BTCC rd1 brands hatch

[MG CHRIS]

So after a long winter and the most active off season in years the btcc is back in action on the brands hatch indy circuit.

2014 looks to be the most hotly contested year for a long time with 7 previous champions including Andrew Jordan, Matt Neal, Gordon shedden, Jason plato, Colin turkington with the return of Fabrizio Giovanardi and Alain menu. Along with that is a 31 car entry with new car, teams and drivers. Wont put the entire gird on here as they are in the main PH article and the 2014 news thread.

Racing get under way with practice, quali on sat quali will be live in itv website if it works is another matter, with 3 support racing after in. The main races are on sunday.

One of the first years where you cannot predict the results as there are so many drivers and teams that are in with a realistic hunt of a win with the likes of Honda/mg/pirtek/motorbase/wsr/rar/united autosport and even bmr with Alain menu driving all have a chance of winning races.

I will be recording all the action and watching later as Im organising a drive out stupidly forgot it was the same day as the first rd whoops. Anyone going there should be a packed day and a great atmosphere.

Cant wait for all the news to end and the racing to begin btcc is back.

For new viewers action start from 11am on itv4 until 6pm wich includes the 3 btcc races along with support action from ginetta/formula ford/Porsches/clio cup.

[MG CHRIS]

Looks like a good set up for the races tomorrow, turks got to be odds on for 1st come the first corner whatever happens after that is all ups for grabs can't wait for it.

Allthough I will be watching it after I come home so can fast forward all the crap Porsche and ff races. Atleast the ginetta's are keeping the grids up especially the juniors which are back into 20+ cars. Oh and even though the Porsche's and ff grids are low they are a little higher than last year ridiculous grids of less than 10.

Well I stop my ramblings now and leave you all to it tomorrow will watch it in the evening.

[MG CHRIS]

Caught up with the races after a great day out blasting around south/mid wales with a group of mx5.
Great to see such a large number of cars on the grid and a high calibre of drivers within the top 20 or so, bmws look super competitive this year all 3 up there instead of just turks like last year.

Jordan again very consistent continuing for last year, civic tourers don't look that good tbh and the mgs looks a mess apart from Hines's car. Good to see the passats up there but again disappointed with motorbase again hope they get there act together and get back up the front.

Will watch the supports again so can't comment on them.

Deffo attending oulton park, rockingham and maybe a trip up to knockhill, after the dull f1 race glad to see a proper motorsport back on the tv.

[MG CHRIS]

designndrive62 said:

MG CHRIS said:

, civic tourers don't look that good tbh and the mgs looks a mess apart from Hines's car.

I assume u mean their liveries and not their performance? I thought he civic tourer looked quite good actually, seemed to move around a bit as well which made them fun to watch despite not being a particular fan of Neal or shedden! As with almost the whole of pistonheads glad to see Turks doing well, it's great to see the nice guys getting the luck and wins rather than the bulleys!

Pleasantly surprised by the support races, some great action in all, especially the clios. Gt races with g50 and Porsche were the poorest of the day probably, but the big heavy cars don't really lend themselves to brands layout, will probs be better for them at Donny.

Yes I mean the liveries Hines's car doesn't look to bad, plato did well to recover after the bad race 2 start tordoff seems a bit lost out there today didn't really notice him on track.

Good to see turks up there aswel as collard and foster he held his own against collard and kept turks honest for a while to.

Will catch up with the support races during the week.

[MG CHRIS]

skeeterm5 said:

What a great day of viewing. One thing I couldn't believe was the noise of the BTCC cars. Popping and banging as the zipped along the main straight.

Also thought that the Ginetta juniors was a good race, talk about no fear! One lad raced without a bonnet, didn't seem to both him.

S

Typical junior racing then even with small grids they produce brilliant action and with a bigger grid this year makes it even better. Just hope the other pick up numbers during the year.

The btcc cars make current f1 cars so dull to listen who would of thought an f1 car would be quieter than a btcc car.

[MG CHRIS]

egor110 said:

It was great to see a proper full grid of touring cars, how come the clio grid is so small? have they just out priced the drivers?

New cars happened at the last change in 2007? to the mk3, grids went from 32+ for the mk2 down to mid teens the following year.
Hopefully will pick up during the year.

[MG CHRIS]

egor110 said:

MG CHRIS said:

New cars happened at the last change in 2007? to the mk3, grids went from 32+ for the mk2 down to mid teens the following year.
Hopefully will pick up during the year.

Even with the small grid it was still a entertaining race.

I haven't seen it yet so cant comment on that bit.

[MG CHRIS]

Yes and kind of spoiled the ending to that race was shaping up to be a good end too.

[MG CHRIS]

Menu should have pulled from that move and ingram shouldn't have moved the way he did 50/50 I would say. Racing accident.

Also caught up on the last race and what a race good moves throughout the field jp getting back up to 2nd and pulled off some good moves especially on shedden.
Jordan had a shocking 3rd race though the ballest really hurts the Honda more than the other.

Shaping up to be a good year very close between the top 6 and hopefully the likes of menu/gio/Jackson can become more competitive and with rising new talent think we will see a record number of drivers still in the hunt for the title come the end of the year.