Hines to Vauxhall in 04?

Trigger · 18 Nov 2003, 12:09 (Ref:786982)

Has anyone else heard the rumour that 2003 BTC-P Champion Luke Hines will be in a works Vauxhall in 2004?

sceptic · 18 Nov 2003, 13:23 (Ref:787090)

Heard it some months ago, but think it has largely been discounted now, and thought that Hines will end up in an ETCC spec car.

kestrel · 18 Nov 2003, 13:49 (Ref:787125)

Quote:

Originally posted by Trigger
Has anyone else heard the rumour that 2003 BTC-P Champion Luke Hines will be in a works Vauxhall in 2004?

There are only TWO 'works' Vauxhall, the other is a 'pay-to-drive' 888 car.

Trigger · 18 Nov 2003, 14:14 (Ref:787144)

Kestrel - WHATEVER!!

Claire · 18 Nov 2003, 15:23 (Ref:787203)

I would be surprised if he does make the move to Vauxhall, he and Barwell seem to be very happy with the way things are going, he has done some testing and been out in the Britcar races as well. But who knows, nothing will be concrete until an offical announcement or when the cars roll out for qualifying at Thruxton!!!! after all this is the silly season.
But whatever he does it won't be a works drive with VXRacing, as Kestrel points out whoever gets the 3rd seat at Vauxhall is going to have to pay for it.

Trigger · 19 Nov 2003, 10:02 (Ref:788023)

would be great to see him back in a barwell car 4 next year

Tobsc · 3 Dec 2003, 00:21 (Ref:801986)

The current State of play is, that Luke is still in talks with Barwell, and has done individual deals to run in the Britcar races, and ETCC 'interim-spec' car testing, but he has still not signed a deal for 2004, 888 have raquested for him to do a 'driver evaluation test' with them, in the astra, how he gets on in the car, and indeed, with them, will dictate the amount of money changing hands (in either direction) that will be in 888's proposed contract....

888 are indeed talking to more than one driver though, I heard a rumour at the TOCA awards do, that Rob Collard already has a contract with 888, depending on him finding the neccesary budget you understand.....

But as far as Luke Hines is concerned, obviously , he is trying to keep his options as open as possible, a works drive, for a manufacturer backed team, is preferable to any driver, but, monetary issues aside, any proffesional driver such as Luke, stays in contact with as many teams as possible.

He would love to spend more seasons with the highly experienced Barwell Motorsport, but, if a Factory backed 'works' team offers him a drive, either paid or at a similar cost, it is undoubtably the the way forward for any young driver, and not to be sniffed at.

So for the time being, put the speculation to one side and wait for this fantastic young talent to shine through, and when he has completed his winter test program, with Barwell, 888, and two other(un-named) works teams, he , and his indisputably sucsessful and experienced management team, will make their disscision......

Have no doubt, Luke Hines is a driver that will be in touring cars for sometime, and only he only knows how to be quick and sucsessfull...
Tobsc

kykiske · 3 Dec 2003, 01:26 (Ref:802011)

the rumour seems to be 888 will run 3 cars, and that a number of drivers have contracts in front of them, but will only get the drives on the condition they find the cash.

Collard and hines seem to be 2, but no doubt someone will come out of the woodwork and surprise us all....

as with all these things, it is of course rumours, but i would be shocked if Vauxhall dont run 3 cars with the 3rd as a 'pay-driver'

**Stephen Green** · 3 Dec 2003, 08:49 (Ref:802339)

Vey informed comments tobsc, you wouldn't be part of Luke's management company would you per chance?

DSM · 3 Dec 2003, 11:26 (Ref:802463)

Got to be! I've watched Luke's progress over many years, in karts, single seaters and last year's tin tops. That's the first time I've heard anyone describe him as a 'fantastic young talent'!!
We're not going to have another Dan Clarke saga are we?

Maisie · 3 Dec 2003, 13:43 (Ref:802599)

Ooh, look, a human press release!!

ATF · 3 Dec 2003, 16:10 (Ref:802761)

Quote:

Originally posted by kykiske
Collard and hines seem to be 2, but no doubt someone will come out of the woodwork and surprise us all....

Like Phil Bennett in 2001. No-one saw him coming!

Neil Adams · 3 Dec 2003, 16:44 (Ref:802794)

Quote:

Originally posted by Tobsc
...and when he has completed his winter test program, with Barwell, 888, and two other(un-named) works teams... Tobsc

two other(un-named) works teams

two other works teams... other than vauxhall of course. Only Vauxhall and Seat have confirmed so far.

And i doubt that Seat need Hines' help

is this the first proof that Mg and Honda are very much still in the 2004 btcc?

skypop · 3 Dec 2003, 19:48 (Ref:802958)

Proton are still in, Edenbridge, VLR, CArly BMW, there are a fair few!

**touringlegend** · 3 Dec 2003, 21:52 (Ref:803087)

Collard stated in his Autosport feature last week he had a contract sitting in front of him for the third Vauxhall car..

rdjones · 3 Dec 2003, 22:07 (Ref:803099)

But, and its a big but, it all depends on him finding the money, buy the end of the year. The person who I feel sorry for in all this is Paul O'Neill, the guy IMO has done nothing wrong, I just hope that if he does lose the drive he can find one else where. I did read on another forum that he might end up at MG (if they come back).

**touringlegend** · 3 Dec 2003, 22:44 (Ref:803128)

Paul will end up at whatever team takes the money off him.

Anyway why is Paul O'Neill suddenly out at Vauxhall? I'd imagine him, Collard, Hines are 3 of the whatever number drivers that have a contract from Vauxhall.

Trigger · 4 Dec 2003, 10:20 (Ref:803532)

it would be good two see o.neill in a honda ive heard allsorts ov rumours on vauxhall seat

cos · 17 Dec 2003, 17:31 (Ref:814280)

http://www.autosport.com/newsitem.asp?s=6&id=25554

Hines confirmed at VX, hopefully that means that Collard will continue as an Indie entry.

Andy Metcalf · 17 Dec 2003, 18:02 (Ref:814310)

Yes I got it from VX Racing. It's official. Though I would like to see Rob Collard get the works drive somewhere, sometime. He decerves it.

rdjones · 17 Dec 2003, 18:16 (Ref:814324)

Descerved yes, but what has Paul O'Neill done wrong - I think he has done really well over the last 2 years, let's just hope he picks up a drive somewhere else - MG?

cos · 17 Dec 2003, 18:24 (Ref:814334)

Paul O'Neill hasn't done anything 'wrong' apart from not coming up with the £££.

rdjones · 17 Dec 2003, 18:30 (Ref:814341)

or was it that Hines had more ££££££

DSM · 17 Dec 2003, 19:04 (Ref:814373)

............got to be

SPARK Msport · 17 Dec 2003, 20:38 (Ref:814472)

shame for O'Neill, this year he really showed he could race with the best of them, and after that Brands race where he lost his win to Neal, that fuelled him to come out bigger and better.

I'm alittle unsure about Hines, would had been better if it was Collard as Collard has atlest raced some form of Astra in the past and can come up with funds...etc

I wouldnt be surprised if Vauxhall run the Vectra next season and let O'Neill stay in his Astra (2003 spec)and run as an Indy or become apart of an Indy team.

I can't see him at MG really, there are not race winners like Vauxhall or Honda and I don't think Paul wants to take steps backwards. Honda is possible, as his old team mate in Matt Neal has a place there...i'm sure he would put in a good word for him lol

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