[BTCC] BTCC 2023 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[crmalcolm]

2023 TBL	Team	Car	Driver	Status	Jack Sears
EXCELR8-1	BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8	Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance	Ingram	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
EXCELR8-2	BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8	Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance	Chilton	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
EXCELR8-3	BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8	Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance	Pearson	Confirmed in press release	Elig.
EXCELR8-4	BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8	Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance	Halstead	Confirmed in press release	Elig.
Motorbase-1	NAPA Racing UK	Ford Focus ST	Sutton	Confirmed as 3-year deal in press release	Inel.
Motorbase-2	NAPA Racing UK	Ford Focus ST	Cammish	Confirmed as 3-year deal in press release	Inel.
Motorbase-3	NAPA Racing UK	Ford Focus ST	Osborne	Confirmed in press release	Elig.
Motorbase-4	NAPA Racing UK	Ford Focus ST	Rowbottom	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
HARD.-1	HARD.	Cupra León	Butel	Confirmed in press release	Elig.
HARD.-2	HARD.	Cupra León	Thompson	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
HARD.-3	HARD.	Cupra León	Patterson	Confirmed in press release	Elig.
Boardley-1	HARD.	Cupra León	Lloyd	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
Aiden Moffat-1	HARD.	Cupra León	Edwards	Confirmed in press release	Elig.
Aiden Moffat-2	HARD.	Cupra León	Hamilton	Confirmed in press release	Elig.
Speedworks-1	Toyota GAZOO Racing UK	Toyota Corolla GR Sport	Butcher	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
Speedworks-2	Toyota GAZOO Racing UK	Toyota Corolla GR Sport	Collard	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
Speedworks-3	Toyota GAZOO Racing UK	Toyota Corolla GR Sport	Gamble	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
WSR-1	Team BMW	BMW 330e M Sport	Morgan	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
WSR-2	Team BMW	BMW 330e M Sport	Turkington	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
WSR-3	Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport	BMW 330e M Sport	Hill	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
WSR-4	Team BMW	BMW 330e M Sport	Jelley	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
PMR-1	CarStore Power Maxed Racing	Vauxhall Astra	Taylor-Smith	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
PMR-2	CarStore Power Maxed Racing	Vauxhall Astra	Watson	Confirmed in press release	Elig.
HARD.-4	CarStore Power Maxed Racing	Vauxhall Astra	Doble	Confirmed in press release	Elig.
BTC-1	Starline Racing by One Motorsport	Honda Civic Type R	Moffat	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
BTC-2	Starline Racing by One Motorsport	Honda Civic Type R	Cook	Confirmed in press release	Inel.
BTC-3	One Motorsport?	Civic FK8?	???	Reported as looking to expand to four Civics	???
Team Dynamics-1	One Motorsport?	Civic	???	’One’ Reported as looking to expand to four Civics - Team Dynamics taking a sabbatical in 2023	???
Team Dynamics-2	???	???	???	Team Dynamics taking a sabbatical in 2023	???
TOCA-1	Not allocated
TOCA-2	Not allocated
TOCA-3	Not allocated
???	Parker Motorsport?	Alfa Giulia?	???	Press release states a planned return after hybrid is introduced	???
???	Parker Motorsport?	Alfa Giulia?	???	Press release states a planned return after hybrid is introduced	???
???	Bert Taylor Racing?	???	???	Talked about getting a TBL for 2023	???
???	???	???	Proctor?	Has described 2022 as a sabbatical	Inel.
???	???	???	Smelt?	Has described 2022 as a sabbatical	Elig.
???	???	???	Hamilton?	Talked about being in a car for 2023	Inel.
???	???	???	Hand?	Previously confirmed as multi-year at PMR in press release	Elig.
???	Volvo	Kia	T.Harvey	Rumoured in threads every year, has to be true one day	Inel.

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Makes you wonder if the BTCC needs to re-evaluate the NGTC formula then?

I'm convinced you pop up with the same question each off-season, and then the same people reply with how much cheaper a TCR car is.

The answer is always the same too...

A TCR car is mass-produced, good to go. It's ideal for club-level touring car racing or a mid-tier championship (see the failure of WTCR with BoP disagreements and compensation weight tussles one element of its downfall, or how TCR Australia is a few rungs below Supercars). A season is chump change in comparison to BTCC. We know this. Everyone here.

A BTCC car is built by each team, using a selection of shared parts and some unique elements too (aero, induction, weight distribution etc) for a far greater cost than a purchased TCR. But, being built specifically for a championship, to its own ruleset, adds a level of prestige (and the cars are more exciting to watch, requiring a more aggressive set-up and driving style) to what is the UK's most-popular four-wheel series.

Also, £500k isn't the cost of running a BTCC car, that's the cost of a top drive, at a top team, inc. a profit margin for the squad and kickbacks to the driver as a wage/commision.

Finally, while the cost is significantly more, so is the exposure for sponsors and that's really what you invest in. So in total, we should be discussing total 'value' and not total 'cost'.

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by Evantra

From Autosport - three of their own, Boardley’s, and the two Moffats.

Source: https://www.motorsport.com/btcc/news...quad/10453726/

"Although Hard possesses just three TBL entrants' licences, it is also using one owned by its former driver Carl Boardley plus two belonging to Aiden Moffat, whose Scottish team's Infinitis were based at Hard's premises for much of 2021 and 2022 and who this season has switched to the One Motorsport Honda squad."

Also, at the bottom, Marcus seems to think indeed that One Motorsport does have one last driver to announce - and I trust Marcus.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Why are the Parker, Bert Taylor entries still on the list? Pretty obvious they are a fantasy

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Why are the Parker, Bert Taylor entries still on the list? Pretty obvious they are a fantasy

Could it possibly be because this is the 2023 season discussion, News and Rumours thread? Seems likely to me.

[CroftPilgrim]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

I don't remember this amount of fallout when 888 disappeared 5 years ago.

Correct. I raised this point a while back. Also the fact that Dynamics have been here before

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by CroftPilgrim

Correct. I raised this point a while back. Also the fact that Dynamics have been here before

yes dynamics also disappeared off the grid in 2001 and 2002 and most of 2003 and i dont remember the sky falling down then either

[Daverb]

Originally Posted by BobJones

I'm convinced you pop up with the same question each off-season, and then the same people reply with how much cheaper a TCR car is.

The answer is always the same too...

A TCR car is mass-produced, good to go. It's ideal for club-level touring car racing or a mid-tier championship (see the failure of WTCR with BoP disagreements and compensation weight tussles one element of its downfall, or how TCR Australia is a few rungs below Supercars). A season is chump change in comparison to BTCC. We know this. Everyone here.

A BTCC car is built by each team, using a selection of shared parts and some unique elements too (aero, induction, weight distribution etc) for a far greater cost than a purchased TCR. But, being built specifically for a championship, to its own ruleset, adds a level of prestige (and the cars are more exciting to watch, requiring a more aggressive set-up and driving style) to what is the UK's most-popular four-wheel series.

Also, £500k isn't the cost of running a BTCC car, that's the cost of a top drive, at a top team, inc. a profit margin for the squad and kickbacks to the driver as a wage/commision.

Finally, while the cost is significantly more, so is the exposure for sponsors and that's really what you invest in. So in total, we should be discussing total 'value' and not total 'cost'.

This just sounds like touring car snobbery!

Maybe there was a place for this a couple of years ago but now post Covid in the real world I've watched TCR and BTCC live at the track and both are exciting Tin Top racing which is what fans want to see. Infact if anything I would say TCR is more pure racing, driver and car. BTCC is gimmicky racing with its hybrid, are drivers using the hybrid or not sometimes I can see the light sometimes I can't depends on the angle, fake results, series fiddling with cars to alter results etc...

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by touring fan01

yes dynamics also disappeared off the grid in 2001 and 2002 and most of 2003 and i dont remember the sky falling down then either

Very different world then though. No social media for a start, and only the hardcore fans remained. So moaning was less. As far as the championship went though, the sky had fallen down, and if Gow hadn't come back in 2003 how long would it have taken to recover the series?

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Daverb

fake results, series fiddling with cars to alter results etc...

i guess you think trump won the 2020 election too?

[porsche962fan]

bring back Group A touring cars

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by Daverb

BTCC is gimmicky racing with its hybrid, are drivers using the hybrid or not sometimes I can see the light sometimes I can't depends on the angle, fake results, series fiddling with cars to alter results etc...

I was with your critique until you lost the plot.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by DaviePHD

With 6 cars HARD will soon be able to run their own series!

Tony Gilham Trophy

[v8supes]

Originally Posted by antnee

Completely the opposite way around. £100k/year will see you at the front of TCR UK, getting on for £500k/year for the same in BTCC

Yeah but given the reliability of the TCR cars in TCR UK form, how many races will you get to complete?

Also crash damage in TCR is much harder to repair than NGTC. You also dont get the live ITV4 coverage, the crowds or the media coverage.

However. Even with that it is significantly cheaper.

TBH i wasnt a fan of the move to hybrid to begin with but i dont feel like its had much effect on the overall show. Its there but its not over powerful or banged on about 24/7, a pleasant surprise.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by v8supes

i dont feel like its had much effect on the overall show. Its there but its not over powerful or banged on about 24/7, a pleasant surprise.

So what you are saying is that it adds nothing, which begs the question of why bother.

[techspeed]

Sad that Dynamics won't be appearing this season. I feel like we have heard it before with HMS and Parker (and more I'm sure) where they suggest they plan to be back but in reality it is never feasible for the same reasons they have to withdraw in the first place. Motorbase kept their toe in the water, very deliberately I imagine.

It's telling that Gow referenced 888 in some comments used by Autosport, and I think it's been confirmed that Dynamics have sold their Civics; probably logical in the circumstances (they're only going to depreciate in value and they've never looked the class of the field) but means they have an even bigger task seeking funding for the build of an all new model.

Dynamics have a great pedigree but if they have had to let go the bulk of their team go, they don't really have that much of advantage in attracting investment, less so if they are not on the circuit this season and they will will need commitments from sponsors even sooner to get new cars built in time.

I do think there is a different reaction and feeling to what happened to 888. With 888 felt like a very gradual demise whereas, whilst Dynamics weren't able to match their first generation NGTC Civic with the FK8 and lost backing from Honda (due to other factors), they seemed like a professional independent outfit and remained in the same family, so it felt like they still had roots in their origins.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by BobJones

I'm convinced you pop up with the same question each off-season, and then the same people reply with how much cheaper a TCR car is.

The answer is always the same too...

A TCR car is mass-produced, good to go. It's ideal for club-level touring car racing or a mid-tier championship (see the failure of WTCR with BoP disagreements and compensation weight tussles one element of its downfall, or how TCR Australia is a few rungs below Supercars). A season is chump change in comparison to BTCC. We know this. Everyone here.

A BTCC car is built by each team, using a selection of shared parts and some unique elements too (aero, induction, weight distribution etc) for a far greater cost than a purchased TCR. But, being built specifically for a championship, to its own ruleset, adds a level of prestige (and the cars are more exciting to watch, requiring a more aggressive set-up and driving style) to what is the UK's most-popular four-wheel series.

Also, £500k isn't the cost of running a BTCC car, that's the cost of a top drive, at a top team, inc. a profit margin for the squad and kickbacks to the driver as a wage/commision.

Finally, while the cost is significantly more, so is the exposure for sponsors and that's really what you invest in. So in total, we should be discussing total 'value' and not total 'cost'.

Thanks for the response Bob. Perhaps I need to ask the same question twice a year instead of just once?

[thetool]

I think the idea that the FK8 Civic was something of a dud from Dynamics isn't really backed up by the evidence. It's won 27% of the races it's been entered, finished 3rd in the championship in consecutive years, one of those occasions being a single lap away from being the championship winning car.

[techspeed]

Originally Posted by thetool

I think the idea that the FK8 Civic was something of a dud from Dynamics isn't really backed up by the evidence. It's won 27% of the races it's been entered, finished 3rd in the championship in consecutive years, one of those occasions being a single lap away from being the championship winning car.

That's a good stat, I probably forgot that Josh Cook has been as good as any of the TD drivers in the FK8.

I don't think it's been a dud but Cammish was a lap a way from winning the title because Neal nerfed Turkington in the previous race. I don't think it's ever looked the class of the field like the 3 series or the Infiniti have in recent years or like the OG NGTC Civic in it's pomp but then again in spells it's probably been as good as any other FWD car since 2018.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by thetool

I think the idea that the FK8 Civic was something of a dud from Dynamics isn't really backed up by the evidence. It's won 27% of the races it's been entered, finished 3rd in the championship in consecutive years, one of those occasions being a single lap away from being the championship winning car.

But it wasn't as good as the FK2.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by techspeed

That's a good stat, I probably forgot that Josh Cook has been as good as any of the TD drivers in the FK8.

I don't think it's been a dud but Cammish was a lap a way from winning the title because Neal nerfed Turkington in the previous race. I don't think it's ever looked the class of the field like the 3 series or the Infiniti have in recent years or like the OG NGTC Civic in it's pomp but then again in spells it's probably been as good as any other FWD car since 2018.

I really don't think that the Infiniti really belongs in that group; yes, it was blindingly quick in the hands of Sutton, but otherwise, apart from possibly the one, or was it two, win/s by Moffett which was/were a bit of a freak after much coaching from Sutton, it really wasn't a front runner.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by sceptic

But it wasn't as good as the FK2.

I'm not sure it is as simple as that.

The FK2 was good, in comparison to the rest of the field.
By the time the FK8 was introduced, the competition had become a lot stronger (IMO).

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by BobJones

A TCR car is mass-produced, good to go. It's ideal for club-level touring car racing or a mid-tier championship (see the failure of WTCR with BoP disagreements and compensation weight tussles one element of its downfall, or how TCR Australia is a few rungs below Supercars). A season is chump change in comparison to BTCC. We know this. Everyone here.

Who's told you all this LOL??

[S griffin]

So here we are for the series ahead. Really could have done a couple more teams, but it wasn't to be. I miss the days of 1 car teams competing

[Millvi]

Originally Posted by S griffin

So here we are for the series ahead. Really could have done a couple more teams, but it wasn't to be. I miss the days of 1 car teams competing

Will be interested to see if One Motorsport announce 1 or 2 more drivers. Plato and Proctor perhaps?