BTCC 2022 season

The TBLs have been announced today:

Excelr8 Motorsport 4
Team Dynamics 3
Aiden Moffat Racing 2
Motorbase Performance 4
Team Hard 3
Speedworks Motorsport 3
West Surrey Racing 3
Ciceley Motorsport 2
Power Maxed Racing 2
BTC Racing 4
Boardley Motorsport 2

Very exciting with the three expanded teams.

I would be surprised if the season started like this, there can’t be many teams with their driver and sponsorship deals already in place for next year. I expect a few licences to be loaned or switched to other teams.

What's TBL? 

What's TBL?

TOCA BTCC Licence, i.e. an entry to the BTCC.

Ah, OK, Thank you.  Never heard it abbreviated like that.

And a question will we get Matt Neal back?

Isn't he now the Dynamics team principal?

And a question will we get Matt Neal back?

For some reason, I have had a strong feeling he will be back in a third Dynamics car for some time now, and the fact that it has now been confirmed that they will have three cars makes me even more convinced of his return. Jason Plato has been rumoured with a BTC Honda, and the prospect of them running almost identical cars is very exciting in what may be the final season of both their careers.

NAPA Auto Parts are looking to gain a foothold in the European market and have signed a sponsorship deal with Motorbase, so if you're familiar with US racing, there'll be a familiar colour scheme on the grid next year.

Now we just need a wildcard Alex Rossi/Chase Elliott entry next year.

Dan Cammish has returned to the BTCC with NAPA and Motorbase, good to see him back. 

https://mobile.twitt...283557313368072

Well there you go. NAPA are not messing about. Ash Sutton in a Ford Focus next year

Glad Ash is sticking around in the BTCC for a bit longer - and my word, that is a hell of a team. 

Wonder if we'll get any BTCC Napa Know How adverts? 

Sutton vs. Cammish, looking forward to that.

Motorbase truly have the dream team, Ash Sutton is by far the stand out driver in the series and credit to Dan Cammish for going up against him after a year out albeit winning another Porsche GB title, Honda truly have taken a step back with an ageing Gordon Shedden, a move which looks baffling. 

That looks a strong team certainly, but I wonder if Sutton will be able to get the better of Cammish?  He will be no pushover like Moffat was this year.

That livery peek is 

Blue & Yellow livery YES PLEASE 

I know it's about last season but I just cannot be hassled to scroll down or search for the previous thread and I think it's always great to look back one last time and learn before going forward, so I believe you guys will really enjoy this 19 minute delish official video that just popped up on my Youtube feed:



Cheers y'all - Happy New Years 

Jake Hill to WSR BMW

Oh good, another black car.  Just what the grid needs.  

A Collard back in the BTCC?  That would get my vote, for sure!!   

Colourful liveries are back in fashion, look at this sexy beast. I want it to win already.

Yes!!!  That's more like it.  Not quite Shredded Wheat but pretty damn close.  Enough with those matt black liveries, let's have some colour back! 

NASCAR gets so much wrong, but at least they understand that you need an eye-catching colour scheme. It puzzles me why someone wanting to get good TV coverage would chose a sombre & forgettable livery (and I am looking at you, WSR/BMW amongst others).

Pretty cool looking livery. Not sure about the NASCAR style numbers on the rear passenger doors though.

Colourful liveries are back in fashion, look at this sexy beast. I want it to win already.

 

Guessing everyone's favourite team from now on, probably nailed on for 1st & 2nd in the championship as well. 

Shades of Super Touring-Renault (especially before 1996)?

Here is my latest round-up of the rumours for next season:

WSR (3 cars)
Jake Hill has been confirmed as replacing Tom Oliphant, while Colin Turkington and Stephen Jelley are both as good as confirmed as remaining with the team as his teammates.

Team Dynamics (3 cars)
Dan Rowbottom is confirmed, and Gordon Shedden is highly likely to continue as his teammate. As for the third car, it is most likely to be either Matt Neal or Henry Neal, but I have a feeling they could surprise us late in the off-season with a headline returnee.

Speedworks (3 cars)
Rory Butcher looks set to continue as the first driver, but there is much mystery over the identity of his two teammates. Tom Chilton has been linked, but now looks more likely at Excelr8, and Josh Cook now looks most likely to remain with BTC. Jason Plato has also been linked, and this sounds plausible. Recently, there have been rumours of Ricky Collard having signed a deal, while I have also seen Nic Hamilton linked. And it could be Sam Smelt remaining with the team. Meanwhile, Rob Huff is said to have been offered a deal but is waiting on a potential WTCR drive first.

Motorbase (4 cars)
All confirmed. It will be Ash Sutton and Dan Cammish driving a beautiful blue and yellow NAPA Ford, and Ollie Jackson and Sam Osborne driving the other two Fords.

Laser Tools (3 cars)
Aiden Moffat and rookie Dexter Patterson have both been confirmed in the first two Infinitis, and it seems very likely that Carl Boardley will loan one of his TBLs for the team to run a third car. The three drivers I've seen linked are Michael Crees, Ricky Collard and Rick Parfitt Jr, but I am not convinced any of the three are massively likely.

BTC Racing (4 cars)
The team have not confirmed any drivers, but have suggested they want Josh Cook, Senna Proctor and Jade Edwards to remain, and that seems likely. Dan Lloyd and Jason Plato were linked to the third car, and with Lloyd now at Excelr8, Plato seems more likely than he had been previously. I could also see Jack Butel here, or potentially Nic Hamilton or a rookie.

Excelr8 (4 cars)
Tom Ingram is continuing, and Dan Lloyd has been signed as his teammate. There have been strong rumours that Tom Chilton and Chris Smiley will be the other two drivers in what would be a very strong team, but neither are confirmed and Jack Butel and Nic Hamilton are both possibilities.

Ciceley (2 cars)
Adam Morgan has been signed, but there has been little word on his teammate, with the only driver linked being Michael Crees. Perhaps it will indeed be a return for Roberto Ravaglia.

Power Maxed (2 cars)
Dan Lloyd has left the team, and Jason Plato looks highly likely to do likewise. Jac Constable is likely to make his debut with the team, while Bobby Thompson and Michael Crees have both been mentioned as potential teammates.

Team HARD (4 cars)
Jack Goff and Aron Taylor-Smith have both been confirmed, but many drivers have been linked to the other two seats, with Boardley highly likely to loan his other TBL here. Sam Smelt looks the most likely for one of the drives, while Rick Parfitt and Michael Crees both have connections to HARD so are potential drivers here. And current incumbents Jack Mitchell and Nic Hamilton are both in with a chance.

Summary:

WSR

Jake Hill

Colin Turkington

Stephen Jelley

Dynamics

Dan Rowbottom

Gordon Shedden

? (Matt Neal/Henry Neal)

Speedworks

? (Rory Butcher)

? (Jason Plato/Rob Huff)

? (Nic Hamilton/Ricky Collard)

Motorbase

Ash Sutton

Dan Cammish

Ollie Jackson

Sam Osborne

Laser Tools

Aiden Moffat

Dexter Patterson

? (Michael Crees/Ricky Collard/Rick Parfitt Jr)

BTC Racing

? (Josh Cook)

? (Senna Proctor)

? (Jade Edwards)

? (Jason Plato)

Excelr8

Tom Ingram

Dan Lloyd

? (Tom Chilton/Chris Smiley)

? (Jack Butel/Nic Hamilton)

Ciceley

Adam Morgan

? (Michael Crees)

Power Maxed

? (Jac Constable)

? (Bobby Thompson/Michael Crees)

HARD

Jack Goff

Aron Taylor-Smith

? (Sam Smelt)

? (Michael Crees/Rick Parfitt/Jack Mitchell/Nic Hamilton)

Edited by F1Frog, 06 February 2022 - 13:55.

What, no rumours about the BTCC's version of Lord Voldemort, the wicked Andy Neate?

What, no rumours about the BTCC's version of Lord Voldemort, the wicked Andy Neate?

He's retiring.

He's retiring.

Huh, that's what people were saying about Hamilton...

Nic Hamilton's retiring???

Unfortunately, he does retire rather too often.  Mainly because some of the other back-markers seem to use him as the 8 ball.

Oh, look, I have circled back to Mr Neate..

Turkington and Jelley reconfirmed at WSR.

Rory Butcher remains at Speedworks.  The team may also run Nic Hamilton's entry this season, alongside a yet-to-be revealed second driver in the works team.

If Hamilton still has his RoKit sponsorship, he should be able to get a deal. 

• Ginetta and Porsche mainstay George Gamble has signed for Ciceley.
• Michael Crees returns to the BTCC with Power Maxed Racing.

Update. No extra car at Speedworks, Dynamics or BTC

Laser Tools (Infiniti) - Aiden Moffat, Dexter Patterson

WSR (BMW) - Colin Turkington, Stephen Jelley, Jake Hill

Dynamics (Honda) - Gordon Shedden, Dan Rowbottom

BTC (Honda) - Josh Cook, Jade Edwards, ?

Motorbase (Ford) - Ash Sutton, Dan Cammish, Ollie Jackson, Sam Osborne

Speedworks (Toyota) - Rory Butcher, ?

Ciceley (BMW) - Adam Morgan, George Gamble

Excelr8 (Hyundai) - Tom Ingram, Tom Chilton, Dan Lloyd, Jack Butel

Power Maxed (Vauxhall) - Michael Crees, ?

Team HARD (Cupra) - Jack Goff, Aron Taylor-Smith, Bobby Thompson, ?

Team HARD (Infiniti) - Rick Parfitt Jr

The BTC Racing spot looks like it could go to Jason Plato, or maybe Senna Proctor.

The Speedworks Toyota will probably be Ricky Collard, but potentially Nic Hamilton.

The Power Maxed Vauxhall is most likely to go to Jac Constable

The HARD Cupra is probably either Nic Hamilton or Sam Smelt.

Edited by Burtros, 31 March 2022 - 20:39.

Plato signs with BTC, and announces his retirement after 2022! Truly the end of an era.