Touring cars is a joke
Discussion
For years, I've been a massive fan of the BTCC. It's always been lively, but from the last 3 races I've seen, now it'sa bit of a farce.
Is it the case that BTCC is now a contact sport? Noone seems to overtake without contact now, and it seems tapping someone wide is expected, as Harvey always comments if someone follows for 3 laps _without_ simply punting their rival wide a la Neil and Plato.
Anyone else feel the same way? (I fear this may not go well for me, a lot of race fans love a good pile up!)
Is it the case that BTCC is now a contact sport? Noone seems to overtake without contact now, and it seems tapping someone wide is expected, as Harvey always comments if someone follows for 3 laps _without_ simply punting their rival wide a la Neil and Plato.
Anyone else feel the same way? (I fear this may not go well for me, a lot of race fans love a good pile up!)
I am not condoning this kind of behavior but, I think it is the kind of thing that has slowly become the norm for touring car racing of any kind because the cars can take a bit of a knock here and there.
Obviously this kind of thing cant happen in single seater racing as the cars are too fragile. other race series where the drivers are running tighter budgets also have more respect for their and each others cars when it is their own wallet it hurts
Obviously this kind of thing cant happen in single seater racing as the cars are too fragile. other race series where the drivers are running tighter budgets also have more respect for their and each others cars when it is their own wallet it hurts
Its only become common place because A. it hasnt been punished and B. the fans who turn up to races love it and without fans turning up the series or circuits wouldnt make any money.
It is entertaining to a point but i do admit it is starting to get a bit extreme and it seems as if nothing will change until something terrible happens which i do not want to see.
It is entertaining to a point but i do admit it is starting to get a bit extreme and it seems as if nothing will change until something terrible happens which i do not want to see.
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 26th June 16:51
All the drivers and commentators say is 'that's just touring cars'. That doesn't make it right.
Alan Gow knows the average punter likes to see a nice pile up now and then to keep things exciting so it's been tolerated.I hate the way that if they can't get passed they punt each other out of the way, that's not sporting or proving you're a better driver.
I understand at all levels of racing there will be contact and the odd racing incident, but the blatant, avoidable punting of people out of the way should be clamped down on.
Alan Gow knows the average punter likes to see a nice pile up now and then to keep things exciting so it's been tolerated.I hate the way that if they can't get passed they punt each other out of the way, that's not sporting or proving you're a better driver.
I understand at all levels of racing there will be contact and the odd racing incident, but the blatant, avoidable punting of people out of the way should be clamped down on.
Thats the thing. I used to race. I used to love watching touring cars because it was close, and the moves were awesome. that croft race was simple - "punt them off at the hairpin, overtake". No skill, judgement or mind games, just out and out cheating. Back when I had a lisence, if you overtook through contact, you ceded the position, or got a black flag. That didn't include slight racing / leaning things, but running people off the road "to stop them getting trcation", or hurtling into their arse at +15 mph to push them wide, or just using the side of their car as a brake would deffo make you cede the place.
I'm not saying that I want to see bring single seaters. However, if the "lesser" drivers in G50's, Caterhams, MX5's, Clios etc etc can pass without cheating, why can't the drivers of the current showcase of tin tiops in the UK? Personally, I think the rot set in when they turned a blind eye to Neil and Plato, after that everyone else joined in...
I'm not saying that I want to see bring single seaters. However, if the "lesser" drivers in G50's, Caterhams, MX5's, Clios etc etc can pass without cheating, why can't the drivers of the current showcase of tin tiops in the UK? Personally, I think the rot set in when they turned a blind eye to Neil and Plato, after that everyone else joined in...
Atomic Gibbon said:
For years, I've been a massive fan of the BTCC. It's always been lively, but from the last 3 races I've seen, now it'sa bit of a farce.
Is it the case that BTCC is now a contact sport? Noone seems to overtake without contact now, and it seems tapping someone wide is expected, as Harvey always comments if someone follows for 3 laps _without_ simply punting their rival wide a la Neil and Plato.
Anyone else feel the same way? (I fear this may not go well for me, a lot of race fans love a good pile up!)
could not agree more...Is it the case that BTCC is now a contact sport? Noone seems to overtake without contact now, and it seems tapping someone wide is expected, as Harvey always comments if someone follows for 3 laps _without_ simply punting their rival wide a la Neil and Plato.
Anyone else feel the same way? (I fear this may not go well for me, a lot of race fans love a good pile up!)
touring cars died in the late 90's IMHO
Scuffers said:
Atomic Gibbon said:
For years, I've been a massive fan of the BTCC. It's always been lively, but from the last 3 races I've seen, now it'sa bit of a farce.
Is it the case that BTCC is now a contact sport? Noone seems to overtake without contact now, and it seems tapping someone wide is expected, as Harvey always comments if someone follows for 3 laps _without_ simply punting their rival wide a la Neil and Plato.
Anyone else feel the same way? (I fear this may not go well for me, a lot of race fans love a good pile up!)
could not agree more...Is it the case that BTCC is now a contact sport? Noone seems to overtake without contact now, and it seems tapping someone wide is expected, as Harvey always comments if someone follows for 3 laps _without_ simply punting their rival wide a la Neil and Plato.
Anyone else feel the same way? (I fear this may not go well for me, a lot of race fans love a good pile up!)
touring cars died in the late 90's IMHO
supertouring said:
supertouring had its share of punting going on so this is nothing new.
However it did have a better class of driver back then; most of the current drivers have come through clio demolition derby racing.
The new new breed of drivers have come from Clios, i'd say the main culprits are the old hands like Plato, Neal and Collard. Also those that don't have to pay for the damage to the cars it seems.However it did have a better class of driver back then; most of the current drivers have come through clio demolition derby racing.
I was watching the race at Croft on TV and couldn't believe it when one of the BMW's deliberately punted off another car and the commentator said it was racing, I was wondering who was actually paying him.
They should have a drive through penalty for any contact, that would sort it out.
They should have a drive through penalty for any contact, that would sort it out.
Atomic Gibbon said:
I'm not saying that I want to see bring single seaters. However, if the "lesser" drivers in G50's, Caterhams, MX5's, Clios etc etc can pass without cheating, why can't the drivers of the current showcase of tin tiops in the UK? Personally, I think the rot set in when they turned a blind eye to Neil and Plato, after that everyone else joined in...
You are without doubt right with the thread topic. Tin top racing lately is kinda tiresome to watch, only to be enjoyed by open mouthed morons*, who only seem to have the 'Rubbing is racing' response. Rubbing isn't racing, to me it seems that it is quite the opposite. I'm not a massive motorbike racing fan but have watched and have been aware of how popular MotoGp has become, the racing is close and exciting and draws loads of people for that fact alone, if rubbing was indeed racing half of those lads would be dead!The fact it's not stamped down is bad and bodes badly for what is left of the sport. When this sort of behaviour trickles down to club level - it already does - why would anybody, other than someone who owns a body shop or can afford to visit one regularily, be bothered, that is perhaps the true rub.
A few months ago I watched a repeat of a clio championship race and didn't even get half way through before I had to turn it off because the standard of racing was just boring, nothing inch perfect as far as I could see, just do or die. A shame, because any real talent that might be on the grid gets strangled by other folk who can only ply the hob nail boot approach.
In some way I also kinda blame the commentary teams who chortle away whenever contact is being made, instead of calling it out as bad, troublesome driving. How many times have you have heard the term 'great stuff' being used to describe what to you seems to be a fairly ignorant bit of driving? They should be lined up beside the bloke that bought and messed up Donnington as enemies of the sport.
To me it seems that if motor racing is to keep on attracting people to the sport, the whole 'rubbing is racing' thing should be called as the bravado it is.
//*normally seen with ketchup dribbling down one side of their mouths
Edited by peteGT on Sunday 27th June 03:16
peteGT said:
Atomic Gibbon said:
I'm not saying that I want to see bring single seaters. However, if the "lesser" drivers in G50's, Caterhams, MX5's, Clios etc etc can pass without cheating, why can't the drivers of the current showcase of tin tiops in the UK? Personally, I think the rot set in when they turned a blind eye to Neil and Plato, after that everyone else joined in...
You are without doubt right with the thread topic. Tin top racing lately is kinda tiresome to watch, only to be enjoyed by open mouthed morons*, who only seem to have the 'Rubbing is racing' response. Rubbing isn't racing, to me it seems that it is quite the opposite. I'm not a massive motorbike racing fan but have watched and have been aware of how popular MotoGp has become, the racing is close and exciting and draws loads of people for that fact alone, if rubbing was indeed racing half of those lads would be dead!The fact it's not stamped down is bad and bodes badly for what is left of the sport. When this sort of behaviour trickles down to club level - it already does - why would anybody, other than someone who owns a body shop or can afford to visit one regularily, be bothered, that is perhaps the true rub.
A few months ago I watched a repeat of a clio championship race and didn't even get half way through before I had to turn it off because the standard of racing was just boring, nothing inch perfect as far as I could see, just do or die. A shame, because any real talent that might be on the grid gets strangled by other folk who can only ply the hob nail boot approach.
In some way I also kinda blame the commentary teams who chortle away whenever contact is being made, instead of calling it out as bad, troublesome driving. How many times have you have heard the term 'great stuff' being used to describe what to you seems to be a fairly ignorant bit of driving? They should be lined up beside the bloke that bought and messed up Donnington as enemies of the sport.
To me it seems that if motor racing is to keep on attracting people to the sport, the whole 'rubbing is racing' thing should be called as the bravado it is.
//*normally seen with ketchup dribbling down one side of their mouths
in the last 10 years, the standard of racing at club level has suffered because of this attitude that contact is 'part of racing' and thus OK.
Forums | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff