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

[crmalcolm]

2023 TBL	Team	Car	Driver	Status	Jack Sears
EXCELR8-1	Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com	Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance	Ingram	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
EXCELR8-2	Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com	Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance	Chilton	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
EXCELR8-3	Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com	Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance	Pearson	Confirmed in press release	Elig.
EXCELR8-4	Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com	Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance	Halstead	Confirmed in press release	Elig.
Team Dynamics-1	Halfords/Cataclean?	Civic?	Shedden?	Talked about next year with the team	Inel.
Team Dynamics-2	Halfords/Cataclean?	Civic?	Rowbottom?	Talked about next year with the team	Inel.
Aiden Moffat-1	One Motorsport?	Civic	???	’One’ Reported as looking to expand to four Civics	???
Aiden Moffat-2	Aiden Moffat Racing?	???	???	Infiniti described as being end of life by the team	???
Motorbase-1	NAPA Racing	Focus?	Sutton	Confirmed as 3-year deal in press release, talk of new build car	Inel.
Motorbase-2	NAPA Racing	Focus?	Cammish	Confirmed as 3-year deal in press release, talk of new build car	Inel.
Motorbase-3	Motorbase	Focus?	Osborne?	Talked about looking forward to next year with the team	Elig.
Motorbase-4	Motorbase	Focus?	???
HARD.-1	HARD.	Cupra León	Taylor-Smith	Confirmed as multi-year in press release	Inel.
HARD.-2	HARD.	Cupra León	Thompson	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
HARD.-3	HARD.	Cupra León	Patterson	Confirmed in press release	Elig.
HARD.-4	HARD.	Cupra León	Lloyd	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
Speedworks-1	Toyota Gazoo Racing UK?	Corolla?	Butcher?	Talked about wanting another year with the team	Inel.
Speedworks-2	Toyota Gazoo Racing UK?	Corolla?	???	???	???
Speedworks-3	Toyota Gazoo Racing UK?	Corolla?	???	???	???
WSR-1	Team BMW/Ciceley Commercials?	BMW 330e M Sport	Morgan	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
WSR-2	Team BMW?	BMW 330e M Sport	Turkington	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
WSR-3	Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport	BMW 330e M Sport	Hill	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
WSR-4	MB Motorsport?	BMW 330e M Sport	Jelley	Confirmed in press release - MB talked about a 2-car entry for 2023	Inel.
PMR-1	PMR	Vauxhall Astra	Hand	Confirmed as multi-year in press release	Elig.
PMR-2	PMR	Vauxhall Astra	Watson	Confirmed in press release	Elig.
BTC-1	Starline Racing by One Motorsport	Honda Civic FK8	Moffat	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
BTC-2	Starline Racing by One Motorsport	Honda Civic FK8	Cook	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
BTC-3	One Motorsport	Civic FK8	???	Reported as looking to expand to four Civics	???
Boardley-1	???	???	Boardley?	Has described 2022 as a sabbatical	Elig.
TOCA-1	Not allocated
TOCA-2	Not allocated
TOCA-3	Not allocated
???	Graves Motorsport?	???	Max Coates?	Outlined plans for an entry in 2021	Elig.
???	Parker Motorsport?	Alfa Giulia?	???	Press release states a planned return after hybrid is introduced	???
???	Parker Motorsport?	Alfa Giulia?	???	Press release states a planned return after hybrid is introduced	???
???	Bert Taylor Racing?	???	???	Talked about getting a TBL for 2023	???
???	???	???	Proctor?	Has described 2022 as a sabbatical	Inel.
???	???	???	Smelt?	Has described 2022 as a sabbatical	Elig.
???	???	???	Hamilton?	Talked about being in a car for 2023	Inel.
???	Volvo	Kia	T.Harvey	Rumoured in threads every year, has to be true one day	Inel.

[Robin Marriott]

Originally Posted by SSmith

Love the new livery as well - grey and yellow. Not sure how well it will stand out on TV though especially if its grey/raining?

I think it’ll be ok, the grey and pink BTC livery stood out well enough.

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by SSmith

I think 6 NGTC 330e chassis were built. 4 are accounted for at WSR for Hill, Turkington, Morgan, and Jelley. Turkington's old chassis has gone back to being a museum piece. Leaves just 1 chassis unaccounted by my reckoning? My theory was somebody like Boardley buying it and having it run by HARD alongside their 4 CUPRAs OR it gets held by WSR as a spare in case of another Oulton Park situation.

WSR brought both Ciceley BMW’s back, one for Morgan and the other as ‘spare’ so unless someone else has since purchased it or renting it off them, I think we’ll only see 4 BMW’s on the grid.

[Evantra]

Jack Goff “working flat out on trying to get something done”, for what it’s worth!

https://twitter.com/jgmotorsport/sta...a89bmXmT0HVZWw

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

WSR brought both Ciceley BMW’s back, one for Morgan and the other as ‘spare’ so unless someone else has since purchased it or renting it off them, I think we’ll only see 4 BMW’s on the grid.

Yes, I think 4 is the most likely result.

I wrongly neglected to mention the WSR ownership of all 5 cars in my original post. Proof one should never post without proof-reading what they've written!

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by SSmith

Team name is a bit convoluted but that's typical BTCC! "Starline Racing by One Motorsport"

Love the new livery as well - grey and yellow. Not sure how well it will stand out on TV though especially if its grey/raining?

An interesting line in TouringCarTimes' write-up that ties into something posited on this forum by me and others a week-or-so ago regarding TBLs

"With Moffat moving over to One Motorsport, it remains to be seen what will happen to the two TOCA BTCC Licences currently in the possession of ‘Aiden Moffat Racing’, which were used for the Laser Tools Racing programme in recent years. Paddock speculation has suggested that not all 29 TBLs that were handed out by TOCA for use in 2023 will in fact be utilised."

from autosport today;

"The exit of Moffat’s team from the BTCC frees up the two TBL entrants’ licences in his possession.

Buxton confirmed to Autosport that One Motorsport is hoping to use one of these to expand its overall line-up from three Hondas to four."

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

from autosport today;

"The exit of Moffat’s team from the BTCC frees up the two TBL entrants’ licences in his possession.

Buxton confirmed to Autosport that One Motorsport is hoping to use one of these to expand its overall line-up from three Hondas to four."

Yes, I think different news networks were reporting slightly different stories earlier. It would be good if they can run a 4th car and use one of those TBLs - it could possibly give someone like Edwards a shot at another season depending on sponsorship.

I would be very very surprised if we see 29 cars - TCT have suggested that not all TBLs will be used and I would imagine at least 1 of the former-Moffat TBLs going back to TOCA.

Gow must be delighted though, the grid is slowly reducing in size as he seemingly wanted a few years back.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by SSmith

I would be very very surprised if we see 29 cars - TCT have suggested that not all TBLs will be used and I would imagine at least 1 of the former-Moffat TBLs going back to TOCA.

Not convinced the Boardley one will get used (and if it does, probably just as a 5th Hard Cupra), but I suppose he would’ve moved it on if he wasn’t going to use it.

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by SSmith

Gow must be delighted though, the grid is slowly reducing in size as he seemingly wanted a few years back.

Hopefully the trend doesn't continue in the next few years as it did towards the end of 1990s and beginning of 2000s!

[touringlegend]

It does concern me slightly that Morgan and Moffat have effectively shut down their teams. (Moffat to a lesser extent due to cars being operated by others)

It would be healthier to have more 2 car teams than 3/4 car teams

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

It does concern me slightly that Morgan and Moffat have effectively shut down their teams. (Moffat to a lesser extent due to cars being operated by others)

It would be healthier to have more 2 car teams than 3/4 car teams

Definitely due another new name (or two) next season. Unfortunately it seems like costs are only getting higher and higher.

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

It does concern me slightly that Morgan and Moffat have effectively shut down their teams. (Moffat to a lesser extent due to cars being operated by others)

It would be healthier to have more 2 car teams than 3/4 car teams

Seems to be the way it's going at the moment, I think we'll end up with 5 or 6 teams (West Surrey, Excelr8, HARD, One, Speedworks and Motorbase) but still a full grid.

[thetool]

The hybrid is already looking dated and possibly a costly mis-step. The way the general car market is going, committing to the current rule set until the end of 2026 is looking misguided, given the rapid expansion of full electric vehicles on the road. What only a few years ago looked like pioneering technology (hybrid) is more and more old news already.

[antnee]

It is easy to forget how long some of these teams have been round, Morgan/Cicely joined in 2013 and Moffats joined in 2014, that is 9 & 8 full seasons they have competed. That is a lot for any family team - the world is a very different place compared to back then. There have been a few teams making noises about joining over the last few years, so I would expect this to finally happen either this year or next.

[S griffin]

Glad to see more seats filled, good to have both Cook and Moffat back

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by thetool

The hybrid is already looking dated and possibly a costly mis-step. The way the general car market is going, committing to the current rule set until the end of 2026 is looking misguided, given the rapid expansion of full electric vehicles on the road. What only a few years ago looked like pioneering technology (hybrid) is more and more old news already.

I do agree with your view, however what is the alternative? Full electric I think would turn off a lot of fans and the current forays into that realm haven't really been that successful (eTCR).

[antnee]

The viewpoint of hybrid being old tech or not depends on who is assessing it - OEMs would probably agree, so it is unlikely to draw new manufacturer backing. However, it is still 'state-of-the-art' to many people outside of the automotive industry - therefore potential sponsors would see it as a positive vs being 100% ICE.
Also, the average petrol head still doesn't accept full EVs as a viable option for their own car, so as a national series the hybrid probably sits just right.


Not forgetting that 'the fans' seem to love it https://www.btcc.net/2023/02/10/btcc...recent-survey/

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by antnee

Not forgetting that 'the fans' seem to love it https://www.btcc.net/2023/02/10/btcc...recent-survey/

Can confidently say I’ve not seen one person say they like it! It’s not terrible but I’m not sure who’s been doing that survey…

[crmalcolm]

AFAIK - every car (bar the FK8) from the 2022 grid had/has a hybrid model available in the showroom. None of them come in EV form.

[antnee]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

AFAIK - every car (bar the FK8) from the 2022 grid had/has a hybrid model available in the showroom. None of them come in EV form.

I30 & Focus are mild hybrid
Q50 & Corolla are available as regular Hybrids
BMW & Cupra have Plug-in options
Astra (the PMR gen) & Civic has no hybrid

[SSmith]

Media day is at Brands Hatch on 12th April

https://www.btcc.net/2023/02/16/bran...season-launch/

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Can confidently say I’ve not seen one person say they like it! It’s not terrible but I’m not sure who’s been doing that survey…

Pravda or TASS

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

AFAIK - every car (bar the FK8) from the 2022 grid had/has a hybrid model available in the showroom. None of them come in EV form.

And most BMW 3 Series I see around are the 330e.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by SSmith

Media day is at Brands Hatch on 12th April

https://www.btcc.net/2023/02/16/bran...season-launch/

Two months away, feels like it’s been ages! Nice it’s finally been announced.

[Robin Marriott]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Can confidently say I’ve not seen one person say they like it! It’s not terrible but I’m not sure who’s been doing that survey…

I do, I think it was a great addition.