Vauxhall pulling out of BTCC

[dpbird90]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74519


What are we left with now?

[llewop]

dpbird90 said:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74519


What are we left with now?

privateers


can't say you can blame them when there is no works competition for them!

Sadly touring cars seem to have lost the plot in recent years (I'm including WTCC in that - the equalisation measures don't seem to work well most of the time)

[telecat]

They'd have to invest in the New Insignia for next year as well. Running the "old" car isn't really a good marketing exercise.

[E30M3SE]

I'm suprised they are in it this year.

[Chassis 33]

llewop said:

Sadly touring cars seem to have lost the plot in recent years

I'd have to agree there, although it does seem cyclic; remember the mid '90s when you had from BMW, Volvo, Vauxhall, Audi, Alfa, Nissan, Peugeot, Toyota, Mazda (was that a factory entory?), Ford etc.

Then seemingly all the teams left, about the same time Neal took the first overall win as a privateer, or is that just my mind playing tricks on me?
Regards
Iain

[Adrian Gumball]

I think the BTCC and WTCC have done well over the last few years, especially with the the decline in the economy.

A shame to see Vauxhall pull out, however maybe it will open the doors to non-works teams with other cars. (However I expect to the Vectras back next year).

I dont expect to see Givinardee (I had no chance of spelling it without Google) back next year with out works support which is a shame

Edit to add: Fabrizio Giovanardi

Edited by Adrian Gumball on Friday 17th April 10:28

[Adrian Gumball]

I think the BTCC and WTCC have done well over the last few years, especially with the the decline in the economy.

A shame to see Vauxhall pull out, however maybe it will open the doors to non-works teams with other cars. (However I expect to the Vectras back next year).

I dont expect to see Givinardee (I had no chance of spelling it without Google) back next year with out works support which is a shame

Edit to add: Fabrizio Giovanardi

Edited by Adrian Gumball on Friday 17th April 10:45

[andy97]

dpbird90 said:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74519


What are we left with now?

The Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup?

[anonymous-user]

Chassis 33 said:

llewop said:

Sadly touring cars seem to have lost the plot in recent years

I'd have to agree there, although it does seem cyclic; remember the mid '90s when you had from BMW, Volvo, Vauxhall, Audi, Alfa, Nissan, Peugeot, Toyota, Mazda (was that a factory entory?), Ford etc.

Then seemingly all the teams left, about the same time Neal took the first overall win as a privateer, or is that just my mind playing tricks on me?
Regards
Iain

Not really cyclic. All the manufacturer backed teams, with the exception of Vauxhall, disappeared at the end of the Super Touring era in 2000. Since then it's been a largely privateer championship with Vauxhall hanging in there until now.

I remember Matt Neal's impressive win at Donington, must have been 98 or 99? Nothing to do with teams leaving though, just a coincidence.

BTW, you missed out Honda and Renault from your list and Mazda was not a proper works entry.

[Redlake27]

The BTCC will prosper. I rememember the heyday of the RS500/M3 era. None of those cars were works entered.

In the current BTCC entry of 22 cars, only 2 are funded by a manufacturer. It is sad to see a committed participant such as Vauxhall pull out, but let's get in in proportion. They fund less than 10% of a very strong grid.

[Chassis 33]

uktrailmonster said:

BTW, you missed out Honda and Renault from your list and Mazda was not a proper works entry.

Doh. We even had an Accord at the time!
Regards
Iain

[chevronb37]

Hardly surprising. It might actually be a good thing for the championship though - privateers will usually find a way of prevailing through harsh economic times. I think the main problem might be attracting the best drivers.

[StevenJJ]

I don't understand why the cars have to be so bloated and aero-oriented. KISS - the aero madness started with Alfa Romeo's dodgy additions being allowed and that set the tone. A mass simplification of the rules removing basically all aero development on the OE car, FWD only, no 'success ballast' etc. and leave the rulebook open in one area, say 2000cc, 4 cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, no forced induction, away you go...

[Chassis 33]

Excluding RWD will automatically exclude BMW, who historically have always supported the BTCC fairly well, I can see the point of excluding 4WD, the Audi's in the mid/late 90's had a massive advantage over the field with 4WD and certainly going back to the "it can only be on the race car if it's standard on the road car" would do alot of favours all round, the public could associate even better with the cars, meaning the manufacturers would want to come back into the sport, win on sunday, sell on monday and all that (as far as that can go these days). It would also stop them looking like they were designed using the Halfords or Motorworld parts bins.

In short...
2000cc NA
An aero package more resembling the road spec
Saloons (not hatch backs)
Ill tempered drivers, bring back the days of Sopher, Harvey, Smith, Sytner and Cleland, non of this slimy kissing as you turn in to tap the car in front of line so you can nip thru half on the grass, if you're going to hit some one do a proper job then a spot of fisticuffs before being separated by the marshalls.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRmTh69PLEU

Regards
Iain

[GBRM]

I'm pretty sure Vauxhall's plan for next year was the Astra, not the Insignia anyway.

Lets hope we see a return to Group 1 (or even Group N!!) regs at last.

[Norbury90]

A big shame, but it was obvious that it was going to happen really. They do stick out like a sore thumb as it is...

Maybe the privateer cars will take the place of the old manufacturer cars, and we will have some more legendary racing! Neal and young Jordan will both find themselves teams for next year, so I doubt the grid will get any shorter.

Also, I won't be sad to see the back of Giovanardi myself... he gets on my tits.