BTCC 2018 silly season

[norwichsam]

Guessing somethings gone badly wrong there then. Teams top points scorer for last 7 years all signed & ready to go then booted out? Team mate ‘demands’, sponsors pulling out? Guess we’ll never know. Gutted for Mat tho especially now the Honda seat’s been taken.

[Robmarriott]

Well then

Third factory Honda with the spare BMR TBL?

[Robmarriott]

The Wookie said:

Ok I’m officially suprised!!

You expected a Honda drive, right?

[The Wookie]

Robmarriott said:

You expected a Honda drive, right?

Too bloody right!!

[Robmarriott]

The Wookie said:

Robmarriott said:

You expected a Honda drive, right?

Too bloody right!!

Judging by some of his comments in the news articles, so did he!

[Robmarriott]

Looking at he official btcc twitter and Matt Salisbury earlier in the week, both Team Parker and Stephen Jelley are making announcements on Monday... should be pretty obvious that he’ll be back in their car, just awaiting confirmation on what car I suppose.

[eastlmark]

DanielSan said:

Is that the 3rd BMR seat taken then? And begs the question whose going to be in the 3rd Focus now

Wouldn't get too excited, bound to be Depper.

[Speed Badger]

Where is Andy Neate with a big bag of pebbles?

[DanielSan]

eastlmark said:

Wouldn't get too excited, bound to be Depper.

Oh god I’d forgotten about him.

[noddyrocket1]

I expected Jackson to still be a Motorbase driver this year, but with the number of top drives now dwindling and Honda signing Dan Cammish, where will Mat go?

[FourWheelDrift]

noddyrocket1 said:

I expected Jackson to still be a Motorbase driver this year, but with the number of top drives now dwindling and Honda signing Dan Cammish, where will Mat go?

WTCR probably

[Robmarriott]

Robmarriott said:

Looking at he official btcc twitter and Matt Salisbury earlier in the week, both Team Parker and Stephen Jelley are making announcements on Monday... should be pretty obvious that he’ll be back in their car, just awaiting confirmation on what car I suppose.

Following on from this, Parker have replied to the question of ‘is it a new car’ with ‘sure is new to us’ which is interesting. That indicates is not a Focus (although I suppose it could be, just not the same one as last year, could even just have the new RS bodywork I suppose and a bit of artistic license)

There’s been a lot of chatter about a 4th BMW but I reckon it’ll be a Subaru, with the BMR TBL going to Ciceley.

[swooshiain]

I've seen a few rumours about Parker having acquired a BMW from WSR.

[Sebring440]

norwichsam said:

Guessing somethings gone badly wrong there then. Teams top points scorer for last 7 years all signed & ready to go then booted out? Team mate ‘demands’, sponsors pulling out? Guess we’ll never know. Gutted for Mat tho especially now the Honda seat’s been taken.

It was simply a story of trust, loyalty and not biting the hand that feeds you.

Big Dave simply waited until the Honda drive had been announced, then BANG!

[rallycross]

Sebring440 said:

It was simply a story of trust, loyalty and not biting the hand that feeds you.

Big Dave simply waited until the Honda drive had been announced, then BANG!

Not sure what you mean, do you mean DB waited till the TDH drive was taken then gave MJ the boot? Sounds unlikely.

[The Wookie]

rallycross said:

Not sure what you mean, do you mean DB waited till the TDH drive was taken then gave MJ the boot? Sounds unlikely.

Knowing Barty it’s believable, he would have taken it very personally if Jacko had tried to jump ship after they’d made an agreement

[DanielSan]

rallycross said:

Not sure what you mean, do you mean DB waited till the TDH drive was taken then gave MJ the boot? Sounds unlikely.

I can believe it if Jackson was chasing the Honda drive after being confirmed in the Focus

[AlexRS2782]

ian_c_uk said:

Not directly BTCC news - but Shedden confirmed in Audi RS3 in WTCR, for Team WRT (Customer team)

With that news confirmed, all the rival teams are now putting money aside to pay for all the rear end & rear quarter damage he's going to cause tapping to pass

[Robmarriott]

rallycross said:

Not sure what you mean, do you mean DB waited till the TDH drive was taken then gave MJ the boot? Sounds unlikely.

Looking at the timings of it all, this is exactly how it seems to me.

It’d be interesting to know exactly what time on Wednesday Mat’s contract was terminated and what time the Cammish contract was finalised (I presume this was also on Wednesday as Matt Neal tweeted about having ‘news tomorrow’ which was Thursday) then you’d have the answer!

[Sebring440]

The Wookie said:

Knowing Barty it’s believable, he would have taken it very personally if Jacko had tried to jump ship after they’d made an agreement

Yup.