres, no ballast etc is not one of them.

I don't see what Austin did as taking the ****. He wasn't the fastest over both days just the fastest in one session which got him the coverage he needed. I don't see the other teams having an issue with it and they would all have done exactly the same. It's happened in F1 several times so if it's not an issue there I don't see why it would be in BTCC.

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by Johno.UK

I don't see what Austin did as taking the ****. He wasn't the fastest over both days just the fastest in one session which got him the coverage he needed. I don't see the other teams having an issue with it and they would all have done exactly the same. It's happened in F1 several times so if it's not an issue there I don't see why it would be in BTCC.

Im not as in touch with F1 as I used to be but I dont recall a time when a team who were not allowed to be competing in the championship turned up at an official FIA test and were given free access to the track and then lauded with how great their test session was on the official media outlets.


If anything I recall times teams turning up on the off chance of being given a run out (Stefan F1 who wanted a licence to race, Phoenix F1 who thought they had one to name a couple) being turned away

[Alfisti]

Don't worry mate. Mr G says if I borrow the neighbours lads tricked up Fester that I can come and play too. I'll show these idiots that winning times only needs a wicked exhaust and some fancy rims on an ST 'init bruv.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

Im not as in touch with F1 as I used to be but I dont recall a time when a team who were not allowed to be competing in the championship turned up at an official FIA test and were given free access to the track and then lauded with how great their test session was on the official media outlets.

Sorry to state the obvious, but this isn't F1

I don't really see the problem. It was a current spec BTCC car, driven by a recent ex-BTCC driver, and run by a team who technically still hold a valid TBL (albeit one they have lent to someone else).

Don't recall any complaints that a team owner, the son of a team co-owner, and two former series drivers also took part in the test.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Sorry to state the obvious, but this isn't F1

I don't really see the problem. It was a current spec BTCC car, driven by a recent ex-BTCC driver, and run by a team who technically still hold a valid TBL (albeit one they have lent to someone else).

Don't recall any complaints that a team owner, the son of a team co-owner, and two former series drivers also took part in the test.

They all most likely ran within the rules.....?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

They all most likely ran within the rules.....?

So you can't be certain that the others ran within the rules, but are certain that Austin ran outside of the rules?

What are these actual rules you refer to though?

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Sorry to state the obvious, but this isn't F1

I don't really see the problem. It was a current spec BTCC car, driven by a recent ex-BTCC driver, and run by a team who technically still hold a valid TBL (albeit one they have lent to someone else).

Don't recall any complaints that a team owner, the son of a team co-owner, and two former series drivers also took part in the test.

Sorry to state what you missed, but as you will have seen from the context on my quote I was kind of already pointing this out to the guy who said "It's happened in F1 several times so if it's not an issue there I don't see why it would be in BTCC." - im still waiting for his example where this happened in F1 several times

The other drivers you refer to were working for teams which have a current valid licence not one they gave away and may not even retain for 2020

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

Sorry to state what you missed, but as you will have seen from the context on my quote....

Sorry, should have quoted the other post. It was more a comment on any comparison to F1 rather than specifically what you posted.

[RS67]

It's just a test session. The fact it is official just means that it is for btcc cars only and there is official lap timing. So long as a driver / team are using a current spec btcc car, it doesn't matter if they are entered to race the season or not. It's not as if they were testing during FP1 or 2 or even during qualifying during a race weekend.

[S griffin]

Remember they used to GBRM Test Toyota running alongside the championship regulars. So there's nothing new there

[crmalcolm]

In order to retain their TBL, HMS Racing are still a registered team with TOCA.
Official test sessions are open to all registered teams.
The cost of testing is split equally between all participating/registered teams; their participation will have brought the cost down for every other team taking part, so everyone benefits....

[VIVA GT]

Don't worry, it's Snetterton a week tomorrow, we will all have something proper to discuss then...

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Remember they used to GBRM Test Toyota running alongside the championship regulars. So there's nothing new there

True but they were testing something new, because the NGTC regs were not in place, unless HMS were taking the sabbatical to develop the hybrid system I don't see that as the same.
Anyway, as said probably time to move on, I'm still surprised we are at the half. Way point and still have the same 30 bums in seats