[BTCC] BTCC 2018 - Knockhill - Rounds 22, 23, 24

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

Turks probably prays for scorching heat the only conditions were his Beamer really worked well this season

The irony is that we had 7 weeks of scorching hot weather but not one race weekend fell during that period.

[mattcanary]

Originally Posted by S griffin

It’s amazing we haven’t had a proper wet race here since 2006. Could that all change this weekend?

Knockhill is in the east of Scotland. Annual rainfall isn;t that high there,

[mattcanary]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

The irony is that we had 7 weeks of scorching hot weather but not one race weekend fell during that period.

Thruxton, Oulton and Croft did. That's three race weekends.
Snetterton came about three days after the end of the heatwave!, (Saturday was very sunny but not that warm - very breezy indeed). Sunday was just ****-poor, (although the sun came out for the first time all day, about half an hour after the final race of the day - the 60th anniversary race!). I went to Snetterton too as it's my local track - this part of Norfolk really is located within the driest part of the UK, so it was very unfortunate that the meeting happened just after the heatwave ended. I went to a club meeting there about three weeks before and that was run under glorious conditions - conditions made for circuit motor racing. The bad weather at the BTCC meeting did seem to affect the attendance on the Sunday - thought it was really low, personally.

I have never liked the summer break, mind you. Britain doesn;t have the best of weather for much of the time, as we all know. So why take a month out during the time when you are most likely to get the best weather? Season ends too late in my opinion and starts too early. First race of 2018 at Brands was later than in 2017, at least. I went to Donington this year and last. It's too early in the year. I love the flowing track where there are plenty of great viewing spots. But weather has been poor both years - really cold in 2017, and even worse in 2018, (bitter weather with plenty of rain mixed in too). I'd run the season between May and September only.


I went to Thruxton. Very, very hot there - I got very sunburnt and that is what motor-racing should be about. Enjoying the sounds and smells of internal combustion engines in the heat.
I'd rather be sunburnt at Thruxton than wet too. Mainly grass banks there and I'm sure there would be real problems with cars getting bogged down on the ca-parks if it was really wet. All grass, and it was chaos exiting the car parks in the dry!

I like Thruxton though- it has a real old-school feel to it. A total contrast to the Jonathan Palmer run tracks. They do have too much of a corporate feel and track-limit rules get on my nerves. If you don't want people to run wide off corners to get the best lines, put a real disincentive in. Such as sausage kerbs or gravel-traps. Not that I think it is a real problem anyway - so what, if drivers leave the track limits? Doesn;t matter at all, really.

[Down F0rce]

Current forecast on BBC is rain all day on Sunday...

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by mattcanary

Thruxton, Oulton and Croft did. That's three race weekends.
Snetterton came about three days after the end of the heatwave!, (Saturday was very sunny but not that warm - very breezy indeed). Sunday was just ****-poor, (although the sun came out for the first time all day, about half an hour after the final race of the day - the 60th anniversary race!). I went to Snetterton too as it's my local track - this part of Norfolk really is located within the driest part of the UK, so it was very unfortunate that the meeting happened just after the heatwave ended. I went to a club meeting there about three weeks before and that was run under glorious conditions - conditions made for circuit motor racing. The bad weather at the BTCC meeting did seem to affect the attendance on the Sunday - thought it was really low, personally.

I have never liked the summer break, mind you. Britain doesn;t have the best of weather for much of the time, as we all know. So why take a month out during the time when you are most likely to get the best weather? Season ends too late in my opinion and starts too early. First race of 2018 at Brands was later than in 2017, at least. I went to Donington this year and last. It's too early in the year. I love the flowing track where there are plenty of great viewing spots. But weather has been poor both years - really cold in 2017, and even worse in 2018, (bitter weather with plenty of rain mixed in too). I'd run the season between May and September only.


I went to Thruxton. Very, very hot there - I got very sunburnt and that is what motor-racing should be about. Enjoying the sounds and smells of internal combustion engines in the heat.
I'd rather be sunburnt at Thruxton than wet too. Mainly grass banks there and I'm sure there would be real problems with cars getting bogged down on the ca-parks if it was really wet. All grass, and it was chaos exiting the car parks in the dry!

I like Thruxton though- it has a real old-school feel to it. A total contrast to the Jonathan Palmer run tracks. They do have too much of a corporate feel and track-limit rules get on my nerves. If you don't want people to run wide off corners to get the best lines, put a real disincentive in. Such as sausage kerbs or gravel-traps. Not that I think it is a real problem anyway - so what, if drivers leave the track limits? Doesn;t matter at all, really.

I think the idea of the summer break is to give the teams, and therefore the team members a break in the summer. They can then go on holiday with their families & friends during traditional holiday times. (Another side-effect of this is that it also allows super-keen supporters of the series to take holidays with their families and friends without missing any races).
This is The British Touring Car Championship so surely the races should be held in traditional British conditions which also includes the weather? Running a shorter season would make things even more intense for the teams, plus it would reduce the exposure time for the (much needed) sponsors too.

[Craner Curves]

The summer break is for TV purposes. So itv can show and work on the Tour de France throughout that time, plus the world cup was on too which takes away production staff.

[Racer65]

If that was the case why do many club series also have breaks at the same time?

The answer is holidays. These aren't professional racers. They have jobs and families.

I expect there is an element of the TV coverage in there but it's not the sole reason.

[Evantra]

FP1 - Sutton fastest, 7 tenths under the lap record, from Goff and Jordan. Somehow Bushell put the VW into P5!

Also, at least 3 cars had issues with power steering so hopefully that's not a sign of things to come!

[Robin Marriott]

Sutton with a 51.293 in FP1, do you think we’ll see a 50.xxx if the weather holds off?

[S griffin]

Sutton still up there. Bushell again putting the VW up there

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by Racer65

If that was the case why do many club series also have breaks at the same time?

The answer is holidays. These aren't professional racers. They have jobs and families.

I expect there is an element of the TV coverage in there but it's not the sole reason.

It's primarily the TV coverage side of things. Remember when it was a fully professional series with paid drivers and it ran for 13 weekends from Friday to Sunday across 5 or 6 months and they ran on almost every bank holiday weekend too. It's nothing to do with holidays really, the whole schedule revolves around ITVs needs. If their production staff are in France or Russia, then they can't have a show.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Sutton still up there. Bushell again putting the VW up there

Impressive. Especially considering the size of the CC; I had a man bend my ear a few years ago about how difficult Knockhill was for a large long wheelbase motor... clearly nobody has told young Mike!

HARD podium on the cards very possible I think...

[S griffin]

If he stays in the top 10, the reverse grid could really help Bushell

[mickb]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Impressive. Especially considering the size of the CC; I had a man bend my ear a few years ago about how difficult Knockhill was for a large long wheelbase motor... clearly nobody has told young Mike!

HARD podium on the cards very possible I think...

Interesting!! I remember being told the old volvos were quite good around Knock because the width meant they could ride the curbs easier- not sure how the CC will do for traction out the hair pin though.

[Robin Marriott]

No Thompson in FP2?