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

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Daverb

We can all go back to work and be close to colleagues but we cant go to Donnington and social distance to watch the BTCC? Nonsense

I don't know what it's like where you work, but I don't have 30,000 people working in my office.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by redshoes

I don't know what it's like where you work, but I don't have 30,000 people working in my office.

One of the big challenges with social distancing is that a large number of people are just determined not to ‘get it.’

Bit like people who can’t spell Donington.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by bella

mmm, i think if anything the past few weeks with a slightly relaxed lockdown have shown how the british public absolutely cannot be trusted to act in each others interests. i live in a bit of a tourist trap and the sheer number of people who thought it was ok to drive to our town and walk down some pretty narrow paths rendering them inaccessible for the locals is mindblowing.

i'm happy to keep the great british public the hell out of my workplace until next season when hopefully there will be a vaccine or the virus will be largely gone. the lot of you can watch it from your sofas. we're entitled to work in a safe environment and that clearly can't be done with spectators.

I'm amazed at how many people equated "stay at home where possible" with "go to the beach for the day". Sporting events should probably be crowd free until next year (as much as it pains me to say that - I miss being trackside)

[Peter Mallett]

So far today, my holiday has been cancelled and Silverstone Classic is cancelled. One of those is similar to a BTCC meeting.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Daverb

We can all go back to work and be close to colleagues but we cant go to Donnington and social distance to watch the BTCC? Nonsense

I think it's the difference between essential and leisure activities.

Essential activites (earning an income for most) - accepted level of risk will be higher than for a leisure pursuit (the crowds at the event).

The professional side of the industry is being permitted to resume in the most part. Easier to not have crowds than to try and manage them.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

If Premier League football does start that means 22 men will be in very close physical contact before going home to their loved ones. And they'll then each meet 11 different men in a weeks time.

Er, no.

They'll be going back to an hotel with their teammates (with whom they are already training) and being tested every day. And if they test positive they stay in isolation for 10 days.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by bella

mmm, i think if anything the past few weeks with a slightly relaxed lockdown have shown how the british public absolutely cannot be trusted to act in each others interests. i live in a bit of a tourist trap and the sheer number of people who thought it was ok to drive to our town and walk down some pretty narrow paths rendering them inaccessible for the locals is mindblowing.

i'm happy to keep the great british public the hell out of my workplace until next season when hopefully there will be a vaccine or the virus will be largely gone. the lot of you can watch it from your sofas. we're entitled to work in a safe environment and that clearly can't be done with spectators.

Originally Posted by BertMk2

I'm amazed at how many people equated "stay at home where possible" with "go to the beach for the day". Sporting events should probably be crowd free until next year (as much as it pains me to say that - I miss being trackside)

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I think it's the difference between essential and leisure activities.

Essential activites (earning an income for most) - accepted level of risk will be higher than for a leisure pursuit (the crowds at the event).

The professional side of the industry is being permitted to resume in the most part. Easier to not have crowds than to try and manage them.

I agree 100% with all of this, plus let's not make life even more complicated for the people running the event, and increase the risk to the team members, marshals and other essential staff by allowing a shed load of un-necessary into the event too. I'm very sorry that I'll not be able to enjoy my annual 'jolly' to Donington this year, but if people like me staying away means that the event can take place then I am happy not to be able to go, especially if I can still watch the action on TV.

[crmalcolm]

BTCC is one of the biggest crowd draws in UK Motorsport, but also received extensive coverage on TV and online.
In the UK, which events have very high crowd numbers that don't get coverage elsewhere as a means of spectating? It is these that are more likely to suffer as an event than a BTCC meeting.

[bella]

one thing that needs clarifying that they absolutely could do without needing to quantify it is whether spectators will be permitted in the paddock at all this season.

i think some circuits will need to heavily up their games in the sanitary department as well. thruxton and croft are both absolutely terrible for basic bathroom facilities, let alone seperate paddock and spectator area ones.

[Spanner monkey]

Well as things like F1 will be ran behind closed doors and football saying it'll be at least behind closed doors till November then a BTCC race behimd closed doors and on free to air TV is better than no BTCC at all.

[Spanner monkey]

Originally Posted by bella

one thing that needs clarifying that they absolutely could do without needing to quantify it is whether spectators will be permitted in the paddock at all this season.

i think some circuits will need to heavily up their games in the sanitary department as well. thruxton and croft are both absolutely terrible for basic bathroom facilities, let alone seperate paddock and spectator area ones.

That will be a given. How can you protect teams with all the people in the paddock.
But with no spectators that'll be easy to control.

[S griffin]

Wasn’t there talk of them only allowing fans from the county that the circuit is in? I think I only read it on here, so maybe not!

[mark_l]

Originally Posted by redshoes

I don't know what it's like where you work, but I don't have 30,000 people working in my office.

It will be interesting to see how social distancing will be carried out in the media centres of circuits, imagine how Croft will cope.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by mark_l

It will be interesting to see how social distancing will be carried out in the media centres of circuits, imagine how Croft will cope.

If they do try to run meetings with essential people only and no spectators, I don't think the media will be there. Minimal crew for the TV production will be all. Any interviews / presenting will probably be done remotely, either from a studio or at home.

Print media I don't think will be present all, will have to review the races from the TV coverage and conduct their interviews remotely post event (the latter of which shouldn't be too challenging).

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by mark_l

It will be interesting to see how social distancing will be carried out in the media centres of circuits, imagine how Croft will cope.

I wouldn't call any of them spacious. I assume they will operate a pool service. For photos, get a few of Jacob's guys in and make the shots available to anyone who wants them. Race reports can almost be done from watching the TV coverage; from some of the sites I've read I think they are already doing that. For driver quotes you send a couple of guys into the paddock with a microphone on a big stick and share the results.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by thetool

If they do try to run meetings with essential people only and no spectators, I don't think the media will be there. Minimal crew for the TV production will be all. Any interviews / presenting will probably be done remotely, either from a studio or at home.

Print media I don't think will be present all, will have to review the races from the TV coverage and conduct their interviews remotely post event (the latter of which shouldn't be too challenging).

There won't be anyone in the media centres.

They'll allow official championship photographers, and official championship press officers. Everyone else can work from home.

[bella]

Originally Posted by sceptic

There won't be anyone in the media centres.

They'll allow official championship photographers, and official championship press officers. Everyone else can work from home.

this is what’s happening elsewhere. it’s fair enough really - if jakob didn’t get an image of it it didn’t happen

there’s some discussion about a lack of independant press keeping people on the straight and narrow and asking different questions but that’s not really a thing in btcc is it...

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by bella

this is what’s happening elsewhere. it’s fair enough really - if jakob didn’t get an image of it it didn’t happen

there’s some discussion about a lack of independant press keeping people on the straight and narrow and asking different questions but that’s not really a thing in btcc is it...

the independent press dont know how to use mobile phones to call drivers or teams to ask their different questions?

[S griffin]

I wonder if there'll be any freelancers. That might be easier

[Peter Mallett]

Any reason why freelancers are able to do things that regular journos can't?

[RS67]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Any reason why freelancers are able to do things that regular journos can't?

They're free and they use a lance.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by RS67

They're free and they use a lance.

That lance will keep anyone 2 metres away from you.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Any reason why freelancers are able to do things that regular journos can't?

I'm guessing that either:

A) - they're perfectly happy to ignore social distancing rules.


B) - they're more likely to carry the equipment to 'snoop' on proceedings from a long distance away using a super tele-photo lens.



*** Disclaimer - I have nothing to prove that the techniques used in either example are specific to, or observed in, freelance journalists. Just trying to understand why the poster might think they are an easier option ***

[touringlegend]

So motorsport uk has announced motorsport can restart from 4th July. If the BTCC is behind closed doors anyway why isn’t a later round moved forward ?

[Peter Mallett]

The message says national and international will be later in order to comply with any international travel restrictions. So, from July 1 it's club events as I understand it. Also they make the point that there may not be enough support personnel available.

Edit: This is what I meant:

There will be a number of caveats of granting event permits, including that event organisers commit that their events will be held behind closed doors, appropriate PPE requirements are met, and that each organiser must appoint a COVID-19 officer to ensure compliance with any relevant guidelines. Furthermore, there will be a limit on the number of permits issued for July to 50% of those in the corresponding month of 2019, in order that there are sufficient volunteer Official and Marshal resources available to support the restart in a safe and responsible manner. No national or British championship events will take place in July to reduce potential national and international travel (excludes FIA championships).
To find out more about Motorsport UK - visit motorsportuk.org/restart