[BTCC] Croft, 29/30 July 2023, Rds. 16/17/18

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by MrsDoubtfire

Croft is interesting because the Finish Line speed trap times show purely how well the cars accelerate out of the slow speed chicane - one of the best indicators to date of relative power (and weight).

The rear wheel drive cars should have an advantage with traction out of the slow speed corner and if all other factors were equal it would translate into higher speed over the finish line. It clearly does not. The extra 30kg will be a factor, but one suspects there is something else afoot….?

Rumours in the paddock are that one team was experimenting with a radical new fuel in FP1 yesterday. Made from a blend of hydrogen and oxygen, this fuel achieves zero emissions. Further development required though, as it also achieved zero mileage….

If that is literal… suggesting a team accidentally filled the car with water by mistake? Do believe that has happened incorrectly previously when the fuel wasn’t checked as it should have been.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by BtccLee

If that is literal… suggesting a team accidentally filled the car with water by mistake? Do believe that has happened incorrectly previously when the fuel wasn’t checked as it should have been.

Hmm I wonder what team that was…

[Jon411]

Originally Posted by MrsDoubtfire

Croft is interesting because the Finish Line speed trap times show purely how well the cars accelerate out of the slow speed chicane - one of the best indicators to date of relative power (and weight).

The rear wheel drive cars should have an advantage with traction out of the slow speed corner and if all other factors were equal it would translate into higher speed over the finish line. It clearly does not. The extra 30kg will be a factor, but one suspects there is something else afoot….?

I've just been looking at the qualifying speeds at Croft between 2022 and 2023.

The FWD cars are pretty similar - maybe slightly down over Intermediate 1 but Intermediate 2 and the Start/ Finish line are within 0.1mph for the fastest. The slowest is about 5mph up on last year over intermediates 1 and 2 and 0.5mph over the start finish line.

The BMW is 3.3mph slower over Intermediate 1, 0.6mph slower over Intermediate 2 and 1.3mph slower over the start finish line, even if you allow for the tighter track limits it looks like BMW has lost something compared to last year.


Despite Tim Harvey's conviction about Croft being a good RWD track - there has only been 1 BMW win (2020) and 1 Infiniti (2021) victory at Croft over the last 10 races there.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Jon411

Despite Tim Harvey's conviction about Croft being a good RWD track - there has only been 1 BMW win (2020) and 1 Infiniti (2021) victory at Croft over the last 10 races there.

Harvey was referring in particular to the fact that Turkington has won something like 13, or was it 17, races for BMW in the past, and that is why for a period he was referred to as the King of Croft.

[v8supes]

F4 car hit a kerb and went flying. WTF!?

[Evantra]

Wild airborne moment with a F4 launched.

[SR18]

What a terrible Race that has been to watch

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by v8supes

F4 car hit a kerb and went flying. WTF!?

He cut the corner at the chicane and, from the slow motion from my set box recording, all 4 wheels where inside of the curbing and he must have hit something behind the curbing that then actually launched him over the curb - all four wheels were in the air over the curb.

It was nasty to watch, but if drivers are unable to/incapable of display/ing track discipline, then these incidents will continue happen.

[porsche962fan]

what mediocre racing despite all those gimmick tires

[Robin Marriott]

I hope Osbourne is penalised for that cut of the chicane, Watson must be livid.

[Evantra]

What a surprise, a red flag from the Minis again. Every single time.

[v8supes]

I dont see much point in complaining because ultimately we have the choice to watch or not watch but i just dont understand. How are the Napa cars so good compared to every one else? I thought the parts bar engines were all spec?

Also, is it just me or has the racing just not been as good since hybrid was introduced? Im not sure why that would be.

[InYourMirrors45]

What a dull season 2023 has turned out to be. I think I speak for most people when I say I have no problem with 1 Team rocking up clearly having done a much better job than anyone else, especially as they have 3 very capable drivers. It really doesn’t help the matter therefore that the lack of overtaking is worryingly obvious within the top 10 positions. Excluding Donington as the conditions were mixed I think the top 7/8 has been almost exactly the same in pretty much every race 1 and 2 each weekend. The hybrid clearly makes absolutely no difference and the field spread is a lot more this year for some reason.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Evantra

What a surprise, a red flag from the Minis again. Every single time.

I think I mentioned this before, and it would have been about a Croft meeting, that the way that the drivers "slipstream" so closely means that those at the back of the train in particular are completely unsighted to what is happening in front. Therefore, in this race, the car that was third or fourth in that train of cars didn't appear to realise that the cars at the front of the train were slipping completely sideways at the cars behind them were slowing so to avoid the sideways cars.

The result was that he at the back of the train was still trying to accelerate which caused him to lift the rear of the car in front which had been slowing.

[Evantra]

Bob Moffat in trouble… (not Aiden)

https://www.barc.net/wp-content/uplo...ine-Racing.pdf

“The Stewards find that:-
Moffat pushed and placed his hand on Loasby's throat
Moffat took hold of Morgan's clothing as a result of which Morgan felt threatened. Moffat used abusive lanquage to Mrs Chilton.”

[porsche962fan]

Sutton out of race, what a relive for the others

[v8supes]

Something is going on with these cars these days. Its like after lap 1 the top 5 just doesn't change.

[porsche962fan]

too wide, too fragile, too restrictive on driver standards, and completely useless hybrid , that about sums it up the sorry state of the BTCC racing

[Evantra]

Jake Hill of old today it seems!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

too wide, too fragile, too restrictive on driver standards, and completely useless hybrid , that about sums it up the sorry state of the BTCC racing

I can understand the point you are making on most factors - but can you expand on what you mean by 'too restrictive on driver standards'?

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I can understand the point you are making on most factors - but can you expand on what you mean by 'too restrictive on driver standards'?

they should allow the sligth push to pass tap or be more tolerant of it otherwise it makes it way too easy to defend as anyone can see and we have processions

[GT6]

Well not sure if it is just me or have i fallen out of love for BTCC the races are no longer that exciting and the support races are to say the least welll below the standard of the last few years. they have got to do something to improve things or the fans will start deserting this series, i will still go to brands as usual but i suspect by then little will have changed, Let us hope that they manage to change things for next season to bring back the excitement in the btcc races and some support rcaes that we can all enjoy

[Evantra]

Nasty accident at the end but that last Porsche race was great.

[v8supes]

That was a brilliant Porsche race. Such a shame it ended early with such a big accident

[Jon411]

I think also the desire to close things up - preventing the cars from having different characteristics (RWD vs FWD), the engines being kept close, tyre compounds generally harder than they were 10 or so years ago etc means you are not going to have so much swing between qualifying and race form with the cars so unless you have someone heavily out of position it's going to remain pretty static