Brands Hatch BTCC

[The Wookie]

Sea Demon said:

From a weight saving point of view, why do BTCC cars have air jacks if their not really used in the race? Less weight, more speed etc.

Still have to front to rear every set of tyres to get heat in the rears, and swap tyres for fresh sets in FP and Quali so you lose out on laps if it takes too long.

The cars have a minimum weight anyway, as they're mounted on the floor (no CofG issues) and seen as an essential item money gets spent on removing weight in other areas to allow their fitment.

[Sea Demon]

Ah I see! Have always wondered & now I know - cheers!

[The Wookie]

Sea Demon said:

Ah I see! Have always wondered & now I know - cheers!

No worries!

[Wh00sher]

A guy on another forum has posted some cracking photos, I think they are worth sharing .

BTCC Brands Hatch by Rich Wigley, on Flickr


BTCC Brands Hatch by Rich Wigley, on Flickr


BTCC Brands Hatch by Rich Wigley, on Flickr


BTCC Brands Hatch by Rich Wigley, on Flickr


BTCC Brands Hatch by Rich Wigley, on Flickr

Errr.... Rob... ROB.... its the other way!!!!!


BTCC Brands Hatch by Rich Wigley, on Flickr


BTCC Brands Hatch by Rich Wigley, on Flickr


BTCC Brands Hatch by Rich Wigley, on Flickr


BTCC Brands Hatch by Rich Wigley, on Flickr


BTCC Brands Hatch by Rich Wigley, on Flickr



Whoops.

BTCC Brands Hatch by Rich Wigley, on Flickr


Full album here.
BTCC Brands Hatch by Rich Wigley, on Flickr

[marshal_alan]

that last photo should be sent to the stewards as how plato got away with that bit of contact beats me. or was it the usual "no contact seen" in btcc

[Janesy B]

Newsham pulled across Plato in that move IIRC.

[Cyder]

I think Chris James even admitted as much (eventually!).

[emicen]

Newsham is at the edge of the track steering straight, Plato understeered in to him. It wasnt a deliberate take out or one of these beloved pit move everyone seems to keep banging on about, just a product of the conditions.

However, with the gap back to following traffic being that size, if I tapped someone starting them in to a spin, I'd lift rather than keep the foot in.

[Janesy B]

This is a pits manoeuvre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGhcNH6yFCc&t=1...

What happened there wasn't Plato's fault, and I like to blame him as much as I can

[kimducati]

marshal_alan said:

that last photo should be sent to the stewards as how plato got away with that bit of contact beats me. or was it the usual "no contact seen" in btcc

If its the incident I'm thinking of, Newsham was trying the outside line around Druids and pulled in on Plato. On the TV coverage, you could see that Plato braked (front of car dived) so imho he did everything he could to back out of it, but unfortunate result for Newsham.
From where I watched on Sunday (post 16 on the GP loop) Plato was being very fair all day - he obviously knew that there wasn't any real pace in the car and was more or less letting people by and trying to blend in behind them through Westfield and on towards Sheene. Obviously can't give any opinion about other parts of the track!!

Kim

[pw32]

Janesy B said:

This is a pits manoeuvre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGhcNH6yFCc&t=1...

What happened there wasn't Plato's fault, and I like to blame him as much as I can

That was completely his fault. There was no room to overtake, at best follow Newsham through. He knew exactly what he was doing.

[Janesy B]

pw32 said:

Janesy B said:

This is a pits manoeuvre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGhcNH6yFCc&t=1...

What happened there wasn't Plato's fault, and I like to blame him as much as I can

That was completely his fault. There was no room to overtake, at best follow Newsham through. He knew exactly what he was doing.

By "What happened there wasn't Plato's fault, and I like to blame him as much as I can " I meant what happened last Sunday, not back in April.

[pw32]

ah, fair enough!! Having watched that video a few times I was struggling to come to any other conclusion.

Re Sunday....I'd still be of the opinion he could easily avoided contact. Newsham was nearly a car length ahead. Plato left his car there as Newsham was coming back on and probably knew the outcome. If the roles were reversed you can be assured Plato would be banging on about it being Newshams fault and he should of given him room. This has probably already been covered, so I'll zip it

[The Wookie]

pw32 said:

ah, fair enough!! Having watched that video a few times I was struggling to come to any other conclusion.

Re Sunday....I'd still be of the opinion he could easily avoided contact. Newsham was nearly a car length ahead. Plato left his car there as Newsham was coming back on and probably knew the outcome. If the roles were reversed you can be assured Plato would be banging on about it being Newshams fault and he should of given him room. This has probably already been covered, so I'll zip it

OT - Not ignoring your facebook message mate, left my iPad at my parents and can't be arsed to type out an essay on my phone! Will get back to you when I've got it back!

[pw32]

The Wookie said:

pw32 said:

ah, fair enough!! Having watched that video a few times I was struggling to come to any other conclusion.

Re Sunday....I'd still be of the opinion he could easily avoided contact. Newsham was nearly a car length ahead. Plato left his car there as Newsham was coming back on and probably knew the outcome. If the roles were reversed you can be assured Plato would be banging on about it being Newshams fault and he should of given him room. This has probably already been covered, so I'll zip it

OT - Not ignoring your facebook message mate, left my iPad at my parents and can't be arsed to type out an essay on my phone! Will get back to you when I've got it back!

cheers

[Janesy B]

pw32 said:

ah, fair enough!! Having watched that video a few times I was struggling to come to any other conclusion.

Re Sunday....I'd still be of the opinion he could easily avoided contact. Newsham was nearly a car length ahead. Plato left his car there as Newsham was coming back on and probably knew the outcome. If the roles were reversed you can be assured Plato would be banging on about it being Newshams fault and he should of given him room. This has probably already been covered, so I'll zip it

Technically nothing wrong was done but it wouldn't hurt to show a bit of respect and give people some room when conditions are that poor. This is Plato though so it was always going to happen.

[IainW]

Thorney have put up their review of the season. Makes interesting reading. http://www.thorney-vauxhall.co.uk/thorneyRacing.ht...

[pw32]

IainW said:

Thorney have put up their review of the season. Makes interesting reading. http://www.thorney-vauxhall.co.uk/thorneyRacing.ht...

Superb article. Fair play to Thorney.

Great to see how a bit of humility in motorsport can win you friends. You would be amazed how many people need to learn this.

[marshal_alan]

amang article from john thorne, respect to you and yours

[Janesy B]

He's brushed up on his PR skills. They have themselves another supporter next season.