[BTCC] BTCC 2018 Rumours & Silly Season

[medius]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Who would fund this so called guest car?

Nic Hamilton's entry with AMD was a TOCA guest entry, his backing for it came from a major energy drink sponsor so it's not beyond the realms of possibility for TOCA to pull strings to put an attractive headline grabbing name in a car paid for by a big brand who would welcome the associated press coverage.

I wouldn't be shocked to see a competition minded celebrity in a car on the 60th weekend. Celeb chef maybe? Gets headlines and maybe swell the gate? A Mr Hollywood ticks those boxes.... He's driven a PMR Astra in 2017, holds the right licence and PMR are building a third chassis. (And they already have one Cook in the team!)

[rdjones]

Originally Posted by medius

I wouldn't be shocked to see a competition minded celebrity in a car on the 60th weekend. Celeb chef maybe? Gets headlines and maybe swell the gate? A Mr Hollywood ticks those boxes.... He's driven a PMR Astra in 2017, holds the right licence and PMR are building a third chassis. (And they already have one Cook in the team!)

Talking of Celeb Chef's is Mr J Martin a friend of Mr Plato maybe he could drive one of the Subaru's?

[BLiTZ]

The Jack Sears (a steak for a living) Trophy!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Overboost

He was/is, though he was recently tests TCR UK cars.

Not sure what will happen now, Price was rumoured a while back, but don't think he has the funds for the season.

Price testing today in TCR UK - described as Ex-BTCC?

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Price testing today in TCR UK - described as Ex-BTCC?

Driver, presumably, not car?!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Driver, presumably, not car?!

Yes - which if correct means he is not in the 3rd BMR (or any BTCC car for 2018). More fuel to the only 2 Subaru theory?

[S griffin]

Sorry I'm a bit late, have only just got onto the internet properly today, but it's good that Motorbase have announced it, hopefully Cole can prove he doesn't just go well with RWD. People were saying his Rockingham win was just a one off, but he had actually run in the top ten at the three previous meetings and his drive in Snetterton R2 showed he has finally got to grips with tin tops

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Yes - which if correct means he is not in the 3rd BMR (or any BTCC car for 2018). More fuel to the only 2 Subaru theory?

Looking more and more likely: who can we think of who has a pot of gold and does not have a BTCC seat? I'm struggling on that one.

Of course if Scottys fortunes have taken a turn for the better maybe he will drive again?

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Looking more and more likely: who can we think of who has a pot of gold and does not have a BTCC seat? I'm struggling on that one.

Of course if Scottys fortunes have taken a turn for the better maybe he will drive again?

Even if they haven't, maybe we'll see him behind the wheel.

[Moneyseeker]

Are we sure it won't be MJ in a third Subaru? He must have a budget of sorts and now that Cole and apparently Price are out of the picture, who else this close to the season start will have a budget? Surely those that have will be signed up already.

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[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

Are we sure it won't be MJ in a third Subaru? He must have a budget of sorts and now that Cole and apparently Price are out of the picture, who else this close to the season start will have a budget? Surely those that have will be signed up already.

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Let's see, a Subaru works car driven by a ford dealer who is personally sponsored by Volvo... No reason why not, john cleland was in a similar position but it might be difficult getting his personal sponsors onto the car

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

Let's see, a Subaru works car driven by a ford dealer who is personally sponsored by Volvo... No reason why not, john cleland was in a similar position but it might be difficult getting his personal sponsors onto the car

MJ didn't promote the family dealership on the motorbase Ford and his family team entered a BMW dealer team car in the BTCC back in the S2000 days. He was/is sponsored by Volvo Trucks not cars. I doubt any of the above would matter to Subaru, who don't appear to fund the running budget of the cars.

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[RS67]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

Are we sure it won't be MJ in a third Subaru? He must have a budget of sorts and now that Cole and apparently Price are out of the picture, who else this close to the season start will have a budget? Surely those that have will be signed up already.

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That's if there is a 3rd Scooby. Nothing official has been announced that is the case.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

Are we sure it won't be MJ in a third Subaru? He must have a budget of sorts and now that Cole and apparently Price are out of the picture, who else this close to the season start will have a budget? Surely those that have will be signed up already.

If there is a third Subaru - the driver may already have been signed a while ago, and just not announced yet.

Mat Jackson said that the timing of his departure from Motorbase meant he would probably be missing this season. If he'd had discussions with Team Dynamics, he may already have spoken to other teams too (including BMR) and found out that the seat was already taken, or doesn't exist.

Unless that is the reason he wasn't interested in the AmD seat?!?!

[Robin Marriott]

I would have thought the MG seat was a better proposition than the Subaru one given how successful the MG has been over the years.

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

I would have thought the MG seat was a better proposition than the Subaru one given how successful the MG has been over the years.

I would have loved to see Jackson in the MG, I really think its a decent car, decent environment for him and we could have seen it fly up the field, unfortunately i think it will be going to a random pay driver who can be described by Shaun as "promising"

shame but thats the way it is these days

[S griffin]

It remains to be seen if the MG has any life in the old dog yet, it’s been around since 2012, which is a long time

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by S griffin

It remains to be seen if the MG has any life in the old dog yet, it’s been around since 2012, which is a long time

Its not been looked after for the last couple of years tho, I understand its been on a diet this winter, and they have been completely rebuilt.
Would be a real shame not to have a top line driver see what it can do as seems a waste to rely on "also rans" too busy getting used to the car and series

[Greem]

I don't think I've ever looked forward to BTCC media day as much as I am this year... if only because it'll put a stop to the ever-decreasing circles of who will be driving for whom in what!

[AdrianM]

Originally Posted by S griffin

It remains to be seen if the MG has any life in the old dog yet, it’s been around since 2012, which is a long time

Does the age of the car really matter that much given how the cars are built? The cars have been on the jigs at Pooles haven't they so I'd expect them to be every bit as "tight" as a new shell.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by AdrianM

Does the age of the car really matter that much given how the cars are built? The cars have been on the jigs at Pooles haven't they so I'd expect them to be every bit as "tight" as a new shell.

I think it depends on if any of the BoP measures are carried over from previous seasons.

If they are continuing a development race vs TOCA's 'hampering', then the MG's may have been developed as far as possible. If the slate is wiped clean each season, then no reason why it can't be as good as any other car in the right hands.

The Avensis is still developing each year, as seen on the 2018 aero update....

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Greem

I don't think I've ever looked forward to BTCC media day as much as I am this year... if only because it'll put a stop to the ever-decreasing circles of who will be driving for whom in what!

Is the media day open to the public? Is there an admission charge?

[mark_l]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Is the media day open to the public? Is there an admission charge?

Usually free admission with gates open about 12.00-12.30

[medius]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I think it depends on if any of the BoP measures are carried over from previous seasons.

If they are continuing a development race vs TOCA's 'hampering', then the MG's may have been developed as far as possible. If the slate is wiped clean each season, then no reason why it can't be as good as any other car in the right hands.

The Avensis is still developing each year, as seen on the 2018 aero update....

I think the general consensus is that under Shaun's stewardship the cars will be better ran and possible better engineered than when they were a second string afterthought out of Warren's workshops.

[luckn002]

Originally Posted by medius

I think the general consensus is that under Shaun's stewardship the cars will be better ran and possible better engineered than when they were a second string afterthought out of Warren's workshops.

I really hope so. With the grid even better this year they're going to be in trouble if they haven't improved since '17. At least we know there'll be an improvement on the livery... don't think you could get much more boring than last year's!