Btcc 2015

[Munter]

Ben Jk said:

btcc123 said:

No more Travelodge for the WSR team then.

Holiday Inn Express instead??

Ahhh. All the eggs yellow plasticine you can eat of a morning.

[BO55]

That IHG livery is really quite awful. Very 90s retro. Looking great last year, but not anymore. Looks very much like Turks is at BMR in place of Menu? Cant see any other option being realistic. The fact the BIG announcement was Prialux - well enough said.

In summary of this whole article, "Mercedes still haven't given their check yet" His comments about scaling it up...think I said something similar last time I posted on this thread http://www.touringcars.net/2015/01/jason-plato-sti...

I don't see him moving from 888 - he still has KX/Tesco - unless he had it sewn up, and could I really see 888 wanting to loose a driver it knows and who knows the MG inside out, and who had such a good season in their car. No. Of course they wouldn't.

[emicen]

BO55 said:

That IHG livery is really quite awful. Very 90s retro. Looking great last year, but not anymore. Looks very much like Turks is at BMR in place of Menu? Cant see any other option being realistic. The fact the BIG announcement was Prialux - well enough said.

In summary of this whole article, "Mercedes still haven't given their check yet" His comments about scaling it up...think I said something similar last time I posted on this thread http://www.touringcars.net/2015/01/jason-plato-sti...

I don't see him moving from 888 - he still has KX/Tesco - unless he had it sewn up, and could I really see 888 wanting to loose a driver it knows and who knows the MG inside out, and who had such a good season in their car. No. Of course they wouldn't.

According to Collard, Turkington is still in talks with WSR.

[DanielSan]

4 x BMW's could be very interesting next year, question is, do WSR have an extra entry even available? I thought all the entries were taken.

[emicen]

The context of his comments was, until Turks confirms yes or no at WSR, he doesn't know if there's a seat for him and/or if he's going to have to go elsewhere.

[samvia]

ajprice said:

Speed Badger said:

Priaulx back to BTCC with WSR!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117309

I know the colours are different, but I can't help think of this:

[btcc123]

Where will Plato end up,quite an interesting question as his interview said he had a few options so for me that rules out a new manufacturer as I would have thought a deal would have been in place by now if that was the case.I dont think he has time to form his own team and the only option may be with a smaller team as a seperate entity.

Does he still have Tesco backing as they have been having a few problems lately,false accounting and today announcing that they are closing their head office,closing 40 odd small stores,not opening 40 odd very large stores as planned,changing their pension scheme etc etc so the sponsorship may have ended,But on the other hand as the total money Tesco spent on the BTCC last year is basically the same amount of money as 10 full page adverts in the Sun newspaper seams quite good value and although the fuel save will be ending soon they still can promote their energy drink and perhaps clubcard,banking,insurance etc and as it comes out of the marketing budget and only a fraction of the whole pot he may still have it.

Plato does not have time on his side and needs to be in a position to win the championship each year and my opinion is that their are only 3 teams that can win it WSR,888 and Honda.He wont be in a Honda,will not be with 888 and as BMW have helped WSR financially the focus is on Andy Priaulx so will not have Plato.

It will be interesting where he turns up,if at all which will be shame and even though I dont like him personaly he still is probably in the best 3 drivers to get the job done and maybe still the best.

[Henry Fiddleton]

Plato, RML (again) and Tesco?

HF

[djroadboy]

MG CHRIS said:

Nick foster wont be back with wsr for this year he has announced he wont be back but has had a great time in the series. He wasn't the best on the grid but could keep collard honest at times and on the right day could keep up with turks.

Jordan to mg surprise to some others have known of atleast a educated guess livery does look better than the Tesco one last year.

For god's sake man, learn to punctuate!!!

[AJB88]

Henry Fiddleton said:

Plato, RML (again) and Tesco?

HF

I've got a feeling RML are involved aswell.

[Mopar440]

samvia said:

I know the colours are different, but I can't help think of this:

And your point is?

[samvia]

Mopar440 said:

And your point is?

That was literally my entire point contained in that sentence.

[rubystone]

I thought Tesco was a 3 year deal? If it was longer and didn't have any performance-related clauses, they'd be legally obliged to fulfil their contractual obligations. Remember RBS continuing to appear on the Williams after the 2008 financial cried, for example?

Surely Plato would be desperate to get into a BMW?

[acer12]

djroadboy said:

For god's sake man, learn to punctuate!!!

I'll take a guess and say as a child you were either:

A. A bully, you saw some other guys bulling someone so you as a coward decided to join in, made you feel good, just like you have done here, or

B. A victim of a bully, not an unheard of phenomena for a victim to become a bully.

Grow up, its an internet thread on a car forum about the BTCC not an Oxford English professors discussion forum

[Allyc85]

Wookie just confirmed on Facebook that he is off the Ginetta Supercup.

Looking forward to seeing how the rest of the BTCC grid turns out. Got everything crossed that Turkington can defend his title this year.

[djroadboy]

acer12 said:

I'll take a guess and say as a child you were either:

A. A bully, you saw some other guys bulling someone so you as a coward decided to join in, made you feel good, just like you have done here, or

B. A victim of a bully, not an unheard of phenomena for a victim to become a bully.

Grow up, its an internet thread on a car forum about the BTCC not an Oxford English professors discussion forum

Nope, neither I'm afraid. That's hardly bullying either!

I just find it extremely frustrating trying to make sense of what's been written when it is just a mess of words with no structure. My 8 year old daughter writes better than that. What is the world coming to?

Dan

[AndyAlfa18]

Glad to see my AP going to WSR information was accurate.

Now waiting for the Plato/Scott Team Tesco and Turkington/Smith Team Ireland news to happen, or will it?

[DiscoColin]

rubystone said:

I thought Tesco was a 3 year deal?

That is also what I believed. I had actually taken Plato's departure from MG to indicate that the Tesco deal had ended. Whether he still has all or even some of that backing is something that we can only speculate about at the moment, but if the money was in place he surely would have been confirmed in a car by now? Sounds to me that he is still trying to put the backing together.

rubystone said:

Surely Plato would be desperate to get into a BMW?

Dunno - the last time that he placed in a RWD car was nearly 20 years ago as I understand it, and he has never competed in the BTCC with anything but FWD... Given that anyone going to BMW is going to have to beat a full factory driver who is a triple world champion in touring cars - can you imagine Plato in any team where he isn't the top dog? I just don't see that happening personally.

I'd be surprised if he didn't end up somewhere, but it doesn't look at the moment that it will be a title contending car does it?

[IanUAE]

Allyc85 said:

Wookie just confirmed on Facebook that he is off the Ginetta Supercup.

I was speaking with Ollie just after the end of the Dubai 24hr race yesterday and he said he was off to Supercup but hadn't signed the contract. He looked pretty good in the G50 he was racing.

Edited by IanUAE on Sunday 11th January 05:15

Edited by IanUAE on Sunday 11th January 05:16

[GbGaz]

As I see it, Plato is free of the tesco sponsorship if it is a three year deal....the three years having been served. Agree with the previous comment about him not going to WSR to play 'second fiddle' to Priaux.

Just my take on things and 'potentially' what cars are available - correct me where I've gone wrong!! (and I invariably do!!!)

WSR BMW 1 series - Andy Priaux
WSR BMW 1 series - Sam Tordoff
WSR BMW 1 series - TBC
Team Dynamics Type R - Matt Neal (not sure if confirmed....but well we know lol!)
Team Dynamics Type R - Gordon Shedden (now confirmed)
Eurotech Honda Accord - Jeff Smith??
Eurotech Honda Accord - Martin Depper?? Will these cars run or will Mike Jordan go to 888?
888 MG6 - Andrew Jordan
888 MG6 - Marc Hynes?? said to be returning but heard nothing yet?
888 MG6 - ??? - Gio??? Tingram???
Rob Austin Racing Audi A4 - Rob Austin
Rob Austin Racing Audi A4 - ???
Motorbase Ford Focus ST - Alex Martin
Motorbase Ford Focus ST - ??? But SURELY Mat Jackson as a consistent strong performer for the team
Motorbase Ford Focus ST - ??? Can't see them renewing Gio's contract currently
BMR Restart - Aron Smith
BMR Restart - Warren Scott
BMR Restart - ??? Alain Menu rumoured to be gone... so Turkington???
BMR Restart - ??? Jack Goff all quiet..... Plato rumours???
Rotek Racing Audi S3 - Rob Holland
WIX Racing Mercedes A Class - Adam Morgan
Laser Tools Mercedes A Class - Aiden Moffat
Handy Motorsport Toyota Avensis - Simon Belcher - new lighter car under constuction
Speedworks Toyota Avensis - ??? Ex Tingram car
??? Toyota Avensis - Ex United Autosports car
??? Toyota Avensis - Ex United Autosports car
??? Toyota Avensis - Ex Houseman Racing/ Lea Wood car
STP/sopp &sopp Proton - Dan Welch
STP/sopp &sopp Proton - Andy Wilmot
??? Chevvy Cruze 4door - ???with new owner???
??? Chevvy Cruze 5door - ???
AMD Tuning Ford Focus ST - Mike Bushell....maybe a second car???
??? Vauxhall Insignia - Formerly team hard/BMR be surprised if these turn up
??? Vauxhall Insignia - " " " " " " " " " "

34 cars that I can think of straight off, dare say you guys know of more!!

If AMD were to run a second car, to me, it would make sense to run a second focus rather than run two different cars. So will Motorbase be prepared to part with one of their three, or would they build another??

Turkington to BMR?? Well as already mentioned, his race engineer has already headed there....and Colin DID test for BMR prior to the 2014 season.

The Eurotech situation to me, is curious..... As already mentioned, would Mike jordan want to race against his son, or will he head to 888 too?? Leave the team to its own devices or sell it on?? No disrespect to Martin Depper or Jeff Smith....both good drivers in their own right, but AJ had the legs of them both by a HUGE margin - so without him those cars are looking at midfield to scraping top ten at best.

The 888 situation is pivotal imho....two or three cars?? big names or rookies?? No doubt...AJ is back in with a shout of the title again this year.... the MG is developed and fast......and imo, AJ has FAR better consistency than Plato...think Plato kinda admitted that himself during the year too 'go for gap or play points'well we know both drivers favour there.

LOVE AndyAlfa18's idea of the irish/english BMR team.... though may not happen lol - big team with too many drivers that want to be top dog......Plato and Turks in the same team...hells bells!!! Not to mention Aron Smith who lets face it has a problem with being overtaken by a team mate.....was it snetterton him and Menu had their altercation??? That would be a very 'robust' team indeed....but boy would I like to see it!!!

Just my saturday night beered up thoughts lol, be interested to know what you all make of them.......oh btw...i'm new here hi!!

Either way... I feel another BRILLIANT season looming,,, can't wait!!!