30 Cars entered for BTCC

**touringlegend** · 7 Feb 2002, 11:20 (Ref:211548)

Autosport magazine reports this week that 30 cars have been registered for the championship this year - so that I guess makes the Touring and Production Class quite even in terms of number of cars.

This is a problem at Knockhill which only has 28 grid spaces and teams will be served on a first come, first served basis with the "Franchise System" this year.

Eddie_harasym · 7 Feb 2002, 13:03 (Ref:211588)

Is that 30 cars per class?

Or 30 combined BTC/BTP

**Stephen Green** · 7 Feb 2002, 13:26 (Ref:211598)

I would have thought 30 combined Eddie.

Eddie_harasym · 7 Feb 2002, 13:50 (Ref:211616)

Mmm thought as much.

You can always hope though.

touringcarnut · 7 Feb 2002, 15:07 (Ref:211644)

Its good news for the championship when we can't get all the cars on the grid!! just a couple of years ago i was wondering if we'd get five cars!!!

MJB RETURNS · 7 Feb 2002, 16:24 (Ref:211679)

when is the last day to confirm the entry list?

redshoes · 7 Feb 2002, 18:24 (Ref:211731)

The thing to remember is that not all of those cars will actually complete the season, or even start it in some cases. I suspect by the time we get to Knockhill the 28 grid places won't be a problem.

Jonny Apex · 7 Feb 2002, 18:34 (Ref:211739)

Quite right, Redshoes. The reason not all of them will race is because they've only been ENTERED. Not all of them have drivers names next to them. The reason they've been entered now is to meet the deadline the organisers have laid down if the teams want to qualify for a franchise in the BTCC. If they do have to race then we could see all sorts of people driving around in who knows what just be sure the team qualifies for the franchise.

Still, it's a very good way of getting numbers up as the series goes through a tough patch. I'm sure once some of newer faces have had a taste of it and know it's the place to be then we could even see another boom just like 10 years ago in fact. I really hope so. Who knows, they might even tell them to get rid of those batmobile wings just like 10 years ago. But please someone give the Superprod boys bigger wheels. Image goes a long way to pulling in the crowds. A bit like a poor film - if it looks good in the trailers on telly (in this case, well-edited race highlights), people will flock to see it no matter how good it actually is when they get there.

Reido Rules · 7 Feb 2002, 18:40 (Ref:211744)

I think this year we might have more tourers than prodies. We already have 12 totally confirmed entries and with the talk of 2 more MG's, a third Proton, VLR running the Peugs again the rumoured 5th manufacturer (which is seeming unlikely) and teams like HTML yet to announce their plans for 2002, so thats a possible 19. It would be a good bet to say there will be more tourers.

touring fan · 7 Feb 2002, 18:44 (Ref:211748)

Would it really be such a bad thing if the series attracted so many entries that it was a struggle to accomodate them all? In a strange way it's a good sign that the series is more popular don't you think.

redshoes · 7 Feb 2002, 18:49 (Ref:211754)

It's only realy Knockhill and Brands Indy where the grid size will be a problem. Most other tracks can accomodate 35-ish cars.

Reido Rules · 7 Feb 2002, 18:56 (Ref:211761)

What about Mondello???

Thats the beuty of the Rock it can take nnearly 40.

Chris Y · 7 Feb 2002, 20:37 (Ref:211884)

I believe the closing date for entries has now passed. However, there are still quite a few teams who (like Jonny says) have entered, but haven't confirmed anything else - they're most likely waiting to close sponsorship deals before announcing their plans. Over the next few weeks, more teams will announce what they're up to this year. One or two might not get that far however, if deals fail to come through.

redshoes · 7 Feb 2002, 20:41 (Ref:211893)

Even those who have announced deal can change - remember Matt Neal / Peugeot last year.

**touringlegend** · 7 Feb 2002, 20:59 (Ref:211934)

We know too well what can happen, as redshoes said take Matt Neal.

The closing date for teams was in last week, but I believe drivers can be changed at any point during the season. Even though the entry date is past, West is hardly going to say "NO" to teams willing to enter?

Kelvin · 7 Feb 2002, 22:45 (Ref:212044)

I agree with the above comment,despite the rules, if a few teams turned up late, do you really thing they would be turned away? I doubt it somehow!

kmchow · 8 Feb 2002, 01:55 (Ref:212100)

Well, to play the "bad guy" in this discussion. Yeah, yeah, a whoppping 30 cars have entered, but how many will actually make the race grid and of those that manage to show up, how many will race the entire season?

hey, I love the BTCC also, but the above comments were just plain reality. I would be ecstatic to see 30 cars++ appear at every race, but it ain't gonna happen.

So I wouldn't worry about the series exceeding the garage and pit places.

The NATCC, ahhh, those were the ST days!!!, had 20 cars in NA. Sadly, only 10 managed to race at any given time. Some appearing while others disappearing.

Has the BTCC reached 30 cars grids anytime during the ST years? The early 91-'93 are the only years that could have attracted those grid numbers AFAIK?

WoodyTJ · 8 Feb 2002, 21:11 (Ref:212635)

30 cars - is this really true.

Redshoes is gonna kill me for this - is there an updated list anywhere?

redshoes · 8 Feb 2002, 21:22 (Ref:212652)

On Richard West's desk probably

Speedworx · 8 Feb 2002, 21:41 (Ref:212687)

30 cars in this years BTCC would be good for the series.

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