[BTCC] BTCC 2021

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Evantra

I know Bert was a co-owner with Dudman but could that suggest BTC Racing are gone? Leaving 3 FK8s avaliable?

IIRC, references to Bert being an owner were removed from BTC platforms at the end of 2019.

Prior to that, he was referred to as Director and Team Principal. From 2020 onwards, the situation is described as 'Owned and operated by Steve Dudman'. The company has been >75% owned by Steve Dudman going back to when it was named DSH Motorsport.

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by Millvi

You must’ve seen the same Instagram posts I have. I was equally intrigued.

One of a few interesting shuffles and moves up, down, around and in/out of the paddock?

Twitter post about new starts or something. Then his bio says working with Chris Smiley, who he engineered in 2016. Plus a Hyundai header picture.

[Matt K]

Well, I agree that too much negativity is absolutely a bad and exaggerated thing, BTCC is doing quite well without manufacturers, the grids are full, TV coverage is there and so on. And I don't want to be a doomster and gloomster because there are reasons to be happy and excited about BTCC. But still, if we lost BMW, Honda, maybe Halfords, it'd be a big blow for the championship. Yes, WSR would still field two/three cars, Dynamics as well. But someone has to be behind the wheel of a car. And without proper backing we may see more and more big names going away and some worse drivers with deep pockets replacing them. That's not good news for the championship regardless of different positive aspects.

[S griffin]

We did well to get through 2020, however WSR scaling down and PMR running a limited programme shows we have tough times ahead. I said earlier manufacturers aren’t the be all and end all, but sometimes they can be the difference between a team running properly and a team struggling for budget

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Twitter post about new starts or something. Then his bio says working with Chris Smiley, who he engineered in 2016. Plus a Hyundai header picture.

Some people need a lot of new starts!

[billy bleach]

Not sure where to look. Is there a published list of who owns which entry licence?

[Alfisti]

WSR will run all three cars if budgets exist. I have no doubts at all that they've been working on it for months.

BTCC is very relevant targetted marketing for Halfords, so unless someone knows something I don't... ditto Yuasa, which I think Halfords shifts the largest number of their batteries in Britain.

When (if) Honda go just remember Dynamics ran the Integras for years successfully as independents. Having manufacturer backing no doubt helps, but it's not like trying to run a 100 metre sprint in pit boots if you don't. See Mr A Sutton for further details!

Be interesting if a BTCC insider (hello Mr Hollamby) could give us an insight into how the pandemic has affected running the team - both operationally and financially. Obviously the hospitality side will hurt a lot ( and some teams way more than others in this respect).

[AnnoyedMoose]

There's so much doom and gloom. At the end of the day BTCC has existed before quite happily without BMW and Honda works backing and without Halfords.

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Dynamics ran the Integras for years successfully as independents. .

actually it was just 2 , 2005 and 2006 but granted they would have likely continued with Integra if Lord Gow didn't impose S2000 starting with 2007 season

[antnee]

Is there any substance to the Honda/Halfords pulling out rumors? Or is it the usual 2+2=5?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by antnee

Is there any substance to the Honda/Halfords pulling out rumors? Or is it the usual 2+2=5?

The team that entered this season as Halfords Yuasa Racing, published some comments towards the end of the season. In those comments,
they confirmed that their title sponsors have signed on for a few more years.
Meanwhile, the manufacturer of the cars around which the NGTc model is based is reviewing its European activities and closing their UK plant.

So yes, it appears to be Team + driver + sponsors all with signed contracts = reduced commitment to the championship in the eyes of some.

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

The team that entered this season as Halfords Yuasa Racing, published some comments towards the end of the season. In those comments,
they confirmed that their title sponsors have signed on for a few more years.
Meanwhile, the manufacturer of the cars around which the NGTc model is based is reviewing its European activities and closing their UK plant.

So yes, it appears to be Team + driver + sponsors all with signed contracts = reduced commitment to the championship in the eyes of some.

Plus the team stating they are looking at running 3 cars if they can get the deal to work. All points towards a exit from the championship

[Evantra]

http://www.btcc.net/2020/12/07/teams...-rule-changes/

2021 rule changes. Ballast is back up which I think is needed.

Tyre options and the shootout qualifying to be run at selected rounds which is going to be really confusing to follow (not keen on either regardless...)

[S griffin]

Sorry, but I disagree. I thought it was ridiculous in 2018 when title contenders Tingram and Turkington couldn't qualify higher than the midfield due to the ballast. In my view ballast should make it harder to win, but not impossible. And anyway I didn't see much wrong with the racing in 2020, so why change?

[redshoes]

I'm not a fan of the option tyre coming back. When they ran the 60th anniversary meeting at Snetterton in 2018, a combination of circumstances meant that anyone was on the same tyre (albeit a different compound for each race) and we had 3 really good races. We didn't have the option tyres in 2020 and I can't say that they were missed. I don't think it adds anything.

The idea was to introduce an element of unpredictability, but all that happens is that part-way through the race the difference in tyre degradation kicks in and anyone on the 'wrong' tyres predictably drops down the order like a stone.

[S griffin]

I don’t mind the option tyre, although I agree the series didn’t suffer it’s absence this past season, even if it got rid of one variable.

[Sodemo]

The option tyre should simply be an option that the teams make for the duration of the event. So if Honda want to run the softer tyre at Brands they should declare it 2 days before etc. Thats the tyre they then have to run for the whole meeting.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by redshoes

The idea was to introduce an element of unpredictability, but all that happens is that part-way through the race the difference in tyre degradation kicks in and anyone on the 'wrong' tyres predictably drops down the order like a stone.

Exactly. It's not great watching pre race interviews where the driver concedes they have no chance of moving up in the race, because they've been forced on a weaker tyre.

[crmalcolm]

The increased ballast is an interesting one.
If you accept that ballast is going to be used, then surely you have to accept that it must also make a different, otherwise why bother with it at all?

Clearly the current levels are not sufficient - as borne out by the R2 winner on at least six occasions this year.

Whether ballast is used or not is a different discussion, but if it is used make it have an effect. Some would say it is ridiculous that you can win with full ballast.

[Alfisti]

Rule changes = rubbish IMO.

This year produced great racing, leave the damn rules alone!!!

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

The increased ballast is an interesting one.
If you accept that ballast is going to be used, then surely you have to accept that it must also make a different, otherwise why bother with it at all?

Clearly the current levels are not sufficient - as borne out by the R2 winner on at least six occasions this year.

Whether ballast is used or not is a different discussion, but if it is used make it have an effect. Some would say it is ridiculous that you can win with full ballast.

And here is the whole problem with things like success ballast in my view. It is impossible to gauge how far you go with it. In my view a driver winning the first two races should not be a bad thing

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by S griffin

And here is the whole problem with things like success ballast in my view. It is impossible to gauge how far you go with it. In my view a driver winning the first two races should not be a bad thing

I agree with the notion that a driver winning two (or even three) races at a meeting is not a bad thing in itself. The problem lies in when it is achieved on full ballast.

It sounds like your biggest issue is with having ballast itself - as opposed to how effective it is?

Which goes back to my point - if a driver wins the first race, and carries full ballast in the second, they shouldn't be able to take a comfortable lights to flag victory. If they do, the amount of ballast needs to be increased.

[S griffin]

That is not the point I’m making. The point is success ballast is supposed to make it harder to win, but not impossible. I didn’t hear anyone complaining about the ballast when Eaves and Plato scored their famous three victories in a day.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

The increased ballast is an interesting one.
If you accept that ballast is going to be used, then surely you have to accept that it must also make a different, otherwise why bother with it at all?

Clearly the current levels are not sufficient - as borne out by the R2 winner on at least six occasions this year.

Agreed.
A number of drivers, Sutton included, have said that 45kg isn't enough to make a difference to performance in a good car.

The ballast is the one rules change announced today which I actually agree with.

The qualifying change is just confusing and pointless unless they do it everywhere.
The option tyre is clearly just a marketing gimmick for Goodyear
And the reverse garages can't happen at Thruxton and Knockhill because they don't use garages, or at Brands Hatch, Croft and Snetterton because there is not enough space.

[AnnoyedMoose]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Rule changes = rubbish IMO.

This year produced great racing, leave the damn rules alone!!!

Yet many on the social media channels said it was terrible because the BMW of Turkington seem unaffected by the weight. Can't please all the people all the time.