BTCC 2018 silly season

[Robmarriott]

Calendar confirmed the same as last year

We know Rob Austin is going to stay at Handy Motorsport but using an Alfa Giulietta

Then today TOCA have announced a special 60 mile (double length) third race at Snetterton, with it's own qualifying session without ballast, giving double points.

http://www.btcc.net/2017/10/18/special-championshi...

I think that's pretty cool and the link says there's more to come so it could be a good year!

[Robmarriott]

Sebring440 said:

Aiden Moffat's been testing in Italy for Laser Tools Racing....

I wouldn't read too much into this, there's a lot of people doing TCR 'testing' over winter as it means more seat time.

[Robmarriott]

Bobby Thompson confirmed for Team HARD.

For anyone who doesn't know who he is, he raced Fiestas with Jamsport a few years back, did a few rounds in Formula Ford in 2014 before going off to race in the VW Racing Cup, with HARD later in the year, with Power Maxed last year and then again last year when he won the championship with Team HARD.

He's also cousin of Aaron Thompson (who races in Clio Cup)

He's a great driver and it's about time he got the break he deserves. Very happy for him!

[Robmarriott]

HARD have announced they’re running four cars in 2018, on the back of TOCA saying it’s a capacity grid again this year, that means we are losing a car from somewhere else, wonder who it’ll be?

[Robmarriott]

MG CHRIS said:

Interesting discussion on fb about this and a post popped up regarding team hard owing a few companies a lot of money and don't actually own the Passat.

I'm by no means a fan of them but in their defence, every company (which is what any BTCC team is) will have debts to other companies, it's not abnormal at all.

Regarding owning the cars, I suspect that's not exactly unusual either, it definitely isn't in the support paddock, most of the teams who field a lot of cars in the Clio Cup, for example, don't own a single car, which is why people move team mid season. I'm not surprised with it in the BTCC if true...

[Robmarriott]

knowitall said:

Robmarriott said:

HARD have announced they’re running four cars in 2018, on the back of TOCA saying it’s a capacity grid again this year, that means we are losing a car from somewhere else, wonder who it’ll be?

They bought the Welch licence.

Who was using that last year? Motorbase wasn't it?

[Robmarriott]

Mart Simpson to Eurotech, they expand to a 3 car lineup, Jeff Smith ruled out for 2018.

Simpson brings the car over from Dynamics, no major drama as all 5 Civics are Dynamics built anyway, so it’s just a matter of swapping the engine for the TOCA one and some other bits and pieces.

I suspect Goff will stay and presumable Brett Smith as well although I think that’s a mistake personally, the hat is ridiculous.

[Robmarriott]

When you say ‘first of’, does this mean Handy will be running more than one car or just that they’ll have spare shells?

[Robmarriott]

Save Ferris said:

Norlin to run the ex Dynamics Civics

From Norlin’s perspective this would be a good move, presumably they use the TOCA engine in the Chevy so if the rumour was true, they’d basically be running the same setup as Eurotech.

Problem is, that would mean there would be (at least) 7 Civics on the grid, assuming Dynamics are replacing their cars with the newer shape Civic, which I guess they will.

[Robmarriott]

Actual banger racing?

[Robmarriott]

Or, someone running in BTCC and a support race.

[Robmarriott]

Save Ferris said:

A couple of rumours...
Norlin to run the ex Dynamics Civics

Rumour confirmed!

http://www.btcc.net/2018/01/03/btc-norlin-racing-s...

[Robmarriott]

DanielSan said:

Is anyone bothered about whose in any Team HARD seat other than the guy on their Facebook page who gets a full time job from hyping it up?

Me.

I'm glad to see Bushell back, he's always been great in the Clio Cup and it's always good to have a 'new' driver in the championship.

Same with Thompson, I've known him a while, since he raced in the Fiesta ST150s and he never seemed to get the lucky break he deserved.

Just because HARD isn't a top flight team compared to Dynamics or WSR, doesn't mean people don't care.

[Robmarriott]

Anyway, drivers/cars confirmed so far;

Andrew Jordan - WSR - BMW 1 Series
Rob Austin - HMS Racing - Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Bobby Thompson - Team HARD - VW CC
Mike Bushell - Team HARD - VW CC
Jake Hill - Team HARD - VW CC
Michael Caine - Team HARD - VW CC
Matt Simpson - Eurotech - Honda Civic Type R
Tom Chilton - Motorbase - Ford Focus
AMD Tuning - Audi S3
AMD Tuning - Audi S3
BTC Norlin - Honda Civic Type R
BTC Norlin - Honda Civic Type R

Jeff Smith confirmed as out for the season so there's 2 Eurotech seats still and obviously Aron Taylor-Smith has gone elsewhere.

According to social media, Jack Goff and Ant Whorton-Eales are still looking for seats.

I assume Wookie will be back at AMD?

[Robmarriott]

Ollie Jackson and newbie Sam Smelt confirmed for AMD in the Audis.

[Robmarriott]

Andrew Jordan - WSR - BMW 1 Series
Rob Austin - HMS Racing - Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Bobby Thompson - Team HARD - VW CC
Mike Bushell - Team HARD - VW CC
Jake Hill - Team HARD - VW CC
Michael Caine - Team HARD - VW CC
Matt Simpson - Eurotech - Honda Civic Type R
Jack Goff - Eurotech - Honda Civic Type R
Tom Chilton - Motorbase - Ford Focus
Ollie Jackson - AMD Tuning - Audi S3
Sam Smelt - AMD Tuning - Audi S3
Chris Smiley - BTC Norlin - Honda Civic Type R
BTC Norlin - Honda Civic Type

Still 19 drivers to be announced! Thursday will be busy I reckon.

[Robmarriott]

WSR - Rob Collard - BMW 1 Series
WSR - Colin Turkington - BMW 1 Series
WSR - Andrew Jordan - BMW 1 Series
HMS Racing - Rob Austin - Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Team HARD - Bobby Thompson - VW CC
Team HARD - Mike Bushell - VW CC
Team HARD - Jake Hill - VW CC
Team HARD - Michael Caine - VW CC
Eurotech - Matt Simpson - Honda Civic Type R
Eurotech - Jack Goff - Honda Civic Type R
Motorbase - Tom Chilton - Ford Focus?
AMD Tuning - Ollie Jackson - Audi S3
AMD Tuning - Sam Smelt - Audi S3
BTC Norlin - Chris Smiley - Honda Civic Type R
BTC Norlin - Honda Civic Type

Unsurprising update from WSR and awesome news from Eurotech, wonder who their last driver will be if they're running three cars.

[Robmarriott]

I'm going to call this now -

AWE in a Civic of some sort
Cook at MG or in the other Civic
Motorbase - Jackson again along side Butcher again

[Robmarriott]

Possibly Depper but he did still sponsor Eurotech after leaving.

Pics on Autosport’s website shows Mat Jackson’s name and number in a Motorbase Focus with the new livery and there’s a third one in their workshop

[Robmarriott]

Possibly Depper but he did still sponsor Eurotech after leaving.

Pics on Autosport’s website shows Mat Jackson’s name and number in a Motorbase Focus with the new livery and there’s a third one in their workshop