BTCC 2019 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

Hill attempted to affiliate himself with AMD who now happen to be running these cars for TPC, so would it be too far fetched to assume Hill could be lined up as the first driver?

TPC already have one driver signed, so it's definitely a possible scenario that could develop.

Interestingly, TPC are following the mantra of 'win Sunday, sell Monday' to a certain extent. They have said they chose the Audi, rather than the MG, based on what cars they sell more of.......

Which also suggests AmD were/are looking to move on either of the existing makes to make way for the new cars.

[CroftPilgrim]

A number of posters are mentioning the MG as a better shout then the Audi, but AFAIK the MGs are no longer eligible? I'm not sure on that but I think it's the case as they are now too old.

[pimmy]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

Hill also has brief experience of the Audi standing in at Brands a few seasons back

Completely different car.

Hopefully the Audis will perform better after the rebuild, just like the MGs did.

[BobJones]

Shaun, Shaun, Shaun, savvy guy.

Sells the Audis and TBLs to a business that then also pays him to run them for two years. What a deal!

A far cry from the hack-job Golf.

[Robin Marriott]

Originally Posted by CroftPilgrim

A number of posters are mentioning the MG as a better shout then the Audi, but AFAIK the MGs are no longer eligible? I'm not sure on that but I think it's the case as they are now too old.

MG withdrew it from sale in the uk in 2016 so depending on the rule it should still be ok!

[S griffin]

Good decision from both parties. Sell them to a new team, while agreeing to help run them. Now all they need is Jake Hill to be one of the drivers

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

Ok so as conspiracies go - One of the complications I understand with Hill not being allowed to leave Hard was that a sponsor had paid Team Hard for the season and they wouldn't entertain a mid season refund..
what if that sponsor was actually Trade Priced Cars? who have now left Hard to go it alone,
Hill attempted to affiliate himself with AMD who now happen to be running these cars for TPC, so would it be too far fetched to assume Hill could be lined up as the first driver?

Nice idea, but it was Rolec who had paid for the full season.

[Racer65]

Originally Posted by CroftPilgrim

A number of posters are mentioning the MG as a better shout then the Audi, but AFAIK the MGs are no longer eligible? I'm not sure on that but I think it's the case as they are now too old.

Nothing explicitly in the regs about the age of the car as far as I'm aware. The car must have been freely on sale in the UK at the time of homologation which it was.

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by pimmy

Completely different car.

Hopefully the Audis will perform better after the rebuild, just like the MGs did.

...No it wasn't, unless your classing Nick Hamilton's pedal adaptations which were probably removed at the time as making the car completely different

https://www.autosport.com/btcc/news/...or-btcc-finale

[auroan]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

...No it wasn't, unless your classing Nick Hamilton's pedal adaptations which were probably removed at the time as making the car completely different

https://www.autosport.com/btcc/news/...or-btcc-finale

I think he was referring to the Rob Austin Audi A4 that he also drove.

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by auroan

I think he was referring to the Rob Austin Audi A4 that he also drove.

But I want when I made the point, considering we were talking about the S3 I thought that would have been obvious

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Racer65

Nothing explicitly in the regs about the age of the car as far as I'm aware. The car must have been freely on sale in the UK at the time of homologation which it was.

car is eligible up to 5 years after it's taken off sale.
thats why the old model honda civic is still eligible.

[Northern Monkey]

The MG is very much still an eligible car

[Racer65]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

car is eligible up to 5 years after it's taken off sale.
thats why the old model honda civic is still eligible.

Good point. Loads of people on various forums always whinging on about the MG's being old but they never mention the Civics.

Anywhere I can find up to date regs on car eligibility? They used to have all that in the technical regs but they took that part out and moved it to a teams only area.

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

The MG is very much still an eligible car

And by all accounts will be on the grid next year.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Racer65

Anywhere I can find up to date regs on car eligibility? They used to have all that in the technical regs but they took that part out and moved it to a teams only area.

Not regs, but this answer from Alan Gow explains it.
http://btccforum.net/forum/showthrea...1-Ineligiblity

MG6 was withdrawn from sale in 2016 so still eligible until 2021.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

Maybe your right, but read through and have a look at the blog headlines:
...
This is no coincidence that their interest ended when Hill left the team

https://www.rolec.net/category/racing/page/2/
Read the Rolec racing blog, notice anything familiar?

Most of the stories on TPC site are a direct lift from Rolec. If you check the timestamps, Rolec's were posted about an hour before TPC so it's not the other way around.

Rolec, as we know, were Hill's sponsors so no surprise if the stories focus on him. You are right about one thing - it was no coincidence TPC stopped posting stories when Hill left, but not for the reason you think.

[pimmy]

Originally Posted by btccbloke

...No it wasn't, unless your classing Nick Hamilton's pedal adaptations which were probably removed at the time as making the car completely different

https://www.autosport.com/btcc/news/...or-btcc-finale

Sorry, I forgot about that entirely!

[Pringles]

So the question is do the Audis now being run by Trade Price Cars albeit run by AMD tuning count in the 4 cars Shaun said he would be running this year.

If so then that means if they have bought the 2 Hondas then the MG's will be going spare.

Seems odd to say the Audi fits in better because they sell them yet the MG has outscored the Audis in one year and finish better more often.

I get the whole brand requirements etc but surely you want to enter with a competitive car?

I think the Audis are past their best even Rob Austin didn't fare that well in Sherman and he's a preety decent peddelar a lot of the time.

I don't know what it is with those Audis the car or the drivers in them or a combo of the two.

I'd like to see them become more competitive but I guess we will see what happens.

[Robin Marriott]

Originally Posted by Pringles

I think the Audis are past their best even Rob Austin didn't fare that well in Sherman and he's a preety decent peddelar a lot of the time.

The RAR A4s aren’t even close to being the same cars as the AMD ones though so you can’t really compare.

[S griffin]

Especially as one was RWD and the other was FWD

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by Pringles

So the question is do the Audis now being run by Trade Price Cars albeit run by AMD tuning count in the 4 cars Shaun said he would be running this year.

If so then that means if they have bought the 2 Hondas then the MG's will be going spare.

Seems odd to say the Audi fits in better because they sell them yet the MG has outscored the Audis in one year and finish better more often.

I get the whole brand requirements etc but surely you want to enter with a competitive car?

I think the Audis are past their best even Rob Austin didn't fare that well in Sherman and he's a preety decent peddelar a lot of the time.

I don't know what it is with those Audis the car or the drivers in them or a combo of the two.

I'd like to see them become more competitive but I guess we will see what happens.

I believe the MG’s are indeed moving on, heard either a new team stepping up (Clio cup) or being run by a familiar face in the paddock that ran them (properly) before!?!

[Alfisti]

The Matrix rumour, if Matrix move up in their own right. However Matrix may enter BTCC as a branding exercise on a PMR Astra. Mr Harrisons name was mentioned to me a few months ago, not in connection with anything in particular, but maybe he fancies running a team again.

As for TPC the Audi is a better choice than the MG as they sell lots of premium German metal. They don't specialise in old outdated poorly built Chinese cars, hence the MG is less relevant.

[Pringles]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

The Matrix rumour, if Matrix move up in their own right. However Matrix may enter BTCC as a branding exercise on a PMR Astra. Mr Harrisons name was mentioned to me a few months ago, not in connection with anything in particular, but maybe he fancies running a team again.

As for TPC the Audi is a better choice than the MG as they sell lots of premium German metal. They don't specialise in old outdated poorly built Chinese cars, hence the MG is less relevant.

Just out of curiosity how much experience of the new MG'S do you have to back up your comment?

"They don't specialise in old outdated poorly built Chinese cars"

[btccbloke]

Originally Posted by Pringles

Just out of curiosity how much experience of the new MG'S do you have to back up your comment?

"They don't specialise in old outdated poorly built Chinese cars"

I have experience of "new" MG having owned for just under a year and confirm they are not very good, if your really interested from someone who owned one and had nothing but grief and a lack of support from thr dealer feel free to message me for details as otherwise this will turn into a car review thread!
Details of issues with the cars, especially parts supply for the 6 and built quality with the other models are well documented on the Web.

However, to keep this on thread, how many calls do you honestly think TPC are dealing with with people wanting to buy a newish MG compared to an Audi? And what do you think gives them the most profit margin.
From that perspective it makes perfect sense for them to run promotion displays from their showrooms.