[BTCC] BTCC 2020 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

6 characters huh?

#Plato

#Flash

#av it

#HARD!

C R E E S Y

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

How very coy...

Wonder if it's more reliable than the source that predicted Goff, Sutton, Cook and Proctor would all depart the grid for the 2019 season?
Or the one that confirmed that none of the HARD drivers had the budget for a full season?

It's been seen before, and I'm sure it will be seen again - throw enough rumours out and some will come true...

Oh it's easy to be wise after events change, Cook had told me face to face he didn't think he'd be on the grid, Goff wasn't until a last minute change at Team Hard, only BMR getting their act together gave Sutton & Proctor ride (a lot of people didn't expect them back).

With Team Hard did we not notice all drivers adding new sponsors throughout the year, (as many do), allowing them to finish the season. So I stand by my statement and never said they wouldn't stay, just shows what can change, just ask Mike Bushell.

Rumours are rumours for a reason, if I was stating fact or saying 'this will happen' I understand your comments. Apologies if I've heard something you haven't, yes it is just a rumour, but one I thought worth sharing.

[RS67]

Originally Posted by Overboost

With Team Hard did we not notice all drivers adding new sponsors throughout the year, (as many do), allowing them to finish the season.

It's not always about finishing off the season, it is also about having sponsors interest in place for the following season.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Overboost

Rumours are rumours for a reason, if I was stating fact or saying 'this will happen' I understand your comments. Apologies if I've heard something you haven't, yes it is just a rumour, but one I thought worth sharing.

I agree - rumours are just that.
My questioning of them is more based on how much weight and reliability we might attach to these rumours.
If a source of a rumour is not revealed, the only option available is to consider previous rumours from the same channel.

A press release - probably a reliable source.
A statement attributed to an individual in a team - fairly reliable.
A comment or observation from someone outside a team (such as a pundit or journalist) - can be expected to come from discussions within the paddock.
A rumour where the source is given as nothing more than 'someone who knows things' - unreliable.

Rumours that have been brought to the forum so far:
Jan 18:'On the subject of MG's expect at least a rookie piloting one '
MG's were entered with two experience drivers.
Feb 18:'A 36 year old driver allegedly'
Driver turned out to be 28
Jul 18:'AmD have filled Boardman's seat. Will be interesting to see who makes the announcement first.'
Which turned out to be unrelated. Easily claimed after the event to have been inside knowledge that didn't pan out.
Jul 18:'He should be testing st Snett'
None of the drivers testing at Snett ended up in the seat being referred to.
Aug 18:'Newsham with AmD for Knockhill'
Didn't happen.

So as you can see - with a track record of rumours that are not always accurate, it is difficult to determine how much faith we should put in new information.
Someone with close links to a team could mean anyone from the team principle, to a driver, mechanic, publicity rep, caterer or even the family member of a grid girl.

On this one - I'll not hold my breath on it being correct for a while, until something comes out from either driver or team. I'm not seeing a reason for a table update yet.

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I agree - rumours are just that.
My questioning of them is more based on how much weight and reliability we might attach to these rumours.
If a source of a rumour is not revealed, the only option available is to consider previous rumours from the same channel.

A press release - probably a reliable source.
A statement attributed to an individual in a team - fairly reliable.
A comment or observation from someone outside a team (such as a pundit or journalist) - can be expected to come from discussions within the paddock.
A rumour where the source is given as nothing more than 'someone who knows things' - unreliable.

Rumours that have been brought to the forum so far:
Jan 18:'On the subject of MG's expect at least a rookie piloting one '
MG's were entered with two experience drivers.
Feb 18:'A 36 year old driver allegedly'
Driver turned out to be 28
Jul 18:'AmD have filled Boardman's seat. Will be interesting to see who makes the announcement first.'
Which turned out to be unrelated. Easily claimed after the event to have been inside knowledge that didn't pan out.
Jul 18:'He should be testing st Snett'
None of the drivers testing at Snett ended up in the seat being referred to.
Aug 18:'Newsham with AmD for Knockhill'
Didn't happen.

So as you can see - with a track record of rumours that are not always accurate, it is difficult to determine how much faith we should put in new information.
Someone with close links to a team could mean anyone from the team principle, to a driver, mechanic, publicity rep, caterer or even the family member of a grid girl.

On this one - I'll not hold my breath on it being correct for a while, until something comes out from either driver or team. I'm not seeing a reason for a table update yet.

God my track record is pretty pants 😂

I'll try harder 😉

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Overboost

God my track record is pretty pants 😂

I'll try harder 😉

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Overboost

God my track record is pretty pants 😂

I'll try harder 😉

In fairness, there have been some more accurate rumours:

'It's the boxer engine still being used, just been tuned by Swindon, now.

I heard that the reason there wasn't much running by BMR at Media day and comparative lack of times, was due to the engines being on restricted mileage.'

'One driver has already exited Team HARD'

'If that means [Moffat] selling the Merc & or loaning out their TBL'

'Smiley will be a shoe-in for one of the new BTC [] FK8's'

'Plato won't be at BMR for 2019'

'One of the [WSR] seats will be occupied by Tom Oliphant'

'Ash I believe [at BMR].'

'Dan Lloyd, [] missing from the 2019 grid'

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

In fairness, there have been some more accurate rumours:

'It's the boxer engine still being used, just been tuned by Swindon, now.

I heard that the reason there wasn't much running by BMR at Media day and comparative lack of times, was due to the engines being on restricted mileage.'

'One driver has already exited Team HARD'

'If that means [Moffat] selling the Merc & or loaning out their TBL'

'Smiley will be a shoe-in for one of the new BTC [] FK8's'

'Plato won't be at BMR for 2019'

'One of the [WSR] seats will be occupied by Tom Oliphant'

'Ash I believe [at BMR].'

'Dan Lloyd, [] missing from the 2019 grid'

[Alfisti]

Try #HARDer even

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Rumours that have been brought to the forum so far:
Jan 18:'On the subject of MG's expect at least a rookie piloting one '
MG's were entered with two experience drivers.

This one was probably correct at the time. A driver who had previously been in Clios had an agreement to race for BMR, but was subsequently offered a paid GT4 drive and did that instead.

[Alfisti]

Personally speaking I'd rather see/hear any rumour anyone has picked up.

Only time will show the reality from belief/hope/intention. Or that something changed between rumour and a deal being done. Or a deal being undone...

[S griffin]

Yes it is a bit quiet at the moment. Hoping to find a few leads to potential seats in 2020

[Alfisti]

Well a #HARD announcement is due very soon. Might be young Max Coates.

[Pickles]

Apparently Simpson isn't entering next year...

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Pickles

Apparently Simpson isn't entering next year...

Expected this. Where did you hear that?

[Pickles]

He was at the NEC this weekend and apparently said that he wasn't entering, saw it posted on Facebook so take a guess at how reliable that may or may not be

[Alfisti]

...which, if it pans out, bears the bigger question. Who's got/ getting the TBL?

I could see Bartie after it (to replace the loan one from Belcher/ HMS) if he's got a pipeline of drivers/ sponsors, but not heard a Motorbase related squeak other than that Sonic has been talking to other people.

[Pickles]

I had heard a rumour that Carl Boardley was going to be driving Simpson's car... Boardley isn't short of a quid... Could he be looking to buy the car and TBL and run it himself?

[Racing Harz]

Goff stays.
https://www.team-hard.com/jacks-back...btcc-campaign/

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

Goff stays.
https://www.team-hard.com/jacks-back...btcc-campaign/

Such a waste... very very surprised that Jack wanted to stay.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Pickles

I had heard a rumour that Carl Boardley was going to be driving Simpson's car... Boardley isn't short of a quid... Could he be looking to buy the car and TBL and run it himself?

Or perhaps Simpson to run Simpson Racing with Boardley driving?

[mprmke]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Such a waste... very very surprised that Jack wanted to stay.

It’s the only seat he could hope to get for 2020, so no great surprise.

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Or perhaps Simpson to run Simpson Racing with Boardley driving?

The way that I read it was Simpson was pulling out entirely, but I originally heard that was an option

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Pickles

The way that I read it was Simpson was pulling out entirely, but I originally heard that was an option

Any links to the Facebook posts?

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Any links to the Facebook posts?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/BTCCBARMYARMY/permalink/10157645002883374/