2016 BTCC silly season

[Chris Sideways]

Allyc85 said:

andy97 said:

Does that include the GT team?

Must admit I'd be surprised and not seen any reference to this anywhere else. Stranger things have happened, I suppose.

Wonder where Scott get the money from to run 4 (largely unsponsored) VWs and buy 888?

Maybe they will be doing loads of testing abroad

Lol Zandvoort here we come

[Hamish Finn]

Who is going to be Honda Yuasa Racing's third driver then?

[IanUAE]

According to crash.net

"The team is expected to hand its third licence to Honda development driver Jack Clarke for the new season."

[MG CHRIS]

Matt simpson to dynamics for the 3rd Honda seat according to post via ten tenths.

[Hamish Finn]

MG CHRIS said:

Matt simpson to dynamics for the 3rd Honda seat according to post via ten tenths.

Still just another rumour. An expensive seat, so I wonder who it will go to?

[anonymous-user]

I think it will be Jack Clarke, seems pointless to sign the guy as a development driver and not let him drive.

[MG CHRIS]

tux said:

I think it will be Jack Clarke, seems pointless to sign the guy as a development driver and not let him drive.

Whats all the rating about jack Clarke didn't really do much in the focus back in 2014. Then again if he has money then anything is possible.

[MyVTECGoesBwaaah]

MG CHRIS said:

Matt simpson to dynamics for the 3rd Honda seat according to post via ten tenths.

That would be a good shout, he has just sold his Tigra used in Intermarques. Certainly would have the money as well...

[Janesy B]

I think that's a case of putting 2 and 2 together and getting 75.3. Probably going to have another crack at the NHR World Championship.

[anonymous-user]

I wouldn't say anyone is rating Jack Clarke per say, its just that Honda made a big deal about signing him to a driver development programme so it would seem natural that he would be in the 3rd car.

[btcclee]

DanielSan said:

888 have recently been purchased by Warren Scott, rumour is they'll have 2 at least semi factory supported Jag XE's for next season

Here's a curveball for you. 888 have been purchased by BMR. BUT will still run MGs. BUT BMR themselves will run Subaru backed machines, maybe in full on dog carrying spec.

This from TenTenths...

[Hamish Finn]

But Triple 8 haven't been purchased by BMR...?

[Sammo123]

I can confirm from a very reliable source that Warren Scott has indeed bought the 888 team for £1 and paid off their debts. They will be running the MGs again for 2016 and Jack Goff will be in one of them. A decision hasn't been made on their second driver yet.

[btcc123]

Sammo123 said:

I can confirm from a very reliable source that Warren Scott has indeed bought the 888 team for £1 and paid off their debts. They will be running the MGs again for 2016 and Jack Goff will be in one of them. A decision hasn't been made on their second driver yet.

I am not saying this is not true but on 28 October 2015 the 888 team said "We'll confirm our plans in due course, rest assured we will have a very exciting line-up!" and have not seen it confirmed anywhere.Perhaps Plato is missing the MG.

BMR have good competitive cars with the VW CC so cannot really see them changing to Subaru,maybe a WRX STI but not a dog friendly one.

[Speed Badger]

Silly question, but is there any current BTCC driver that actually gets paid a salary from a team and brings zero sponsorship?

[antnee]

I don't know about zero sponsorship, but Shedden is paid a decent wage by Honda. I am unsure what Matt Neal's deal is.

[lickatysplit]

doesn't matt Neal bring the team Dynamics Alloy wheel sponsor?
this might be total codswallop but that's what I thought

[haggishunter]

lickatysplit said:

doesn't matt Neal bring the team Dynamics Alloy wheel sponsor?
this might be total codswallop but that's what I thought

I'm sure it's the family business or cetainly used to be

[jamiebae]

Speed Badger said:

Silly question, but is there any current BTCC driver that actually gets paid a salary from a team and brings zero sponsorship?

Alain Menu. (OK, he's not really current but is the closest I can think of). Gio was the same but now even Plato does some commercial legwork for his drive.

Shedden does work for Honda UK (as does Matt Neal) as part of the agreement to drive for HYR so isn't truly a salaried driver as HYR and HUK are not the same organisation.

Mat Jackson I'm not sure about but he could fall into the 'salaried driver' category, however it's more likely that he takes an income from personal sponsors rather than being paid by the team.

[Speed Badger]

It's not like it used to be in't olden days! Probably better off going down the GT route for a paid career, or elope to the USA. Funny, I always thought I would end up racing GT's in Japan for a living, ho hum