Discussion
19th to 4th in race pace that was like a roller coaster takes something special.
Ok granted he had help along the way but it wasn't all just a walk in the park if it was every man and his dog would be doing it!
Also Plato would have just punted anyone off the track as per usual. But that's my opinion of course as I'm a Turkington fan by the way.
Ok granted he had help along the way but it wasn't all just a walk in the park if it was every man and his dog would be doing it!
Also Plato would have just punted anyone off the track as per usual. But that's my opinion of course as I'm a Turkington fan by the way.
MG CHRIS said:
Don't think smith will be back at the team next year.
Its all well and good for Matt Neal to pull over (or try to pull over, to me it looked like he didn't necessary want to assist sheddan with his half ar5ed attempts), but at the end of the day smith is paying a sh!t load of his own money for his drive (and likely subsidising plato & turks) so why should he play the team game, after he is gone from BTCC do you think he will be remembered for pulling over to let fellow drivers by? Talk of BMR dropping a relatively quick and importantly paying driver is a bit daft, if he leaves it wont be related to this race
acer12 said:
MG CHRIS said:
Don't think smith will be back at the team next year.
Its all well and good for Matt Neal to pull over (or try to pull over, to me it looked like he didn't necessary want to assist sheddan with his half ar5ed attempts), but at the end of the day smith is paying a sh!t load of his own money for his drive (and likely subsidising plato & turks) so why should he play the team game, after he is gone from BTCC do you think he will be remembered for pulling over to let fellow drivers by? Talk of BMR dropping a relatively quick and importantly paying driver is a bit daft, if he leaves it wont be related to this race
If I were a team manager id be doing everything possible for my main driver to win the title doesn't matter who pays the bills the team comes first.
Would you rather plato or smith in your team I take plato smith is way to inconsistent.
Honda and neal did all they could to help shedden bmr should have done the same.
MG CHRIS said:
Still the facts still remain 4 points lost, turks was never really in for the main title the indy yes but the main one no, smith didn't play ball and sort of messed up in race 2 as well.
If I were a team manager id be doing everything possible for my main driver to win the title doesn't matter who pays the bills the team comes first.
Would you rather plato or smith in your team I take plato smith is way to inconsistent.
Honda and neal did all they could to help shedden bmr should have done the same.
There is no doubt that Plato is a quicker, more natural talent and more consistent driver than smith.If I were a team manager id be doing everything possible for my main driver to win the title doesn't matter who pays the bills the team comes first.
Would you rather plato or smith in your team I take plato smith is way to inconsistent.
Honda and neal did all they could to help shedden bmr should have done the same.
My initial point here is that talk of sacking Smith for not pulling into the pits to allow plato gain an extra point is crazy talk. From Smiths perspective he is paying to drive a car not to shelter another driver to the championship. BTCC and Motorsport (especially outside of drivers being paid which the BTCC is) is not a team sport.
You are missing my point, team BMR is not Honda racing. Team BMR rely hugely on Smith and their other pay drivers to 1. survive and 2. pay for turks and plato. So you cant compare Neal (a paid driver) willing to sacrifice his position for Sheddan (which he very barely did, I personally find Neal jealous of "flash") to Smith (who pays a crazy amount of money to sit in the car).
tux said:
Mostro said:
Always is here. How hard would it be to get a handful of tractor units scattered around the circuit?
No chance, jonathan palmer wont have you ruining his grass!They all get away with hitting each other all the time so why would it be an exception on the last race? Most of the passes seemed clean, a few happened in front of me with no contact and the fact that Shedden got such an easy run through probably indicates how popular Plato really is in the paddock. As for Smith not letting Plato through, why the hell should he? Half a lap quicker and he ended up 2nd where Plato was in 5th and his best lap was .400 off Smith. He wasn't quick enough.
What if, blah blah. Shedden is champion, that's all that matters. There's 30 races in a season and there's been times when Plato has struggled in the CC when his teammates haven't, that's what has cost him.
What if, blah blah. Shedden is champion, that's all that matters. There's 30 races in a season and there's been times when Plato has struggled in the CC when his teammates haven't, that's what has cost him.
Edited by Janesy B on Sunday 11th October 20:19
bltamil1 said:
I disagree. I have no allegiance to any driver, but that final race was a complete farce. As has been said before, the only driver who didn't let Sheddin drive right past was Goff, so he did his best to punt him off instead! Sheddin managed to make up 8 places before there had been a full lap of racing.
I don't mind team orders, but that was the most ridiculous 'race' I have ever seen. I nearly went to Brands today, I would have been raging all the way home if I had.
On a related note did sheddans taps on menu cause his puncture? That was the game changer I feelI don't mind team orders, but that was the most ridiculous 'race' I have ever seen. I nearly went to Brands today, I would have been raging all the way home if I had.
It's the same every year at the final round and someones got to win at the end of the weekend. I don't like the idea of 'team orders' either and that's where club level motorsport is usually better. This years castle combe saloon car championship has been brilliant, at the rounds i went to the top two were seperated by hundredths of a second for most of the race with no pushing each other to gain positions and a 40+ grid of cars created some great racing.
acer12 said:
On a related note did sheddans taps on menu cause his puncture? That was the game changer I feel
Shedden got tapped in race 2 and it caused a rear calliper to seize - the disc was glowing orange. If that didn't happen it probably wouldn't have been so close in the first place. Just watched it. Agree with some of the others. Was a determined drive by seddon, but everyone just pulled over for him so not quite sure what all the hype was about, no mention from the commentators even when Jordan put his indicator on.
Both drivers are a worthy winner, both had great drives in the year and both had some less than great drives. You could argue that plato had more bad luck, and the Honda team ethics are 2nd to none, but that's racing, it's a shame that arrons lack of team work will linger over over for some people (I don't care if he's paying towards the team, it's a TEAM, the money that winning the title would have brought the team would be more than he's paying I bet!! As for next year, I'm not sure in would want someone in the team who doesn't play a team game.
Congrats to sheddon.
Both drivers are a worthy winner, both had great drives in the year and both had some less than great drives. You could argue that plato had more bad luck, and the Honda team ethics are 2nd to none, but that's racing, it's a shame that arrons lack of team work will linger over over for some people (I don't care if he's paying towards the team, it's a TEAM, the money that winning the title would have brought the team would be more than he's paying I bet!! As for next year, I'm not sure in would want someone in the team who doesn't play a team game.
Congrats to sheddon.
egor110 said:
Iva Barchetta said:
Changing the topic a little,well a lot.
Did Mat Jackson have the best day of the whole season.
No one did the treble but he won 2 and got a 2nd which is the next best thing.
Would they be able run the new rs focus in btcc?Did Mat Jackson have the best day of the whole season.
No one did the treble but he won 2 and got a 2nd which is the next best thing.
Turkington and Plato got pole and 2 race wins at an event, but didn't finish as high up in the third race.
Speaking of what ifs, 200 points in the second half of the season for Jackson, probably would have walked away with the title this year if the pace was as good at the other tracks. Goes well even with full ballast. From 7th to 2nd with 75kgs.
Speaking of what ifs, 200 points in the second half of the season for Jackson, probably would have walked away with the title this year if the pace was as good at the other tracks. Goes well even with full ballast. From 7th to 2nd with 75kgs.
egor110 said:
Would they be able run the new rs focus in btcc?
Nothing stopping them from running the RS with the current engine they're running.Edited by Janesy B on Sunday 11th October 22:06
In the last race it showed how good the BTCC is as there was more excitement and action that the whole year of WTCC.
If the roles were reversed and plato was starting at the back he probably would have got to 4th the same as Shedden did as most of the drivers dont want to get involved in the championship battle.Saying that Plato would have had to be more physical as he is not as well liked as Shedden.
I am sure with Platos comments Smith will remind him that 2nd is the first of the losers.
If the roles were reversed and plato was starting at the back he probably would have got to 4th the same as Shedden did as most of the drivers dont want to get involved in the championship battle.Saying that Plato would have had to be more physical as he is not as well liked as Shedden.
I am sure with Platos comments Smith will remind him that 2nd is the first of the losers.
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