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

[thetool]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Yea I seem to recall after the heady highs of 2004 the 2005 BTCC grid looked pretty threadbare.

Other than losing a quality driver in the 2nd WSR car (Reid) from 2004, whilst 2005 was low on numbers, it was mostly the also-rans that were missing.

[Robin Marriott]

Originally Posted by mphplastering

Wsr livery reveal later on today

https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?u...&id=7fedd3fef2

It’s certainly, er, something.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?u...&id=7fedd3fef2

It’s certainly, er, something.

Yeah BMW’s ‘factory’ colour design seems to be hit or miss, not sure it’s done too brilliantly here!

[porsche962fan]

ugly scheme

[Craner Curves]

I like it.

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by redshoes

There aren't many spare (current spec) cars available so whoever acquired the TBL would need to built something new.

On that subject I had a look on the Touring Car Register. Of the current NGTC cars, there are very few out there.

BMW 330i/330e = 5 cars (+1 in private collection)
CUPRA Leon = 4 cars
Ford Focus = 5 cars (+1 in private collection)
Honda Civic FK8 = 7 cars (incl. 2 cars owned by Dynamics not used since 2021)
Hyundai i30N = 4 cars
Toyota Corolla = 3 cars
Vauxhall Astra = 3 cars (incl. 1 car not used since 2020)

TOTAL RACEABLE CARS = 31 (+2 in private collections)

Remove the cars held as spares by bigger teams (1 BMW & 1 Ford & probably 1 Honda) and there's only 28 available.

If OneMotorsport do run 4 cars they'll probably have to buy one of the spare Dynamics-owned FK8s.

This is why I think that one of the Moffat TBLs will probably go back to TOCA - unless someone builds something new (and at probably great expense) there are very few cars out there.

[There are also 3 Infinitis out there but I did not include them as I can't see anyone racing them again in the BTCC]

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?u...&id=7fedd3fef2

It’s certainly, er, something.

Seems on trend with some of the BMW GT3 and GT4 liveries for this year.

Is it just me or is the BMW, BMW M, and M Performance Parts sponsorship a lot larger and more visible this year?

[thetool]

I don't really know what the relevance of total built chassis is? A current NGTC chassis has very little value without a TBL to go with it. Also if you are just replicating an existing design, putting together a new chassis can be done in a matter of weeks. It makes little sense to have built up cars sitting around that won't be used.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by thetool

if you are just replicating an existing design, putting together a new chassis can be done in a matter of weeks.

That depends on how much of a lead time there is at the ROPS fabricators.

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by thetool

I don't really know what the relevance of total built chassis is? A current NGTC chassis has very little value without a TBL to go with it. Also if you are just replicating an existing design, putting together a new chassis can be done in a matter of weeks. It makes little sense to have built up cars sitting around that won't be used.

Unless someone who has a TBL is going to build something completely new for this season (and given its now mid-March, someone would have probably heard something) there are very few 'spare' or 'unused' "ready-made" cars around that are not already attached to a TBL that someone with a TBL could theoretically buy.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by thetool

I don't really know what the relevance of total built chassis is? A current NGTC chassis has very little value without a TBL to go with it. Also if you are just replicating an existing design, putting together a new chassis can be done in a matter of weeks. It makes little sense to have built up cars sitting around that won't be used.

There is a bottleneck in the building or repair of these chassis, because there aren't many places where they are created/repaired. For example, Turkington's BMW needed considerable work after the Oulton coming together, but Willie Poole, who is the go to guy for many of the teams, also does work for many other series and couldn't repair the BMW in the break before the next race. Hence WSR having to borrow Turkington's BMW from the Turkington museum.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by thetool

Also if you are just replicating an existing design, putting together a new chassis can be done in a matter of weeks.

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

That depends on how much of a lead time there is at the ROPS fabricators.

And the availability of a donor shell. And more importantly, the funding to pay for that build, which was the point I was originally trying to make.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

There is a bottleneck in the building or repair of these chassis, because there aren't many places where they are created/repaired. For example, Turkington's BMW needed considerable work after the Oulton coming together, but Willie Poole, who is the go to guy for many of the teams, also does work for many other series and couldn't repair the BMW in the break before the next race. Hence WSR having to borrow Turkington's BMW from the Turkington museum.

The issue with the Turkington BMW wasn't Willie Poole's time but rather the lack of parts from BMW. They needed panels to repair the shell and at the time they weren't available.

[antnee]

Originally Posted by thetool

I don't really know what the relevance of total built chassis is? A current NGTC chassis has very little value without a TBL to go with it. Also if you are just replicating an existing design, putting together a new chassis can be done in a matter of weeks. It makes little sense to have built up cars sitting around that won't be used.

If it only takes a 'matter of weeks' to build a complete NGTC car, then you should be building them as you would make a lot of money! Pretty sure the original car builder/team would have a big issue with someone 'replicating' their design and stealing their IP.

[Matt K]

Ok so let's come back to the 'WSR will no longer be supported by BMW' talk in 8 months time

As for the livery I can't quite decide if I like it or not to be honest but for sure it's in line with all factory BMW liveries.

[mphplastering]

https://www.facebook.com/10001133467...7CKK9zLmH6Jhl/

Sponsors dropped out so lost Toyota

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by mphplastering

https://www.facebook.com/10001133467...7CKK9zLmH6Jhl/

Sponsors dropped out so lost Toyota

That is a shame. It's good to see Crees has got potential drives in other series lined up, but it'll be a shame to lose him from BTCC.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by mphplastering

https://www.facebook.com/10001133467...7CKK9zLmH6Jhl/

Sponsors dropped out so lost Toyota

Wonder if that means Speedworks will drop the third car again like last year.

He mentions (when he was interviewed) only two drives remained.

[mphplastering]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Wonder if that means Speedworks will drop the third car again like last year.

He mentions (when he was interviewed) only two drives remained.

May have filled it with MC losing out with sponsors

[billy bleach]

Little over a month to the first race and deals not done - not a great business model…..

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Little over a month to the first race and deals not done - not a great business model…..

just because they are not announced doesnt mean they are not done

unless you believe everything you read in a local newspaper

[CroftPilgrim]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Little over a month to the first race and deals not done - not a great business model…..

Its not unusual tbh. Though as others have stated, sometimes it's more a case of "not announced" rather than "not done"

[Pickles]

PMR announce their 3rd driver:

https://www.btcc.net/2023/03/07/mike...-maxed-racing/

[rdjones]

Originally Posted by Pickles

PMR announce their 3rd driver:

https://www.btcc.net/2023/03/07/mike...-maxed-racing/

That is not a name I know (I don't follow things as closely as I used to) but good luck to him.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by rdjones

That is not a name I know (I don't follow things as closely as I used to) but good luck to him.

Done very well in the Ginettas (GT5) but the BTCC is a huge step up from there, maybe too big a jump, will be interesting to see how he gets on.