30 CAR BTCC GRIDS IN 2001!!!!

[jvilleneuve2000]

I have just read this on autosport.com
"The British Touring Car Championship is to incorporate the National Saloon Championship as a Class B in 2001 as part of a deal forged today for the two major national racing series to be jointly promoted under the British Motorsport Promoters banner.

Brands Hatch Leisure chief executive Rob Bain (the man now effectively in charge of the BTCC) says the move will strengthen the BTCC and he is now aiming for 30-car grids in 2001. "We think we will have something like 20 cars in class A and we're looking for grid sizes of 30 in total. Class B will be there for a time, and whether that is a year, two years, three or whatever, we will end up with a grid of 30, which will be pretty compelling."

Bain envisages using a pre-qualifying system and possibly a cap on registrations to keep Class B numbers down and quality up. "It's got to be the right show," he said. "We want to achieve a more professional show, but with big grids."

Bain dismissed suggestions that the introduction of Class B is a sign of weakness for the BTCC as it moves into its new era. "The more cars we have starting, the better it will be, and it actually underwrites the series. It gives manufacturers confidence in the series, if they know the fields will be big."

Prize funds for Independents will be announced in the next two weeks. Bain says that is a top priority and he is working on making it a compelling package. "That's the spiral," he said. "Independents will be buying cars from manufacturers which makes the economies of scale for those manufacturers far better and so gives them more confidence to take part."

BMP has also announced that it is on the verge of concluding a deal with the organisers of the European Super Touring Cup for both series to use the same BTCC technical regulations - overseen by a single technical committee. "I wasn't expecting to achieve it this year, but it seems we have achieved it this year and they want to adopt the regulations for 2002." He also revealed that he has plans for a touring car world cup-style showdown race between British and European competitors at the end of 2002.

In similar vein, Bain says that the BTCC's current deal for racing to be broadcast on BBC Grandstand will be extended to 2004. "We have heads of terms," he said, "but the key BBC figures are currently tied up in Australia for the Olympics. The negotiations are complete. It's just a question of legal matters."

Bain anticipates there will be four manufacturers involved in 2001 (Vauxhall, Peugeot, Rover and Alfa Romeo) and says that in 2002 BMP will cap the number of manufacturers in the series at six because he feels the series can only offer real benefits to that number of manufacturers, though he is aware that the move could influence wavering makers. "Those that come first obviously come first," he said, "and then there will be only two more slots, so I presume that will concentrate minds."

BMP have also published details of the 2001 BTCC sporting regulations. Race formats will broadly follow current practice with a sprint race and feature including pit stops, but there are some changes. The sprint races will switch from standing to rolling starts, and qualifying will change.

In place of the current half-hour and one-shot showdown sessions, there will now be two half-hours, but the first will be free practice and only the second will count for grid positions. Drivers best two lap times in the session will be used to determine the two grids. The time set first will give the driver his sprint grid slot and the second one his feature position. "The intention is to create two very different grids and keep interest alive for spectators," commented Bain.

The support race packages for both the BTCC and Powertour should be finalised within two weeks and could include races from the BRSCC's premier package."

I think that it is a brilliant idea, it could be the factor that makes the btcc as popular as the early 90's. Does this mean that there will be no national saloons next year??, or will it just be the same class B format as this year. Where there are more entries when the nsc dosent clash.

[RIKB]

What is basically behind this is that BMP have just secured the rights to the PowerTour series as well as BTCC. They will now promote both packages, with BTCC headlining one package and GT's and F3 headlining the other.

NSC will move to the BTCC package to become a class B.

And there will probably be changes to the support races in both packages.

[Invader]

Why write something that long No-one ever reads it!

[jvilleneuve2000]

I didnt i just copied it of autosport

[Danielsun]

Well, they always said they'd get thirty cars on the grid for the 2001 BTCC season. Just now the case is that BMP have cheated to get that number, exactly as ToCA did for this year's title to meet the minimum number of 15 cars on the grid...

[ozywoodwards]

Is there still going to be a premier package next year or will that be merged with the Powertour and Btcc to give their support races a boost in quality?

[RickP:Clio51]

Just in case anyone was worrying, Renault have confirmed to me that the Clios will be TOCA support next year...

So guys, put your heads together. I have a race team and a small budget, the TOCA group A cars next year have to be 4.1m long (Astra + Focus in, Clio + 306 too short). There are something like 30 major components shared between the cars including gearbox, suspension etc. All I need is a manufacturer who wants to be involved in the Class A that has a bit of dosh to spare.

Can anyone suggest a manufacturer who is not over committed to other forms of motorsport for whom the UK is a significant market and might want to secure one of those last 2 manufacturers slots? They also need a suitable car...

Honda are looking at the new Civic type R for example...

Does SEAT have a suitable car in its range? (Basically, need an engine between 1.8 and 2.2 litres and the right sort of size) THey are no longer rallying and VW Group doesn't really have a saloon racing brand...

Other suggestions?

RickP:Clio33

[Danielsun]

What about Porsche? I understand that you have a spare one lying around, Rick?

Nah, bring Renault back into the top line series - preferably with the Laguna, because the Megane's an ugly little runt. Or just stick some 50cm-long bumpers on your Clios and go biffing. That's what you do now, right?

[RickP:Clio51]

Mmm, can't see Renault being in a hurry to make 15,000 Clios with long bumpers just so yours truly had sufficient crumple zone to play with the big boys in class A...

[Danielsun]

Rick, off topic (I just remembered it), are you competing in the Summer Series that's planned for the Clios et al?

It's just that Redshoes says he needs some more Restone signs knocked down so he can replace the 'stone' with 'shoes'...

As for Class A BTCC: just use an ex-Williams Laguna; they're plenty strong enough. As used by Mr Plato too!!

[RickP:Clio51]

Do you mean the winter series?
I'm not allowed, top 6 finishes in the Championship are not encouraged to run...(ie entries will be returned) plus I'm pretty much broke ater paying for this season...
Now do you have a serious suggestion about what manufacturer I can bludgeon to get a car from or am I going to have to call immigration again?
R

[Danielsun]

Winter/Summer/Autumn/Spring you know what I mean...

You could do your country a favour by running Rover, but whether or not they'd want to do that is questionable. Otherwise, why not bring back Volvo? That's if you don't want to stick with Renault.

BMW or Audi would also be welcome returnees, but then there's the eligability problems with how they drive. What about giving a newbie a go? You could try your luck with something from the VW group or even another Japanese marque. Mitsubishi ain't doing much else at the moment...

[RickP:Clio51]

See! You can make a sensible suggestion when threatened with deportation!
Rover are rumoured to have cars in build with Ray Mallock I believe... so missed out there...
Difficult to think of a Volvo small enough but like the idea, do BMW do a hatchback version of the current 3 series? Could be interesting... Audi are pretty busy with sportscars but SEAT might be interesting now they aren't rallying anymore, Mitsubishi are probably more worried about Makkinen getting his ar*e kicked in the WRC...
We could of course bully "Our Jase" to get us a test drive in the 3rd Astra for next year???? I can see it now, the massed ranks of ten-tenths camped at Woodcote as my new team-mates and I pass yelling "Muller", "Plaaaato","Arse"...

Well a guy has to dream!

[Danielsun]

I can be serious any time I like, thanks, Arse...

BMW haven't yet released a Compact for the E46, but unfortunately (well, did you see the E36 model?) it is coming. You could, of course, use the Coupe version. It's long, but it's low.

A SEAT Touring Car would be a wonderful thing; possibly the Leon or Cordoba would suit the regulations?

[RickP:Clio51]

Anyone got a contact number for SEAT sport in the UK, the contact form on their website appears to be broken....

[Bring Back The Cavaliers]

How about the Nissan Almera? It's fairly new and they don't have any motorsport activities.

[RickP:Clio51]

Mmmm, I think Mr Bintcliff and his team of Primeras might be a little miffed by that comment... and would also get first dibs on any Class A cars that might be floating around...
But good first effort compared to Danielsuns...

[Bring Back The Cavaliers]

Chrysler Neon? Maybe a little too big, but doesn't have any conflicting interests touring car wise. Not many of them about either, they could do with the publicity.

[RickP:Clio51]

Good suggestion! Will investigate, they need to have an engine between 1.8 and 2.2 litres in the range and be longer than 4.1m to arose my interest...
Cheers.

[Danielsun]

Rick, you are indeed a total arse.

Here's some more newbie'S': Saab, Skoda and, as much as I hate them, Subaru.

Or how about this one, from Toyota: The Lexus IS200. Now how good would that look in Touring Car form?

[RickP:Clio51]

Saab are just too heavy I think, Skoda and Subaru have got a rallying thing going and Toyota have a small F1 project that is likely to divert their attention...
Immigration are on their way...
As good as the Leon would probably be, the engines don't help I think...
RickArseClio33

[Bring Back The Cavaliers]

I don't think Vauxhall would have Saab there. Both GM brands now. Seat looks the most likely of the VAG brands.

[Danielsun]

Rick, I have a really good idea for you: why don't we both go to Oz and you can start up a new V8 Supercar team!! You only need to consider between two cars that way, so as to not strain your brain any more!!

I'll make it easy for you, as your Team Manager: just get in a Commodore and go for it!!

[RickP:Clio51]

Danielsun!
You are the only Aussie I've ever met who couldn't organise a p*ss up in a brewery, and you want to run a race team, plus you want me to go to the uncivilised half of the globe to race a banger?
R

Good point BBTC on the Saab, spot on.

[Danielsun]

I'd hardly call V8 Supercars 'bangers'; their drivers tend to go all Menu-like when someone hits them. Racing is much cleaner -- oh well, there goes your shot at it!!

Looks like SEAT would be the best option. That's if you're using the Toyota defence for BMW as well, as regards F1 commitment. Audi shouldn't be a problem, however, as they've made it quite clear that they will simply continue with the R8 in the ALMS and at Le Mans next season.

No point in changing a winning thing, is there? Maybe someone should tell Ford that...