*** The Official BTCC Thread ***
- Thread starter Grumps82
- Start date
Got back about an hour ago, it was a great day.
The Carerra cup was largely a procession and the Ginella races were too, and the Formula Renault was no better.
The Touring cars and the Clio cup was excellent though. We were sat at Starkeys bridge and had a great view of most of the events of the day.
First BTCC in a few years and I've now got a strong desire for more!
The Carerra cup was largely a procession and the Ginella races were too, and the Formula Renault was no better.
The Touring cars and the Clio cup was excellent though. We were sat at Starkeys bridge and had a great view of most of the events of the day.
First BTCC in a few years and I've now got a strong desire for more!
When Jason was approached by a driver involved in the *bump* he told them to **** off, I don't think diplomacy is one of his strong points
Shedden?
How did you guess....
Couldn't believe how Ben Edwards kept blaming Rob Austin.
Apparently Honda did lend them some help, so fair play.
Soldato
- Joined
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While it was Shedden who tipped Griffin into Plato, the problem started when Andy Neate decided he wanted to smack into the side of Gilham, which caused all the bunching up.
Andy Neate caused a fair few incidents this weekend and IMO should have some points on his license.
Andy Neate caused a fair few incidents this weekend and IMO should have some points on his license.
I was thinking that last night. He's well off the pace of Chilton in the same machinery and keeps throwing it at the scenery and banging into people. I've never been convinced of how good Chilton is in the first place which makes it look even worse.
Shedden got 2 points for his part in the incident, which pales against McDowell's haul of 6 from Brands. Shedden is fast but can cross the line with he amount of contact he uses sometimes.
was at donington for the weekend camping. Have to say it was an absolutely blinding weekend, usually we only get to do the sundays because of work but this time we managed to book of the whole weekend. TBH some of the support racing wasn't brilliant but the btcc and ginettas were great. Usually we go to thruxton or brands as they are closest, but donington was a good circuit to spectate from. was shocked to see the state of the place though, still looks like a building site mostly.
We watched the action on sunday from hollywood which provided good view of first corner, then the run down to craner curves and the old hairpin, and then in the distance the last couple of corners.
We watched the action on sunday from hollywood which provided good view of first corner, then the run down to craner curves and the old hairpin, and then in the distance the last couple of corners.
Man of Honour
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I was at Donington as well, good day all in all.
Got the sunburned peeling forehead to show for it.
Got the sunburned peeling forehead to show for it.
So, after discovering that the Turbo cars will be slowed for Thruxton (reduction in turbo pressure by 0.1bar) I did some digging as to why the Chevrolets and BMWs are still running S2000 engines (the reduction in turbo pressure is a reaction to RML complaining).
It seems bizarly that being an independant is a better position to be in in BTCC at the moment. The teams who run BMWs and Chevvys are heavily supported by the factory teams in WTCC. A few years ago this was great for them, but now, not so. WTCC used S2000 spec up to this year, and now use the new 1.6 Turbo to fit the new WTCC regs. The BTCC regs are a 2.0 Turbo, so Chevvy and BMW have no interested in developing a 2.0 Turbo.
The end result, RML and WSR (and I expect the other teams running older Chevvys) have the choice of running a supported S2000 car, or going it alone and developing either their own NGTC engine in the S2000 chassis, or developing a new car entirely. I expect the lure of manufacturer support was to enticing for RML.
The BMW situation is different. BMW are leaving WTCC (to join DTM
) so not only do they have no Turbo engine/chassis package, but there is actually rumors that they were not allowing anyone to develop turbo engines for the S2000 chassis. WSR look to have had no choice.
But, this does still pose the question about RML. The factory WTCC Chevvy team have a 1.6 Turbo engine, and seem keen for their partners in other countries to use their tech (it didnt take long for RML to get their hands on a Cruze for the BTCC). They were fully aware that the S2000 engine would struggle against the NGTC, yet still chose to keep it. There isn't even any talk of them looking at developing an NGTC engine for this year.
So, net result, you have 5 Chevvys on the grid with S2000 engines who chose not to implement NGTC spec engines. The 3 privateers are perfectly happy, and admit they are down on power, but accept it. RML, however, have chosen to openly complain about it. So 2 cars on a grid of 26. Usually you would expect them to be told to shut up and get on with it. NGTC is the new spec, and has been about for a couple of years, so live with it. But no, what has actually happened in ToCA have listened to them and given in and slowed the other 18 NGTC spec cars down!
I like the new NGTC spec. We have more different car models than ever, and it is meant to be massively cheaper. Yet ToCA have already started to mess with it just to keep 1 team who couldn't be bothered to adopt the new regulations happy. In my view, its massively cheeky of RML to complain, and massively dissapointing that ToCA have listened.
But anyway, looking forward to going to Thruxton next weekend and watching Plato get his face rubbed in it again. I like his driving, but hes becoming an old whinge bag.
It seems bizarly that being an independant is a better position to be in in BTCC at the moment. The teams who run BMWs and Chevvys are heavily supported by the factory teams in WTCC. A few years ago this was great for them, but now, not so. WTCC used S2000 spec up to this year, and now use the new 1.6 Turbo to fit the new WTCC regs. The BTCC regs are a 2.0 Turbo, so Chevvy and BMW have no interested in developing a 2.0 Turbo.
The end result, RML and WSR (and I expect the other teams running older Chevvys) have the choice of running a supported S2000 car, or going it alone and developing either their own NGTC engine in the S2000 chassis, or developing a new car entirely. I expect the lure of manufacturer support was to enticing for RML.
The BMW situation is different. BMW are leaving WTCC (to join DTM
) so not only do they have no Turbo engine/chassis package, but there is actually rumors that they were not allowing anyone to develop turbo engines for the S2000 chassis. WSR look to have had no choice.But, this does still pose the question about RML. The factory WTCC Chevvy team have a 1.6 Turbo engine, and seem keen for their partners in other countries to use their tech (it didnt take long for RML to get their hands on a Cruze for the BTCC). They were fully aware that the S2000 engine would struggle against the NGTC, yet still chose to keep it. There isn't even any talk of them looking at developing an NGTC engine for this year.
So, net result, you have 5 Chevvys on the grid with S2000 engines who chose not to implement NGTC spec engines. The 3 privateers are perfectly happy, and admit they are down on power, but accept it. RML, however, have chosen to openly complain about it. So 2 cars on a grid of 26. Usually you would expect them to be told to shut up and get on with it. NGTC is the new spec, and has been about for a couple of years, so live with it. But no, what has actually happened in ToCA have listened to them and given in and slowed the other 18 NGTC spec cars down!
I like the new NGTC spec. We have more different car models than ever, and it is meant to be massively cheaper. Yet ToCA have already started to mess with it just to keep 1 team who couldn't be bothered to adopt the new regulations happy. In my view, its massively cheeky of RML to complain, and massively dissapointing that ToCA have listened.
But anyway, looking forward to going to Thruxton next weekend and watching Plato get his face rubbed in it again. I like his driving, but hes becoming an old whinge bag.
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You can buy tickets online, although I would think its pushing it a bit late with postage now.
However, you can buy them on the gate. I have never known a BTCC round in recent years sell out of general admission tickets. If you are unsure just decide on the day and buy the tickets on the gate (they are £27 as opposed to £23 online). Even at last years Brand Hatch 4 way title decider round with some of the biggest crowds BTCC has seen they still had tickets on sale on the gate.
However, you can buy them on the gate. I have never known a BTCC round in recent years sell out of general admission tickets. If you are unsure just decide on the day and buy the tickets on the gate (they are £27 as opposed to £23 online). Even at last years Brand Hatch 4 way title decider round with some of the biggest crowds BTCC has seen they still had tickets on sale on the gate.
So, after discovering that the Turbo cars will be slowed for Thruxton (reduction in turbo pressure by 0.1bar) I did some digging as to why the Chevrolets and BMWs are still running S2000 engines (the reduction in turbo pressure is a reaction to RML complaining).
It seems bizarly that being an independant is a better position to be in in BTCC at the moment. The teams who run BMWs and Chevvys are heavily supported by the factory teams in WTCC. A few years ago this was great for them, but now, not so. WTCC used S2000 spec up to this year, and now use the new 1.6 Turbo to fit the new WTCC regs. The BTCC regs are a 2.0 Turbo, so Chevvy and BMW have no interested in developing a 2.0 Turbo.
The end result, RML and WSR (and I expect the other teams running older Chevvys) have the choice of running a supported S2000 car, or going it alone and developing either their own NGTC engine in the S2000 chassis, or developing a new car entirely. I expect the lure of manufacturer support was to enticing for RML.
The BMW situation is different. BMW are leaving WTCC (to join DTM
But, this does still pose the question about RML. The factory WTCC Chevvy team have a 1.6 Turbo engine, and seem keen for their partners in other countries to use their tech (it didnt take long for RML to get their hands on a Cruze for the BTCC). They were fully aware that the S2000 engine would struggle against the NGTC, yet still chose to keep it. There isn't even any talk of them looking at developing an NGTC engine for this year.
So, net result, you have 5 Chevvys on the grid with S2000 engines who chose not to implement NGTC spec engines. The 3 privateers are perfectly happy, and admit they are down on power, but accept it. RML, however, have chosen to openly complain about it. So 2 cars on a grid of 26. Usually you would expect them to be told to shut up and get on with it. NGTC is the new spec, and has been about for a couple of years, so live with it. But no, what has actually happened in ToCA have listened to them and given in and slowed the other 18 NGTC spec cars down!
I like the new NGTC spec. We have more different car models than ever, and it is meant to be massively cheaper. Yet ToCA have already started to mess with it just to keep 1 team who couldn't be bothered to adopt the new regulations happy. In my view, its massively cheeky of RML to complain, and massively dissapointing that ToCA have listened.
But anyway, looking forward to going to Thruxton next weekend and watching Plato get his face rubbed in it again. I like his driving, but hes becoming an old whinge bag.
I didn't see the NGTC powered teams complaining when the Chevrolets won the first two races at Brands either.
Thats because they understand that NGTC is the future and S2000 isn't. Dumbing down the NGTC specs because of one team who couldn't be bothered to adapt to them is just stupid.