Btcc 2014 news/rumours andwishful thinking thread
Discussion
So with some news circulating about 2014 and before anyone else pinches my thread about time that I do a round up of what looks likely for 2014.
So first confirmed team is ciceley racing who will sell their avensis and build a Merc A-class which means 4 German manufactures on the grid and a mini dtm with bmw/audi/merc in the btcc for what I believe to be the first time. Driver Adam morgan.
No other team has official confirmed yet but im sure 85% of the current cars should be on the grid come next year.
With the dwindling s2000 runners looks likely that it will be an all ngtc field next year first time in 14 years that btcc will run under 1 single spec of cars. Even though the s2000 cars will be gone gow has said the jst will be considered to be retained in one form or another.
A lot of rumours around as per usual, united autosport that runs McLaren in the brit gt is looking for cars.
Fortec are also trying to get a team together.
Continued rumours of kia coming back aswel as skoda, skoda uk is revaluated their motorsport programme for 2014.
Renault megane could be built a body kitted road version was shown at rockingham and the team is looking to sell them to other teams for next year.
That's the most of the stories covered not going to cover the existing teams most will stay however think we might see an end to dynojet due to the court case for frank wrathell. Will update with a confirmed list when more teams confirm.
So first confirmed team is ciceley racing who will sell their avensis and build a Merc A-class which means 4 German manufactures on the grid and a mini dtm with bmw/audi/merc in the btcc for what I believe to be the first time. Driver Adam morgan.
No other team has official confirmed yet but im sure 85% of the current cars should be on the grid come next year.
With the dwindling s2000 runners looks likely that it will be an all ngtc field next year first time in 14 years that btcc will run under 1 single spec of cars. Even though the s2000 cars will be gone gow has said the jst will be considered to be retained in one form or another.
A lot of rumours around as per usual, united autosport that runs McLaren in the brit gt is looking for cars.
Fortec are also trying to get a team together.
Continued rumours of kia coming back aswel as skoda, skoda uk is revaluated their motorsport programme for 2014.
Renault megane could be built a body kitted road version was shown at rockingham and the team is looking to sell them to other teams for next year.
That's the most of the stories covered not going to cover the existing teams most will stay however think we might see an end to dynojet due to the court case for frank wrathell. Will update with a confirmed list when more teams confirm.
belleair302 said:
Its still way to expensive for manufacturers and sponsors......£600,000 for a drive plus spares ad damage from a so so team. Good racing on track but expensive for those wanting to step up and challenge.
£600,000 is nothing to audi, mercedes or bmw. They would do it if they could use the BTCC for anything but as it is its still pretty niche as far as sports go - i mean honestly btcc barely reaches a large audince in the UK, let alone anywhere else - and you aren't going to sell any product from it and they don't need to make anyone in the UK aware of their brands. There is just nothing to gain from it for them so there isn't any point them entering. At the end of the day manufacturers going racing is a business decision, not just to go racing for the sake of itdesignndrive62 said:
£600,000 is nothing to audi, mercedes or bmw. They would do it if they could use the BTCC for anything but as it is its still pretty niche as far as sports go - i mean honestly btcc barely reaches a large audince in the UK, let alone anywhere else - and you aren't going to sell any product from it and they don't need to make anyone in the UK aware of their brands. There is just nothing to gain from it for them so there isn't any point them entering. At the end of the day manufacturers going racing is a business decision, not just to go racing for the sake of it
It might be "nothing" to a manufacturer, but none of them are paying to do it are they?IIRC It was costing Vauxhall ~ £2m a year with 888 before they pulled out.
Crafty_ said:
It might be "nothing" to a manufacturer, but none of them are paying to do it are they?
IIRC It was costing Vauxhall ~ £2m a year with 888 before they pulled out.
The manufacturers that really count already have a silhouette formula in DTM. Why would they bother with BTCC? They have quit WTCC after all....IIRC It was costing Vauxhall ~ £2m a year with 888 before they pulled out.
rubystone said:
Crafty_ said:
It might be "nothing" to a manufacturer, but none of them are paying to do it are they?
IIRC It was costing Vauxhall ~ £2m a year with 888 before they pulled out.
The manufacturers that really count already have a silhouette formula in DTM. Why would they bother with BTCC? They have quit WTCC after all....IIRC It was costing Vauxhall ~ £2m a year with 888 before they pulled out.
b0rk said:
I thought Honda UK where contributing to dynamics and MG UK to 888 race engineering. I'd be very surprised if those squads where paying for bare shells.
I read an interview with Barry Ploughman a while back in which he said that Honda were producing one off panels for them. Things like single skin bonnets and so on.b0rk said:
I thought Honda UK where contributing to dynamics and MG UK to 888 race engineering. I'd be very surprised if those squads where paying for bare shells.
MG UK is a bit like a flat pack assembly business. I would be surprised if they contribute much. The nature of these cars is such that there isn't a production shell at all is there?rubystone said:
MG UK is a bit like a flat pack assembly business. I would be surprised if they contribute much. The nature of these cars is such that there isn't a production shell at all is there?
The production shell is used but it's effectively along for the ride. The rollcage forms the main functional structure of the carThe problem with BTCC for manufacturers is the performance balancing stuff. VMs want to win and in BTCC you can have what is unarguably the best car and engine and two of the best half dozen drivers on the grid and still not win because you get your boost turned right down. That works for a clubman series but a proper series with manufacturer involvement needs rules which are at least vaguely constant/predictable.
I know this has stopped at least one manufactuer joining recently, if it's not bad enough getting beaten by an MG they also risk getting beaten by a Proton or even a mutant RWD Audi which handles like a drunken porpoise.
BTCC can be a high end clubman series, or serious Motorsport. It's been both in the past and given the economic climate at the moment I think clubman is the way to go right now.
I know this has stopped at least one manufactuer joining recently, if it's not bad enough getting beaten by an MG they also risk getting beaten by a Proton or even a mutant RWD Audi which handles like a drunken porpoise.
BTCC can be a high end clubman series, or serious Motorsport. It's been both in the past and given the economic climate at the moment I think clubman is the way to go right now.
jamiebae said:
The problem with BTCC for manufacturers is the performance balancing stuff. VMs want to win and in BTCC you can have what is unarguably the best car and engine and two of the best half dozen drivers on the grid and still not win because you get your boost turned right down. That works for a clubman series but a proper series with manufacturer involvement needs rules which are at least vaguely constant/predictable.
I know this has stopped at least one manufactuer joining recently, if it's not bad enough getting beaten by an MG they also risk getting beaten by a Proton or even a mutant RWD Audi which handles like a drunken porpoise.
BTCC can be a high end clubman series, or serious Motorsport. It's been both in the past and given the economic climate at the moment I think clubman is the way to go right now.
Look at GT3. That's all about Balance of Performance and that's hugely successful. People aren't negative about Blancpain or it's equivalent series. I know there's no official manufacturer support apart from supplying the cars to those, but do we really need works teams in the BTCC? Private backers and well-funded individuals seems to be the way to go at the moment. Maybe with a tiny bit of works blessing like the Honda and MG programmes. I know this has stopped at least one manufactuer joining recently, if it's not bad enough getting beaten by an MG they also risk getting beaten by a Proton or even a mutant RWD Audi which handles like a drunken porpoise.
BTCC can be a high end clubman series, or serious Motorsport. It's been both in the past and given the economic climate at the moment I think clubman is the way to go right now.
cupofbeans said:
Look at GT3. That's all about Balance of Performance and that's hugely successful. People aren't negative about Blancpain or it's equivalent series. I know there's no official manufacturer support apart from supplying the cars to those, but do we really need works teams in the BTCC? Private backers and well-funded individuals seems to be the way to go at the moment. Maybe with a tiny bit of works blessing like the Honda and MG programmes.
GT3 is mostly gentlemen racing too, and it's balance of performance up to a point and to equal out totally different base cars (front, mid or rear engine, 6, 8, 10 or 12 cylinders) rather than tight rules where you get nobbled for doing well an developing the best car. Nobody would expect Ginetta to be able to win in GT3 against Audi, Merc and Porsche, yet in BTCC what are pretty much home built cars run by a tiny team can beat a semi-works Honda because the Civic has to run way less power. I'm not saying TOCA have it wrong, just that no VM will make a concerted tilt at the title with the series as it is in terms of tech regs.
jamiebae said:
The problem with BTCC for manufacturers is the performance balancing stuff. VMs want to win and in BTCC you can have what is unarguably the best car and engine and two of the best half dozen drivers on the grid and still not win because you get your boost turned right down. That works for a clubman series but a proper series with manufacturer involvement needs rules which are at least vaguely constant/predictable.
I know this has stopped at least one manufactuer joining recently, if it's not bad enough getting beaten by an MG they also risk getting beaten by a Proton or even a mutant RWD Audi which handles like a drunken porpoise.
BTCC can be a high end clubman series, or serious Motorsport. It's been both in the past and given the economic climate at the moment I think clubman is the way to go right now.
You make a good point. As for your last comment, I have never regarded recent BTCC as anything more than high end (read expensive) clubman. With a bit of bumping and boring thrown in to entertain the casual fan.I know this has stopped at least one manufactuer joining recently, if it's not bad enough getting beaten by an MG they also risk getting beaten by a Proton or even a mutant RWD Audi which handles like a drunken porpoise.
BTCC can be a high end clubman series, or serious Motorsport. It's been both in the past and given the economic climate at the moment I think clubman is the way to go right now.
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