BMW returns to BTCC with latest 3 Series
West Surrey Racing gets to do the best job in the world. Again
We love a racing BMW at PH. In fact, it was only last week that we were waxing lyrical about them. From the 2002 to the V12 LMR, we're fans of them all, but it's got to be the tin tops which tug at our heartstrings most forcefully. Great news, then, that the 3 Series is returning to the BTCC.
BMW hasn't been all-together absent from the championship since it departed in 2013, of course, with the 125i M Sport flying its flag since then instead. Pretty successfully too, you might say, with Colin Turkington having won Drivers' titles in 2014 and 2018 on top of Manufacturer and Team honours in each of the last three seasons.
Nonetheless, with the seventh generation of the road-going 3 Series set to hit the UK in March, it's time for it to once again take up the cause on Munich's behalf. Drivers Colin Turkington and Tom Oliphant will be the ones aiming to add to its storied history when it takes to the track at Brands Hatch on April 6th and 7th, Turkington of course having enjoyed success in the model previously.
When asked about stepping back into the 3 Series he said: "Back in 2009, I clinched my first Drivers' title in a BMW 3 Series, and to commence a new chapter with the new model for Team BMW is a dream come true. This exciting project has delivered a potent dose of motivation into an already dedicated team and we are inspired to get going. It's a very busy time for the engineering team back at base as they build and develop the cars for the new season, but the expertise is there to get the job done. The new-look road car is stunning and the race car will be something else! It's an amazing time to be involved and I'm honoured to have this role."
As with BMW's previous entries, the 330i M Sports will be run by West Surrey Racing, headed by Dick Bennetts. They will compete alongside a third 330i, also run by WSR but driven by 2013 BTCC Champion Andrew Jordan under the banner of BMW Pirtek Racing, in deference to his title sponsor. Good luck to all three drivers - we'll be looking forward to seeing the cars out on track for the first time at the Brands Hatch test day on March 27th.
They do look decent enough from the outside, but I just can't get on with this silhouette business in the BTCC. It's just wrong.
Saying that, I reckon it'd be really cool would be if they cranked up the performance for NGTC and allowed that to be a bit pricier, but also let privateer TCRs run on the same grid, with separate tables for each. The old British Saloon Car days saw separate championships for different displacements. Why not go back to that?
Actually, I'm sure there are plenty of good reasons not to go back to that.
Therefore they could use a 3 door 1 series before but not a 4 series coupe in this instance.
The move to the 3 Series is because BMW are ending production of the rwd 1 Series platform this year.
They do look decent enough from the outside, but I just can't get on with this silhouette business in the BTCC. It's just wrong.
I just wonder why we (JLR) have never teamed up to make an XE BTCC car, especially when it was launched. Control 2.0 Engine (XE was launching 2.0 JLR engines then - not JLR but hell it's a 2.0 - Joe Public sees that as new engine = good) - control subframes and suspension means you don't really need to spend much on development (I imagine it's mainly aero and bodywork, could be wrong)
Seems odd when teams like Cicely seem to have (seemingly) independently developed Merc A45s into a BTCC car and the Alfas were private too, no?
Ex demo road cars!), pay for hospitality stuff and a couple of other bits. A ‘works’ entry doesn’t mean anywhere near as much now as it did in the Super Touring era of the late 90s as the formula is so cheap.
Plenty obviously disagree with me, because it's a popular series, but TCR seems much more in keeping with what the BTCC is all about for me.
Plenty obviously disagree with me, because it's a popular series, but TCR seems much more in keeping with what the BTCC is all about for me.
Ngtc with spec components helps reduce cost and allows independent teams to build cars without the need of a manufacture. Avensis/proton/audi a4/s3/cruzes/a class/alfa/insignia/astra/infinitti/focus/passat were all built without help from a manufacture. Even the likes of the mg/Subaru/bmw and even the civic were only shells supplied by the manufacture the rest was built either by teams or specialised companies. It allows the toca officals to control and change regs too demaned and not to be reliant on outside sources.
Tcr is a rule set like gt3 allows manufactures too build cars too sell with updates every year and too stay compeitivie involves using them updates from the manufacture which raises cost per season? The audi lms tcr car is over £200,000 too buy for example not including updates a btcc car after the first one is built is cheaper than that for a private teams.
Saying that, I reckon it'd be really cool would be if they cranked up the performance for NGTC and allowed that to be a bit pricier, but also let privateer TCRs run on the same grid, with separate tables for each. The old British Saloon Car days saw separate championships for different displacements. Why not go back to that?
Actually, I'm sure there are plenty of good reasons not to go back to that.
Hopefully Jason Plato, Matt Neal and others might read this, but then again they wouldn't take any notice anyway!
I lost interest in it when you couldn't go into a dealership and buy a car with the same shape that had an engine vaguely related to what they were running - but then that's due to the regulations imposed by Mr Gow.
Not for me any more as there is no proper competition..
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