BTCC 2012 rumour mill

[Thaw Daggerslash]

At the risk of being annoying like last time, here's my guess of where we're at with a grid so far.

Confirmed:
2x Honda Racing NGTC Civics.
2x Pirtek Racing NGTC Civics.
2x STR Seat Leons.
2x RAR Audi A4s.
2x Welch Automotive Proton Gen-2s.
2x TH Motorsport Skoda Octavias.
2-3x Thorney Motorsport Vauxhall Insignias.
2x Dynojet Toyota Avensi (likely destination of Adam Morgan).
2x Geoff Steel Racing Turbo BMWs.

Likely:
2x Silverline Chevrolet NGTC Cruzes.
2-3x Airwaves Racing Ford Focus (Team AON to sell newer cars to Airwaves if they move to WTCC?).
2x Tech Speed/Go Mobile Chevrolet Cruzes.
2x WSR NGTC/turbo BMWs.
2-3x Triple 8 NGTC cars.
1x AmD Milltek VW Golf.
1x Speedworks Toyota Avensis.

Maybe:
1x ES Racing (Chris James mentioned possible NGTC route - but where's the funding coming from?)
1x Central Group Racing (Honda Integra now no longer eligible to race).
2-3x Team AON NGTC cars (if they don't go to WTCC).

[Alfa Fan]

I really, really don't think Motorbase will be using the new S2000 Focus. Why would they?

Options.

1. Keep existing S2000+NGTC engine Focus. No reason to use new model when the older one has been arguably quicker this year, for just a single years use next (will have to go NGTC for 2013).

2. Build or buy a full NGTC car. Given they have their current Focus up for sale, one imagines this is the plan!

[Sodemo]

There was a rumour that Motorbase could build their own NGTC car, possibly from the Ford family, and maybe the Mondeo. Just a rumour, treat it as such.

[Thaw Daggerslash]

Picked up on a comment that was just a joke from his behalf. Don't know if anyone else heard it at Silverstone last weekend. Nick Tandy was interviewed after the second Porsche race and mentioned about wanting to have a go in one of Motorbase's touring cars.

As I say, probably just a throw away comment, but interesting. Would be great to see someone of that calibre enter the series.

[Pettersson]

Originally Posted by Thaw Daggerslash

Confirmed:
2x Geoff Steel Racing Turbo BMWs.

Geoff Steel Racing has one of their 320si's for sale (the NA one), so they might just be looking at entering one E90 with an NGTC powerplant.

[SteveLevin]

Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

I really, really don't think Motorbase will be using the new S2000 Focus. Why would they?

Options.

1. Keep existing S2000+NGTC engine Focus. No reason to use new model when the older one has been arguably quicker this year, for just a single years use next (will have to go NGTC for 2013).

2. Build or buy a full NGTC car. Given they have their current Focus up for sale, one imagines this is the plan!

That assumes that we've seen the last of the parity changes Not sure I'd bet even a plate of chips on that one!

Steve

[MJones94]

http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=2736
Just found this on the BTCC website that says there will be a revised points system that will down to 15th place for 2012. I guess that is to accommodate the larger grid sizes.

[steve_r]

The engine testing by Lotus also announced (in the same article) is a good idea, but how many non-turbo engines were we expecting next season?

I'm not sure anyone finishing 15th out of a starting grid of say 26/28 deserves any points. Given the usual amount of BTCC panel bashing and throw in the standard amount of technical failures, I rekon that in an average race there are unlikely to be much more than say 22 or 23 cars running at the end (sometime even less), and the vast majority would score points. Still, at least they are not planning anything completely off the wall like BSB's ridiculous shoot-out system.

[PDS]

Originally Posted by Thaw Daggerslash

Picked up on a comment that was just a joke from his behalf. Don't know if anyone else heard it at Silverstone last weekend. Nick Tandy was interviewed after the second Porsche race and mentioned about wanting to have a go in one of Motorbase's touring cars.

As I say, probably just a throw away comment, but interesting. Would be great to see someone of that calibre enter the series.

He was heard to say that more than once over the Silverstone weekend.

[MJones94]

Originally Posted by steve_r

The engine testing by Lotus also announced (in the same article) is a good idea, but how many non-turbo engines were we expecting next season?

I'm not sure anyone finishing 15th out of a starting grid of say 26/28 deserves any points. Given the usual amount of BTCC panel bashing and throw in the standard amount of technical failures, I rekon that in an average race there are unlikely to be much more than say 22 or 23 cars running at the end (sometime even less), and the vast majority would score points. Still, at least they are not planning anything completely off the wall like BSB's ridiculous shoot-out system.

Yeah the shoot out system is a bad idea. I agree with 15 being too much, if I was going to increase the amount of points paying positions I would only pull it down to 12th maximum.

[Andrew Abbott]

The existing system was not broken and did not need fixing.

Honestly, if they want to 'reward' more drivers they might as well say that the driver with the highest average finishing position wins the championship...

EDIT - At least the perennial backmarker Chris James might be happier now, if he is to continue.

[Sodemo]

I guess this whole engine tinkering thing is to legitimise the restrictions on the Honda engines?

[TWRv12]

Seems strange that they have Lotus doing engine testing, when there is a Proton in the BTCC.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by TWRv12

Seems strange that they have Lotus doing engine testing, when there is a Proton in the BTCC.

Errm you mightnt have thought that one through. the Proton uses the TOCA engine, not a Proton engine. Same engine as in the Vectras.

[bazzmch]

Originally Posted by Thaw Daggerslash

Picked up on a comment that was just a joke from his behalf. Don't know if anyone else heard it at Silverstone last weekend. Nick Tandy was interviewed after the second Porsche race and mentioned about wanting to have a go in one of Motorbase's touring cars.

As I say, probably just a throw away comment, but interesting. Would be great to see someone of that calibre enter the series.

Hes doing a test in it as a thankyou for winning the 3 supercup races for motorbase

[TWRv12]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

Errm you mightnt have thought that one through. the Proton uses the TOCA engine, not a Proton engine. Same engine as in the Vectras.

If Proton run a Proton engine, TOCA will look stupid.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by TWRv12

If Proton run a Proton engine, TOCA will look stupid.

you dont think they would have thought about that?
besides lotus do engineering work for all sorts of other car companies and its just head flow comparison testing. its not full engine testing.

[medius]

Lotus Engineering isn't the same company as Lotus Cars, but are under the same Group Lotus umbrella. A bit like Red Bull Technology designing the Toro Rosso F1 cars, they are owned by Red Bull but aren't the same as Red Bull Racing.

[medius]

Two NGTC cars for ES Racing next year.

http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews...orm&searchterm

[Carsandmotorracing]

Originally Posted by medius

Two NGTC cars for ES Racing next year.

http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews...orm&searchterm

Awesome

[Craner Curves]

So let's say one car and possibly a second? Ambitious plans from a team seemingly on a shoestring budget.

[rich_cooper]

a big jump for a team that drove around at the back every round and seemed to struggle

[Alfa Fan]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

So let's say one car and possibly a second? Ambitious plans from a team seemingly on a shoestring budget.

“Running two NGTC cars was always our intention and now this is almost in place it confirms our standing as one of the top flight teams in the BTCC.”

Sounds like 2 cars is the plan.

[redshoes]

File that one under 'believe it when I see it'

Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

“.. it confirms our standing as one of the top flight teams in the BTCC.”

Top flight team.... in their dreams maybe

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

“Running two NGTC cars was always our intention and now this is almost in place it confirms our standing as one of the top flight teams in the BTCC.”

Sounds like 2 cars is the plan.

C'mon, how many times do people say they can run extra cars and they don't. I'm taking this with an enormous pinch of salt. If they couldn't afford brand new tyres this year, how can they afford a whole up-to-date car?