BTCC 2021 silly season rumour mill

[Robmarriott]

Prompted by Ciceley announcing they're retiring the A Class for a new (as yet unannounced) car for next year, I thought a thread was about due.

Couple of points to address;

Will we see Plato return?
Will Neal retire?
What will Ciceley choose to build? (I reckon a new Golf)

[MG CHRIS]

Team hard are building new cars for next year seat cupra they have already got the base cars stripped down by the looks of things.
Finally the aging vw cc can be put to bed.
Think we are going too see a smaller grid next year and with the support series too.

[Allyc85]

Neal has been hinting at retirement, but the other day Plato was trying to get him to stay for one more year, for a proper send off.

[rjfp1962]

There must be another Plato-Neal spat surely....! Then they can both retire quietly.......!

[Sebring440]

MG CHRIS said:

Think we are going too see a smaller grid next year and with the support series too.

You could be right. Big companies are going to be seriously thinking about whether splashing serious money on motorsport sponsorship is the correct thing to do in the current climate.

[DanielSan]

rjfp1962 said:

There must be another Plato-Neal spat surely....! Then they can both retire quietly.......!

It seems like they're mellowing a bit in their old age and saving the arguments for on the track rather than off it.

[rjfp1962]

DanielSan said:

rjfp1962 said:

There must be another Plato-Neal spat surely....! Then they can both retire quietly.......!

It seems like they're mellowing a bit in their old age and saving the arguments for on the track rather than off it.

Agreed. And arguably the sport has moved on.

[AndrewGP]

I’d like to see JP return next year, as well as Andrew Jordan, I think they both add a lot of value to the championship. I think Matt Neal retiring is a 50/50 as I’m sure there was talk about his son possibly taking his seat at Honda?

But I also agree the grid will be smaller due to financial constraints from would be sponsors.

[clarki]

^^^^ I agree. Jordan has been missed this year. Be good to see him back.

[MG CHRIS]

clarki said:

^^^^ I agree. Jordan has been missed this year. Be good to see him back.

There does seem too be a big fall out between bmw/wsr and the Jordan family. Personally cant see Jordan back in the btcc without pirtek its going to be a struggle. Also the family main goal is keeping their own business going so the focus will be on that over the btcc.


On plato he says he will be back but something telling me he wont be not with pmr specially if the btcc is not allowed fans next year.

[DanielSan]

MG CHRIS said:

There does seem too be a big fall out between bmw/wsr and the Jordan family. Personally cant see Jordan back in the btcc without pirtek its going to be a struggle. Also the family main goal is keeping their own business going so the focus will be on that over the btcc.

It'll be historics and maybe a rallycross appearance or something next year, from what I've heard the only reason he's been in the BTCC this last few seasons was down to the Pirtek wanting him there.

[Manic172]

I recon Matt Neal will run team dynamics and his dad Steve will stand down as team principle.
Sheddon and camish will do the driving as flash has not been out in wtcr.
Hopefully Matt Jackson will be back he was ment to be out this year but him and Plato sat out this season.
One thing I don't i understand a few years a go when team hard where swapping drivers meeting after meeting they where bad mouthed. PMR have done it this year and not a word.
Is it 2022 when they are on about bringing in hybrid rules

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

Manic172 said:

I recon Matt Neal will run team dynamics and his dad Steve will stand down as team principle.
Sheddon and camish will do the driving as flash has not been out in wtcr.
Hopefully Matt Jackson will be back he was ment to be out this year but him and Plato sat out this season.
One thing I don't i understand a few years a go when team hard where swapping drivers meeting after meeting they where bad mouthed. PMR have done it this year and not a word.
Is it 2022 when they are on about bringing in hybrid rules

really? you don't understand this bit? this year the plan before COVID was to run Plato and Jackson, that didn't happen so instead they opted to give up and coming drivers the chance to race in the BTCC. Everyone knew up front that that was the game, So therefore no problems with chopping and changing.

[Manic172]

That was the same with team hard.. they had a 3 driver line up for the year. I can't remember what year it was. Think they ran 2 insignias and a cc. Drivers sign for the tear but then run out of money and do a rou d or 2 then drop out. Then the team needs money so they just take drivers on for a meeting. What I ment was there was lots of slating of team hard for doing this I think even TOCa got involved over this. but PMR do it and nothing is said. I was saying this seams to be a bit of double standards really.

[MG CHRIS]

Manic172 said:

That was the same with team hard.. they had a 3 driver line up for the year. I can't remember what year it was. Think they ran 2 insignias and a cc. Drivers sign for the tear but then run out of money and do a rou d or 2 then drop out. Then the team needs money so they just take drivers on for a meeting. What I ment was there was lots of slating of team hard for doing this I think even TOCa got involved over this. but PMR do it and nothing is said. I was saying this seams to be a bit of double standards really.

It was 2013 I believe and after that toca brought in the rules for driver changes to stop that happening. This year pmr are different they have had special reasons for the swapping and changing due to the restrictions in place. Personally if fans are still not allowed next year I cant see pmr on the grid.

[Kraken]

Manic172 said:

That was the same with team hard.. they had a 3 driver line up for the year. I can't remember what year it was. Think they ran 2 insignias and a cc. Drivers sign for the tear but then run out of money and do a rou d or 2 then drop out. Then the team needs money so they just take drivers on for a meeting. What I ment was there was lots of slating of team hard for doing this I think even TOCa got involved over this. but PMR do it and nothing is said. I was saying this seams to be a bit of double standards really.

Massive difference between the two scenarios though. They are not really comparable.

[DanielSan]

Manic172 said:

That was the same with team hard.. they had a 3 driver line up for the year. I can't remember what year it was. Think they ran 2 insignias and a cc. Drivers sign for the tear but then run out of money and do a rou d or 2 then drop out. Then the team needs money so they just take drivers on for a meeting. What I ment was there was lots of slating of team hard for doing this I think even TOCa got involved over this. but PMR do it and nothing is said. I was saying this seams to be a bit of double standards really.

PMR had 2 options this year, lose the Toca licence or politely ask Lord God if they could run the one car with guest drivers. It was in both parties interest to have the car on the grid and get the positive press from the guest drivers

[EDLT]

Robmarriott said:

What will Ciceley choose to build? (I reckon a new Golf)

If they want to stick with Mercedes why not a C-class, it's RWD and no bigger than the BMWs/Inifinitis

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

there's a reason why Cicely race Mercs........

[MB140]

DanielSan said:

Manic172 said:

That was the same with team hard.. they had a 3 driver line up for the year. I can't remember what year it was. Think they ran 2 insignias and a cc. Drivers sign for the tear but then run out of money and do a rou d or 2 then drop out. Then the team needs money so they just take drivers on for a meeting. What I ment was there was lots of slating of team hard for doing this I think even TOCa got involved over this. but PMR do it and nothing is said. I was saying this seams to be a bit of double standards really.

PMR had 2 options this year, lose the Toca licence or politely ask Lord God if they could run the one car with guest drivers. It was in both parties interest to have the car on the grid and get the positive press from the guest drivers

My wife knows a couple of people at PMR. This is exactly the case. Basically if they didn’t run they would lose there entry. So the next best option was to run one car and sell the seat out to people to get BTCC experience and exposure to cover the cost.