2023: BTCC chat & discussion

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New qualifying format for BTCC in 2024:

https://www.btcc.net/2023/10/23/btcc-launches-quic...

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Willhire89 said:

The cars went to One Motorsport,

And were never fully paid for, so they were taken back!

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TheBinarySheep said:

Does anyone know, are BMW likely to stick with the 3 series for 2024?

Yes, still the 3-Series cars, revised for the 2024 season.

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agent006 said:

airbusA346 said:

Big numbers in the accounts of Bath Taxis Ltd too who until Sept 2023 had significant control of Team Hard.

Notified as having significant control and then removed the next day. I'm not an expert in this sort of thing but that does seem odd.

Yes, you're correct, only "significant control" for 24 hours (not significant control until Sept 2023, which implies a much longer term), then the original directors were reinstated. There was a winding-up order on the company. This may have been a method of delaying this. But all that was sorted within a few days.

It's all there for everyone to see on the Companies House web site.

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agent006 said:

Feels especially more so now that TCR is developing so we'll.

So we'll what? Finish your sentence so that we know what you're talking about.

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Milkyway said:

Issues with three of the TBL’s... apparently.

You're correct, that's what it says:

Brief Statement: TBL Registrations
Due to very recent and complex on-going matters regarding the use of three TBLs in particular, TOCA has extended the initial registration timeframe in order to allow a sufficient period for the re-allocation of those TBLs to be finalised.
TOCA will issue the approved TBL list when this process has been concluded.

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Milkyway said:

Yarp, He was hoping to be back... but obviously couldn’t get a deal together.
The demise of Team Hard hasn’t helped.

What has Team Hard got to do with whether or not Nic returns in 2024? He certainly wasn't going to return with them.

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Milkyway said:

I just assumed that his seat was being kept warm for next year.

Struggling with that one I'm afraid. It was Nic that walked away, remember.

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trackdemon said:

I can't agree; he's hung out in the last 15% of places for several years now whilst stealing a drive because of 'name'. Sorry mate, you're just not fast enough. And yes, I'm as aware as anyone that he has issues that make being a race driver more difficult - but motorsport generally cares about one thing: the stopwatch. He's had opportunities others wouldn't because the name is compelling, but he's just not *that good* sadly...

We have to take your opinions as being perhaps "sour grapes": you term yourself a "track demon" but I don't think you've been racing competitively recently (if ever), but of course I'm happy to be corrected if you care to reply.

So, as a "track demon" you obviously understand how all this sponsorship/racing stuff works, but you refer to the stop watch? And you criticise, condemn and denigrate Nic Hamilton, because of his name? As has been explained above, he generates all his own sponsorship, so obviously some people have faith in him.

So come one, tell us all about your own experience and skills, and why you're not racing competitively now, but feel that you can offer "advice" to those who can?

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BMR said:

Couple of different stories about at that time he walked away. Either he wasn’t satisfied at the (lack of) car prep or this was when HARD asked their drivers for more money.

Not a couple off different stories, but the "same" story.

Nic turned up expecting to race. Was dismayed at the (usual) lack of prep, but then the knife was put in by the "team" asking for additional money, over what had been originally agreed. A familiar story as we saw in the 2023 season.

Nic wisely turned around and walked away.

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Milkyway said:

Agreed, Nic wasn’t a front runner, but he is very popular & has inspired a lot of people... racing & non racing folk.
His press coverage must have helped put ‘bums on seats’, so to speak.

Agreed.

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agent006 said:

You're forgetting the huge queue of championship contending drivers that team hard turned down in preference for Hamilton.
Was it them who had an empty seat right up to media day this season?

"huge queue of championship contending drivers....?

What?

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The Wookie said:

I have heard a tall story of the final straw being confusion between old fuel drums filled with water to keep the awning down in high winds and the actual fuel drums that were filled with fuel...

Could easily be bks though

Yes, that one did the rounds, and I believe it was true!