[BTCC] 2013 BTCC summer break

[medius]

A thread to discuss anything happening away from race weekends, rather than tag them on to weekend discussion.

Richard Hawken, Ian Loggie and Chris Jones to test for Speedworks at the Dunlop Tyre Test on Tuesday at Snetterton.

https://www.facebook.com/note.php?no...47980281903913

Also, if you want to go, its free for spectators. Info: http://www.btcccrazy.co.uk/btcc/dunl...est-next-week/

[medius]

Warren Scott, Joe Girling, Robb Holland and Howard Fuller will all be sharing the driving duties in the Team HARD Insignia recently vacated by James Cole at the test, according to Autosport.

[jimothy84]

Originally Posted by medius

Richard Hawken, Ian Loggie and Chris Jones to test for Speedworks...

Who, who and who?

[BillWiskins]

From the facebook link:

Hawken, a three-time club level champion in an ex-David Leslie Nissan Primera, had been a contender to race for Speedworks this season after holding initial talks.

...

The 41-year-old has taken the Primera, piloted by Frenchman Laurent Aiello to theBTCC drivers’ title in 1999, to the BRSCC SuperTouring Car Trophy in successive seasons, as well as top spot in Class B of the Euro Saloons Championship.


For Jones and Loggie, class leaders after three rounds of the Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship in a Team Parker-prepared Porsche 911, this week marks a second stint behind the wheel of a Speedworks Avensis.

The duo, who both live next door to home circuit Oulton Park, spent time on track in the Toyota at Donington Park earlier this year.

[redshoes]

Hawken was trying to get into BTCC last year but couldn't put a deal together.

[KA]

Originally Posted by jimothy84

Who, who and who?

As mentioned earlier, Loggie and Jones currently race a Porsche in Britcar endurance races, and have tested the Speedworks Avensis before.

Apparently, Jones is looking at BTCC next year (he appeared in an ex-VLR Peugeot 307 in Britcar a few year back) and Loggie has plans to join the TOCA package in Carrera Cup

http://www.btcccrazy.co.uk/btcc/chris-jones-testing/

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Hawken was trying to get into BTCC last year but couldn't put a deal together.

He's at Brands this coming weekend in his Super Touring Primera He had a Super Touring Cavalier before the Primera. Quite a few Super Touring cars (and other touring cars) at Brands this weekend:

Neil Smith	Alfa Romeo 156
Paul Smith/ Tim Harvey	Ford Sierra RS 500
Stephen Dymoke	Alfa Romeo 156
Simon Garrad	Ford Sierra RS500
Alvin Powell	Ford Mondeo
John Cleland	Vauxhall Vectra
Patrick Watts	Peugeot 406
James Dodd	Nissan Primera
Derek Palmer	Nissan Primera
Keith Butcher	Nissan Primera ST
Mark Smith	BMW E3 M3
Stewart Whyte	Honda Accord
David Jarman	Nissan Primera
Peter Hallford	Ford Mustang
Richard Hawken	Nissan Primera Gt
Derek Hale	Honda Accord

[Craner Curves]

Rob Austin turned a few laps in the Speedworks Toyota as well. But before anyone gets excited, he was probably just getting a free spin from his father in law!

[BtccLee]

Right I know it's 2014 based but we don't yet have a more appropriate place for me to put this. Something I have read (from what sounds like a good source), but am in no way validating, is we could see SKODA as manufacture next year...

It's not a personal source. Someone posted about the entry on Twitter and I asked where they'd heard it. They said it was an employee inside the VAG group working for SKODA UK...

Also I know SKODA UK are reviewing their motorsport operations next year and their Twitter bio reads "Planning new projects for 2014"

Just an idea and I realise the above Twitter source could mean anything but very interesting anyway.

[FIRE]

BTCC makes more sense than an entry in IRC what they have done in the recent past.

[BtccLee]

Is there any news on KIA or any other manufactures for next year? I know there was a suggestion of one other but how secure that was I don't know...

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by FIRE

BTCC makes more sense than an entry in IRC what they have done in the recent past.

If it did happen and that's a big if, it would only be on a UK level. Rather like Seat Sport UK. Importer-backed, rather than from the HQ in the Czech Republic.

I think the IRC campaign made sense, as they have a great heritage and history in rallying in my lifetime and even before then.

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

If it did happen and that's a big if, it would only be on a UK level. Rather like Seat Sport UK. Importer-backed, rather than from the HQ in the Czech Republic.

I think the IRC campaign made sense, as they have a great heritage and history in rallying in my lifetime and even before then.

I agree totally with what you say about the IRC project...

SKODA UK are reviewing their Motorsport operations for next year and the suggestion was that this would be a UK based project...

[Craner Curves]

Their main UK sponsorship at the moment appears to be pro-cycling.

[davyboy]

VAG have traditionally had Skoda in rallying while SEAT has been their racing brand. Skoda being more utilitarian, while SEAT is their sporty brand. It'd be interesting if that's changed.

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by davyboy

VAG have traditionally had Skoda in rallying while SEAT has been their racing brand. Skoda being more utilitarian, while SEAT is their sporty brand. It'd be interesting if that's changed.

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Their main UK sponsorship at the moment appears to be pro-cycling.

Yes but remember this is SKODA UK and not the international operation. SKODA are also preparing an R5 Fabia and SEAT could well be back to the WTCC.

And yes a lot of the sponsorship from the group is going pro-cycling but I imagine SKODA UK has very little to do with that. Also the Twitter account is for the Motorsport division.

The more I think about this the more logical it becomes. Plus SKODA are on a rise right now, with a lot of good reviews for their cars. They have just launched the new Octavia VRS and an entry will certainly give the brand a lot of exposure to a more sport conscious audience...

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by BtccLee

And yes a lot of the sponsorship from the group is going pro-cycling but I imagine SKODA UK has very little to do with that.

After chatting to somebody, I discovered a friend of a friend works for Skoda UK and he's been allover the place in the past year, as part of that particular promotion campaign. They usually have a big presence at the Tour of Britain. Arguably pro-cycling is gaining as many new viewers as the likes of the BTCC is, thanks to ITV4.

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

After chatting to somebody, I discovered a friend of a friend works for Skoda UK and he's been allover the place in the past year, as part of that particular promotion campaign. They usually have a big presence at the Tour of Britain. Arguably pro-cycling is gaining as many new viewers as the likes of the BTCC is, thanks to ITV4.

That's interesting but still the Motorsport division is planning new projects and I know they were considering other series which would mean moving away from rallying...

[Craner Curves]

Would the worldwide motorsport division want to enter a series where they aren't really showcasing one particular product as such? It's a bit cheeky to run a car full of common parts and have ad campaigns proclaiming it to be the best. They'd be better off in the WTCC in that respect. But if it's Skoda UK wanting brand awareness and nothing else, then they could do it I guess, or stick with the cycling to get the name out there.

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Would the worldwide motorsport division want to enter a series where they aren't really showcasing one particular product as such? It's a bit cheeky to run a car full of common parts and have ad campaigns proclaiming it to be the best. They'd be better off in the WTCC in that respect. But if it's Skoda UK wanting brand awareness and nothing else, then they could do it I guess, or stick with the cycling to get the name out there.

No it's the UK division, so I imagine it would be for advertising...

[porsche962fan]

any news regarding Wrathall sentence ???

and I dunno UK criminal law but is there a suspendent sentence for light offenses in it like in most other EU countries??

that means usually for 1st time offenders you get a jail sentence but don't have to serve it under surtain rules that you have to report constantly to a police station, you must inform authoroties and seek permission if you want to travel somewhere, in some countries you have to wear a tracking device so you are constantly monitored , failing to comply with all this mean are thrown in jail to serve your sentence....

[auroan]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

any news regarding Wrathall sentence ???

and I dunno UK criminal law but is there a suspendent sentence for light offenses in it like in most other EU countries??

Not quite sure how killing someone with your van and trailer is considered a light offense

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by auroan

Not quite sure how killing someone with your van and trailer is considered a light offense

it's considered light compared to premeditaed murder

[pauln]

There is provision in UK law for suspended sentences, but it's not a part of the sentencing guidelines for the offence he's charged with.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by pauln

There is provision in UK law for suspended sentences, but it's not a part of the sentencing guidelines for the offence he's charged with.

If anyone's interested, these are the (publicly available) guidelines for the offences he has been charged with (not convicted of!).

http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.g..._guideline.pdf

They suggest that in the case that he is found guilty (IF) then the penalty in that circumstance, based on solely the limited evidence we've seen reported, would fall in the 4-7 years range.