Wednesday 19th March 2014

BTCC 2014 is go! PH Blog

Matt attends the BTCC media day, rides in the Civic Tourer and gets rather excited about 2014

---

This will be a good year for British touring cars. It has to be. Along with the biggest single category grid ever (31 cars), there are seven champions, 14 different cars and the promise of yet more fiercely close racing. Plus some PH involvement too.

Can it dominate like the hatch?

Let's deal with the rule changes first, so everyone is up to speed. The most significant is that all the cars conform to what used to be NGTC (Next Generation Touring Car) spec. We are in the 'next generation' now so series director Alan Gow is adamant the cars are now just, erm, touring cars.

The Jack Sears Trophy previously reserved for the S2000 cars will now be awarded to the independent driver that makes up the most places from their original qualifying slot. New regulations permit just one driver change per season too which will prevent the BTCC musical chairs seen in recent seasons.

But all of that seemed largely unimportant sat in front of a press stage with Alain Menu, Matt Neal, Fabrizio Giovanardi, Jason Plato and Colin Turkington on it. The prospect of those five former champions (not forgetting Gordon Shedden and Andrew Jordan as well) racing against each other on a packed grid is brilliant. The season opener is at Brands Hatch Indy; 31 cars on a 1.2-mile circuit.

Guess MG's main sponser...

Moreover, the cars look excellent. Yes, they're all fairly similar underneath and the days of atmospheric engines revving to over 8K are long gone, but to see so many different shapes and sizes if great. Of course the Civic Tourer took most of the attention, but Adam Morgan's A-Class is interesting and the eBay BMWs show that big spoilers will always work in the BTCC. I was unaware of Rob Holland's Audi S3 saloon until yesterday as well, another intriguing entry.

I've never been round Donington Park, or in a touring car, so to combine both in two laps with Gordon Shedden was a great privilege. The passenger seat in the Civic Tourer is a fair bit higher than the driver's, meaning Gordon was really shouting up instructions like "hold on here (the cage), that's mine and don't touch it (the gearlever)" in the pit lane.

Don't drink and dri... Oh.

There's something beguiling (still) about watching a sequential shift. Piling down the Craner Curves (I never realised it was that steep!) from Redgate, Gordon shifts sans clutch at just under 7,000rpm into sixth before braking (right-footed) for the left and taking fourth for the Old Hairpin. It doesn't feel massively quick but it's immediate and loud and it's an estate car back in the BTCC!

ITV4 are even extending its TV coverage too if you can't make it to 2014's races. As soon as we hear more about the possibilities of the media partnership, you will be the first to know. I can't wait!

Matt

 

 

[Pics: LAT]

[morgs_]

Bouncing with excitement! That picture of the whole grid looks awesome.

[zerovira]

It is possible to watch this in spain? sounds great, I'll love to watch the series...

[TobyLaRohne]

Wow, after nearly dying I see BTCC is up and running again, brilliant news!

[sagarich]

Trotter Racing. Late addition to the grid?

[AGK]

Loving the new Wix Merc!

[McAndy]

Wonderful. Reminds me of the variation in the early to mid 90s with a plethora of champions to boot. Sundays just got a whole lot better!

[muckyman]

aren't there meant to be PH logos on the cars now? (until 2016).
Couldn't see any in the photos

[morgs_]

muckyman said:

aren't there meant to be PH logos on the cars now? (until 2016).
Couldn't see any in the photos

TOCA probably couldn't justify the cost of the postage

[Phil Dicky]

sagarich said:

Trotter Racing. Late addition to the grid?

its what most of us would do in his shoes

[sagarich]

Phil Dicky said:

sagarich said:

Trotter Racing. Late addition to the grid?

its what most of us would do in his shoes

Indeed, I would :-)

[danjama]

Can't wait for this to get started!

[mp3manager]

Alan Gow doesn't have the same OCD-ness as Bernie Ecclestone, when it comes to parking then.

[eybic]

muckyman said:

aren't there meant to be PH logos on the cars now? (until 2016).
Couldn't see any in the photos

They appear on some of the cars, they seem to alternate between What Car?, Autocar and PH. We are looking into it though.

[V8 FOU]

Oh Yes!! Looking forward to Sunday. Wouldn't worry about the stickers tho' - won't be much left of them anyway by the end of the day. BTCC has to be the best racing on telly.

[999gsi]

looks like is going to be an excellent season. Who's the chap racing the Oakley Audi ?

[renaultgeek]

how does somebody race as a privateer now though?

[DanielSan]

999gsi said:

looks like is going to be an excellent season. Who's the chap racing the Oakley Audi ?

Robb Holland.

I think all the cars should have PH smileys on the bootlid/back window tbh. Same position as the vast majority of smileys on PHer's cars.

[binnerboy]

enjoyed last year, looking forward to this year, any championship that is settled in the last race is a good one !

[Evo]

sagarich said:

Phil Dicky said:

sagarich said:

Trotter Racing. Late addition to the grid?

its what most of us would do in his shoes

Indeed, I would :-)

He should have it stickered up in Trotters independent traders livery

[leedsutd1]

Even with sky tv having there own F1 channel. formula 1 is still boring ,I start to watch the races but get bored. Touring cars is far better with 3 races each meeting split up porshe ,caterham, clio cup etc .
The obvious dislike between matt neal and Jason plato adds to the excitement and any of the top 6 or 7 drivers can win a race. cant wait!