BTCC 2019 season discussion, News and Rumours! - Page 23

Evantra · 1 Oct 2018, 07:59 (Ref:3853739)

Time for my annual silly season predictions - and, as usual, these will be a mix of what I think will realistically happen and what I would most love to see (mostly the latter, hence far too many new builds and too few driver changes)

And remember, these are just my personal opinions so please be kind and I already know how horribly wrong they'll be!

--

BMR -
Let's start with the cork in the bottle. There will be no BMR, nor any Subarus on the grid in 2019. I also think Ash Sutton will move on to bigger things as he has hinted in the past.

WSR - 3 cars
Jordan will depart, leaving three Team BMW cars; probably the last year of the 1 Series if BMW support continues. I think Ricky would rather pursue a GT or DTM career and Rob will retire due to his health issues, so I don't think they'll be a Collard on the grid either. Therefore I predict Turkington will continue, with Josh Cook and Tom Onslow-Cole joining the team.

New Team - 2 cars
So here's the most unlikely bit: Jason Plato and Andrew Jordan in a new build FWD car... Both have funding and rumoured to be leaving their current teams, with seemingly few other options - although I'm not sure how well they get on. Plato will still be at the back.

Dynamics - 2 cars
Car and driver line-up unchanged, though this will be Matt Neal's last year in the championship.

Eurotech - 2 cars
Driver line-up unchanged. Sounds like they'll be sticking with the FK2.

BTC Norlin - 2 cars
Car and driver line-up unchanged (hopefully Lloyd gets the budget!)

Speedworks - 2 cars
Switch to the new Coralla with Toyota manufacturer backing. Rory Butcher in a second car with Tingram.

HMS - 2 cars
Rob Austin will be joined in a second Alfa Romeo by Ant Whorton-Eales.

PMR - 2 cars
Proctor alongside Mike Epps in the Astra.

AmD - 2 cars
Jake Hill and Daniel Rowbottom in a new build car, funded by the selling of two of their TBLs and using parts from the Audis and MGs.

HARD - 3 cars
Down to three VWs with Bushell (already confirmed) joined by Thompson and Jamie Bond (the latter winning the VW Cup with HARD).

Simpson - 1 car
Matt Simpson in the Civic again, no changes here.

Ciceley / Laser - 3 cars
Car and driver line-ups unchanged. Hopefully the A-Class will get a facelift..

Motorbase / JCT600 - 3 cars
Chilton and Tordoff stay, with Max Coates replacing James Cole.

Parker - 1 car
Mat Jackson in the BMW.

--

That makes 30 cars, which is between the capacity and Gow's ideal.

BobJones · 1 Oct 2018, 08:22 (Ref:3853746)

Quote:

Originally Posted by touringlegend

It may not affect things but interestingly I’ve heard JCT600 are losing the BMW franchise.

They only had one, small fry in JCT600 land, and they've gained Rolls-Royce.

BobJones · 1 Oct 2018, 08:25 (Ref:3853748)

Quote:

Originally Posted by medius

Very much 3+2 making eleventh. Did anybody catch Fifth Gear lately where the presenters collectively tested the updated Dacia Duster? The overall view was quite good but particularly Mr Plato was effusive in his praise for the brand and the car. Even going as far to point out a turbocharged petrol engine was coming out in 2019.

They don't really have a car that suits the BTCC ruleset. Plus he also slagged off a Nissan the week before, part of the same group.

On the flip side, Dacia and their dealers were involved in the STCC for a few years.

BobJones · 1 Oct 2018, 08:26 (Ref:3853750)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

especially with works backing from Toyota

Aaah, if I were Toyota I'd been keen to push the new UK-built Corolla through the BTCC, except the current political climate means that this may have to be delayed.

crmalcolm · 1 Oct 2018, 08:52 (Ref:3853758)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobJones

They don't really have a car that suits the BTCC ruleset.

Would the Logan not be a suitable starting model?

touring fan01 · 1 Oct 2018, 13:53 (Ref:3853829)

sounds like sutton and bmr are back again next year. this from btcc website;

Ash Sutton said: “I was happy to settle for second. That was the best race I’ve ever had and to do it with Josh (Cook) was mega. It was always the aim to go away with a win here. After race one, it was looking hard but we dug deep and I had to hunt Josh down.

“For the last god knows how many laps, I was just laughing to myself in the car. Luck wasn’t on our side this year and we had a slow start. We’ll come back stronger next year.”

BLiTZ · 1 Oct 2018, 15:12 (Ref:3853848)

Quote:

Originally Posted by touring fan01

sounds like sutton and bmr are back again next year. this from btcc website;

Ash Sutton said: “I was happy to settle for second. That was the best race I’ve ever had and to do it with Josh (Cook) was mega. It was always the aim to go away with a win here. After race one, it was looking hard but we dug deep and I had to hunt Josh down.

“For the last god knows how many laps, I was just laughing to myself in the car. Luck wasn’t on our side this year and we had a slow start. We’ll come back stronger next year.”

That's just a transcript of his TV interview after the race. I've seen that racing drivers often use the royal 'we' a lot lately when refering to themselves or them and their family as a unit and not always meaning the team so I wouldn't read too much into it just yet!

touring fan01 · 1 Oct 2018, 15:37 (Ref:3853853)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLiTZ

That's just a transcript of his TV interview after the race. I've seen that racing drivers often use the royal 'we' a lot lately when refering to themselves or them and their family as a unit and not always meaning the team so I wouldn't read too much into it just yet!

i agree. but then take the team out of the 'we' and its still sutton saying he is back next year

S griffin · 1 Oct 2018, 16:23 (Ref:3853859)

That’s assuming he doesn’t get a call abroad, like Flash did

Robin Marriott · 1 Oct 2018, 17:25 (Ref:3853874)

https://twitter.com/rolecracing/stat...836478465?s=21

Hopefully announcing Bobby for next year.

Evantra · 1 Oct 2018, 17:59 (Ref:3853882)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

https://twitter.com/rolecracing/stat...836478465?s=21

Hopefully announcing Bobby for next year.

I'm afraid Rolec posts that exact same thing every other day..! Really annoying!

btccbloke · 1 Oct 2018, 18:51 (Ref:3853891)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evantra

I'm afraid Rolec posts that exact same thing every other day..! Really annoying!

Learning from Team Hard then... Almost as if their social media account is run by the same person #gamechanger

**touringlegend** · 2 Oct 2018, 14:13 (Ref:3854069)

Eurotech have sold the Civics, TBLS and the equipment to another team and will not compete in 2019.

So who is the other team? A new or existing team. Is Jason Plato starting his own team??

Robin Marriott · 2 Oct 2018, 14:14 (Ref:3854070)

http://www.btcc.net/2018/10/02/eurot...nother-outfit/

Big news, big shame. They’ve been great with Goff and they’re a decent bunch of people too. Guess ICD must be struggling.

Redshift · 2 Oct 2018, 14:14 (Ref:3854071)

This is a bolt out of the blue from Eurotech: -
http://www.btcc.net/2018/10/02/eurot...nother-outfit/

**touringlegend** · 2 Oct 2018, 14:15 (Ref:3854072)

Such a shock we’ve all posted at the same time. 😂

As suggested a few pages back I’ve renamed the thread to explicitly include rumours in the title.

Robin Marriott · 2 Oct 2018, 14:15 (Ref:3854073)

This will mean no Brett in 2019 too I suspect.

medius · 2 Oct 2018, 14:25 (Ref:3854075)

Interesting the wording is "another outfit" not "a new team"

Jiiiiiiim · 2 Oct 2018, 14:26 (Ref:3854076)

Quote:

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Eurotech have sold the Civics, TBLS and the equipment to another team and will not compete in 2019.

So who is the other team? A new or existing team. Is Jason Plato starting his own team??

Existing team I believe, who in turn will be selling on some of their current cars and TBL’s to a new entrant from what I’ve heard, but some deals still to be inked.

VIVA GT · 2 Oct 2018, 14:27 (Ref:3854077)

Quote:

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Eurotech have sold the Civics, TBLS and the equipment to another team and will not compete in 2019.

So who is the other team? A new or existing team. Is Jason Plato starting his own team??

Andy Jordan & Jason Plato Pirtek/Tesco superteam? Have the Jordans bought their old team back?
It will all come out in the wash eventually I'm sure.

Alfisti · 2 Oct 2018, 14:32 (Ref:3854078)

My waters say a man who shakes is somewhere involved?

**touringlegend** · 2 Oct 2018, 14:35 (Ref:3854079)

#shakewithshaun

Robin Marriott · 2 Oct 2018, 14:45 (Ref:3854083)

HARD maybe? Down to two cars and binning the CCs off, selling TBLs and 2 cars to someone new with Plato and someone else?

crmalcolm · 2 Oct 2018, 15:08 (Ref:3854087)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

http://www.btcc.net/2018/10/02/eurot...nother-outfit/

Big news, big shame. They’ve been great with Goff and they’re a decent bunch of people too. Guess ICD must be struggling.

Yes, seems to be down to ICD reducing their backing.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1047125728364498944

'One of our major sponsors, ICD, is unable to continue with its current level of support. '

It shows how delicate some of the budgets are in BTCC.

How many cars finished the season on loan TBLs? It would be a bit of a surprise to see an existing TBL holding team increase their allocation...

850Estate · 2 Oct 2018, 15:12 (Ref:3854088)

That's a real shame. Eurotech were flying this season, and they were a nice bunch to be around. Hopefully we see them back at some point.

My initial thought for the purchasers of the TBLs was the Jordan family. JRT in the BTCC.

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