[BTCC] BTCC 2020 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[Peter Mallett]

Got a mate testing at Brands today. The toilets are closed. Could get messy of this continues for any race events.

[RS67]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Got a mate testing at Brands today. The toilets are closed. Could get messy of this continues for any race events.

Take your own bucket.

[redshoes]

Not specifically BTCC, but MSV have said that at this time not only will there be no members of the public, there will also be no media allowed into any of their venues.

[EastonNeston]

A really good article about the challenges motor sport photographers are facing in the USA, it seems MSV are being even more draconian.
https://racer.com/2020/05/28/pruett-...-photographers

[bella]

one set of regulations i've seen was proposing that media be accepted to represent a series, so one photographer and one press officer each, but no team representatives and no independent media unless also attached to a manufacturer. so slightly more accommodating than the us rules, it seems.

to be honest, as long as everybody is in the same boat then it's probably fair. if they were to make exceptions for say, the motorsport.com group then it'd start being an issue.

media pass holders aren't necessary staff. if teams are going to have to look hard at whether they "need" to have a girl or boy friday running around making sure everything is shipshape and catered for, then someone reporting or photographing for a single outlet can take the series-issued photographs and join the zoom press conferences or whatever they'll be doing. i appreciate it'll impact their wages and bill paying situation, but we're all having to hustle to pay the bills. the media experience isn't unique.

looking at the usa, i think they're suffering from a lack of central guidance regarding what does and doesn't need to be done from a health perspective, and overreacting to the perceived social media and public opinion concerns.

[Alfisti]

NASCAR has today put out a survey to it's fans asking for their opinions on what measures should be in place to get fans back into events.

Very touch feely find out what people want/ expect before they would consider attending.

No doubt once they have answers then some lobbying will occur...

[fergus_r]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

NASCAR has today put out a survey to it's fans asking for their opinions on what measures should be in place to get fans back into events.

Very touch feely find out what people want/ expect before they would consider attending.

No doubt once they have answers then some lobbying will occur...

I'm pretty sure the majority of NASCAR fans don't believe in coronavirus so that'll be a funny survey.

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by thetool

My best guess would be

a) BTCC going ahead as planned starting in August, with a couple of tests in July
b) No spectators at the track this year
c) The full range of measures to be taken to try and minimise the costs from losing the hospitality side of things

[CarfanLUFC]

Originally Posted by fergus_r

I'm pretty sure the majority of NASCAR fans don't believe in coronavirus so that'll be a funny survey.

Probably slightly harsh

Fair play to them though for getting their show going again with the minimum of fuss. I've managed to catch a couple of races on Premier Sports and quite enjoyed them.

[CarfanLUFC]

My only concern about the condensed schedule for BTCC is if a couple of drivers have heavy shunts in the first meeting they could end up missing events.

Unlike NASCAR there isn't a never supply of spare cars knocking about

[Matt K]

Maybe we'll see fewer brainless moves....

[S griffin]

We saw less brainless moves last season, let’s hope they continue to keep that down

[Mike_Powell]

Is there any news on how the hybrid system is coming along ?

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Mike_Powell

Is there any news on how the hybrid system is coming along ?

will be testing in july

http://www.btcc.net/2020/04/02/coswo...s-appointment/

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

will be testing in july

http://www.btcc.net/2020/04/02/coswo...s-appointment/

I think that has to be in serious doubt now!

[S griffin]

Considering that article was written in April, it might be a bit later than that

[Mike_Powell]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Considering that article was written in April, it might be a bit later than that

That's why I asked - it all seems to have gone very quiet.

[Pdh]

Originally Posted by Mike_Powell

That's why I asked - it all seems to have gone very quiet.

Even without everything that’s going on in the world we probably wouldn’t of heard anything more about it till its been tested

[touringlegend]

Touringcartimes recent article about how covid has affected teams says that Speedworks didn’t need to furlough their full time staff as they had work to do on the hybrid systems.

https://www.touringcartimes.com/2020...eams-part-one/

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by medius

Public announcement early next week apparently, after a briefing to the teams from TOCA.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/52872157
Govt have given the go ahead to two British GPs in early August, which means clashing with 2 BTCC rounds. I think we have already spoken on this thread about the difficulties in getting enough marshals to run multiple big events on the same weekend. Could TOCA's announcement be a revised calendar.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Touringcartimes recent article about how covid has affected teams says that Speedworks didn’t need to furlough their full time staff as they had work to do on the hybrid systems.

https://www.touringcartimes.com/2020...eams-part-one/

Speedworks social media says that July is still the target for the Hybrid car to be testing so that makes sense with the above info.

[peebee2]

With the Governments of the world now classifying hybrids with internal combustion engines on their phase-out lists, it all seems a bit pointless maybe.

[touringlegend]

Originally Posted by redshoes

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/52872157
Govt have given the go ahead to two British GPs in early August, which means clashing with 2 BTCC rounds. I think we have already spoken on this thread about the difficulties in getting enough marshals to run multiple big events on the same weekend. Could TOCA's announcement be a revised calendar.

How much further can it be pushed back..

[CarfanLUFC]

Originally Posted by redshoes

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/52872157
Govt have given the go ahead to two British GPs in early August, which means clashing with 2 BTCC rounds. I think we have already spoken on this thread about the difficulties in getting enough marshals to run multiple big events on the same weekend. Could TOCA's announcement be a revised calendar.

Looks that way. An even more condensed schedule coming

[CarfanLUFC]

Originally Posted by peebee2

With the Governments of the world now classifying hybrids with internal combustion engines on their phase-out lists, it all seems a bit pointless maybe.

Go full electric. Apart from the range is only for 5 laps and they require 6 hours of charging between races. And there is only 10 charging points for 30 cars.

Welcome to the future of motoring everyone