BTCC 2019 silly season

BTCC 2019 silly season

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Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Wednesday 13th June 2018
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Calendar is out...

April 6/7 – Brands Hatch (Indy)
April 27/28 – Donington Park
May 18/19 – Thruxton
June 15/16 – Croft
June 29/30 – Oulton Park
August 3/4 – Snetterton
August 17/18 – Thruxton
September 14/15 – Knockhill
September 28/29 – Silverstone
October 12/13 – Brands Hatch (Grand Prix)

Quite a lot moved around, Knockhill in September seems pretty brave! Oulton before the summer break rather than Croft and the big one, no Rockingham, with two Thruxton rounds instead.

I appreciate TOCA must have their reasons for dropping Rockingham but I think it’s a shame, it might not have been everyone’s favourite but it’s given us some good racing over the years and two rounds at Thruxton will be boring, nowhere near enough variety in a season with 2 double headers in my opinion. It’s already bad enough with one...

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Wednesday 13th June 2018
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Really really hoping it’s not for housing. There’s a 5000 house development right up to the fence at the circuit, there will be houses from turn one to turn three of the oval already so it doesn’t look good.

I’ve got my fingers crossed that Palmer buys it. It’s not everyone’s favourite but losing any circuit to houses is a travesty.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Saturday 16th June 2018
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Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2018
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So then, some proper sill season talk now;

No Eurotech, they’ve sold the cars and TBLs to someone as yet unknown, their lead mechanic has posted a goodbye on Facebook and Jack Goff has posted saying he’s off to the job centre to look for some driving jobs.

Bushell confirmed for HARD.

Think that’s all we know so far.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2018
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JonChalk said:
That's a shame, they were really competitive - any idea why the sudden loss of interest in BTCC?
My assumption is Jeff’s accident last year and the fact he couldn’t race this year has had a lot to do with it. He also mentioned ICD (his company) would not be able to offer their sponsorship next year during the Facebook live video at Brands. So, a combination of him not racing and some financial trouble I’d say (speculation of course, I don’t know about his finances, total guess)

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2018
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AlexRS2782 said:
I guess the Eurotech announcement could possibly explain why Matt Simpson made the decision to split from them back in August.
Definitely seems that way with some hindsight. It was strange at the time but if Simpson knew what was coming then it makes a lot more sense.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Wednesday 3rd October 2018
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Sammo123 said:
I may of just heard that Subaru have changed their mind after Ash’ strong showing this year and have signed for another year!

I’ve also heard from the same person that a certain Vauxhall driver is in the frame for the second Subaru seat next year.

I’ve also heard but from a not quite as reliable source that BMR have been sold.

As always these are rumours so I can’t promise that any of them are the truth!
I would assume the Vauxhall driver would be Cook rather than Proctor although I’d be surprised be either jumping ship, it’s a good team, the car is good and both drivers have been quick.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
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Mr Hollamby has been on BBC Radio again saying he’s running 4 cars next year but with a change of machinery. Whether that means a change to all 4 cars or just replacing two?

Bert Taylor is fuelling the rumours too, posting a picture shaking Steve Neal’s hand with no caption so the rumour mill is spinning regarding that.

Maybe Shaun is moving all four cars on, buying the Eurotech ones and the BTC ones, with them being replaced with FK8s fresh from Dynamics?

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
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IF Norlin have bought new ones it’d be 9!

2 TD
2 Norlin
4 AMD
1 Simpson.

It’s a big if though at the moment.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Thursday 18th October 2018
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knowitall said:
btcc doesn’t allow one team or person or company to effectively control more than 4 cars
correct, so running 2 as Trade Price Cars and 4 as AMD would be a loophole to exploit.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Wednesday 14th November 2018
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That really is a shame. I’ve been a few times and it adds to the excitement in the ‘off season’ new liveries, often a driver announcement or two. I think a lot of people will miss it.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Wednesday 28th November 2018
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Kraken said:
All the sponsors were on it and it did the job. Never understand the obsession many here have with liveries.
It was also not the worst on the grid by a long way. It’s weird that people didn’t like it, it was colourful and bold, just like the eBay Motors BMW one from a few years back, which everyone liked.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Thursday 10th January 2019
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I’m still lamenting the loss of the Clios but it’s a worthy replacement.

Reading the article it seems that the JCW class will be at 8 rounds and the Cooper challenge (for the R50s) at the remaining 2, how that split is done isn't announced yet but I'm calling Croft and one of the Thruxton rounds.

Edited by Robmarriott on Thursday 10th January 08:32

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Thursday 10th January 2019
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Yeah, that would have been Scottish Mini Cooper Cup. Not sure how the regs compare but I'm sure someone in this thread will know...

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Thursday 10th January 2019
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I'll have £100 on Tim Harvey getting his first name wrong during the commentary!

Jokes aside, it's a great move for Ollie, I don't think the Audi was/is a bad car but the Focus is definitely a big step forward.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Tuesday 29th January 2019
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It says 'competing' so that goes hand in hand with the speculation over the last few months. Obvious place is Motorbase car number 3, it's already been confirmed that it will be in another livery so it seems to fit.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Monday 11th February 2019
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http://www.nicolashamilton.com/hamilton-returns-to...

And there’s the confirmation a whole day before it’s supposed to have been announced.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Wednesday 13th February 2019
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This mornings announcement is going to be a surprise for a lot of people!

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Wednesday 13th February 2019
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agent006 said:
I think he's an interesting choice. I wonder how much of it is to get a known name into the team, so the sponsors can have an "oh yeah, him from the 90s" moment.
He's the one who has approached them with a chunk of money and an (as yet) unannounced sponsor, I don't think they've picked him as such although I appreciate there's a certain amount of 'that works' from both sides in any deal.

agent006 said:
Still silence from two rather important garages though. Surely I can't be the only one holding out for a Proctor & Plato announcement from PMR?
PMR and BMR having not announced yet is the big story for me, wonder how much longer they can drag it out...

Presumably they're both playing chicken with each other, especially if Plato has left BMR for PMR, whoever cracks first with a press release is pretty much going to give the game away for the other team.

BTC are announcing their second driver on Monday, that leaves Parker (and it seems to be likely it's Jelley, just hasn't been officially confirmed yet) and the remaining MG, which is another one with little to no rumours so far.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,640 posts

158 months

Wednesday 20th February 2019
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Mixed feelings about the last 3 announcements if I'm honest.

Plato's move is good, for him at least, he should get his 3 wins for the 100 total in that car if nothing else.

I can't see why Proctor would move away from the team though, I can't see him getting better results in the Subaru but I'm happy to be proven wrong.

and finally, I'm gutted about Goff, his drive at Snetterton against Sutton last year was incredible, he's talented, he's mature when it comes to TV interviews and although I know it's about money, it's still a big shame he's missing from the grid but that's the way it goes I suppose.

Only 3 left to confirm now, one PMR, on BMR and the final MG with the silly team name.