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The BTCC 2015 Season thread


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#351 retrogeezer

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Posted 11 October 2015 - 20:38

I'm with Paulrobs, if Aron Smith had backed off in race one as Neal did in race 3 then JP would have been champ. Warren Scott/BMR will be kicking themselves and JP will be rightly annoyed.

Shedden is a deserved winner though, met him a few years back at the local Honda dealer and he is a really nice fella. 

 

Still love the racing, not quite what it was in the 90's and 2000's but very entertaining.



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#352 JavierDeVivre

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Posted 11 October 2015 - 23:13

What a finale! Wish I had been watching it hours ago rather than recording it. Only just finished watching race 3.

Congratulations Flash, but commiserations to Jason. He gave it all but Flash just owned that last race.

Not ashamed to say I was welling up with emotion just as I did when Jordan won.

And for ****s sake! ITV have been taking the piss with adverts today haven't they!

At least BTCC and Formula E fill the excitement void that F1 has created on its own.

#353 F1matt

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Posted 12 October 2015 - 10:51

I see that Lando Norris has won the MSA Formula (4) title.  I wonder why he hasn't been nominated for the Autosport Young Driver award, whereas Collard Jr has?

 

 

 

Down to his age, he is only 15. I think everyone is expecting great things from Lando Norris, lets hope he has a great career.


Edited by F1matt, 12 October 2015 - 10:51.


#354 billm99uk

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Posted 12 October 2015 - 16:49

I'm with Paulrobs, if Aron Smith had backed off in race one as Neal did in race 3 then JP would have been champ. Warren Scott/BMR will be kicking themselves and JP will be rightly annoyed.


Looks like JP agrees with you, unsurprisingly!

#355 BullHead

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Posted 12 October 2015 - 17:04

I've seen a lot of moaning on the social media about Flash being 'helped' too much by other drivers, and that he had that too easy. Couldn't see that myself. I'm not a JP fan though, and once Turk was out of it, was happy to Shedden do it.



#356 JavierDeVivre

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Posted 12 October 2015 - 17:14

I've seen a lot of moaning on the social media about Flash being 'helped' too much by other drivers, and that he had that too easy. Couldn't see that myself. I'm not a JP fan though, and once Turk was out of it, was happy to Shedden do it.

Without doubt, Flash was given an extremely easy time by most of the cars he passed in Race 3, that being said he was like a man possessed and was really going for it.

#357 TimRTC

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Posted 13 October 2015 - 08:37

Given how many 'friends' Plato has in the paddock, I'm not surprised people let Shedden through!

 

If you watch the race, Andy Jordan for example indicates left and clearly lets Shedden past - but then they have links from the Honda days. Jeff Smith also let him through without ramming him off the road (rare for him) but again they have links through Honda so will obviously benefit from a Honda winning.

 

I think a driver should never expect another racer to let them past, even team mates (cf. Sykes and Baz in SBK last year). If the team mates choose to do so, as Neal did, that is fair enough, but they should not blame a driver for not helping them out. It is racing, if you are not good enough to pass, then you should not be winning.



#358 F1matt

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Posted 13 October 2015 - 09:29

Its OK people saying they other drivers let Shedden through but that Honda was clearly on another level and the driver giving an all or nothing performance, there were  flames constantly coming out of the exhaust and his brakes were glowing, was it in qualifying trim???



#359 Rinehart

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Posted 13 October 2015 - 09:42

JP's words are harsh but he did lose the championship because his teammates didn't help as Flash did.

If the management of BMR think this is nothing more than a silly misunderstanding, they don't sound like they have a championship mentality yet to me.

The fact Smith is saying he did all he could when he clearly didn't, even in race 2 he blocked JP who lost ground to the pack in front, and the fact that Flash was ushered through by a number of drivers - it does look a bit like JP's lack of popularity within BTCC is counting against him.



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#360 Fastcake

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Posted 13 October 2015 - 10:59

Its OK people saying they other drivers let Shedden through but that Honda was clearly on another level and the driver giving an all or nothing performance, there were flames constantly coming out of the exhaust and his brakes were glowing, was it in qualifying trim???


That's what the commentators said. The Honda was turned up as far as they could get it.

#361 superden

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Posted 13 October 2015 - 11:01

Maybe it was all those 'clean moves' Plato's made finally biting coming back to bite him on the bum! It's certainly going to be frosty in the BMR garage but as he says, he's not in it to be popular and will be back next season ready to get stuck in again.

I was rooting for Flash on Sunday and whilst I don't usually support Plato on track (though out of the car, he seems affable enough) the series would certainly be a good deal poorer, were he not in it. Every series needs a panto villain up at the front and his drive in race 3 was excellent.

Flash earned it though, plain and simple.

Edited by superden, 13 October 2015 - 19:20.


#362 pacificquay

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Posted 13 October 2015 - 15:03

Hearing there may be a merger between BMR and 888



#363 midgrid

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Posted 14 October 2015 - 21:59

JP's words are harsh but he did lose the championship because his teammates didn't help as Flash did.

If the management of BMR think this is nothing more than a silly misunderstanding, they don't sound like they have a championship mentality yet to me.

The fact Smith is saying he did all he could when he clearly didn't, even in race 2 he blocked JP who lost ground to the pack in front, and the fact that Flash was ushered through by a number of drivers - it does look a bit like JP's lack of popularity within BTCC is counting against him.

BMR have clarified their position to confirm that Smith did indeed ignore team orders.



#364 paulrobs

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Posted 15 October 2015 - 19:48

The potential Festival at Donnington Park next year sounds brilliant! Can see me camping out that weekend if it happens.



#365 Dolph

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Posted 15 October 2015 - 20:00

I'm with Paulrobs, if Aron Smith had backed off in race one as Neal did in race 3 then JP would have been champ. Warren Scott/BMR will be kicking themselves and JP will be rightly annoyed.

Shedden is a deserved winner though, met him a few years back at the local Honda dealer and he is a really nice fella. 

 

Still love the racing, not quite what it was in the 90's and 2000's but very entertaining.

 

How does that make him a deserved winner?
 



#366 Dolph

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Posted 15 October 2015 - 20:05

Aron Smith sure comes off dim. He is racing for a team. Everyone is hustling to get the championship and he is just looking out for himself. Sure, one can easily justify his action, but if I was a team boss, I'd have him on his bike.



#367 Risil

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Posted 15 October 2015 - 20:15

The potential Festival at Donnington Park next year sounds brilliant! Can see me camping out that weekend if it happens.

 

I'm quite excited about it too



#368 Sheepmachine

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Posted 15 October 2015 - 22:15

The potential Festival at Donnington Park next year sounds brilliant! Can see me camping out that weekend if it happens.

That would be awesome to go to! :D When was the last time there was a none championship BTCC event?

#369 JHSingo

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Posted 15 October 2015 - 22:18

Aron Smith sure comes off dim. He is racing for a team. Everyone is hustling to get the championship and he is just looking out for himself. Sure, one can easily justify his action, but if I was a team boss, I'd have him on his bike.

 

Perhaps if Plato hadn't publicly lambasted Smith a couple of years ago, and said that he needed to lose his license, he'd have been more helpful to Plato last weekend. Unsurprisingly, that type of remark can come back to haunt you.

 

Unprofessional? Yes. But Plato has certainly been that many times over the years.



#370 Risil

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Posted 15 October 2015 - 22:43

That would be awesome to go to! :D When was the last time there was a none championship BTCC event?

 

Autosport says the RAC Tourist Trophy at Silverstone in 1997.

 

In the 90s there was also a strange event where a selection of BTCC regulars would set off around Donington, and the one placed last at the end of every lap or two would be eliminated. That was at Donington too.



#371 JHSingo

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Posted 15 October 2015 - 23:34

What I'd really love to see would be another BTCC Masters race like they had in 2004. That was at Donington as well, and I was there that day. Remember it well, it was a lot of fun to spectate.



#372 king_crud

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Posted 16 October 2015 - 06:00

Turkleton loses his crown, but does win the Independents trophy for this year.


how does he win the independents trophy when he's in the same team as JP?

#373 Myrvold

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Posted 16 October 2015 - 06:18

how does he win the independents trophy when he's in the same team as JP?

Different point scoring, the manufacturer drivers are removed, and the non-manufacturer guys moved up!



#374 ExFlagMan

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Posted 16 October 2015 - 14:01

Main thing I take from the season is that all the drivers & fans that started the season moaning that any crack down on track limits could not possibly work and, if by some miracle it did deter the more wayward drivers, it would only destroy the racing, have been proved wrong.

At Brands there appeared to be very few excursions at Paddock and Graham Hill Bend and the few I saw on TV seemed to be mainly linked to slight contact or obvious mistakes under braking rather than just trying to gain an advantage.



#375 DrF

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Posted 19 October 2015 - 19:01

Is Matt Neal racing for Team Dynamics in 2016?

#376 pacificquay

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Posted 19 October 2015 - 20:44

Is Matt Neal racing for Team Dynamics in 2016?

 

I understand both he and Shedden will be. 



#377 BRG

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Posted 20 October 2015 - 17:50

Main thing I take from the season is that all the drivers & fans that started the season moaning that any crack down on track limits could not possibly work and, if by some miracle it did deter the more wayward drivers, it would only destroy the racing, have been proved wrong.

At Brands there appeared to be very few excursions at Paddock and Graham Hill Bend and the few I saw on TV seemed to be mainly linked to slight contact or obvious mistakes under braking rather than just trying to gain an advantage.

Yes indeed, a clear demonstration that a bit of backbone in race control can solve this problem.  After all, Plato could out-whinge the whole F1 circus but they stuck to their guns. Now if they could clamp down on those subtle punts that Plato and Neal specialise in...

 

At Brands, running wide is self penalising pretty well everywhere except Druids.  You either lose time, body work or end up beached.  A lesson there for the world championships perhaps.

 

And belated but huge congratulations to Flash for showing that you can snatch victory from apparent defeat, even when your opponent has not one but three team mates to help him.  Well, two plus Aron Smith.



#378 chunder27

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Posted 20 October 2015 - 19:21

Have to admit this series has totally passed my by this year..
Havent watched a single round and dont thnk I ahve really missed much, same names, same arguments it seems.

 

Sadly I actually prefer watching endurance racing lol!



#379 king_crud

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Posted 21 October 2015 - 07:40

Have to admit this series has totally passed my by this year..
Havent watched a single round and dont thnk I ahve really missed much, same names, same arguments it seems.
 
Sadly I actually prefer watching endurance racing lol!


Thanks for the info

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#380 sabjit

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Posted 21 October 2015 - 12:29

Have to admit this series has totally passed my by this year..
Havent watched a single round and dont thnk I ahve really missed much, same names, same arguments it seems.

 

Sadly I actually prefer watching endurance racing lol!

 

I hate it when people make comments about things that they admit they haven't even seen.

 

It's like saying "I didn't see any of The Lord of the Rings movies but I don't think I missed much". Actually, yes, you did.



#381 purplehaireddolphin

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Posted 21 October 2015 - 12:46

Yes indeed, a clear demonstration that a bit of backbone in race control can solve this problem.  After all, Plato could out-whinge the whole F1 circus but they stuck to their guns. Now if they could clamp down on those subtle punts that Plato and Neal specialise in...

 

At Brands, running wide is self penalising pretty well everywhere except Druids.  You either lose time, body work or end up beached.  A lesson there for the world championships perhaps.

 

And belated but huge congratulations to Flash for showing that you can snatch victory from apparent defeat, even when your opponent has not one but three team mates to help him.  Well, two plus Aron Smith.

One, when you exclude Smith and Menu. After all there was very little Menu could do after Sheddon gave him a puncture. Everyone seems to forget that subtle but important point   ;)



#382 DrF

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Posted 21 October 2015 - 23:42

I understand both he and Shedden will be.

Matt seems to be past his best.

#383 JHSingo

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Posted 21 October 2015 - 23:46

Have to admit this series has totally passed my by this year..
Havent watched a single round and dont thnk I ahve really missed much, same names, same arguments it seems.

 

Sadly I actually prefer watching endurance racing lol!

 

So you don't like the BTCC, you don't like endurance racing, you don't like MotoGP, you don't like rallycross...

Can I ask what it is you do like, to be a member on this forum?



#384 king_crud

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Posted 22 October 2015 - 07:09

moaning

#385 pacificquay

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Posted 22 October 2015 - 08:24

Matt seems to be past his best.

 

3rd in the championship is hardly poor



#386 DrF

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Posted 22 October 2015 - 08:27

3rd in the championship is hardly poor

The Civic is a beast.

#387 superden

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Posted 22 October 2015 - 10:12

The Civic is a beast.


Plenty of miles left in Neal yet.

#388 DS27

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Posted 22 October 2015 - 14:09

So Smith "Humbly regrets" not helping the team more. I don't think he knows the meaning of the word.

 

We have to remember, him doing what he was asked to do was not just for Plato, but for everyone in the team that has worked so hard all year. Talk about making yourself less attractive to employ.



#389 Burtros

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Posted 22 October 2015 - 15:45

Ive been away much of this year and missed so much but made sure I caught up on the BTCC when I can, and managed to squeeze in a day at Rockingham which was a treat as the Supertourers were out again!

 

just watched the last race.... what a race! What a result for Shedden. Incredible and over the corse of the season, fully deserved. Im not sure about the Menu punt, looked like a racing incedent to me and not untypical of the start of a BTCC race.

 

As for Plato, I honestly think its now time for him to look at how he conducts himself - I for one cannot stand the bloke, the way he races or the whinging in post race intervies, sometimes he is down right disrespectful in his comments about competitors too. I honestly think that came back to bite him on the arse in that last race... A lot of drivers gave Shedden an easy time and I dont think its because they all wanted Shedden to win. More like a lot of them have a collection of bent pannels out the back of their workshop thanks to Plato and his card ends up being marked.

 

Bring on 2016, and finally, credit to the BTCC and ITV for what they do. Its out and out entertainment and I love the BTCC for it.

 

 

Have to admit this series has totally passed my by this year..
Havent watched a single round and dont thnk I ahve really missed much, same names, same arguments it seems.

 

Sadly I actually prefer watching endurance racing lol

 

Anymore useless info you would care to share? Whats the weather doing round your way today? What did you have for breakfast?



#390 paulrobs

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Posted 22 October 2015 - 16:45

I'm always surprised whenever I hear people say that such and such a driver isn't a nice guy or so and so driver is a really nice guy. I just want to see great drivers drive great racing cars. I think Plato is a damn fine driver and still one of the very best in the championship possibly even the best and whether or not he is a nice guy or not doesn't come into it for me. Even so, Plato clearly has a good business head on him, is entertaining on track and came across well when on TV too with Tiff Needell and Vicky B-H. People probably dislike him more because he's successful. If he was the same person but not winning races and never being in contention very few would say a word against him. Good luck next year JP  :up:



#391 JAW97

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Posted 22 October 2015 - 16:54

Can't say I follow the BTCC a huge amount (although I will watch it very occasionally), but how on Earth does Plato still only have 2 titles? He'll probably have 100 wins next year.


Edited by JAW97, 22 October 2015 - 16:55.


#392 DrF

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Posted 22 October 2015 - 16:58

Can't say I follow the BTCC a huge amount (although I will watch it very occasionally), but how on Earth does Plato still only have 2 titles? He'll probably have 100 wins next year.

He had a lot of bad luck this year (mechanical issues basically cost him the championship).

 

His behaviour in the first race, nudging Flash and then basically claiming that he was "forced to" was an example of why he's generally reviled.  Brilliant racer, but prone to dubious antics and then shooting his mouth off after.

 

2016 is going to be fun, especially if BMR can improve reliability.



#393 paulrobs

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Posted 22 October 2015 - 20:47

I think there are others in the series who are the same as Plato on track. Matt Neal does his fair share. Shedden is perhaps one of the fairest out there mind


Edited by paulrobs, 22 October 2015 - 20:47.


#394 BRG

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Posted 22 October 2015 - 22:08

It is the full menu of dodgy driving tactics, professional fouling, moaning and lobbying to cut his rivals power, and the hypocritical complaints if anyone dares to dish out the same tactics that he routinely employs that mar the reputation of a driver who should by rights be the class of the field in terms of talent.

 

Plato is a sort of Senna figure writ small - brilliant at the wheel but totally lacking any ethical compass.



#395 midgrid

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Posted 03 November 2015 - 22:43

A bit early for a Silly Season thread, so here are some updates for the 2016 season:

 

  • Andrew Jordan is moving from Triple Eight to Motorbase, presumably alongside Mat Jackson, and Dave Bartrum is aiming to expand to three cars.
  • The new rule for 2015 which saw the grid for Race Two determined by each driver's fastest race lap from Race One has been abandoned.  The grid for Race Two will revert to being decided by the finishing order of Race One.


#396 Risil

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Posted 03 November 2015 - 22:45

Senna writ small -- fantastic!



#397 king_crud

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Posted 04 November 2015 - 08:33

A bit early for a Silly Season thread, so here are some updates for the 2016 season:

  • Andrew Jordan is moving from Triple Eight to Motorbase, presumably alongside Mat Jackson, and Dave Bartrum is aiming to expand to three cars.
  • The new rule for 2015 which saw the grid for Race Two determined by each driver's fastest race lap from Race One has been abandoned.  The grid for Race Two will revert to being decided by the finishing order of Race One.

good and good

#398 BRG

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Posted 04 November 2015 - 17:16

good and good

Agreed.  We now have the 2016 champion sorted out.  Who could beat Jordan in a Focus that is as quick as that one?  Plato must be already lobbying for Motorbase to only be allowed three wheels or something.

 

And the fastest lap idea was duff - it led to people actively sacrificing race one to get a good race two grid place.  A good example of the law of unintended consequences.



#399 pacificquay

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Posted 04 November 2015 - 17:48

Shedden and Neal will be joined by a 3rd Team Dynamics Honda next year.

 

Interesting to see who gets that drive.



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#400 midgrid

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Posted 04 November 2015 - 17:49

Speedworks will also be expanding to two cars next year, but Motorbase didn't get a third entry (although the satellite Team Parker Racing entry remains).


Edited by midgrid, 04 November 2015 - 17:49.