[BTCC] BTCC 2011 Predictions Thread

[AussieTimmeh]

The upcoming BTCC season looks to be a bumper one, with many new teams and a large variety of cars participating. Anyone interested in taking a punt on what may happen during the season?

Much like the F1 predictions thread, make 5 predictions before the season starts on the 3rd April, and we'll check out how you did when the season wraps up October.

I'll start... with so many newcomers and the combination of S2000 and NGTC regs, it's tough to know how things will turn out. Here are my gut feelings:

1) The non-branded TOCA engine will not win a race in any of the cars
2) The new RWD Audis will not finish on the podium this season
3) BMW will not win a race this season
4) Matt Neal or Jason Plato will run the other off the track at some point during the season
5) The championship will be decided before the last race begins

[gregc]

Go on then...

1) Honda will win everything - Driver, Manufacturer/Constructor and Team
2) Paul O'Neill will win a race
3) There will be a full 32 car grid at at least one meeting
4) Plato will moan about the NGTC engine. A lot.
5) Motorbase will beat Arena in one or both of the Team or Independent championships

[Spanner monkey]

mmm... Will AON be a manufacturer team this year along the line of what Honda have been doing with Dynamics for the last few years?

[helterskelter]

4) Matt Neal or Jason Plato will run the other off the track at some point during the season

Plato will moan about the NGTC engine. A lot.

There will be a full 32 car grid at at least one meeting

Those are pretty much obvious, aren't they?
The others you posted are very interesting, we'll see what happens. I do agree that Motorbase will beat Arena in one or both championships.

[gregc]

I'm actually not as confident as some others about the full grid, though I am hopeful...

And yeah, Plato having a moan is pretty much a given, but it had to be said

[steve_r]

1) The BTC spec Honda Integra scores points, even with the ballast onboard.
2) Ford lock out the podium at least once during the season
3) Plato Champion again.
4) Alex McDowell wins a race
5) Tom Chiltons's hair never goes flat during the entire season

[gregc]

Originally Posted by steve_r

5) Tom Chiltons's hair never goes flat during the entire season

You might want to rethink that one judging from the photos from yesterdays testing...

Photos on facebook btw, http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Off...65670750141050

[steve_r]

Meh, cant get faccebook in work. Don't tell me he's had a haircut. In which case

5) Alan Gow to lose his rag on the BTCC forum "Questions for Alan Gow, Championship Administrator" at least twice, and tell people who ask questions he has already answered to use the Bl**dy search function!

[gregc]

now that's as predictable as my Plato one

[touringlegend]

Only at least twice?

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by gregc

You might want to rethink that one judging from the photos from yesterdays testing...

Photos on facebook btw, http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Official-BTCC/165670750141050

To be fair, steve_r's statement didn't include pre-season-testing. Once the season is under way things will probably be back to normal...

[Spanner monkey]

Tom Chiltons's hair never goes flat during the entire season

The last few rounds last year he had changed his hair style & it was flat with a partin...

[Craner Curves]

Here's my slightly cynical view.

1. Half the teams to miss Knockhill because they didn't budget for it or the chief mechanic's grandmother's dog has a birthday party that day.
2. Alex MacDowall finds some racecraft to go with his raw pace and cracks a smile as a result.
3. The Avensis will win a reverse grid race, after showing a lack of pace prior to that.
4. Jeff Smith will find the gravel trap in the first practice session at the first round and start a season-long habit of losing his front splitter.
5. Tom Chilton gets a puncture at Thruxton.

[gregc]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

2. Alex MacDowall finds some racecraft to go with his raw pace and cracks a smile as a result.

That's a good shout actually and I'd really like to see it, there's no doiubt he's quick and hopefully he's learnt from his first season.

[AussieTimmeh]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

5. Tom Chilton gets a puncture at Thruxton.

Some very precise predictions there haha! Must be a High Definition Crystal Ball

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by gregc

That's a good shout actually and I'd really like to see it, there's no doiubt he's quick and hopefully he's learnt from his first season.

He clearly has the pace as we've seen in qualifying, but needs to stop being bullied so much and making errors.

Originally Posted by AussieTimmeh

Some very precise predictions there haha! Must be a High Definition Crystal Ball

A Tom Chilton going balls out at Thruxton with an excessive amount of camber puncture is a regular occurance you see, nothing specific about that one at all.

[pinkd56]

1) There will be a rumour regarding Volvo joining the BTCC with James Thompson driving, presumably around Snetterton time.
2) Only one Seat will race at the first round for Special Tuning.
3) Paul O'Neill will not win a race or drive a Chevrolet.
4) Tom Boardman will enter the WTCC at Brands.
5) Any interview involving an Airwaves Racing driver will have them say 'kick up a gear'

[ckBrenneke]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

A Tom Chilton going balls out at Thruxton with an excessive amount of camber puncture is a regular occurance you see, nothing specific about that one at all.

That and a race-leading Gordon Shedden Thruxton puncture. He's been just as unlucky/foolish-with-his-camber-settings as Chilton.

Has he not punctured three times while leading in the last few years at Thruxton? Twice in 2008, and once last year?

EDIT - Just checked it, in the 2008 Thruxton races 1 and 3, Shedden suffered punctures on lap 8, and in 2010 it was also lap 8, all while leading the race.

So my prediction would be Shedden to get a front left puncture at Thruxton on lap 8 while leading the race.

Wonder what odds I'd get on that...

[skells22]

1. one of the rookies will cause a pile up.
2. we have a new BTCC champion
3. a car will roll
4. we have a new race winner
5. we will have at least 2 wet rounds.

just a question, if 1 triggers 3 do I get both points?

[MJones94]

5) Any interview involving an Airwaves Racing driver will have them say 'kick up a gear'[/QUOTE]

Too right! It seems as though in their contract it said that they had to say that whenever possible. Maybe they have a points system on who can say it the most.

[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by pinkd56

1) There will be a rumour regarding Volvo joining the BTCC with James Thompson driving, presumably around Snetterton time.
2) Only one Seat will race at the first round for Special Tuning.
3) Paul O'Neill will not win a race or drive a Chevrolet.
4) Tom Boardman will enter the WTCC at Brands.
5) Any interview involving an Airwaves Racing driver will have them say 'kick up a gear'

Tom Boardman could, but he'd be in the wrong place since the WTCC are at Donny this year

[pinkd56]

Originally Posted by Bonanza

Tom Boardman could, but he'd be in the wrong place since the WTCC are at Donny this year

haha, good point

[steve_r]

Originally Posted by steve_r

1) The BTC spec Honda Integra scores points, even with the ballast onboard.
2) Ford lock out the podium at least once during the season
3) Plato Champion again.
4) Alex McDowell wins a race
5) Alan Gow to lose his rag on the BTCC forum "Questions for Alan Gow, Championship Administrator" at least twice, and tell people who ask questions he has already answered to use the Bl**dy search function!

1 down, 4 to go. Thank you Mr Wood!

Please can send Alan Gow a question aabout a BTCC compurer game before the end of the season, so that I can cross of no.5?

TOC back in the ford makes no.2 look a bit more likely.

[gregc]

Time to resurrect this then I guess. I'm claiming 3 out of my 5...

Originally Posted by gregc

1) Honda will win everything - Driver, Manufacturer/Constructor and Team

Yep

2) Paul O'Neill will win a race

Got close a couple of times, but sadly not

3) There will be a full 32 car grid at at least one meeting

Nope

4) Plato will moan about the NGTC engine. A lot.

I think I can just about claim this point

5) Motorbase will beat Arena in one or both of the Team or Independent championships

Yep, beat them in the indy teams

[steve_r]

1) The BTC spec Honda Integra scores points, even with the ballast onboard.
SUCCESS! Thanks to a great 7th Place finish for Lea Wood at round 11.

2) Ford lock out the podium at least once during the season
FAIL. Race 2 at brands was the closest with 2nd,3rd and 5th. The performance of the AON fords have been a dissapointment this season.

3) Plato Champion again.
FAIL - 3rd.

4) Alex McDowell wins a race
FAIL - best of 2nd place.

5) Alan Gow to lose his rag on the BTCC forum "Questions for Alan Gow, Championship Administrator" at least twice, and tell people who ask questions he has already answered to use the Bl**dy search function!
I PRESUME THIS WAS A SUCCESS?