[BTCC] BTCC 2023 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Evantra

I suppose it enforces that there’s no new teams knocking on the door, otherwise I’m sure the TBLs per team would soon be limited again. If Hard are granted 5 (or 6..?) when they can barely run one car in the points…

So… they had 4 TBLs, plus the Boardley one last year, then sold one of their’s to PMR, correct? So whose is the extra one - must be Moffat's or Dynamics’?

Yes, my best guess is that its an ex-Moffat TBL. With some work on the cars over the winter I'd hope at least 2 or 3 entries (Thompson, Lloyd, and/or Patterson) can regularly get into the points.

Across a maximum of 29 entries, there's only 8 unique teams (Motorbase, EXCELR8, WSR, Speedworks, OneMotorsport, PMR, HARD, and Dynamics*). Go back to 2015 and there were 17/18 (!) - WSR, Support our Paras, Dynamics, 888, BMR, Motorbase, Speedworks, Handy (running with support from Speedworks) Welch, Parker, Ciceley, Moffat, PMR, AmD, HARD, Eurotech, Rob Austin, and Houseman.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Evantra

I suppose it enforces that there’s no new teams knocking on the door, otherwise I’m sure the TBLs per team would soon be limited again. If Hard are granted 5 (or 6..?) when they can barely run one car in the points…

So… they had 4 TBLs, plus the Boardley one last year, then sold one of their’s to PMR, correct? So whose is the extra one - must be Moffat's or Dynamics’?

What happened to the much mentions Graves entry? Just another Kite flying story?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

What happened to the much mentions Graves entry? Just another Kite flying story?

The Porsche Visit Cayman Islands Sprint Challenge GB

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

What happened to the much mentions Graves entry? Just another Kite flying story?

Their expected funding went elsewhere!

[SV8Predator]

No Team Dynamics this year. (Latest from Brands Hatch testing today.)

[Ant25]

Originally Posted by SV8Predator

No Team Dynamics this year. (Latest from Brands Hatch testing today.)

I don’t get why they haven’t announced it then if so rumours are true! Why would they wait a week before media day? Plus if they was not taking part this year wouldn’t they have announced it the same time adam Morgan’s team did?

[SV8Predator]

Originally Posted by Ant25

I don’t get why they haven’t announced it then if so rumours are true! Why would they wait a week before media day? Plus if they was not taking part this year wouldn’t they have announced it the same time adam Morgan’s team did?

What?

Why would they announce it at the same time as Ciceley? Not sure i follow your thinking there?

Dynamics were trying desperately to stay in the championship, for weeks after the Ciceley announcement.

"Not sure if serious?"

[Ant25]

Originally Posted by SV8Predator

What?

Why would they announce it at the same time as Ciceley? Not sure i follow your thinking there?

Dynamics were trying desperately to stay in the championship, for weeks after the Ciceley announcement.

"Not sure if serious?"

I meant around the same time period my bad! Only thing I can think of is that they’ve been really really good on being quiet and might have something massive coming who knows!

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Ant25

I meant around the same time period my bad! Only thing I can think of is that they’ve been really really good on being quiet and might have something massive coming who knows!

I think with probably around half a dozen different posters having heard and/or hinted they’re dropping out, we can draw a reasonably safe conclusion…

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by SSmith

Across a maximum of 29 entries, there's only 8 unique teams (Motorbase, EXCELR8, WSR, Speedworks, OneMotorsport, PMR, HARD, and Dynamics*). Go back to 2015 and there were 17/18 (!) - WSR, Support our Paras, Dynamics, 888, BMR, Motorbase, Speedworks, Handy (running with support from Speedworks) Welch, Parker, Ciceley, Moffat, PMR, AmD, HARD, Eurotech, Rob Austin, and Houseman.

Wow that’s more than I thought! Of course the upside now is the teams are running much larger operations, at least in terms of cars and sponsor deals covering 3-4 of them, and - for the most part! - they’re all operating to a very high standard.

[S griffin]

It would be nice to have a few more teams, but I understand why teams are running more cars. There is good quality in the teams, especially the top ones. Of course one or two more teams wouldn't go amiss

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

Their expected funding went elsewhere!

Ah that old story. We will do this , this and this - subject to securing funding ……kite flying

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Wow that’s more than I thought! Of course the upside now is the teams are running much larger operations, at least in terms of cars and sponsor deals covering 3-4 of them, and - for the most part! - they’re all operating to a very high standard.

Interested to know who isn't operating to a high standard... in your opinion of course

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Ant25

I don’t get why they haven’t announced it then if so rumours are true! Why would they wait a week before media day? Plus if they was not taking part this year wouldn’t they have announced it the same time adam Morgan’s team did?

You don’t really announce that you haven’t attracted any drivers with enough money though (assuming they aren’t doing something last minute).

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by Ant25

I don’t get why they haven’t announced it then if so rumours are true! Why would they wait a week before media day? Plus if they was not taking part this year wouldn’t they have announced it the same time adam Morgan’s team did?

Still trying to get a deal, presumably, until the cut-off point

[S griffin]

I think we should see Dynamics back. Although it would also be nice if we could have another team with a new car. There could be an opportunity there. Would love to see TPR back

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Pickles

Interested to know who isn't operating to a high standard... in your opinion of course

Relative to the others, Hard, in terms of reliability and performance from what’ve seen (and heard from many disgruntled drivers) consistently over many seasons.

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Relative to the others, Hard, in terms of reliability and performance from what’ve seen (and heard from many disgruntled drivers) consistently over many seasons.

Fair point, and yes they have been there for many seasons despite being a family team up against the open chequebooks of NAPA and BTC Also if they weren't on the grid, who would you have to complain about? You seriously underestimate the work that goes into getting on the BTCC grid, and staying there. Your opinion though, and I respect that.

[Sodemo]

Shame if there really is no Team Dynamics. They have been one of the longest serving teams in the BTCC. I guess no Honda backing and the scrum for sponsorship has caught up with them?

[Csaba]

Well, beside being sad for Dynamics missing out on a grid spot, I've noticed something interesting on the forum in the last few days.
I also have to admit I didn't read the thread too often in the last 2-3 months, so maybe some things have changed ?

People being happy for Jade getting the 5th Cupra. People not worrying about Team Hard having 5 cars again, after the mess they did with Parfitt's entry/car last year?
I also want to wish them all the best, but as someone already mentioned above, they usually have 1 capable combination of driver/car, and one more driver scoring points in every 3/4 races on average out of 4-5 entries.
Maybe this year they will have 2-2.5 with occasional good performances from Patterson. But (sadly) Butel and Edwards will be there just to make up the grid numbers. I don't want to be rude, but they were clearly outperformed (while driving competitive cars) by a duo of a rookie and Crees (who is considered by many as semi-amateur even to this day, despite his results) at PMR, running with Astras as old as the mountains by touring car standards.
Yes, I know that we are in the Jack Goff situation of being on the grid is better than nothing, but just having them on the grid to run in 22-26th positions.

On the other hand, loosing Dynamics will be really noticeable on the Honda front, even more if One Motorsport won't run the 3rd Civic and Moffat can't compete at the level of Cook.
Is it 90+ percent sure of One Motorsport running the third Honda?

[coffinpilot]

I predicted the Dynamics sabbatical.
Do I get a prize?
Really hope it isn't, as mentioned by someone else, a Team Parker deal.

I wonder what held up their offer of the two works supported Cupras for TCR? How could they not raise the money for that I wonder?

[Robin Marriott]

Despite the constant speculation, I’m still surprised to see it actually happen.

https://www.touringcartimes.com/2023...3-btcc-season/

[BobJones]

Another team switching from TOCA to bespoke powerplants...

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by BobJones

Another team switching from TOCA to bespoke powerplants...

Only PMR/HARD on M-Sport engines now.

Sad news to see Dynamics out, hopefully, they can pull something together and return to the grid in 2024.

Also interesting to see if ONE operates 3/4 Civics this year, seems to be the only real mystery left on this season's line-up.

[Sodemo]

Motorsport is a strange beast. In any other walk of life, there would be court cases over this. Can anyone imagine a football team having its sponsor pulled two weeks before the first match?