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Vauxhall to pull out of the BTCC


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#1 jeze

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Posted 17 April 2009 - 13:51

Now that the quite sad news have been confirmed
http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/74519

: What do you think of the future of the Triple Eight team and their drivers for the next season. I could still imagine them racing on in 2010 with a 2009 spec Vectra with private funding, since I find it difficult to imagine Triple 8 disappearing from the scene, having dominated BTCC for so long as they actually have. What do you think this will mean in the long term?

I still believe that Vauxhall will be back, some day, maybe even in 2012 or 2013, probably with a new model.
I'm an eternal optimist ;)

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#2 Zarathustra

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Posted 17 April 2009 - 13:52

After Plato's performance last time out, maybe they'll all race reasonably priced cars?

#3 jeze

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Posted 17 April 2009 - 14:09

Originally posted by Zarathustra
After Plato's performance last time out, maybe they'll all race reasonably priced cars?


BTCC is still quite cheap, so I guess that's not the problem. A deep shame that Onslow-Cole and Sheeden have nowhere to drive at the moment, though. A year ago TOC was the new hero of BTCC, now everybody seems to have forgotten about him :confused: I hope he'll be back soon anyway!

#4 F575 GTC

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Posted 17 April 2009 - 14:14

Originally posted by jeze


BTCC is still quite cheap, so I guess that's not the problem. A deep shame that Onslow-Cole and Sheeden have nowhere to drive at the moment, though. A year ago TOC was the new hero of BTCC, now everybody seems to have forgotten about him :confused: I hope he'll be back soon anyway!


And Mat Jackson as well. I'm surprised that when he announced that his team was pulling out for the year due to sponsers that nobody jumped in and signed him.

#5 jeze

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Posted 17 April 2009 - 14:17

Originally posted by F575 GTC


And Mat Jackson as well. I'm surprised that when he announced that his team was pulling out for the year due to sponsers that nobody jumped in and signed him.


Yup, I forgot about him as well! Amazing talent, it's really sad seeing those guys without funding being without drivers at all infavour of mediocre, fat drivers who haven't done a bike ride all their lives :lol: Those guys in private temas at the back you know, those you see on the entry list but not on the TV! By the way, isn't that beter suited to Britcar?

#6 F575 GTC

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Posted 17 April 2009 - 14:20

Well there's the Producion Class in the Britcar series, bit differant to BTCC but using the same cars i guess. The only downside is the coverage (on Sky, not alot anyway); it wouldn't compare to the BTCC even if they where at the back.

It's a shame the BTCC is heading this way though, back in the 90's with the Supertourers it was fantastic, but in the last few seasons it's just sort of gone downhill (least in my view anyway).

#7 jeze

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Posted 17 April 2009 - 14:33

Originally posted by F575 GTC
Well there's the Producion Class in the Britcar series, bit differant to BTCC but using the same cars i guess. The only downside is the coverage (on Sky, not alot anyway); it wouldn't compare to the BTCC even if they where at the back.

It's a shame the BTCC is heading this way though, back in the 90's with the Supertourers it was fantastic, but in the last few seasons it's just sort of gone downhill (least in my view anyway).


The Supertourers were fantastic, but last year when I could see the series on TV in Sweden I found the racing really good, and there were two factory teams as well, with extremely good privateers as well. What does it say about the series that Rob Collard suddenly is a front runner? I know about the weight break, but still, it's not very good quality this year :

#8 wewantourdarbyback

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Posted 17 April 2009 - 15:32

Originally posted by jeze


The Supertourers were fantastic,

and 7million a season....

#9 wdh

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Posted 17 April 2009 - 15:36

Originally posted by jeze
...
I still believe that Vauxhall will be back, some day, maybe even in 2012 or 2013, probably with a new model.
I'm an eternal optimist ;)


Ah, so you'll be filling your boots with GM shares then?

#10 jeze

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Posted 17 April 2009 - 20:30

Originally posted by wdh

Ah, so you'll be filling your boots with GM shares then?


Of course, I'm racki'n em' up!

#11 V8 Fireworks

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Posted 17 April 2009 - 22:13

Originally posted by wewantourdarbyback
and 7million a season....


S2000 cars are cheap, and do T8 still have sponsorship.

They could always buy some WTCC-winning cars and continue racing as a private team, swapping to pay drivers if needed.

#12 wewantourdarbyback

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Posted 17 April 2009 - 22:18

Originally posted by V8 Fireworks


S2000 are cheap, and do T8 still have sponsorship.

They always buy some WTCC-winning cars and continue racing as a private team, swapping to pay drivers if needed.


That's how I imagine it may go, unless Ford pick them for a full factory team rather then Arena in the future.

#13 jeze

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Posted 18 April 2009 - 10:20

Originally posted by wewantourdarbyback


That's how I imagine it may go, unless Ford pick them for a full factory team rather then Arena in the future.


It's also possible with a Volvo team for Triple 8 in the future!

#14 Montoya1

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Posted 18 April 2009 - 13:09

There are already 2 teams bidding to run the C30s, one probably Motorbase, so it would be a shame if 888 muscled in there. I would rather see them run this years cars (the class of the field?) as a private endevour before gearing up to return someday with works Insignias.

#15 jeze

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Posted 18 April 2009 - 19:58

Originally posted by Montoya1
There are already 2 teams bidding to run the C30s, one probably Motorbase, so it would be a shame if 888 muscled in there. I would rather see them run this years cars (the class of the field?) as a private endevour before gearing up to return someday with works Insignias.


True, but if I was the leading people at Volvo, I'd go for Triple 8 if it was interested, since they've rpoven such quality in the past, and could deliver results instantly. I think that's what Ian Harrison will work at now.

#16 MegaManson

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Posted 18 April 2009 - 20:09

They should just put BTCC out of its misery, it is a joke series now

The series is an embarrasment now compared with the golden era

#17 jeze

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Posted 18 April 2009 - 20:14

Originally posted by MegaManson
They should just put BTCC out of its misery, it is a joke series now

The series is an embarrasment now compared with the golden era


It is looking bad in terms of manufacturers, but look at the amount of paying spectators at Oulton Park last year, and you'll see there's a future for that series as well. However, the days of supremacy are long gone.

#18 wewantourdarbyback

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Posted 18 April 2009 - 22:18

Originally posted by MegaManson
They should just put BTCC out of its misery, it is a joke series now

The series is an embarrasment now compared with the golden era

Big crowds at each round, large grids, many different makes competing.... where's the Joke?

For that every series that had a 'Golden era' in someone's opinion should die.. byeee F1.

#19 MegaManson

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Posted 18 April 2009 - 22:23

Originally posted by wewantourdarbyback

Big crowds at each round, large grids, many different makes competing.... where's the Joke?

For that every series that had a 'Golden era' in someone's opinion should die.. byeee F1.


I remember Cleland/Reid/Rydell/Morbidelli/Warwick/Mansell to name but a few

The current crop bar a couple are just club racers, enthusiasts and Seat Cupra cup rejects

I too would complain about F1 if the grid was 2 or 3 competent drivers and 17 Taki Inoue's and Yuji Ide's

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#20 wewantourdarbyback

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Posted 18 April 2009 - 22:52

Originally posted by MegaManson


I remember Cleland/Reid/Rydell/Morbidelli/Warwick/Mansell to name but a few

The current crop bar a couple are just club racers, enthusiasts and Seat Cupra cup rejects

I too would complain about F1 if the grid was 2 or 3 competent drivers and 17 Taki Inoue's and Yuji Ide's


Hardly the same, the likes of Collard, Turkington, Neal, Plato, Jordan (young but has talent), Adam, Jelley, Thomson (from the next round) and others are very talented drivers.

#21 Dooly Tilly

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Posted 19 April 2009 - 01:01

Originally posted by MegaManson
They should just put BTCC out of its misery, it is a joke series now

The series is an embarrasment now compared with the golden era

Quoted for TRUTH. :up:

#22 Montoya1

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Posted 19 April 2009 - 09:09

Originally posted by MegaManson


and Seat Cupra cup rejects


?

What series have you been watching??

#23 jeze

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Posted 19 April 2009 - 12:15

Originally posted by Montoya1


?

What series have you been watching??


Probably SEAT Cupra Series, since he knows more about its rejects than anyone else :lol: . That said, just like Plato I do wonder what the hell John George does in the BTCC. Now at least Erkut is gone :up: I hope that Triple 8 won't cease to compete, and I don't believe they'll disappear just like Northern South did.

#24 Montoya1

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Posted 19 April 2009 - 12:27

There was plenty of dead weight during the TOCA heyday, people just have rose tinted glasses about it is all. A field with Turkington, Neal, Plato, Thompson and Gio in is OK by me, be nice if we can get Sheddon and Jackson back in, and Muller some day too, but it is pretty good.