[BTCC] BTCC News & Rumours 2025

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by Pickles

The address is Restart's premises.

Restart are moving, next week I believe, to the Van Diemen premises at Snetterton.
They did look at a pair of Focus last season.

[coffinpilot]

Info above from interview in Autosport last week.

I wonder, could Patterson go to another team if he's tested and is happy to get back into a Cupra - Vortx or Restart?

[redshoes]

From the website it looks like Morecombe and Wise will be driving.

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Info above from interview in Autosport last week.

I wonder, could Patterson go to another team if he's tested and is happy to get back into a Cupra - Vortx or Restart?

I'd expect Patterson to figure somewhere with the Cupras. I guess with Un-Limited it depends on what's going on with DeLeon who I suspect won't be short of interest elsewhere in the paddock.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Sumpton's new team apparently.

https://www.vortx.racing/?fbclid=IwY...ldvWdGBFdjHZzA

Well that’s awesome to get a new team, although a line-up of Hamilton and Sumpton is pretty uninspiring. Website text seems almost AI-generated

What’s totally bizarre is I just woke up from a dream where that 24H Series Vortex racer was in the BTCC for some reason… and now find Vortx are indeed in the BTCC! Or at least they seem to think so.

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Well that’s awesome to get a new team, although a line-up of Hamilton and Sumpton is pretty uninspiring.

I honestly didn't expect anything to come from the expressions of interest. So a couple of extra cars on the grid is a very nice surprise. Does pose some questions about what Restart have up their sleeve and who could be joining Smiley? Could be a spot for Dan Lloyd?

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

I'd expect Patterson to figure somewhere with the Cupras. I guess with Un-Limited it depends on what's going on with DeLeon who I suspect won't be short of interest elsewhere in the paddock.

That's a good point. Just seems a straight belief that DeLeon will stay. Even if the family have an investment in the team (I know there were rumours that they like the owners got the place because of stuff owed by Gillham,) doesn't mean that he can't move elsewhere.

Put DeLeon in a Toyota or an Astra - that would be something I think.

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

That's a good point. Just seems a straight belief that DeLeon will stay. Even if the family have an investment in the team (I know there were rumours that they like the owners got the place because of stuff owed by Gillham,) doesn't mean that he can't move elsewhere.

Put DeLeon in a Toyota or an Astra - that would be something I think.

Yeah I just think if he was staying with Un-Limited it would have been all done and dusted by now. Toyota would be a very interesting potential option.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by Pickles

The address is Restart's premises.

It is also the same address of other companies of which Scott Sumpton is a director.

[BtccLee]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

Could we see ReStart running a couple of Toyota’s & Speedworks scaling back to 2 cars? That would allow for One coming back with 2 TBL’s, an extra one for UnLimited and the extra BMW possibly?

This would seem like the most logical outcome but I believe Restart was likely running 2X Hyundais (from a couple of pages ago).

[MarcusH26]

2 Hyundai's would make that second seat next to Smiley one of the most sought after on the grid. Possibly one for Dan Lloyd or Bobby?

[Ant25]

Originally Posted by MarcusH26

2 Hyundai's would make that second seat next to Smiley one of the most sought after on the grid. Possibly one for Dan Lloyd or Bobby?

I can’t find where it says they are looking at new cars for next season.

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by Ant25

I can’t find where it says they are looking at new cars for next season.

In the Autosport article Peter Jones said they went to Alliance with Pete Osbourne to look at the Focus with an eye to buying two for 2024, but went for the Cupra. Unless I've missed something I can't remember anything more solid than a rumour here on the Hyundai.

[RacingMaverick]

Originally Posted by coffinpilot

Info above from interview in Autosport last week.

I wonder, could Patterson go to another team if he's tested and is happy to get back into a Cupra - Vortx or Restart?

I believe Patterson owns his own cupra now.

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by Ant25

I can’t find where it says they are looking at new cars for next season.

I haven’t seen it in the press, but heard it straight from Smiley.

[t4tinks]

I'm not on LinkedIn but searching Vortx Racing came up the this :

https://www.linkedin.com/company/vortx-racing/people/

Doesn't give the names but someone will be able to identify the Team Principal and Sponsorship Manager from the pictures.

[Craner Curves]

Interesting that they describe it as a rebrand of a team.

[InYourMirrors45]

I think we all have a basic understanding of how these deals work and what is required on the commercial side of things. I think we all appreciate the hard work that goes into funding a season etc. but there really is nothing more frustrating than seeing top seats taken up by drivers who have/are/will always be at the back making the numbers up. If the rumoured line up for this new team turns out to be true then what a waste of money, infrastructure and team members time. I hate to dig out individuals and everyone’s more than worthy of giving it a go but there comes a point where your out of a depth so much it’s borderline embarrassing. Halstead can barely make it half way round the first lap before he’s already multiple car lengths behind the nearest car, it’s such a waste of a top seat. I’m a massive fan of Nic and what he stands for and how he conducts himself and fully get he’s at a disadvantage before a wheel is turned, I’d actually love to see him try British GT or perhaps TCR UK and see how he fares there. If Speedworks new line up comes to fruition then expect Huff to be the only one capable of being anywhere close to the front.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by t4tinks

I'm not on LinkedIn but searching Vortx Racing came up the this :

https://www.linkedin.com/company/vortx-racing/people/

Doesn't give the names but someone will be able to identify the Team Principal and Sponsorship Manager from the pictures.

Team Principal is Chris Sawyer, formally Commercial Manager at Scott Sumpton Racing
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaw...alSubdomain=uk

[MarcusH26]

Originally Posted by RacingMaverick

I believe Patterson owns his own cupra now.

Struggling to keep track now of where the Cupras are! So the 2 at Restart have gone to Vortx (one was owned by Sumpton anyway) , Un-Limited have 2 and then there's 2 more in existence or just one that's owned by Patterson?

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by InYourMirrors45

I think we all have a basic understanding of how these deals work and what is required on the commercial side of things. I think we all appreciate the hard work that goes into funding a season etc. but there really is nothing more frustrating than seeing top seats taken up by drivers who have/are/will always be at the back making the numbers up. If the rumoured line up for this new team turns out to be true then what a waste of money, infrastructure and team members time. I hate to dig out individuals and everyone’s more than worthy of giving it a go but there comes a point where your out of a depth so much it’s borderline embarrassing. Halstead can barely make it half way round the first lap before he’s already multiple car lengths behind the nearest car, it’s such a waste of a top seat. I’m a massive fan of Nic and what he stands for and how he conducts himself and fully get he’s at a disadvantage before a wheel is turned, I’d actually love to see him try British GT or perhaps TCR UK and see how he fares there. If Speedworks new line up comes to fruition then expect Huff to be the only one capable of being anywhere close to the front.

But if the driver owns the cars and team, is there really anything you can say about it? I get people getting "angry" if it was WSR or the Hyundais, but a back marking Cupra team? I'm not fussed either way.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

But if the driver owns the cars and team, is there really anything you can say about it? I get people getting "angry" if it was WSR or the Hyundais, but a back marking Cupra team? I'm not fussed either way.

And only being their first year too - hopefully they’ll evolve the same way Excelr8 did.

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

But if the driver owns the cars and team, is there really anything you can say about it? I get people getting "angry" if it was WSR or the Hyundais, but a back marking Cupra team? I'm not fussed either way.

Exactly! It's always been the same, and always will I imagine. Go back 30 years. Did anybody care about James Thompson and James Kaye running around near the back?
Both went on to get factory drives, one went on to be champion.
Not saying drivers like Sumpton, Halstead or Smiley will jump up the grid, but those back of the grid Cupras does include DeLeon, and he's a lad with a bit of a future!

[MarcusH26]

With a new team and maybe a couple of extra cars from other teams we could potentially have a 23-25 car grid which I think would fantastic for the series. Don't expect the Vortx Cupras to trouble anyone up the grid but a new team in a period where we've been losing cars and teams for budget reasons has to be applauded.

Hopefully we get some news on whatever is going on with One returning too.

[antnee]

With Vortx stating its a rebranding of a team - is this a rebranding of Restart or Scott Sumpton Racing?