what happened to the Dean and Lexus Deal?

racingdick · 4 Feb 2003, 15:56 (Ref:496211)

i vaguelly remember reading somewhere that richard dean would be racing a lexus in last years Btcc. what happened to that plan?:confused:

Craner Curves · 4 Feb 2003, 16:14 (Ref:496228)

It was pie in the sky.

**Craig** · 4 Feb 2003, 16:14 (Ref:496229)

What happened?

TMSR happened...

BootsOntheSide · 4 Feb 2003, 16:40 (Ref:496254)

The team was refused entry due to its insecure financial position. Steven Sutcliffe was also down to race it full-time.

kykiske · 4 Feb 2003, 18:50 (Ref:496395)

Richard West clearly didnt want another JSM situation....

redshoes · 4 Feb 2003, 18:57 (Ref:496405)

I believe Richard is occationally visits the Single Seater forum, you could almays ask him.

**Craig** · 4 Feb 2003, 19:22 (Ref:496435)

Different person I think Nigel.

redshoes · 5 Feb 2003, 17:53 (Ref:497487)

You mean Richard Dean from JLR, ex Vectra Challenge and GT driver? Same bloke.

**Craig** · 5 Feb 2003, 17:58 (Ref:497495)

Really? Ah, cool, my mistake

McKay · 9 Feb 2003, 17:39 (Ref:501559)

Weren't Lexus supposed to race 2 cars in 2001 but only ever did the one?

coxmattycox · 10 Feb 2003, 21:23 (Ref:502722)

I think it was a reAL SHAME that lexus went as i feel that if kirk luby carried on all season they would of got some podiums HE was a great racer. It did lexus no good keep swapping drivers. and steve sutcliffe what was that all about.
IF they went in the 2002 season i think thy would of had a real chance
WHAT do you all think..

Super Tourer · 11 Feb 2003, 10:59 (Ref:503181)

Hi coxmattycox, welcome to ten tenths.

First of all it wasn't a Lexus entry. The car was built by ABG Motorsport, which later became TMSR halfway through the year.

They built the car off their own back in an attempt to woo Lexus into the BTCC, hoping to gain a works contract from them. As it turned out they didn't, as Lexus decided the BTCC didn't fit into their marketing plan.

However, TMSR were due to appear last year with two Lexi, one for Sutcliffe and one for Dean, these never appeared.

I think the Lexus was a firm favourite with BTCC fans, with it's distinctive 'whistle', feisty looks and phenomenal traction out of slow speed corners.

If it proved one thing, it highlighted the often unwise practice of developing a BTC car off your own back and then going cap in hand to the manufacturer for support.

JSM tried a similar tact with the Alfa 147, to no effect. In fact, Alfa were allegedly positively against someone running a 147, as their motorsport focus was on 'works' 156 cars in the ETCC. Alfa then had to endure the painful sight of a 147 billowing smoke on national TV every other weekend, which certainly was not the marketing message they wanted to present! This was precisely the reason they didn't want someone to run a 147 that wasn't a factory 'blessed' effort.

I would love to see Lexus back in the BTCC, but I think it will only be as a factory backed works effort, which at the moment looks unlikely.

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